Oregon Department of Transportation, USA

Unprecedented project challenges

The immediate objective was to stabilise the situation, organise and commence debris and hazardous tree removal operations and clear properties and Right of Ways so rebuilding operations could begin and Oregonian’s lives could begin to return to normal.

Our team is working with multiple Oregon State agencies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop the Debris Removal Operations Plan (DROP) that will be the playbook to implement and manage work with contractors.

The DROP is critical to ensure the project safely clears the ash and debris as quickly as possible, while adhering to federal, state and city environmental requirements, and respecting and protecting the historical, cultural, and tribal resources in the affected areas. The goal for this $633m programme is to leave the sites clean where Oregonians can rebuild.

Rebuilding lives

Through the veil of tragedy, the wildfire debris removal monitoring programme has positively impacted thousands of lives throughout the state of Oregon over the past year, and has provided hope for the state’s residents, particularly during the global pandemic.

The programme has generated thousands of jobs across the state and resulted in an environmentally responsible and conscious response to the recovery of people, land and resources. The State of Oregon’s response, in cooperation with all the many stakeholders, has been respectful to the local indigenous people, waters of the state, endangered animals and the environment.