Office of Environmental Management

OEM Training Program - Track 3

Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Training

Target Audience: Geared toward OEM, District Environmental Management staff, Project Managers and PD&E Consultants. This is also a good resource for LAP Agency partners. Other Development staff involved in or affected by the PD&E process may find topics in this track useful as well.

Description: These on-demand courses provide an overview of the NEPA process and companion training for each chapter of the PD&E Manual. Courses are available in various formats: Computer Based Training (CBT), Recorded Webinar, or Video. When offered as CBT, FDOT staff should take the course in Learning Curve to add it to your FDOT training transcript (find a CBT in Learning Curve by searching for the course title). Others may use the links below to complete the web-based version of the CBT.

Overview and Introductory Courses

  • NEPA 101 Part 1 of 2 CBT - 12/2018 - (CBT) Part 1 of this course provides an overview of the National Environmental Policy Act, including the historical context, specific components and other complementary laws.
  • NEPA 101 Part 2 of 2 CBT - 12/2018 - (CBT) Part 2 of the course examines the composition of NEPA project schedules, commonly-encountered requirements, and some of the major environmental laws and Presidential Executive Orders.
  • OEM Environmental Document Review and Approval Process - 6/2019 - (Recorded Webinar) - This recording provides an overview of the OEM environmental document review and approval process.  It walks the user through initial submittals and comment resolution through final document approval discussing all the steps and expected timelines.

PD&E Manual, Part 1: Process and Guidelines

  • Class of Action - 4/2020 - (CBT) - This CBT helps the participant to understand the differences from the various environmental document class of actions (COA) to assist in selection of the appropriate COA and supporting analysis, consideration, and documentation requirements as provided in Part 1, Chapter 2 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Categorical Exclusions - (CBT) -  8/2019 - This CBT provides an overview of categorical exclusions, their requirements and activities necessary to complete and document in your environmental categorical exclusion document. (See PD&E Manual, Part 1, Chapters 2 and 5)
    • Type 1 CE - Guidance for District Practitioners - (Recorded Webinar) - 5/2021 - This webinar explains categorical exclusions under NEPA and provides guidance about analyzing and documenting Type 1 Categorical Exclusions in accordance with FDOT’s Project Development and Environment procedures. (Refer to PD&E Manual, Part 1, Chapter 2)
  • Preliminary Environmental Discussion (PED) and the Advance Notification - 2/2019 - (CBT) - This CBT provides an overview of the requirements for both the Preliminary Environmental Discussion (PED) and the Advance Notification (AN), instruction on preparing PEDs and ANs, as well as outline Agency roles in the environmental review process. Guidance on these topics is provided in Part 1, Chapter 3 of the PD&E Manual, which should be reviewed in conjunction with this training
  • Project Development Process - 12/2018 -  (Video) - This course provides an overview of the Project Development Process as described in Part 1, Chapter 4 of the PD&E Manual. The FDOT project development process is comprehensive, involving planning, project development and environment, or PD&E, design, right of way, and construction phases. It is important to understand the sequence and interrelation between these phases to successfully deliver a project.
  • SWEPT Type 2 CE Training - 2/2021 - (Video Series) - This training shows how to prepare and process Type 2 CE documents in SWEPT and provides practical expectations regarding what should be considered and evaluated during development of the environmental document.  A companion quick guide has also been developed which shows an overview of the entire Type 2 environmental document development process. This training supports PD&E Manual, Part 1, Chapter 5.
  • Environmental Assessment - 4/2019 - (CBT) This course provides instruction on preparing an Environmental Assessment as described in Part 1, Chapter 6 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) -  2/2019 - (CBT) This course provides instruction on preparing a Finding of No Significant Impact, or FONSI as described in Part 1, Chapter 7 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 2/2019 - (CBT) - This course provides an overview of Environmental Impact Statements in general and instruction on preparing Draft Environmental Impact Statements as described in Part 1, Chapter 8 of the PD&E Manual. 
  • Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) - 7/2019 - (CBT) - This course provides instruction on preparing a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision as described in Part 1, Chapter 9 of the PD&E Manual.
  • State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR)/Project Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) - 5/2021 - (Recorded Webinar) - This webinar provides guidance for preparing SEIRs and PEIRs, the environmental documents prepared for state and locally funded projects, supporting PD&E Manual, Part 1, Chapter 10.
  • Environmental Permits Part 1 – 10/2021 – (Video) – This course is Part 1 on the Environmental Permitting Process as described in the FDOT Permit Handbook and Part 1, Chapter 12 of the PD&E Manual. (For additional training, see OEM Training Track 5 - Environmental Coordination, Consultation, and Permitting.)
  • Environmental Permits Part 2 – 10/2021 – (Video) – This course is Part 2 on the Environmental Permitting process as described in the FDOT Permit Handbook and Part 1, Chapter 12 of the PD&E Manual. (For additional training, see OEM Training Track 5 - Environmental Coordination, Consultation, and Permitting.)
  • Re-evaluations - 10/2021  - (CBT) - This course provides instruction on preparing Re-evaluations as described in Part 1, Chapter 13 of the PD&E Manual. It includes an overview of Re-evaluations and explains the procedure for conducting and documenting a Re-evaluation.
  • Transit Project Delivery - 2/2018 - (CBT) - This session provides a general overview of the Transit Project Delivery process and evaluation requirements during PD&E as described in Part 1, Chapter 14 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Project File and Records Management - 6/2017 - (CBT) - This CBT provides training on data management and retention requirements for FDOT and FHWA as well as maintaining and retrieving project documents in SWEPT as established in PD&E Manual, Part 1, Chapter 15.

