Why does the Department require the completion of the Environmental/Cultural review process?
The Department is required to comply with all Federal and State laws and regulations which govern the protection of wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act and Executive Order 11990, threatened and endangered species protected under the Endangered Species Act, and Section 4(f) properties protected under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. In addition, the Department must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Federal law, such as the Endangered Species Act, requires that the potential of any activity performed in conjunction with a transportation project be evaluated before initiating such activity. Material sources are considered part of the Federal undertaking for transportation projects in North Dakota. Material sources include rip-rap and material from commercial sources, and any other area of planned ground disturbing activities, such as staging area(s), plant site, stockpile area(s), and haul road(s). This is further requi
