CE 515 Railroad Engineering

Environmental Regulations and Permitting

Source: AREMA Ch. 11

“Transportation exists to conquer space and time -”

Environmental Regulations & Permitting

• United States

• Canada

• Mexico

• Just overview – assessments to be completed by licensed professionals

J. Rose Lectures, Ch. 16, Slide 4

US Regulations

http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?m=200906

• Wetlands

• Best Management Practices

• Threatened & Endangered Species

• Cultural Resources

• Phase I Environmental Assessment

• Hazardous Waste

• Brownfields

• Asbestos

• Air Quality

Best Management Practices• Policies, practices, procedures, or structures

implemented to mitigate the direct and indirect degradation of surface water quality from an activity

• BMPs required for all permits

• Non-structural elements– Preservation of natural areas

• Floodplains

• Streams

• Wetlands

• Prairies

• Woodlands

• Native soils

• Structural elements– Vegetated swales

– Filter strips

– Infiltration trenches

• Limit amount of impervious surface areahttp://www.tulsacountyconservationdistrict.org/Programs.htm

Threatened & Endangered Species• Endangered Species: any animal or plant that is

in danger of going extinct• Threatened Species: any animal or plant that is

likely to become endangered in the near future• Critical habitat: geographic area which

maintains biological/physical features essential to conservation of the species and which require special management, consideration, or protection.

• Take permit issued by Fish & Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service

• An NWP WILL NOT authorize any activity which is likely to impact a threatened or endangered species, or its critical habitat.

Lakeside Daisy AREMA Manual; Page 490

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway @ US 151 near Amana

Humpback Sucker AREMA Manual; Page 490

Cultural Resources• Cultural Resource: any phenomenon associated with prehistoric

or historic events, themes, or individuals (often unique, fragile, & non-renewable)

• NHPA of 1966

• Professional archaeologists must conduct surveys

• Some states have additional laws– Illinois

• Examples include:– Historic buildings/districts

– Burial sites

– Campsites

– Spiritual sites

– Churches/cemeteries

– Trails

– Tunnels

– Towers

– Bridges/miscellaneous structureshttp://hrc.nevada.edu/archaeology/

Phase I Environmental Assessment• First step to determine if

contamination exists on property

• Includes:– Property Overview

– Property History

– Regulatory History

– Environmental investigations and cleanups

– Physical reconnaissance

– Visual and physical inspection• Buildings interior and exterior

• Facility grounds and areas of concern (28 listed on pg. 493 of AREMA)

– Property Maps

• If concerns exist, move on to Phase II (sampling) Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway @ US 151 near Amana

http://fgs.platinumweb.com/Services-and-Experience_Phase-I-Environmental-Site-Assessments.cfm

• Information about regulated substances must be made available to authorities or the public

Hazardous Waste

http://www.savannahenvironmental.com/Hazardous_Wast.html

• Three types are to be reported:– MSDS

– Emergency and hazardous chemical inventory forms

– Toxic chemical release reporting

• In the event of a release, authorities MUST be notified.• Notification must identify:– Hazardous chemical involved

– Amounts released

– Time, duration, and environmental fate

– Suggested action

Brownfields• EPA definition: “abandoned, idled, or underused industrial

and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is contaminated.”

• EPA has “Brownfield Economic Redevelopment Initiative to help local stakeholders revitalize and clean-up sites.

http://web5.msue.msu.edu/lu/2004LUlegis.htmhttp://www.seirpc.com/Brownfields/brownfields_openingpage.html

Asbestos• Very small, natural mineral fibers

known for their strength and fire-resistant properties.

• Demolition/construction areas known to contain asbestos must be monitored by a qualified hygienist.

• OSHA and NESHAP/EPA standards apply.

http://www.craftsmanhomesofaustin.com/consulting/asbestos.htm

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway @ US 151 near Amana

Air Quality• CAA of 1970

• National Primary and Secondary ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)

• Designated pollutants:

– O3

– CO

– NO2

– SO2

– Particulate Matter

– Pb

• Different states have different regs

• Locomotive exhaust info: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/locomotives.htm

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway @ US 151 near Amana

http://www.epa.gov/epahome/regions.htm

Case Study

AREMA Manual: Drawing made courtesy of Bollinger, Lach & Associates, Inc.

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway @ US 151 near Amana

Questions?