Office of Environmental Management

PD&E Manual and FDOT Procedure

• PD&E Manual Part 2, Chapter 7, Section 4(f) Evaluations  ( WBT) - FDOT procedures for complying with federal requirements regarding the use of land from publicly owned parks, recreation areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and public or private historic sites for Federal highway projects (codified at 23 U.S.C. 138 and 49 U.S.C. 303, but commonly referred to as Section 4(f) because the requirements originated in Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-670, 80 Stat. 931))
• PD&E Part 2, Chapter 8, Archaeological and Historical Resources ( WBT) - Provides an overview of the Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) process, and FDOT procedures for complying with those requirements
• SWEPT Section 4(f) Tool (FDOT, 2020) (recording) - Provides instructions on how to use FDOT's Section 4(f) Tool in SWEPT. This tool provides the opportunity to record a project's Section 4(f) information in one place. Once an applicability decision or approval option recommendation is made by District personnel, the Office of Environmental Management uses the tool to review and concur with and/or approve Section 4(f) decisions.

Federal Resources

FHWA Guidance

• FHWA Environmental Toolkit - Provides an overview of the Section 4(f) process. Sections within the toolkit most helpful with Section 4(f) evaluations include:
• Section 4(f) Policy Paper - Divided into two major parts: Part 1 provides guidance and explanations for meeting the requirements of Section 4(f); and Part 2 contains a series of questions and answers regarding specific situations and properties for some of the more common Section 4(f) situations
• Section 4(f) Programmatic Evaluations - includes the applicability criteria and the requirements for each of the 5 Nation-wide Programmatic Evaluations
• Section 4(f) Guidance and Legislation - includes additional guidance as well as the laws, the implementing regulations, and the final rule
• Section 4(f) Tutorial - can be used as an introductory training for Section 4(f)
• Technical Advisory: T6640.8A - a guide for suggested formatting of Environmental and Section 4(f) Documents.

Related Laws and Regulations

• 36 CFR Part 800 - regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (please see the Advisory Council Website for general guidance for compliance with historic preservation laws)
• Section 6(f) of the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act - prohibits the conversion of property acquired or developed with Land and Water Conservation funds to a non-recreational purpose without approval of the Dept. of Interior's National Park Service (NPS); Section 6(f) directs the NPS to assure the replacement lands of equal value, location, and usefulness are provided as conditions of such conversions. More information is available on the following websites:
  • Compliance Responsibilities and Legal Protection - Land and Water Conservation Fund (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) - Includes statute references and compliance guidance
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov) - Provides a program overview
  • Land and Recreation Grants | Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) - Lists contact information and assistance through FDEP
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund Maps - Links to interactive maps showing LWCF projects: A Past Projects map tracks information on completed projects funded through LWCF over the program’s history, to the greatest extent possible. A Future Projects map shows projects in need of funding from LWCF.  
• Wild and Scenic Rivers - overview of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Assessment process

For more information about Section 4(f), contact Lindsay Rothrock, OEM Cultural & Historic Resource Specialist