Environmental Compliance
To achieve environmental compliance, the IBR program is committed to meeting federal, state and local laws and regulations for protecting the natural, developed and cultural environment.
The IBR program will seek opportunities to enhance communities and the environment within the scope of the program activities.
What is environmental compliance?
It involves the review of a project to (1) understand how the proposed solutions could affect the existing environment and (2) confirm that a project will comply with federal, state and local regulations. The term “environment” is not limited to the natural environment, and includes topics such as transportation access, neighborhoods, and public health.
Environmental compliance efforts identify the environmental consequences of a project and search for solutions that avoid impacts, minimize impacts if avoidance is not possible or mitigate adverse impacts where feasible. The IBR program must obtain multiple permits and approvals related to land use and the environment before construction begins. A key requirement is compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
An Amended Record of Decision (ROD) was issued July 1, 2026, by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. The Amended ROD completes the federal NEPA process and allows the IBR Program to begin construction-related activities.
How will the IBR program preserve and enhance the environment?
The IBR program will comply with all relevant federal, state and local environmental regulations.
Some compliance efforts that the IBR program must address include:
Cultural, tribal and historic resources
Cultural, tribal, and historic resources are federally protected through treaties and laws like Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and at the state level with ORS 358.653 and 358.905 and Washington Executive Order 21-02. To better understand these resources, the IBR program is consulting with 10 federally recognized tribes, the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and other consulting parties.
Fish, wildlife and plants
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects federally listed threatened and endangered species, including their designated or proposed critical habitats. There are also state and local agency requirements that protect state and local sensitive species, and regional Tribes have protections in place for species of cultural importance. The ESA requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service for all actions that may impact listed species.
Waters of the U.S., waters of the state, and water quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates pollutants and establishes quality standards to protect water via the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA also gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority over U.S. waters and navigable waters. Oregon and Washington have other state and local regulations to protect wetlands, shorelines and overall water quality. ODOT and WSDOT have implementing agreements through the CWA to manage stormwater generated on highways they manage. Other requirements include Portland and Vancouver’s stormwater regulations and Washington’s Shoreline Management Act.
People and communities
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits the exclusion of anyone from participation or benefit from a federally funded program on grounds of race, color or national origin. 23 CFR 771.123(k) requires a 45- to 60-day public comment period for Draft Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). The federal NEPA co-lead agencies, Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, in coordination with the IBR Program, set a 60-day public comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), which is the maximum comment period duration. Although the comment period has ended, the Program will continue ongoing efforts to engage with the community to ensure IBR Program investments continue to reflect the needs of the region. The IBR Program looks forward to continuing to engage with the public, answer questions, and increase awareness while attending community events and presenting to organizations.
Marine navigation and levees
The Columbia River is an important marine route supporting a variety of marine vessels including barges, recreational boats and government vessels. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 regulates navigation and federal civil works projects on the river. The Program will require a bridge permit, including approval of a bridge height, from the U.S. Coast Guard to construct a new bridge. The Columbia River Navigation Channel and Portland Metro system of levees are federal civil works projects maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Modification of the navigation channel and levees requires approval from the USACE.
Other environmental requirements
The IBR program will address many other federal, state, regional and local requirements as well as tribal treaty rights. Examples include the Federal Aviation Administration Title 14 CFR Part 77, Washington’s SEPA and the Oregon Statewide Planning Program. The IBR team is coordinating with the appropriate agencies and Tribes on the required reviews and approvals.
About the IBR environmental compliance process
What environmental compliance has already been completed?
A lot of environmental work was previously completed for the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project, including site evaluations and technical studies of various topics (e.g., fish and wildlife, climate and parks and recreation) along the I-5 corridor. In 2011, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) were published that identified and selected the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), which then could advance to further design and construction.
In 2014, the CRC project was suspended after it did not secure adequate funding to move forward.
Under the IBR Program, a Modified LPA was evaluated in a Draft and Final SEIS, which summarize the environmental review findings and proposed mitigations for adverse impacts. Please see the Final SEIS page for details.
An Amended ROD was issued by FHWA and FTA in July 2026, which completed the federal NEPA process. This milestone reflects decades of planning and coordination between Oregon and Washington to replace the Interstate Bridge.
How is today’s environmental compliance effort building on past work?
The prior NEPA decision is still valid; however, many changes to the physical environment, regulatory context, local jurisdictions’ and communities’ priorities have shifted since 2013. In response to those changes, the IBR program will collect additional data and update technical analyses, which will be used to inform decision-making for a better solution to address changed conditions. Technical analysis is also needed for the program to obtain permits, including analysis of air space impacts, navigation impacts, species’ habitat requirements, and mitigation needs.
The IBR team applied the valid environmental data and analysis from the CRC project to the IBR program. Examples of work (not a complete list) that was still valid or required minimal updates included geological conditions and many land uses. On the other hand, community demographics, visual impact assessment methodology, and the transportation analysis from the previous project are outdated, and the IBR team updated these items (among others).
Where are we going?
The Amended ROD selected the design options approved for construction, including:
- A single-level fixed-span bridge configuration across the Columbia River
- One auxiliary lane in each direction to improve safety by giving cars room to enter and exit
- Inclusion of C Street ramps to connect downtown Vancouver to I-5
- Maintaining a centered I-5 alignment through Vancouver
- Dispersing 1,270 parking spaces across multiple park-and-ride sites
With $5.7 billion in available funding, the Program is advancing the first funded phase of construction and moving key improvements within reach: a modern, earthquake-ready crossing providing better connections to the regional transportation system for people and businesses on both sides of the river. In the coming months, the IBR Program will complete work to secure the necessary permits to begin construction and obligate the remaining grant funding.
How does community engagement shape environmental compliance?
Community engagement during the environmental compliance process is an important requirement under NEPA and various permits and approvals.
The Program hosted a 60-day public comment period for the Draft SEIS, ending in November 2025. The Final SEIS responds to the more than 9,100 individual comments the Program received during the public comment period, and outlines commitments the Program is making to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to the environment and community. Please visit the Final SEIS page for more information on how all public comments were considered and responded to.
The investments and design options that advanced through the NEPA process reflect years of public and technical input. The Program coordinated closely with partner agencies, consulted with federally recognized tribes, and engaged with elected officials, advisory groups and communities across the region — including residents, commuters, transit users, the freight and maritime industries, and community organizations.
For more information regarding outreach efforts, view our Accountability Dashboard. The IBR Accountability Dashboard is a transparency tool designed to share engagement metrics and hold the program accountable to the public. Ongoing and inclusive community engagement is critical to identify a solution that balances differing regional perspectives and best serves the complex needs of the variety of users.
Further reading
Council on Environmental Quality’s NEPA webpage
FHWA’s Environmental Review Toolkit
FTA’s Environmental Review Process
We need your help.
Join us in our effort to replace the Interstate Bridge. Your feedback is important in shaping a solution.