WisDOT avoids or minimizes the impacts of transportation projects to the natural and human environment while delivering projects efficiently. Balancing the department's environmental responsibilities with transportation program needs requires regulatory process expertise and a thorough understanding of state and federal environmental requirements. Environmental professionals in each transportation region and in the central office work to achieve this balance.
Central office environmental staff are responsible for environmental program oversight, policy development, and training. Environmental coordinators in the regional offices serve as regional environmental resources and provide focused support directly to WisDOT project design and development teams.
The central office environmental program staff are divided into two specialized groups: the
Environmental ServicesSection and the
Environmental Process and Documents Section. Together, these two sections provide environmental expertise and regulatory process guidance to WisDOT staff, consultants and contractors, and are liaisons to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) environmental program.
WisDOT partners with state and federal agencies, and other governmental, and non-government organizations to accomplish the transportation mission and meet environmental responsibilities.
WisDOT's transportation projects often include working with FHWA, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE).
Forms, templates and checklists help teams effectively organize, manage and complete the environmental documentation process.
Transportation projects are subject to a variety of regulations including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA).
FHWA