HDOT Climate Resilience Action Plan | May 2021

The website for MDOTs environmental program lists major initiatives in air quality, climate change, energy, solar program, land and water resources, and environmental compliance. MDOT is a member of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change and collaborates with the Maryland Department of the Environment, other state agencies, local governments, nongovernmental entities, and communities in planning and implementing a climate resiliency plan. Although the Secretary’s Office has overall authority and responsibility for environmental policy for the Department, much of the actual environmental effort is found in the modal administrations. For example, the Office of Environmental Design in the SHA reports to the SHA Deputy Administrator for Planning, Engineering, Real Estate, and Environment (Figure C-3) (SHA 2020). Note that this structure is similar to the recommendation for HDOT found in the Action Plan.

Source: Maryland SHA. 2019. “Organization Chart.” Accessed April 15, 2020 from: https://www.roads.maryland.gov/OC/MDOTSHA_Org_Chart.pdf

Figure C-4. Office of Environmental Design in Maryland SHA

The office consists of the following six divisions: Environmental Compliance Division: Responsible for SHA compliance with Federal, State, and local environmental laws, regulations, and permits. The Division has developed an Environmental Management System for highway and facility operations. Environmental Programs Division: Responsible for environmentally sensitive highway, bridge, and maintenance projects in order to minimize impacts to sensitive natural resources. In addition, the Division tracks environmental permit applications; prepares the plans, specifications, and estimates for all MDOT SHA’s compensatory wetland mitigation, streammitigation, reforestation, and critical area projects; identifies, evaluates, and delivers successful environmental stewardship projects to improve water quality to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries; and includes responsibilities for wetland delineation and functional assessment services, water quality monitoring, wetlandmitigation and stream restoration monitoring, and environmental monitoring of construction projects.

HAWAI‘ I HIGHWAYS | CLIMATE ADAPTATION ACTION PLAN ( C-9 )