MEETING SUMMARY
Environmental Focus Group
September 22, 3:30-5:00 pm
Singer Room, Eugene Downtown Library
Participants: Chuck Fairchild, Cindy Thieman, Mike Shippey, Kat Beal, Wes Messinger, Lois Hagen, Wayne Morrow, Jim Maloney, Trevor Taylor, Michael Morales, Toni Clementi, Bill Warnacke.
I. Welcome and Introductions
Savannah Crawford, Region Planner, Oregon Department of Transportation
II. Presentation and Discussion
Scott Mansur, DKS Associates
Lynda Wannamaker, Wannamaker Consulting, Inc.
III. Questions and Discussion on Project Environmental Elements
Project Background & Environmental Constraints
Q: Ken Neilsen Rd. has opportunities. Was that left off on purpose?A: It is part of potential alternatives.
Q: Are you looking at a reversing center lane?A: Yes.
Q: Are you looking at a comprehensive sub-area approach to compensatory opportunities?A: Yes.
Q: Are you looking at each corridor and within that are you looking at solutions within each corridor? (Referring to alignments)A: Yes
Q: What involvement will RR have? A: Yes they are involved in the process.
Q: Who owns it? A: Port of Coos Bay.
Q: Could there be rail improvements? A: At least crossings.
USACE involved in a restoration with RR now, enhancing (ODFW manages) plant habitat. Contact Kat, Cindy or ODFW—all collaborating on it.
Usually would use desk-top data for Tier One screening, but we are going out in the field to survey from roadside in this case.
Q: Environmental fatal flaw example?A: section 4F resource that is irresolvable—4F protects in a special way applies to federally funded transportation projects.
Q: What is included in “bio and fish resources?”A: Includes butterflies, trees, plants.
Q: Needing to get permit to take species is not a fatal flaw? A: No.
Q: What are listed T & E species on the corridor now? A: Bradshaws lomatium, Kincaid Lupine, Willamette Valley daisy, western pond turtle.
Q: There are no take permissions for birds according to the MBTA? A: Never know what tradeoffs may be available to mitigate.
Q: Have you mapped where these species are? A: Yes.
Q: Available to public?A: No. For agencies only, due to sensitive nature of info.
Q: You have maps of listed species, but what about others? Nesting grebes in this area or meadowlarks for example.A: Not at this level. Screening now. Next phase of this project will deal with that level of detail.
Greenhill project around Terry St has concern about Willamette Valley Daisy.
Take permit is reasonably easy, but you may be in jeopardy situation, which is more difficult to mitigate.
Q: West end connection? Why not connected on east end? A: Huston Road is limit.
Q: Where is USFWS? They would have info about goose population. A:ACE gave us that suggestion. We will include USFWS.
The corridor is a designated important area for birds.
Q: ODFW has management plan for wildlife area. Birds and habitats. Is it being used?
A: Yes, it is incorporated.
Q: City-owned part is mitigation bank. Coyote Prairie is city mitigation bank for city. ODOT is proposing another mitigation bank.A: We are talking to him tomorrow
Q: If not fill to north and can’t expand to south due to RR, what can you do?A: 52 ft of right away—22 feet not yet paved. Maybe not able to do that all the way, need a more detailed analysis. Piers may be an option.
Q: Vehicular take on animals?A: Not considered at this phase, but next. Animal mortality for protected species.
Q: Not just endangered species…but for traffic safety.A: ODOT has this data.
Q: Toxics transported on this road? A spill could mess us up badly.
A: We don’t document hazardous freight. We will check to see about this.
Draft Environmental Criteria Feedback
2nd criteria under enviro—should include “Fern Ridge Wildlife Area.”
Add---“Consider a comprehensive compensatory mitigation strategy”
Define the area more and include Perkins Peninsula. Will say “such as” or “including…”
These are social criteria, not environmental. It needs to emphasize natural resources. Divide out with native plants, species, and habitats. They are lost in the cloud of things that people like.
Not “such areas,” but “populations.” Be more specific about types of plants and wildlife like T & E. Native and rare species and critical habitat.
Say “avoid” and minimize—rather than just minimize.
Q: How is the concept of energy consumption incorporated into the analysis? Is there a lot of idling that uses up energy? A: We would look for alternatives that use less energy.
Q: Are you assuming situation normal until 2035? Pricing of fuel alone will reduce trips from 18,000. What about peak oil?A: The model we use does include price increase in gas consumption. ODOT has no decision about policy on greenhouse gas emission reductions yet, though a lot of work is currently underway at the State level. Fuel efficiencies may also mean there may not be a decrease in trips.
Opportunities Feedback
Increased connectivity for commuters. Improved Bus Rapid Transit.
Improved habitat for select birds, like wintering waterfowl.
Is RR an opportunity for light rail?
Environmental Assessment Timeline
Tier 1 Screening: Environmental fatal flaws—after Jan
Tier 2 Screening: ODOT design standards, constructability—after May
Final draft PNGO after Oct 6. Please give comments before Oct 6.
Request by participants to receive document in word so they can edit electronically.
Q: Can we provide additional information? When?A: Before Oct 6 please.
Any point in the process, but the sooner the better. This is not as detailed as NEPA process but more detailed than usual.
Final Comments:
- A summary of this discussion will be sent to all participants and available on the website.
- October 6th, Community Forum, Elmira High School Cafeteria
For a project description, visit
To contact the project, email Julie Fischer at or call at 541-556-6654
Focus Group Invitees
Brian BasorNative Plant Society President
Dana DedrickLong Tom Watershed Council Executive Director
Chuck FairchildBureau of Land Management
Bob GarciaThree Rivers Casino, ACT member
Nancy Holzhauser Consultant on the EWEB water line
TeenaMonicalArmy Corps of Engineers
Bruce NewhouseSalix Associates Ecology Consultant
Mike Shippey(WREN) Board President
Maeve SowlesLane County Audubon Society President
Jim MaloneyLane County Audubon Society
David StroppelODFW, So. Willamette WD
Bill WarnckeODFW/Regional ODOT Transportation Coordinator
Gary ThompsonIsaac Walton League, Emerald Chapter
Joe MollMcKenzie River Trust (some easements on shores of Fern Ridge)
Roberta SwiftUSACE Portland District, Willamette Valley Project
Nancy BruenerWildlife Area Operations Coordinator, ODFW
Neal ReiserOregon Hunters Association, Emerald Chapter
Phil McCulleyDucks Unlimited, Southern Willamette Valley Chapter
Steve MarxODFW South Willamette Watershed District Manager
Bob AltmanAmerican Bird conservancy
Judi BergWildlife Biologist, TNC Volunteer, otter specialist
John ApplegarthOregon Herpetologic Society, Manager
Dave BontragerOrnithologist, ecologist
Celeste MazzacanoStaff Scientist/Aquatic Program Director, Xerces Society
Paul SevernsOSU - Butterfly expert
WayneMorrowODFW, Wildlife Biologist
Wess MessingerBotanist, USACE
Kat BealWildlife Biologist, USACE
Jason NuckolsThe Nature Conservancy, Willamette Valley Preserve Manager
Ellie RyanNABA, Conservation Chairman
CharlieRuffOregon Country Fair, Operations Manager
TrevorTaylorNatural Areas Restoration Supervisor, City of Eugene
Dr. John Allcott MDWEW Collaborative, Butterfly Enthusiast
Erik PetersenUSACE
Jim NoyesHabitat Conservation Biologist, ODFW
Lois HagenNABA
Cindy ThiemanLong Tom Watershed Council
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