N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP)

1. N.C. Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) Briefing

2. Ecosystem Enhancement Program • Is a DENR Program that: • Improves our environment. • Facilitates responsible economic development. • Restores streams and wetlands: • Where the need is greatest. • By working with local and state partners, including willing landowners. • The N.C. Department of Transportation and other developers voluntarily use EEP to move their projects forward in a timely and affordable manner.

3. History • Launched in 1997 for local government and general public. • Retooled in 2003 as Ecosystem Enhancement Program. • Four funds: • DOT (Wetlands and Streams) • General Public (Wetlands and Streams) • Buffers enhancements (Tar/Pam, Neuse and Cape Fear basins) • Nutrient Offset (Tar-Pam and Neuse basins)

4. EEP Overview • Voluntary, non-regulatory, receipt-based – no appropriations • EEP is an option. However, 85% of applicants choose EEP (Permittee options: self, bank, EEP) • State/federal oversight – strict compliance standards • State and national recognition for innovation

5. Program Objectives • Improve quality of wetland and stream projects • Streamline infrastructure and private development permitting processes • Accommodate mitigation needs • Stimulus as an example

6. How EEP Helps Developers Original Plan Design Construction Permit Revised Plan Design Mitigation Construction Permit EEP Assistance Design Construction Permit EEP Mitigation TIME

7. Example: Economic Stimulus Package Jobs (rules of thumb) DOT- $6b 220,000 jobs EEP- $750m 10-20,000 jobs •Shelby •Rockingham •Greensboro

8. How EEP Helps the Environment

10. Wake County Road Projects Supported by EEP

12. EEP: Four Programs, Many Partners • ILF Programs: • DOT Steam and Wetland • General Public Stream and Wetland • General Public Nutrient Offset • General Public Buffer • Partnerships: • DOT Agreement – $5 billion in road projects, no permitting delays • Businesses, homebuilders, military, schools - 900 total permits • Developers – 1700 permits for pollutants in two rivers • Willing landowners – Tax credits/deductions; fair economic return; no condemning of land, or taking away property rights

13. Contracting • Engineering/Design • Planning • Construction Contracting • Mitigation Bankers To date: Outsourcing of work, $450+ million

14. Administration at a Glance Program Director: Bill Gilmore Registered professional engineer and land surveyor (30 years) Career in civil engineering, planning and design, natural systems History: @ NCDOT: environmental manager, highway engineer (15 years) @ Private firms: area manager, project manager (16 years) @ NCDENR (5 years) Employees: 60 total; 52 in main office in Raleigh, eight in Asheville Budget: Receipts of approximately $48.5 million in FY 07-08 Frozen Positions: Policy and Procedures Supervisor; Engineer II and Vegetation Specialist

15. KEY ISSUES

16. EEP Key Points • Production At a Glance: • Watershed Plans: 27 compete, 9 in production • 700 projects in some stage of development • 400+ miles of stream restoration • 15,000+ acres of wetlands • Benefits at a Glance: • Local Watershed Plans – best projects, best location • Philosophy – “most bang for buck, help environment and public” • Restoring natural functions --control floods/pollution/erosion; protecting fish and wildlife habitats

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