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King County Road Services - Regional Road Maintenance - Endangered Species Act Program Guidelines

In May 1999, the federal government listed the Puget Sound chinook salmon as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In December 1999, the bull trout was also listed as "threatened" in the Puget Sound region. In response to these listings, the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program Guidelines were developed. The purpose of the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program Guidelines is to provide a consistent, Regional Program that can be used by any agency wishing to limit, reduce or eliminate the prohibition on take of threatened species under the 4(d) Rule (NMFS), special 4(d) rule and/or Section 7 take exemption (USFWS). The Regional Program consists of the following three parts:

These, along with the introduction and appendices, can be downloaded below.

  • Covers - downloadable (660KB .pdf)
  • Introduction (373KB .pdf)
    In May 1999, the federal government listed the Puget Sound Chinook salmon as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. In December, the bull trout was also listed as "threatened" in the Puget Sound region.
  • Part 1 - Regional Program (1MB .pdf)
    Regional Program Elements is the basic framework for the Regional Road Maintenance ESA Program. It includes ten program elements that make up the Regional Program. Implementation of all ten of the program elements is required for a local agency to obtain a 4(d) take limit (NMFS) special 4(d) rule, and/or a Section 7 take exemption from USFWS.
  • Part 2 - Best Management Practices (5MB .pdf)
    Best Management Practices is a set of site-specific best management practices (BMPs) for road maintenance. Under the Regional Program, road maintenance, environmental, and engineering design staff can use these BMPs, in addition to routine BMPs presented in Part 1 to achieve conservation outcomes identified in the Guidelines. It is recognized that state regulations and local ordinances or site specific permit conditions may all dictate use of specific BMPs. For that reason, Part 2 offers a menu of possible BMPs from which the most suitable method of maintenance activity can be selected.
  • Part 3 - Application Template (363KB .pdf)
    The Part 3 Application is an individual agency application for a 4(d) take limit (NMFS), special 4(d) rule and/or Section 7 take exemption, to receive an elimination or reduction of the standing prohibition of take for threatened species (USFWS) under the Regional Program. The Part 3 Application, known as the "plug-and play" part of the Regional Program, allows local agencies to "plug" into Parts 1 and 2 of the program. The Part 3 Application is a specific commitment that an agency will comply with the ten program elements in Part 1.
  • Appendix A (70KB .pdf)
    A list of contacts for information on the Regional Program.
  • Appendix B (70KB .pdf)
    A description of the role of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Highway and Local Program (H&LP) or the Regional Forum in screening Part 3 Applications to the Regional Program.
  • Appendix C (474KB .pdf)
    A BMP Outcome Category matrix. It is a tool for planning, selecting and implementing BMPs that achieve the conservation outcomes of the Regional Program.
  • Appendix D (56KB .pdf)
    Four sample checklists agencies can refer to or use to implement the Regional Program. The checklists contain useful steps for planning and selecting BMPs, conducting pre-construction or pre-maintenance meetings, and implementing BMPs.
  • Appendix E (115KB .pdf)
    Fish exclusion protocol.
  • Glossary (109KB .pdf)
  • Index (24KB .pdf)
  • Addendum 1 to the Regional Roads Maintenance Program Guidelines (RRMPG) (2008)
    Addendum 1 reflects the adaptive management improvements which include new technologies, new best management practices developed by field crews, and lessons learned since implementation of Regional Program. Adaptive management improvements to the guidelines, in concurrence with NOAA Fisheries and the Regional Forum, may occur as needed to meet the outcomes outlined in the RRMPG. The guidelines will be updated accordingly to reflect these improvements. To obtain a copy of Addendum 1, please contact Janine Johanson by e-mail.
  • King County's 4(d) Submittal Letter and Part 3 Application (207KB .pdf)
    Under the Regional Program, each agency must prepare a Part 3 Application. Currently 30 local jurisdictions, including WSDOT, have applied for and are receiving a take limit from NMFS.
  • NOAA approval letter for King County (141KB .pdf)
    Take prohibitions under section 9 of the ESA and applicable 4(d) rules will not apply to the routine road maintenance practices carried out by King County in accordance with that plan, and are implemented in accordance with the requirements of this letter.
  • Sequential Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) related to approving implementation of a Routine Road Maintenance Program for jurisdictions in Washington State under Limit 10 of the ESA July 2000 4(d) Rule (50 CFR 223.203(b)(10)) (13MB .pdf)
    The Sequential Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact of the program prepared by NOAA fisheries. This document satisfies the NEPA requirements of the program.
  • King County's SEPA adoption of the Sequential EA and FONSI completed by NOAA Fisheries (314KB .pdf)
    This document is a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) adoption for a Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) of NOAA Fisheries NW Region Sequential Environmental Assessment (EA) for Routine Road Maintenance Activities.

For more information regarding the Regional Program please contact Janine Johanson by phone at 206-205-7101 or e-mail.

Information from the Road Services Division's website is available to people with disabilities in alternate formats upon request by calling 206-263-6482 or 711 for the TTY relay service.

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