In Infrastructure after Tropical Storm Ir Irene Rob ob Evans - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rebuilding Stream Crossing In Infrastructure after Tropical Storm Ir Irene

Rob

• b Evans

Riv ivers Program Manager VT De Department of

• f Envi

vironmental Con Conservati tion

1.VT Context/Background 2.FEMA Public Assistance grants primer 3.Codes and Standards Debate

Mountainous Landscape

4

5

Mountainous la landscape, & old ld stream crossing infrastructure…

…and in

increased fr frequency and magnitude of flo loods

Mountainous la landscape & old ld stream crossing infrastructure…

…and more fl

flooding

Federal Flo lood Declarations

Flood Recovery reimbursement program that covers permanent repair work to damaged or destroyed public infrastructure. “….not an infrastructure improvement program.”

FEMA Public Assis istance

FEMA Public Assis istance

Structure is eligible for replacement if Repair cost > 50% of Replacement cost Standard practice is in-kind repair/replacement Upsizing the structure eligible if it needs to meet codes and standards; OR FEMA uses its discretionary “mitigation” authority to allow upsizing of the structure (case by case)

FEMA Public Assis istance

Structure is eligible for replacement if Repair cost > 50% of Replacement cost Standard practice is in-kind repair/replacement, Unless:

Upsizing the structure eligible if it needs to meet codes and standards;

OR FEMA uses its discretionary “mitigation” authority to allow upsizing of the structure (case by case).

FEMA Publi lic Assis istance

Public Assistance Codes & Standards Criteria

• 1. Applies to the type of restoration required;
• 2. Is appropriate to the pre-disaster use of the

facility;

• 3. Be Reasonable, in writing, formally adopted,

and implemented prior to the disaster declaration;

• 4. Apply Uniformly to all Facilities of the type

being repaired, i.e., they are Non- discretionary; and

• 5. Was enforced during the time it was in effect.

Public Assistance Codes & Standards Criteria

• 1. Applies to the type of restoration required;
• 2. Is appropriate to the pre-disaster use of the

facility;

• 3. Be Reasonable, in writing, formally adopted,

and implemented prior to the disaster declaration;

• 4. Apply Uniformly to all Facilities of the type

being repaired, i.e., they are Non- discretionary; and

• 5. Was enforced during the time it was in effect.

Be Reasonable, in writing, formally adopted, and implemented prior to the disaster declaration

• 1. Formally Adopted in 2013
• 2. VT stream alteration standards are

reasonable:

• Scientifically based
• Economically justified
• Consistent with the intent of State law

Apply Uniformly and be Non- dis iscretionary ry;

Rule contains hydro-geomorphic performance standards. Design requirements in consideration of sediment and debris transport, and fish passage: ▪ span length ▪ opening height ▪ depth of structure (embeddedness)

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Apply Uniformly and be Non- dis iscretionary ry;

Traditional methods focus on hydraulic sizing based on design flows (e.g. 25 or 50 year flood).

Key Principles

Structure Width and Opening Height

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Key Principles

S

Key Principles Structure Width and Opening Height

Old – 7’ Pipe New – 16’ x 8’ Precast Arch

Key Principles Vertical alignment on Longitudinal Profile

Interruption of stream sediment/debris transport aggradation above and degradation below

Key Principles Vertical alignment

• n Longitudinal

Profile

Embeddedness requirements

Key Principles Vertical alignment

• n Longitudinal

Profile

Apply Uniformly and be Non- dis iscretio ionary ry;

FEMA questioned whether VT’s performance-based standards allowed for too much discretion in their technical application. Vermont argued that bridges and culverts have been traditionally designed from codes using performance-based engineering standards;

Apply Uniformly and be Non- dis iscretio ionary ry;

The Stream Alteration Rule employs “equilibrium” and “connectivity” performance standards. 15 USC § 205c (2) [Title 15. Commerce and Trade; Chapter 6: “engineering standard” means “a standard which prescribes (A) a concise set of conditions and requirements that must be satisfied by a material, product, process, procedure, convention, or test method; and (B) the physical, functional, performance and/or conformance characteristics thereof.”

Apply Uniformly and be Non- dis iscretio ionary ry;

Stream Alteration performance standards are not discretionary, and the engineering design process is contained in 3 complimentary technical documents:

Amendments to VT Rule and General Permit

Key modifications: minimum span height, length, embeddedness standards; Needed explicit reference to the above for Individual Permit requirements; Needed to add specific reference to the VTrans Hydraulics Manual; Needed us to include specific language from Dept of Fish and Wildlife Guidelines;

Formal FEMA Acceptance 2017 2017

The revised mandatory nature of design requirements for replacement culverts and bridges under the Rule and Permit appear to adequately address the previous concerns identified by FEMA that put in doubt the Rule and Permit would meet the requirements of 44 CFR…

Thank You!

Rob

• b Evans

Riv ivers Prog

• gram Manager

Ver ermont t DE DEC rob.evans@vermont.gov 802.4 .490.6152