In This Issue: - Michigan Tech Tribal Technical Assistance Program ...

Michigan Tech TTAP
Pathways Newsletter
October 2009
In This Issue:
MnDOT/Fon du Loc Sign
Vegetation MOU
2009 Wisconsin Safety
Summit a Success
FHWA EFRO Program
Program Co-Director
Bernard D. Alkire, PhD, P.E.
Program Co-Director
Cheryl Cloud Westlund
Editor
Scott Bershing
Administrative Assistant
Amanda Abramson
Workshop Instructor
John Lovato
click on a name above to email
one of the Michigan Tech TTAP
staff
Michigan Tech TTAP Homepage
www.ttap.mtu.edu
Michigan Tech TTAP Upcoming
Events
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upcoming events.
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Mn/DOT, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Sign
Award Winning Roadside Vegetation Agreement
PAUL, Minn. -- The
Minnesota Department of
Transportation and the Fond
du Lac Band of Lake
Superior Chippewa will
work cooperatively to
manage vegetation along
state highways within the
boundaries of the
reservation under terms of
a memorandum of
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understanding signed on
Minnesota Department of Transportation
May 15.
Commissioner Tom Sorel(left) and Karen
The agreement is
Diver, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior
Minnesota's first roadside
Chippewa Tribal Chairwoman, signed a
vegetation management
memorandum of understanding May 15,
MOU between a state
2009, to partner in eliminating unwanted
agency and a tribe. The
plant life along state highways within the
MOU honors FDL's control of
boundaries of the Fond du Lac Reservation.
the use of herbicides within
its reservation and defines goals and agreements between both
parties.
"This agreement highlights the importance of cooperation between
tribes and road authorities and will likely set a national
precedence," said Tom Sorel, transportation commissioner. "It will
help us resolve environmental issues and ultimately better manage
vegetation overall in highway rights of way."
Mn/DOT uses a combination of mechanical, biological and chemical
techniques to control weeds and maintain vegetation along state
highways to prevent obstructed sightlines. When the FDL expressed
concern to Mn/DOT about the use of herbicides and the loss of
culturally significant plants and plant habitat, the department
discontinued the application of chemicals in rights of way within the
reservation boundaries.
The MOU highlights understandings, agreements, needed support
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and essential resources. The agreements include:
Sharing spatial information on culturally significant areas,
wetlands and other bodies of water within the reservation
Re-evaluating the site of applied herbicides post-application
and mechanically removing invasive plants in areas where
FDL does not want herbicides used
The MOU is not a binding contract between Mn/DOT and FDL. The
signed agreement will be actively practiced through January 2010,
at which time the results of the MOU will be reviewed by both
Mn/DOT and FDL.
To view the MOU, visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mntribes/.
On July 31, 2009 the MOU was among those awarded both of the
prestigious FHWA Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI)
and the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives (EEI) status. The EHEIs
recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that
either create or improve conditions for human activities while
protecting the natural environment. The EEIs identify exemplary
ecosystem and habitat projects that are unique or highly unusual in
their (a) geographic scope; (b) use of cutting edge science or
technology; (c) high level of environmental standards; (d) high
quality of results achieved; and/or (e) recognition by environmental
interests as being particularly valuable or noteworthy.
More information on these awards can be found on the FHWA's
EHEI web page at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment
/ehei/index.htm.
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2009 Wisconsin Tribal Road Safety Summit a Success
The 2009 Wisconsin Tribal Road Safety Summit was held August 12,
2009 at the Indian Springs Lodge & Conference Center in Wabeno,
Wisconsin. The theme for the Summit was “Safety Initiatives and
Working Together on Tribal Safety”. The Summit was hosted by the
Forest County Potawatomi Community. Planning for the event was
a joint effort between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation,
the Federal Highway Administration, the College of Menominee
Nation, and the Michigan Tech Tribal Technical Assistance Program.
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Bill Daniels Sr., local elder of the Forest County Potawatomi, gives the
invocation during the opening ceremony. He was joined by the Forest
County Potawatomi Veteran's Group and the young firekeepers' drum
group.
There were 84 participants and vendors representing 39 agencies at
the Summit. The Summit covered a considerable amount of tribal
transportation and safety related topics. The morning sessions
included "Safety Initiatives & Working Together on Tribal Safety"
followed by a group of plenary panel sessions including "Wisconsin
Highway Safety Plans (Annual & 3-year)," "Tribal Highway Safety
Plans," "Traffic Crash Reporting; TraCs & TOPS (Transportal)," and
"Collecting & Mapping Tribal Crash Data." Lunch included the
presentations "Native American Gang & Drug Initiative" and "Inter-
Jurisdiction Enforcement." The afternoon included breakout sessions
to concentrate on topics specific to engineering, enforcement and
emergency services, and education.
In addition to the presentations, consultants and vendors were
allowed to set up displays and interact with participants.
