Environment - Map Team

In order to facilitate effective interagency coordination the team has identified a process for working together on transportation projects and provided a checklist to aid in the completion of permit applications. 

• MAP Team Process (pdf 81kb)
  
• MAP Team Complete Application Checklist (pdf 114kb)

Project management and risk identification is key to effective early resource allocation and consequently, maintaining schedule and budget. Recognizing the importance of effective communication on environmental permitting risks, the MAP Team created the Early Project Coordination (EPC) Meeting to help project teams with environmental permit risk identification and management. 

• Early Project Coordination Policy (pdf 77kb)
  
• EPC Letter Example - SR 539, Ten Mile to International Boundary (pdf 206kb)
  

Conflict Management 

With a team of five government agencies with members from diverse professional fields, conflicts will inevitably arise. The MAP Team provides an environment where conflict can be used to create constructive dialog used to solve problems at a project level. Occasionally problems occur that are more programmatic in nature. When this occurs, the MAP Team attempts to clearly identify the problem and propose solutions that can be used by the appropriate agencies to rectify the issue.

Communication Plan

The creation of a MAP Team Communication Plan (pdf 121kb) has helped to facilitate effective conflict management and agency interactions. The plan includes specific procedures, responsibilities, and tools that will contribute to open communication among all involved agencies and staff.Notable Communication

Local and National communication efforts include the following documents: 

• The Journal of the Environmental Council of the States, article, titled "Working Together in Washington State to Streamline the Transportation Permitting Process." (pdf 1.2mb)
   
• Our paper titled "Multi-Agency Permitting Teams: Washington State Recognizes Teamwork is a Critical Tool to Joint Delivery of the State's Transportation and Environmental Protection Needs" (pdf 105kb)was accepted to the Transportation Research Board 84th Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. and will be published in the Transportation Research Record this Summer. 
   
• A presentation with a portfolio (pdf 833kb) was given at the Transportation Research Board Meeting.
   
• Presentations to government and private organizations such as the Performance Advisory Group and the Office of Regulatory Assistance (ORA) have created interest to provide information to the public on this innovative approach to cooperative government.  As a result of this interest in the MAP Team Process ORA, Ecology, and WSDOT have partnered with the MAP Team to beta test the On-line Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA).  
   
  
• Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee (J-LARC) - findings included the MAP Team business model as a successful effort to streamline the permitting process in Washington.