PD&E Manual, Part 2: Analysis and Documentation

  • Aesthetic Effects - 5/2017 - (CBT) - This session provides a general overview of the Aesthetic Effects and evaluation requirements during PD&E as described in Part 2, Chapter 5 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Farmland - 11/2016 - (CBT) - This session provides a general overview of the Farmlands and evaluation requirements during PD&E as described in Part 2, Chapter 6 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Section 4(f) Training - 9/2018 - ( Recorded Webinar) - This webinar gives a brief overview of Section 4(f) of the USDOT Act of 1966, which protects publicly owned parks, recreation areas, wildlife and water fowl refuges, and public or private historic properties. Case studies are presented to illustrate the process relative to the various applicability and approval options. Refer to the PD&E Manual, Part 2, Chapter 7.
  • Historical and Archeological Resources - 4/2019 - (CBT) - This course introduces the listener to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and provide an overview of the Section 106 process as dictated in 36 CFR Part 800 and in PD&E Manual Part 2, Chapter 8. 
  • Wetlands and Other Surface Waters – 10/2021 – (Video) – This course provides information on wetlands and other surface waters and instruction on how to evaluate and document involvement on a project as described in Part 2, Chapter 9 of the PD&E manual.
  • Aquatic Preserves and Outstanding Florida Waters - 2/2022 - (Video) - This course provides instruction on analysis, coordination, and documentation of project impacts to waters designated as Aquatic Preserves and Outstanding Florida Waters as described in Part 2, Chapter 11 of the PD&E Manual. 
  • Water Quality and Stormwater - 12/2018 - (CBT) - This course provides instruction in on Water Quality and Stormwater evaluation as described in Part 2, Chapter 11 of the PD&E Manual.  Water resources are protected by the procedural aspects of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA; and the substantive criteria of the Clean Water Act, and Florida Statutes.  The PD&E Manual, Part 2, Chapter 11, provides the procedure for complying with water resources protection laws to ensure that all FDOT projects are evaluated for potential impacts on water quality from stormwater runoff.
  • Wild and Scenic Rivers - 02/2022 - (Video) - This course provides instruction on analysis, coordination, and documentation of project impacts to Florida’s Wild and Scenic Rivers as described in Part 2, Chapter 12 of the PD&E Manual. 
  • Floodplains - 4/2019 - (Video) - This course provides instruction on floodplain encroachments and the analysis and documentation required for potential impacts, as described in Part 2, Chapter 13 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Coastal Zone Consistency – 10/2021 – (Video) – This presentation introduces the coastal zone and discusses FDOT's role in ensuring federal consistency, as well as the procedure for FDOT projects and how inconsistency determinations are made. This training along with Part 2, Chapter 14 of the PD&E Manual outline the process for determining the effects of transportation projects on Florida's coastal zone and provide additional guidance on ensuring compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and the Florida Coastal Management Act of 1978.
  • Coastal Barrier Resources - 2/2022 - (Video) - This course provides instruction on analysis, coordination, and documentation of project impacts to Florida’s Coastal Barrier Resources as described in Part 2, Chapter 15 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Protected Species/Habitat – 10/2021 – (Video) – This course provides instruction on evaluating Protected Species and Habitats as described in Part 2, Chapter 16 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Essential Fish Habitat – 10/2021 – (Video) – This course provides instruction on evaluating Essential Fish Habitats as described in Part 2, Chapter 17 of the PD&E Manual.
  • Natural Resources Evaluation - 5/2020 -  (Recorded Webinar) -  This webinar provides an update to the Natural Resources Evaluation Guidelines consistent with the changes to the 2020 version of the PD&E Manual (see Part 2, Chapters 16 and 17).  
  • Contamination CBT - 10/2018 - ( Video) - This course presents guidance on identifying, evaluating, and handling potential contamination issues associated with FDOT projects in all phases of the project development process as described in Part 2, Chapter 20 of the PD&E manual.
    • Contamination Presentation - 2/2018 - (PDF) - This presentation provides an overview regarding evaluation of contamination issues in FDOT projects.
  • Commitments - 5/2020 - (CBT) - This course provides information on Commitments as described in Part 2, Chapter 22 of the PD&E manual.
    • Commitment Tracking Procedure  - 5/2018  - (Recorded Webinar) - This webinar helps users become familiar with the Department's Project Commitment Tracking Procedure and PSEE's Commitment Module.

Related Topics

For future OEM training opportunities, create an account on our FDOT Contact Mailer and select Environmental Management and Environmental Publications and Updates under the  Publications Interest.  As training opportunities are available, we will send email notifications out through Contact Mailer.