ALDOT operations are guided in part by our environmental policy:

• “While providing a safe, efficient, economically-sound, and environmentally-sound transportation system, it is the policy of the Alabama Department of Transportation to promote the preservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of the State of Alabama
• • through internal and external communication, coordination, and cooperation and
• • by integrating the principles of environmental stewardship, innovation, and compliance into the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of Alabama’s transportation facilities.”

Specific ALDOT environmental activities motivated by this policy include

• • Reducing litter on ALDOT roadways
• • Controlling erosion and sediment on ALDOT construction sites and completed roadways
• • Applying herbicides efficiently and in ways that promote beneficial vegetation on ALDOT property
• • Reducing the environmental impact of treating ALDOT roads for snow and ice
• • Storing and handling chemicals and waste materials safely at ALDOT maintenance facilities
• • Conducting environmental assessments of planned ALDOT roadway project sites
• • Implementing “low-impact development” and “green infrastructure” post-construction stormwater management practices
• • Participating in stream restoration efforts
• • Investigating possible environmental issues discovered on ALDOT property
• • Educating the professional community and the general public regarding the prevention of and solutions to environmental issues

Performing these activities requires extensive coordination among ALDOT’s various offices, and ECS serves to strengthen that coordination.

The citizens of Alabama can help ALDOT keep its roadways environmentally sound. Citizens are our “eyes on the ground” and usually observe a possible environmental concern before we do. Citizens may also have general concerns about ALDOT’s environmental activities. We invite citizens to share their concerns with us by completing our online environmental concern submission form.

We especially encourage citizens to report the following:

• • Excessive litter
• • Spill or leak of a chemical or some other material
• • Illegal dumping / improper disposal of waste material
• • Anything strange in the water, near the water, or about the water at some location (odor, color, cloudiness, suds, oily sheen, growth of algae, dead fish, etc.)
• • Sign of sewage overflow/leak (toilet paper, etc.)
• • Dead or dying grass/vegetation
• • Intrusive vegetation growth
• • Significant erosion
• • Concern about an ALDOT construction activity
• • Clogged drain, pipe, or culvert
• • Flooding or flooding concern
• • Water (flowing or standing) in a ditch during an extended dry-weather period
• • Anything that may harm the environment and/or negatively impact the health or well-being of the public

ECS receives environmental concerns submitted and coordinates with ALDOT offices as necessary so that concerns are considered and addressed appropriately.

In addition to our own anti-litter education and litter pickup activities, ALDOT supports programs that bring the citizens of Alabama together to prevent and pick up litter. We encourage citizens to learn about these programs and see how they can get involved:

• • Alabama People Against a Littered State (PALS)
• • Keep Alabama Beautiful

For projects that warrant special environmental attention, ALDOT forms community outreach groups to involve citizens throughout the planning, design, and construction processes. Below are links to Web pages dedicated to some noteworthy community outreach groups:

• • Birmingham Northern Beltline
• • Safe98 (Mobile)
• • Coliseum Boulevard Plume (Montgomery)

ALDOT has been recognized for the successful outcomes of its environmental activities. Here are just a few of our recent environmental success stories:

• • ALDOT kicks off “Trash Costs Cash” anti-litter public awareness campaign in partnership with ALEA
• • EPA awards ALDOT million-dollar grant to convert diesel-powered ferry to first all-electric passenger ferry in the U.S.
• • ALDOT plays integral role in establishment of Alabama Stormwater Association and facilitates seminars assembling many stormwater professionals
• • ALDOT posts signs informing the traveling public of watershed boundaries
• • ALDOT and City of Mobile form One Clean Mobile partnership to facilitate well-attended litter pickup events and public education opportunities
• • ALDOT distributes Alabama Water Watch infographic “America’s Amazon: Alabama the Beautiful!”
• • A Naturalist Goes Fishing highlights ALDOT’s construction stormwater management and public involvement in Birmingham Northern Beltline project
• • ALDOT achieves 99% sediment yield reduction in Interstate widening project
• • ALDOT contributes to design and distribution of signs encouraging proper pet waste disposal in collaboration with multiple partners
• • Sierra Club names ALDOT’s Little River Canyon Bridge a top-50 project
• • ALDOT receives award for promoting and improving air quality
• • ALDOT’s efforts helping to save red-bellied turtles

The ALDOT MS4 program manages stormwater discharge from ALDOT property in particular urban areas as well as factors that may affect stormwater discharge. This program is a joint effort in which multiple bureaus in the ALDOT central office and offices in ALDOT Regions, Areas, and Districts throughout the State participate. ECS facilitates coordination among these many ALDOT offices in order to achieve the goals of the MS4 program.

To learn more about the ALDOT MS4 program, please view the following documents:

• • Slideshow (PDF): “The Alabama DOT MS4 Program” (21 Oct 2016)
• • MS4 Permit (issued by ADEM 30 Sep 2019)
• • Stormwater Management Program Plan (revised 29 Jan 2021)
• • FY 2014 Annual Report
• • FY 2015 Annual Report
• • FY 2016 Annual Report
• • FY 2017 Annual Report
• • FY 2018 Annual Report
• • FY 2019 Annual Report
• • FY 2020 Annual Report
• • MS4 Regulation-Eligible Areas (as of 2013): Map (PDF)
• • MS4 Regulation-Eligible Areas (as of 2013): GIS Shapefiles (ZIP)

ECS is responsible for the ongoing development of the Stormwater Management Program Plan (SWMPP). The SWMPP explains the MS4 stormwater management activities ALDOT performs, the implementation goals of the activities, the statuses of the activities, and the intended activity timeframes. We welcome feedback on the SWMPP from ALDOT personnel, the professional community, and the citizens of Alabama. Feedback can be sent to us using the online environmental concern submission form.

Some of the ALDOT offices with which ECS coordinates are the following:

• • Design Bureau - Stormwater
  • oConstruction stormwater permitting
  • oPost-construction stormwater management design guidance
• • Design Bureau - Environmental Technical
  • o Environmental permitting
  • o NEPA process implementation for federally-funded projects
• • Construction Bureau - Environmental
  • oConstruction guidance
  • oContractor oversight
  • o Erosion & sediment control training (i.e., QCI)
• • Maintenance Bureau
  • o Oversight of roadway maintenance (litter pickup, herbicide application, snow & ice control, etc.)
  • o MS4 illicit discharge detection & elimination (IDDE) program
  • o Alabama PALS & Keep Alabama Beautiful contract administration
• • Materials & Tests Bureau - Environmental Analysis & Compliance
  • o Hazardous material management oversight & investigations
  • o Environmental permit compliance inspections of ALDOT facilities
  • o Stormwater permit compliance inspections of ALDOT construction & maintenance projects