Jan 22-24, 2007

1. Transportation Research Board North Carolina’s Interagency Agreements to Streamline Project Approvals Jan 22-24, 2007 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District

2. To streamline project delivery, North Carolina has introduced new methods to improve communication, project delivery and environmental stewardship

3. Outline Ecosystem Enhancement Program- William D. Gilmore, P.E. Director Interagency Leadership Team- John F. Sullivan, III P.E. FHWA Division Administrator, North Carolina

4. The Ecosystem Enhancement Program In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s project delays were severe for the NCDOT NEPA, Redesign, Mitigation (40%) Project delays caused the Governor’s office and his cabinet to demand new solutions

5. EEP essential components Strong leadership Creativity Risk

6. How it was done • Task force • Charter • Receive proposals • Approve and implement

7. Other actions • Endorsements and support • EPA, USACE, FHWA, USFWS, NCDENR • Located • Headquarters (D.C.) • Region IV (Atlanta) • State

8. Workshops took two forms NEPA/404 Merger Redesign Mitigation Redesign NCDOT NCDCM NCDWQ NCWRC NCMF USACE EPA USFWS

9. Workshop Recommendations • Create a new state program • Provide advance funding • Found program on watershed needs • Use NCDOT impact forecasts for programming • Embrace the private sector in producing products

10. Leadership Created a North Carolina DENR Division with a sole mission to preserve, protect enhance, and restore important natural areas and improve our water quality within our State. BOT programmed EEP into their TIP programming process and budgeted accordingly

11. Risks

12. Risks

13. The signing ceremony The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)was signed on July 22, 2003

14. Accomplishments

15. 1.5 million stream credits (100,000 credits ahead of schedule) 13,000 acres wetland credits (7000 credits ahead of schedule)

16. Statewide Stream Status (July 22, 2006 in credits): Credit requirements (July 22, 2006): 508,323 Projected needs (2008): 871,230 Total requirements (through 2008) 1,379,553 Statewide (EEP Managed Assets*): 1,471,107

17. Statewide Wetland Assets (July 22, 2006 in credits): Credit requirements (July 22, 2006): 902 Projected needs (2008): 2,200 Total production requirements: 3,102 Statewide EEP Managed Assets*: 13,087

18. Compliance Streams 98.43% Wetlands 95.60%

19. High Quality Preservation • Criteria • Connectivity • Heritage sites • ESA • Parks and gamelands • Multi-agency participation • Compliments No-net-loss • 14 sites to Parks and Gamelands

20. Little Table Rock Mountain, Blue Ridge Parkway

21. Shaken Creek Savanna Coastal Plain Eastern Coastal Region Trumpet Plants

22. Haw River State Natural Area

23. Stream Restoration

24. Payne DairyNC Foothills

25. Payne Dairy

26. Payne Dairy

27. Payne Dairy

28. Carbonton Dam Removal

29. Carbonton DamRemoval

30. And for the past 42 months: Supplied mitigation = $46 million NCDOT highway awards= $3 billion % of the highway program $= 2.81 No project delays due to mitigation!

31. Restored, Enhanced or Protected

32. Interagency Leadership Team John F. Sullivan, III P.E. FHWA Division Administrator, North Carolina

33. Overview • The ILT and Our Mission • Our Goals and Objectives • EEP - state-wide mitigation approach

34. Interagency Leadership Team • NC Dept. of Transportation • NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources • NC Dept. of Commerce • NC Dept. of Cultural Resources • NC Wildlife Resources Commission • US Army Corps of Engineers • Federal Highway Administration • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Environmental Protection Agency • National Marine Fisheries Service

35. Develop and implement an interagency leadership plan for North Carolina to balance successfully mobility, natural and cultural resource protection, community values, and economic vitality at the confluence of our missions. Mission

36. Environmental Protection Interagency Plan Economic Vitality Mobility

37. 1. Develop a shared, comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS)2. Local land use and long-range transportation planning result in projects that meet mobility, economic, and environmental goals3. Improve the Merger 01 Process Goals

38. land development proposal Land Use System Transportation System road improvement proposal Water Resources System wetlands identification Other Natural, Cultural Resource Systems habitat or historic places to preserve Integrated Approach opportunities to support multiple community goals and improve quality of life Goal 1- GIS • 1. Create new and update GIS layers, as • needed • 2. Develop a means to share database • layers • 3. Establish a mechanism for maintaining • the data • 4. Create a shared analytical platform

39. Goal 2 -Integrated Planning • Enhance capacity and opportunity of staff to participate in the planning process • Developed integrated planning process • Develop outreach mechanisms for locals using new integration process Natural, Cultural Resource Planning Transportation Planning Integrated Planning Economic Development Planning Land Use Planning

40. Goal 3 - Merger 01 Process • 1.Revised the merger agreement • Developed a conflict resolution process • Developed a roles and responsibilities document • Developed performance measures • Training

41. “ Involve resource agencies earlier in mobility systems planning” “ Improve the Merger 01 Process” Transportation Program Life Cycle Long-Range Planning Determining the Need Determining the Need Program Development Funding the Projects Funding the Projects Project Planning Minimizing the Impacts Minimizing the Impacts “Develop a shared, Project Design comprehensive Design & ROW Design & ROW GIS” Construction Building the Road Building the Road Maintenance & Operations Maintaining the Road Maintaining the Road

42. Transportation Research Board North Carolina’s Interagency Agreements to Streamline Project Approvals Jan 21-25, 2007 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District