To see the agenda with links to all of the presentations, along with
a link to an online photo gallery of the Summit, please visit the
Michigan Tech TTAP website at http://www.ttap.mtu.edu
/wisafety09.
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Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA)
Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO)
Program – Eastern Division
What is the ERFO Program?
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Natural disasters and catastrophic events are inevitable and
generally unpredictable, which is why in 1977 congress established
the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned roads (ERFO) program.
ERFO funding is intended to help pay the uncommonly heavy
expenses associated with the repair and reconstruction of Federal
roads and bridges seriously damaged by a natural disaster over a
wide area or catastrophic failure. Intent of the program is to repair
or reconstruct roads to pre-disaster conditions. Only serious
damage is eligible, damage that severely impairs the safety,
capacity, or usefulness of a road or bridge. The program is not
intended to fund all emergency and permanent repair costs.
Federal, tribal, state, and local governments that have the
authority to repair or reconstruct Federal roads may apply for ERFO
funds. Federal land management agencies are considered
"applicants" under the ERFO program. Other governmental entities
apply through an applicant.
Shiloh Marsh Road (11.6 miles), a dike road in the refuge, was being
rehabilitated by EFLHD when hurricane Charley caused extensive
damage.
ERFO in action!
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida overlays the John
F. Kennedy Space Center and consists of over 140,000 acres of
mixed coastal habitats. Shiloh Marsh Road, a dike road in the
refuge, was being rehabilitated by FLH when the storm surge
from Hurricane Charley caused the water level to rise more than
5 feet, washing away whole sections of the dike and much of the
new road material. With the use of funds from the ERFO program,
the road was repaired and reopened after an extended 2 ½ year
closure. The project also included the rehabilitation of Cruickshank
Trail (0.3 miles) and the rehabilitation of Bairs Cove Parking Area.
How does the ERFO program work?
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Minimum threshold for each disaster is $700,000 in ERFO eligible
repairs. Minimum threshold for each damaged site is $5,000 in
eligible repairs. Heavy maintenance is not eligible. All repairs must
comply with NEPA and be given priority over non-emergency work.
Emergency repairs must be completed within two months of access.
It is recommended that pictures are taken of the damaged site
before making repairs. Permanent repairs must be approved before
making repairs. It must also be under contract within 2-years
following the Fiscal Year of the damage.
Categories of roads eligible for ERFO funding include Forest
Highways, Forest Development Roads, Park Roads and Parkways,
Indian Reservation Roads, Public Lands Highways, Refuge Roads,
Military Installation Roads, Corps Recreation Roads, Bureau of
Reclamation Roads, Bureau of Land Management Roads.
What to do when damage occurs?
It is the applicant's responsibility to assess damage to their roads
and bridges. When it is the applicant's opinion that Federal roads
have suffered serious damage by a natural disaster over a wide
area or by catastrophic failure, they must immediately notify the
Federal Lands Highway Division Engineer of the damage and of
their intent to apply for ERFO funds. When dealing with a damaged
site, response time is crucial. Once the damage has occurred Indian
Tribal Government has up to two weeks to notify the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and must provide the following:
Dates of damage
Location of damage (IRR)
Description and cause of damage
Estimated cost to repair "serious" damage back to
pre-disaster conditions
Provide photos of damage
For more information, see the attached manual or locate your
FHWA point of contact.
Where can you find additional information on ERFO?
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For more general information about the ERFO program, please visit
their main website at: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/erfo/.
2004 ERFO Disaster Assistance Manual
The purpose of this manual is to provide program
guidance and instructions for the owners of
Federal roads applying for Federal assistance
under the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned
(ERFO) Roads program.
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Manual (Acrobat, 1.21 MB)
View the 2004 ERFO Disaster Assistance
Emergency Relief for Federally Owned
Roads Fact Sheet
ERFO's mission is to provide funding and
engineering services to restore access to
public lands. ERFO was established in July
1977. The ERFO program has permanent
annual authorization as part of the $100 million per year distributed
by the Secretary of Transportation to the Federal-Aid Highway
Emergency Relief (ER) Program from the Highway Trust Fund.
View the ERFO Fact Sheet (Acrobat, 1.91 MB)
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Pathways is published quarterly by the Tribal Technical Assistance Program, in the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute
at Michigan Technological University. The Tribal Technical Assistance Program is part of a nationwide effort jointly
financed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). It intends to relay the
latest technology and information on tribal roads and bridges, tourism, recreational travel, and related economic
development to tribal transportation and planning personnel. Tribes in the Michigan Tech TTAP region include those in the
Midwest and Eastern BIA Regions. Contact the TTAP office to submit articles and suggestions.
The Michigan Tech TTAP logo was created by Sally R. Brunk, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Michigan
Tech TTAP and Pathways are sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
National Local Technical
Assistance Program Association
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U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Indian Affairs
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