ODOT’s Environmental Quality Control Program
Quality control is a review process used during preparation, and before approval, of regulatory documents required for transportation projects. In general, the goal of QC is detection. Quality control measures identify inconsistencies, inaccuracies, redundancies, and gaps in design and supporting document preparation process prior to when approval is made.
Environmental Quality Processes
While specific to each discipline, all environmental QC processes focus on deliverable accuracy, adequacy, and consistency with established agency standards before that deliverable is finalized. The table below lists all QC documentation requirements by discipline. These processes and documentation requirements apply to all applicable projects, per the disciplines' QC guidance – also listed and linked in the table below. QC is completed for the identified deliverables for each environmental discipline.
The appropriate environmental discipline document preparer should meet minimum professional qualification requirements as is appropriate and/or required by ODOT for their specific discipline deliverables. Typically the ODOT environmental professional will prepare and/or oversee the preparation of most ODOT environmental regulatory compliance deliverables.
For projects classified as programmatic categorically excluded (PCE) or categorically excluded (CE) under NEPA, the region environmental coordinator (REC) is responsible for completing the established Environmental Statement of Technical Review (e-STR) checklist that tracks environmental discipline QC completion as each environmental deliverable is completed by that discipline specialist and/or environmental consultant. Completion of the e-STR simply tracks and documents that the appropriate QC has been completed for all relevant environmental disciplines as they apply to each project.