U.S. Department of Transportation Climate …

1 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 1 Department of Transportation Climate adaptation Plan 2014 Ensuring Transportation Infrastructure and System Resilience 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 2 _____ (back page of cover page) 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 3 Table of Contents 1. 5 2. Identification and Assessment of Climate change Related Impacts on the Risk of the Agency's Ability to Accomplish Its Missions, Operations and Programs ..5 Figure 1: Notable Potential Impacts .. 7 Figure 2: Severe Weather Example Superstorm Sandy .. 11 3. Description of Programs, Policies, and Plans the Agency has Already Put in Place, as well as Additional Actions the Agency Will Take, to Manage Climate Risks in the Near Term and Build Resilience in the Short and Long Term .. 12 Figure 3: Selected DOT Climate adaptation Outreach and Education .. 14 4. Description of Agency Response to Significant Climate change Risk .. 14 5. Description of how the Agency Will Consider the Need to Improve Climate adaptation and Resilience, Including the Costs and Benefits of Such Improvement, with Respect to Agency Suppliers, Supply Chain, Real Property Investments, and Capital Equipment Purchases such as Updating Agency Polices for Leasing, Building Upgrades, Relocation of Existing Facilities and Equipment, and Construction of New Facilities.

2 15 6. Highlights from DOT Modal A dminist rations Accomplishments in FY 2012 and FY 2013 and Planned Future Goals .. 16 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) .. 16 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) .. 18 Federal Transit A dministration (FTA) .. 20 Saint Lawrenc e S eaway Deve lopment Cooperation (SLSDC) .. 22 Federal Railroad A dministration (FRA) .. 23 Federal Mot or Carrier S afety Administration (FMCSA) .. 24 Maritime A dministration (MARAD) .. 25 Pipe lines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).. 26 Office of the Secretary ( OST) .. 27 7. Response to Comments Received on the DOT 2012 adaptation Plan .. 28 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 4 (back page of Table of Contents) 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 5 1. Introduction Pursuant to Executive O rders No. 13514 and 13653, as well as Council on Environmental Qualit y (CEQ) Implementing Instructions, the Department of T ransportation (DOT) is required to submit a C limate adaptation Plan.

3 DOT s work on Climate a da ptation began with the understanding that Climate impacts will affect D OT s st rategic goa ls of s afety, state of good repair a nd environmental sustainability. This plan is an update from the 2012 DOT Climate adaptation Plan, which includes the new requirements of 13653 and guidance from CEQ. It reflects FY2013 and FY2014 commitments as well as other D OT accomplishments. This ada ptation plan is organized into sections based on the guidance from CEQ and describes steps DOT will take to move towards fully integrating considerations of c limate c ha nge adaptation and resiliency into DOT policies, programs, and operations. The Offi ce o f the Secretary a nd modal administrations are e ach playing a r ole in implementing this plan. The Offi ce of Safety, Energy and Environment (OSEE), in the O ffi ce of the S ecretary (OST), coordinates DOT s actions with support from the DOT s Climate C ha ng e Cent er, staffed from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Innovation, also located in OST.

4 OSEE has participated in the Interagency Climate C ha nge A da ptation Task For ce, the related CEQ working group and the community of p ractice. DOT staff has present ed wor k on regional impacts, pilots and best practices befor e F ede ral f orums and with Federal age nc ies in orde r to share infor mation and excha nge best practices. OST s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Administration manages DOT s facilities and assets across the country. The DOT administrations listed below have c ommitted to fulfilling specific actions related to DOT s high- leve l priority a ctions. Most DOT administrations report progress on ada ption actions along with other r egul atory and sustainability actions to the D eputy S ecretary at r egul arly sche duled meetings. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Maritime Administration (MARAD) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) 2.

5 Identification and Assessment of Climate change Related Impacts on the Risk of the Agency s Ability to Accomplish Its Missions, Operations and Programs DOT s mission is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient Transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhanc es the qualit y of life of the American people, today and into the future. The D epa rtment and its modal a genc ies oversee the s afe operation of the United States Transportation system including more than 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 6 million miles of public r oads, 120,000 miles of major railr oads, 25,000 miles of commercially na vi gabl e w aterways, 5,000 public-use a irports, 500 major u rba n public transit operators and more than 300 coa stal, Great Lakes, and inland waterways Scientists have c oncluded that some l eve l of Climate c ha nge is a lready occur ring. Weather pa tterns are c ha nging, and these c ha nges are expected to continue or a ccelerate in the The Third National Climate Assessment concludes that higher temperatures, increased atmospheric water vapor, rising sea levels, and the frequency of extreme weather events over the past 50 years have resulted from increased levels of greenhouse gases emitted from human Past weather and Climate patterns appear t o be much less reliable indicators of f utur e weather and Climate than in recent decades, which makes greater f lexibility in planning and decision-making pr oc esses ever more important.

