ASTRACT• Over the past decade, North Dakota has experienced a tremendous amount of population growth and economic development due to oil and gas related activities in western North Dakota. This influx of people and development has created a large need for improved regional infrastructure, including roadways. Consequently the North Dakota DOT, in cooperation with state and federal partners, have undertaken the design and construction of numerous large scale roadway projects focused on improving reginal capacity. Many of these projects have occurred in some of the more ecologically sensitive regions of the state, prompting the need for a higher degree of environmental analysis to assess the short and long term impacts of project construction.

• One way in which the North Dakota DOT has been expanding their scope of environmental impact analysis is through the use of noise studies that go beyond the scope of TNM. This presentation will highlight case studies from past and present projects that have focused on the assessment of noise impacts to wildlife as well as to noise sensitive recreational areas including the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The presentation will disclose the numerous challenges associated with developing a comprehensive analysis of highway transportation noise and provide an overview of study methodologies that have been effectively implemented to date.

Mike HuffingtonEnvironmental Planner

KLJ

Cassandra TorstensonEnvironmental Section Leader

North Dakota DOT

WILDLIFE & TRANSPORTATION NOISE INNORTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA STATISTICS

• 2015 STATE population*: 756,927 (9.7 people/sq. mi.) • Largest Counties1) Cass County (Fargo): 171,512

2) Burleigh County (Bismarck): 92,991

3) Grand Forks County (Grand Forks): 70,916

4) Ward County (Minot): 71,275

5) Williams County (Williston): 35,294

6) Morton County (Mandan): 30,310

7) Stark County (Dickinson): 32,154

Low, but increasing population density statewide

*July 1, 2015 estimate

Area of Interest

Highway 85 Long X Bridge - Theodore Roosevelt N.P.

Oil & Gas development pressures demanding expanded roadway capacity

Highway 85 – Watford City

PAST AND PRESENT

• Many projects have / are occurring in some of the more ecologically sensitive regions of the state, prompting the need for a higher degree of environmental analysis to assess the short and long term impacts of project construction

• Projects: • US 85 – Belfield to Watford City, ND

• US 85 – Lewis and Clark Bridge, Williston, ND

• I-94 – Western ND through the Badlands

OVERARCHING CHALLENGES:• Multiple State & Federal Agencies to coordinate actions with.

• NPS, USFWS, USFS - National Grasslands, USACE lands, etc• Threatened and Endangered Species • Roadless Areas, National Scenic Byways, Scenic Vistas• Campgrounds, Hiking Trails, Vistors Centers

• Requests for Noise Studies on Wildlife • regulation does not address, • species specific research is limited, and • studies go beyond the scope of TNM.

Highway 85 through Theodore Roosevelt National Park

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK – NORTH UNIT

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dpg/recarea/?recid=79469

US FOREST SERVICE LITTLE MISSOURI NATIONAL GRASSLAND RECREATION MAP

USACE Lands

USFS Dakota Prairie National Grasslands & Inventoried Roadless Areas

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/roadless/2001roadlessrule/maps/statemaps/?cid=fsm8_037720

SPECIES OF CONCERNPALLID STURGEON, BIGHORN SHEEP, &

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE

Lewis & Clark Bridge

US 85

I – 94

US - 85

• Noise Analysis • Wildlife • Noise sensitive

recreational areas • Roadless areas• Theodore Roosevelt

National Park • Designated

Wilderness • Elkhorn Ranch

• Solitude

HYDROACOUSTIC MONITORING US-85 - Lewis and Clark Bridge – Williston, ND

• Mean ambient Sound Pressure Level (SPL) within flowing, temperate, freshwater habitat: 111 – 133 dB

• 100 dB in water ~ 40 dB in air

• 150 dB in water ~ 90 dB in air

• Thresholds

• 206 dB SPLpeak

• 187 dB SELaccumulated

• Factors affecting dB levels in water

• Depth of water column

• Salinity

• Bottom substrate

RESULTS

• Highest Recorded SPLpeak = 169.7 dB (36.3 dB below threshold)

• Highest Recorded SELaccumulated = 171.7 dB (15.3 dB below threshold)

• One session recorded inside of cofferdam

• Recorded levels below thresholds

• Conclusion

• No impacts anticipated. No attenuation measures implemented.

OTHER FINDINGS• Grouse –

• Looked at line of site and distance from known leks. • Results: Did not need a full analysis if we used a timing restriction and added

an environmental commitment into the plan sheets There are four existing sharp-tailed grouse leks within 1 mile of the project. No construction activities, other than hand operations and hauling of materials, will be permitted from sunset to 2 hours after sunrise from March 15 until May 15

• Highway 85 –• We know Bighorn Sheep, Serenity, and Visitor Experience are all important topics. • We are still trying to figure out how to apply our findings. • Any experience you can share would be appreciated!

Goal: To share agency and consultant experiences to assist all with Wildlife Noise!

QUESTIONS?

CASSANDRA TORSTENSONENVIRONMENTAL SECTION LEADER

NORTH DAKOTA DOT 608 E BOULEVARD AVE,

BISMARCK, ND 58505CTORSTENSON@ND.GOV

MIKE HUFFINGTON ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER

KLJFARGO, ND