U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
From:
// Original signed by //
April Marchese
Director, Office of Natural and Human
Environment
To:
Division Administrators
Federal Lands Highway Division Engineers
Directors of Field Services
Resource Center Managers
Date: July 31, 2008
Reply to: HEPN-50
The purpose of this memorandum is to announce the recipients of both the 2008 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. 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.
This year is a year of transition for both initiatives. This year, the EEIs are not part of the Strategic Plan as an environmental stewardship outcome measure because the initiative has attained its performance goals. In 2008, the EHEIs, now in their second year, have been added to the Strategic Plan. The 2008 goal was to recognize ten EHEIs. We selected 11 as being particularly worthy of recognition. We were also pleased to identify six EEIs for 2008.
This year we acknowledged that environmental achievements do not have to be divided between natural and human initiatives, and offered the opportunity for the same initiative to receive recognition in both EHEI and EEI status. We are pleased to announce the following three initiatives that have achieved both EEI and EHEI status.
Florida: ETDM Florida: Efficient Transportation Decision Making. For developing a collaborative transportation decision making process that protects the natural, cultural and built environment.
Georgia: Natural, Archaeological and Historic Resources Information System. For developing an innovative web-based tool that includes mapping layers for archaeological, historical, and natural environment features.
Utah: Southern Corridor Sustainable Development Initiative and Southern Corridor Endangered Plant Preserve. For working on an innovative pilot project in conjunction with EPA and the City of St. George to protect the environment and identify sustainable development opportunities. As part of this initiative, the ecosystem integrity for two endangered plants was preserved through careful land planning.
Here are the 2008 EHEIs by category:
Alaska: Partnership for Progress. For using a collaborative approach to develop public service announcements to help citizens improve safety and protect environmental resources.
Kentucky: Newtown Pike Extension-Southend Park Redevelopment and Community Land Trust. For a collaborative approach within the state that formed a community land trust to ensure community cohesion and environmental mitigation.
South Carolina: Preservation of the Fishdam Ford Revolutionary War Battle Site. For finding and preserving a site of national historical interest while expediting roadway improvements.
Tennessee: Type II Noise Barrier Program. For instituting a statewide review of their entire Interstate system to identify noise abatement needs.
Utah: Southern Corridor Sustainable Development Initiative. For working on an innovative pilot project in conjunction with EPA and the City of St. George to protect the environment and identify sustainable development opportunities.
California: Interstate 5/International Friendship Plaza. For an innovative approach to create a bicultural transit, pedestrian, and bicycle plaza and gateway between the United States and Mexico.
Illinois: US Business Route 20 Improvement. For developing an innovative assistance approach to ensure community continuity before, during, and after roadway improvements.
North Dakota: Tribal Consultation Programmatic Agreement. For developing a Tribal Consultation Committee and empowering tribes in North Dakota to protect their cultural resources and participate in transportation decision making.
California: Form and Formation of the Humboldt County Tribal Transportation Commission. For forming a Tribal Transportation Commission involving all of the tribes in Northern California to ensure their involvement in transportation decision making.
Florida: Efficient Transportation Decision Making. For developing a collaborative transportation decision making process that protects the natural, cultural, and built environment.
Georgia: Natural, Archaeological and Historic Resources Information System. For developing an innovative web-based tool that includes mapping layers for archaeological, historical, and natural environment features.
Alaska: Yankee Cove Artificial Reefs. For using an ecosystem approach in developing artificial reefs to improve Lynn Canal sub-tidal habitat as well as to gain information about the efficacy of enhancing sub-tidal habitat with natural materials.
Florida: Efficient Transportation Decision Making. For developing a collaborative transportation decision making process that protects the natural, cultural and built environment.
Florida: Kate Ireland Parkway. For developing a sustainable landscape restoration and vegetation management initiative using prescribed burn methods.
Georgia: Natural, Archaeological and Historic Resources Information System. For developing an innovative web-based tool that includes mapping layers for archaeological, historical, and natural environment features.
Maryland: Intercounty Connector (ICC) Project. For developing environmental stewardship projects as part of the ICC with a goal to correct 40 years worth of environmental degradation caused by uncontrolled stormwater runoff from urban development including roadways.
Utah: Southern Corridor Endangered Plant Preserve. For protecting and preserving habitat for two endangered plants through sustainable land planning and partnerships. The planning part of this initiative is also recognized as an EHEI.
Congratulations to all of the State DOTs 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 2009. If you have further questions regarding the EHEI program, please contact Mr. Gabe Rousseau, of my staff, at (202) 366-8044 or gabe.rousseau@dot.gov. For questions about the EEIs please contact Ms. Carol Adkins, of my staff, at (202) 366-2054 or carol.adkins@dot.gov.