6 Transportation is and will continue to be affected by Climate c ha nge (See Figure 1: Notable Potential Impacts). While mitigating Transportation contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and ada pting to Climate impacts on the Transportation system are e qually important for the Transportation sector to address, and the Department is engaged in a wide variety of activities meeting each goal, this plan addresses ada ptation work only. 1 Source: 2 I ntergovernmental Panel on Climate change . Climate change 2013: The Physical Science Basis: Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change . 2013. and Global change Research Program. Climate change Impacts in the United States: National Climate Assessment. 2014. 3 Walsh, J., D. Wuebbles, K. Hayhoe, J. Kossin, K. Kunkel, G. Stephens, P. Thorne, R. Vose, M. Wehner, J. Willis, D. Anderson, S.

7 Doney, R. Feely, P. Hennon, V. Kharin, T. Knutson, F. Landerer, T. Lenton, J. Kennedy, and R. Somerville, 2014: Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate . Climate change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese ( ) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., Global change Research Program, 19-67. 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 7 Figure 1: Notable Potential Impacts DOT recognizes that c limate variability and cha nge pose threats to Transportation systems. The range o f impacts from these threats may include r oa dway deterioration, flooding, limited waterway access, a nd weakene d structures. Severe c onditions may reduce the life of capital assets and increase operational disruptions. Some c onsequenc es may require c ha nges in the de sign, c onstruc tion, and maintena nc e of infrastruc ture. For e xample, incor poration of c ertain materials and building techniques will ena ble i nfrastruc ture to bette r withstand extreme conditions.

8 DOT s modal a dministrations are t aking steps to address the impacts of Climate c ha nge on their respective missions, which, in turn, address many of DOT s overarching vulnerabilities. These steps vary among modes, but collectively substantial effor t is foc us ed on adapting to Climate variability and cha nge implications. In response to 13514, . 13653, and CEQ Implementing Instructions, DOT identified three high- level priority actions for implementation in both Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. Each of these actions will support DOT s mission and improve the Transportation sector s ability to assess and build resilienc e to risks posed by Climate variability and cha nge. DOT modal a dministrations have committed to implementing the f ollowing pr iority actions: Notable Potential Impacts More frequent /severe flooding of underground tunnels and low-lying infrastructure, requiring dr ainage and pumping, due to more i ntense precipitation, sea level r ise, and storm surge.

9 Increased numbers and magnitude of storm surges and/or r elative sea level r ise potentially shorten i nf rastructure life. Increased the rmal expansion of paved surfaces, potent ially causing degradation and reduced service life, due to hi gher te mperatures and inc reased duration of heat waves. Higher maint enance/constructi on costs for roads and br idges, due to inc reased temperatures, or e xposur e to storm surge. Asphalt degradation and shorter replacement cycles; leading to limited access, congestion, and higher c os ts, due to higher te mperatures. Culvert and drainage inf rastructure damage, due to cha nges in precipitation int ensity, or s now melt timing. Decreased driver/operator performance and decisi on- making skills, due to driver fatigue as a result of adverse weather. Increased risk of vehicle c rashes in severe weather. System downtime, derailments, and slower t ravel times, d ue to rail buckling during extremely hot days.

10 Reduced aircraft perfor mance leading to limited range capabilities and reduced payloads. Air t raffic disruptions, due to severe weather a nd precipitation events that impact arrival a nd depa rture rates. Reduced shi pping access to docks and shore equipment and navigational aid damage. Restricted access to local economies and public Transportation . 2014 DOT Climate adaptation Plan Page 8 Planning. DOT will take actions to ensure that Federal Transportation investment decisions address potential Climate impacts in statewide and metropolitan Transportation planning and pr oject deve lopment proc esses as appropriate in orde r to protect fede ral investments. Through such actions, Transportation systems will gradually become be tte r prepa red for future Climate shifts. Asset Management. DOT will work to incor porate c limate variability and cha nge impact considerations in asset mana gement. For e xample, modal a dministrations will work with grantees to assure that potential impacts are incorporated into existing g rant ee a sset mana gement systems and their own buildings and operations.