EEP Update A Presentation to the Environmental Planning and Policy Committee July 6, 2005 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District

Outline Brief program description for new members Brief program description for new members EEP/DOT Partnership EEP/DOT Partnership Other Accomplishments Other Accomplishments

EEP Objectives –Assist development by reducing project delays –Improve environmental benefit –Improve mitigation efficiency –Promote interagency cooperation

For NCDOT, EEP provides Mitigation for unavoidable environmental impacts Mitigation for unavoidable environmental impacts –Streams –Wetlands –Buffers For mitigation issues, regulatory agency coordination and accountability For mitigation issues, regulatory agency coordination and accountability

Program Description Partnerships Partnerships –circa 2000 –July 22, 2003 –Tri-party MOA –Bi-party MOA

Programs EEP Planning EEP Constr’n EEP Planning EEP Constr’n 11/13 Construction 03/04/05 Transition Reactive EEP Planning Proactive EEP Constr’n EEP Planning Years advanced MOA year

Status

Restoration Assets Summary all current projects (WRP, DOT and EEP Projects) TypeProjectsAmount Streams ,000 ft Riparian Wetlands ac Non-riparian and misc ac Total 379

Production Methods Active DBB FDP Stream (ft) 258, ,000 Wetlands (ac)

High Quality Preservation

HQP Acquisitions Expenditures $45.4 M Protected Streams 121 miles Wetlands 6985 acres Helped purchase more than 24,000 acres

HQP Active Projects 64 projects $46.5 M 1931 acres wetlands 143 miles of stream

EEP/DOT Partnership

EEP Assistance Design/Build Requests for Design/Build Assistance Requests for Design/Build Assistance –Accepted 10 projects into program –7 Projects were accelerated –Design/Construction Value=$683 M –Mitigation provided 31,000 ft. stream 31,000 ft. stream 290 acres wetland$ 11.8 M 290 acres wetland$ 11.8 M 1.4 million SF buffer 2% 1.4 million SF buffer 2%

EEP Assistance- Additional Requests Non-Exhibit 2 Projects Non-Exhibit 2 Projects –Accepted 11 requests into program –Design/Construction Value=$145 M –Mitigation provided 21,000 ft. stream 21,000 ft. stream 14 acres wetland $ 5 M 14 acres wetland $ 5 M 1.4 million SF buffer 3% 1.4 million SF buffer 3%

EEP Assistance- Miscellaneous Mitigation site shortfall Mitigation site shortfall –5 Sites Accepted, 11 Acres WL $1.8 M 1 Violation, 1.1 acres WL $26 K 1 Violation, 1.1 acres WL $26 K

Program Summary July 2003 to June 2005 TIP Mitigation Requests 119 –193,000 ft stream – 612 ac wetland – 152 ac buffer Highway construction cost$1.9 B Mitigation cost $ 55 M Percent total cost 2.8%

Accomplishments

Mutual Accomplishments Top 50 award for government innovation (Harvard University School of Government- 2005) Top 50 award for government innovation (Harvard University School of Government- 2005) Environmental Excellence Award Environmental Excellence Award (National Association of Environmental Professionals- 2005) Innovation Innovation (National Association of Development Organizations- 2003)

Mutual Accomplishments Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative (Federal Highway Administration- 2004) Environmental Excellence Award Environmental Excellence Award (Federal Highway Administration- 2003) Transportation Research Board Transportation Research Board (National Publication- 2005) 2005 Council of State Finalist - Innovation 2005 Council of State Finalist - Innovation

Project Delays In the past 23 months of existence there have been zero project delays resulting from mitigation

Questions