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From:
// Original signed by //
Stephen Clinger
Acting Director, Office of Human Environment

Gerald Solomon
Director, Office of Project Development and
Environmental Review

To:
Division Administrators
Federal Lands Highway Division Engineers
Directors of Field Services
Resource Center Managers

Date: July 29, 2010

Reply to: HEPH-1
HEPE-1

The purpose of this memorandum is to announce the recipients of both the 2010 Exemplary Human Environment Initiatives (EHEI) and the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives (EEI).

The EHEIs recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that either create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment. Ten projects received EHEI recognition.

The EEIs identify exemplary ecosystem and habitat projects that are unique or highly unusual in their (a) geographic scope; (b) use of cutting edge science or technology; (c) high level of environmental standards; (d) high quality of results achieved; and/or (e) recognition by environmental interests as being particularly valuable or noteworthy. Seven projects received EEI recognition.

The 2010 EHEIs by category:

Education and Training Programs

• Georgia: The Immortal 600 Teaching Package. For demonstrating how Federal-aid Highway projects can help preserve history.
• California: WalkBikeMarin. For using a range of education and encouragement activities to promote walking and bicycling.

Enhancing the Environment for Human Activities

• Delaware: Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. For improving access to and educational opportunities at an important natural resource.
• Illinois: Goodwin Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements. For improving the safety and convenience of bicycling and walking facilities at a college campus.

Encouraging Nonmotorized Transportation

• California: San Jose Trail Network. For developing an effective nonmotorized transportation network.
• Massachusetts: Health Transportation Compact. For integrating health considerations into transportation decisions.
• Vermont: Way to Go! Commuter Challenge. For an innovative marketing and outreach campaign to promote transportation alternatives.

Process Improvements

• Illinois: Project Notification System for Section 106 Tribal Consultation. For helping to improve opportunities for tribal participation in highway project development.
• South Carolina: US Highway 17 Sweetgrass Corridor. For endeavoring to preserve an important cultural resource.

Product Development

• Florida: Environmental Screening Tool. For developing a transportation decisionmaking tool that improves interagency coordination and public involvement.

The 2010 EEIs are:

• Illinois: Wetland Joint Mitigation Effort. For the rehabilitation and protection of a150 acre native prairie habitat remnant site used for wetlands compensation.

• Michigan: Protected Areas Program. For a stewardship initiative that identifies and protects rare plants, animals and natural communities that occur in MDOT's right-of-way.

• Michigan: Southwest Region High Quality Wetland Preservation. For partnerships, preservation and management activities that streamline permitting processes for future road and bridge project while protecting and enhancing the habitat for endangered species.

• Ohio: PER-93 Wetland Mitigation Area. For wetland mitigation that achieves the highest category of wetland quality based on diversity.

• Utah: US 6, Wildlife Coordination Committee. For continuous coordination and consultation in providing wildlife features and habitat linkages on a large scale.

• Washington: Fish Passage Program. To sustain and restore aquatic ecosystems by improving fish passage and natural stream functions at road crossings through a statewide restoration program.

• Wyoming: Nugget Canyon Deer Fence and Underpasses. State agencies working together to reduce the number of conflicts between the traveling public and wildlife.

Congratulations to all of the agencies and division offices whose efforts are represented in this year's EHEI and EEI selections, and thank you to all who submitted projects for this year. We will be soliciting nominations for our next round of EHEIs and EEIs in April 2011. If you have further questions regarding the EHEI program, please contact Mr. Gabe Rousseau at (202) 366-8044 or gabe.rousseau@dot.gov. For questions about the EEIs please contact Ms. Patricia Cazenas at (202) 366-4085 or patricia.cazenas@dot.gov.