ecoasset workshop022206

Slide1: 

March 13, 2006

North Carolina’s Ecological Strategies (a State and industry partnership): 

North Carolina’s Ecological Strategies (a State and industry partnership) Where it began Where we are now Where we want to go

Where it began: 

Where it began

With a big problem: 

With a big problem Infrastructure needs 78,000 highway system Major economic growth Project delays NEPA Section 404 b(1) 40% of delays mitigation related

Executive decisions: 

Executive decisions “Address the problem and report back with recommendations. . .” “Include specialists in facilitation and change management”

Champions of change: 

Champions of change Sponsorship Tough decisions Legal action Honoring commitments Leadership

Collaboration process: 

Collaboration process Defining the problem 2001 NEPA/404(b)1 integration Mitigation Facilitated sessions Sponsor endorsement Multi-agency Mitigation Redesign Team NCDOT NCDCM NCDWQ NCWRC NCMF USACE EPA USFWS

The framework: 

The framework Avoidance and minimization tests No net loss Temporal loss Watershed context Functional replacement - Scientific basis Programmatic solutions Accountability – Regulatory oversight Compatibility with principles of banking

Partnering with business and industry (The Liaison Council): 

Partnering with business and industry (The Liaison Council) Engineering community (ACEC/PENC) Mitigation Banking Industry (NCERA) Clean Water Management Trust Fund Local Land Trusts (22 plus CTNC) National Land Trusts North Carolinians for Commerce Business and Industry Carolinas Associated General Contractors Natural Heritage Program Southern Environmental Law Center NC Environmental Defense USACE, Wilmington District

Where we are now: 

Where we are now

Slide11: 

Regulatory Document Business Document 3-Party MOA 2-Party MOA DOT/DENR/USACE July 2003 DOT/DENR April 2004 Authority

Slide12: 

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on July 22, 2003 Program launch

MOA key provisions (3 Party): 

MOA key provisions (3 Party) All parties Authority to operate programmatically Commitment to CWA regulations Confirms importance of watershed planning context Commitment to advance mitigation Compliance metrics

Business model (Two-party): 

Business model (Two-party) Predict impacts by type and year Program mitigation based on MOA timing Fund Program for DOT related needs Contract through suppliers

How EEP is different: 

How EEP is different Yesterday Project by project mitigation (limited success) Replacement of impacts on an acre or linear foot basis Reactive mitigation High cost of mitigation Delayed lettings due to mitigation uncertainties Now Program-focused mitigation (watershed) Looking at functions, remain acres and feet. . . for now Proactive mitigation More cost-effective More predictability lettings

Slide16: 

Biennial Budget FY 2005/06 and 2006-07 Cost by Category: Total $175,077,880 Summary Administration $ 9,477,939 Restoration* $ 102,910,770 HQ Preservation $ 57,984,804 Project Development $ 4,704,366 Biennial Total $175, 077,880 *Includes Implementation and Future Mitigation Projects

Restructuring: 

Restructuring WRP 404/401 Mitigation Buffers Nutrient Offset Fund DOT DOT 404/401 Mitigation Request WRP 404/401 Mitigation Request WRP Buffers

Slide18: 

DOT Fund General Public 404/401 Fund Nutrient Offset Fund NCDOT plans and constructs all on-site mitigation

Progress - Wetlands: 

Progress - Wetlands Wetland Credits

Progress - Streams: 

Progress - Streams

Project Locations: 

Project Locations

Demand per year: 

Demand per year Streams 100,000 – 200,000 feet Wetlands 200-500 acres Buffers 100-200 acres 17 River basins 54 watersheds

Slide23: 

Stream Restoration Durham, NC

Outsourced Contracting Methods: 

Outsourced Contracting Methods Watershed Planning- Request for Services Design/Engineering- Request for Services Land Acquisition- Contract with CTNC Construction- Bid Turn Key Two step qualifications and bid

Work in progress: 

Work in progress 238 Contracts $156 Million Active 30 Companies (approximately)

Design-bid-build (historic and active): 

Design-bid-build (historic and active) 379 total projects 215 Stream projects 780,000 feet 80 Riparian wetland projects 2,240 acres 45 Non-riparian wetlands projects 6,380 acres 39 Miscellaneous projects 22 firms

Turn-key Activities: 

Turn-key Activities Awards in September 2004- September 2005 217,000 ft. stream 368 acres of riverine wetland 607 acres on non-riverine wetland 560 acres of buffer Total contract value $ 80,000,000 15 Suppliers

High Quality Preservation: 

High Quality Preservation Criteria Connectivity Heritage sites ESA Parks and gamelands Multi-agency participation Compliments No-net-loss

High Quality Preservation: 

High Quality Preservation 35k+ acres protected land @ $58.3 million 153 miles of stream and 7,507 acres of wetlands Work in progress 131 miles of stream 1,506 acres of wetlands 14 sites to Parks and Gamelands

Slide30: 

Little Table Rock Mountain, Blue Ridge Parkway

Slide31: 

Mingo Tract

Slide32: 

Eastern Coastal Region Trumpet Plants

Slide33: 

Tar River Basin, Central North Carolina

Where we want to go: 

Where we want to go

Goals: 

Goals Stewardship Program Monitoring/metrics New mitigation strategies

Slide36: 

Program Masterplan

Challenges: 

Challenges Finding new mitigation alternatives Maintaining cost effectiveness Sustaining a healthy ecosystem industry

Success: 

Success In the past 30 months. . . Mitigation supporting over $2 billion in highway and other development related permits was provided At approximately 3-5% of construction cost With no project delays

Closing Comments: 

Closing Comments We rely on the private sector Keys to success Partnerships through collaboration Change management specialists Funding/legal experts Particular accolades to NCDOT/USACE

Slide40: 

Thank you William D. Gilmore, PE bill.gilmore@ncmail.net Web: www.nceep.net