GREEN HIGHWAYS PARTNERSHIP “Overview of Mid‐Atlantic GHP and Insights into Future Direction”

TRB Environment and Energy Workshop 2010

Raleigh, NC June 7, 2010

Mary Hunt US EPA Region III PRESENTATION COVERAGE

• Overview of Mid-Atlantic GHP • Summary of R/R Team Activities: - Virginia Projects - WV Projects - Specification Harmonization • Insight into Future Direction of GHP Green Highways Partnership (GHP) Mission The GHP serves as a voluntary public-private collaborative that advances environmental stewardship and in transportation planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance while balancing economic and social objectives! GREEN HIGHWAYS PARTNERSHIP “Greening Highways Through Collaboration” What is the GHP?

A public‐private network focusing on effective, green transportation partnering, innovation and collaboration. To promote innovation, stewardship, streamlining, and regulatory consistency & flexibility.

To provide greater incentives for streamlining & environmental stewardship in transportation. The Green Highways Partnership identifies characteristics of a green highway that differs from project to project, and location to location.

To assist DOTs in translating these characteristics into practice, the GHP is developing innovative approaches, market‐ driven solutions and practices. GHP Pillars

Partnerships ™ Diverse & Growing Rewards & Recognition ™Recognize projects, etc. for excellence in achieving of “better than before.” ™Economic efficiencies and regulatory flexibility Opportunities ™Demonstration Pilots & Research ™Training ™ National Networks and Information Access PARTNERS? GHP Uniquely Integrates •Federal/State Transportation/Environmental Agencies •Contractors/Consultants •Materials Industry • Industry/Trade Associations •Academic Institutions •Non‐Governmental Organizations Some of Our PARTNERS? Federal Industry Env. NPOs USEPA ACAA Low Impact FHWA IRC Development- LID USFWS SCA American Forestry USACE RMA Conservation Fund NRMCA MD Coastal Bays State ACPA DELEP MDSHA FIRST MDE CMRA Academia DCDOT NCASI UMD VADEQ/DNR NSA Villanova DELDOT NAPA UWISC-UNH DNREC UVT PADEP UC PENNDOT Counties , & NYDOT Municipalities NYSDEC PG, Baltimore, Other NJDOT Fairfax, Arlington TRB WVDEP NEMWI WVDOT It’s All About The “P”! Rewards & Recognition

™Recognize projects, etc. for excellence in achieving of “better than before.”

™Economic efficiencies and regulatory flexibility

™Market Based Approaches promote cost savings associated with improving the environment

™Provide regulatory incentives Recognition! Opportunities

™Promote Leading Edge Pilot/Demo Projects & Research ™Training ™ National Networks and Information Access ™Increase Visibility & Transfer of Innovative Solutions ™Inspire Pursuit of Green Solutions ™ Strengthen Cooperation & Collaboration GHP Communications

AN INFORMATION RESOURCE GUIDE FOR GREEN HIGHWAY PRACTITIONERS

GHP “Theme Teams”

• Innovative Watershed‐Driven Storm water Management

• and Reuse

• Conservation and Protection GHP “Theme Teams”

Innovative Watershed‐Driven Storm water Management GHP Storm Water Team Objectives

• Promote the integration of public and private stakeholder interest toward watershed protection.

• Address Regulatory flexibility & policies to support watershed- based storm water management.

• Develop business case for DOTs to justify watershed based storm water management .

• Promote Research and Development Watershed‐Driven Management Highlights • GHP Model DOT Stormwater Permit • R&D project –Use of Slag to Reduce P Loadings • County Partnering – Green Highways & Green Streets • Villanova Porous Pavement Study • Maryland State Highway Watershed Approach • Support for Anacostia Watershed‐Driven Nannie Helen • Burroughs (NHB) Project • Support for Prince George’s County, MD Watershed • BMP Optimization Model • Support for Training –ASCE webinar training GHP “Theme Teams”

Conservation and Ecosystem Protection

Promote use of regional ecosystem or watershed framework to integrate planning and decision‐making –both the “grey and the green.” GHP “Theme Teams” Conservation & Ecosystem Protection Eco‐Logical puts forth the conceptual groundwork for integrating plans across agency boundaries, and endorses ecosystem‐based mitigation ‐ an innovative method of mitigating infrastructure impacts that cannot be avoided. GHP “Theme Teams” Recycling and Reuse • Promote environmentally sound and technically acceptable use of industrial materials in transportation infrastructure projects.

• Promote practices that conserve non‐ renewable resources, reduce impacts to landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy. GHP Highlights Recycling and Reuse of Industrial Material Byproducts Team

9 Mid-Atlantic GHP R/R Workshop, August 2007 9State DOT pilot projects that optimize beneficial use of byproducts in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania 9Virginia GHP demonstration project 9Project includes various highway applications, materials 9Workshop – Fall 2009 (USEPA $$$) 9Virginia Green Rating System Development 9West Virginia GHP R/R workshop/New Workgroup 9Mid-Atlantic Specification Harmonization Task 9Information Exchanges (NRC, other regions), outreach tools Virginia GHP Pilot Projects • 5 Originally planned VDOT projects with potential to use various secondary materials (steel slag, spent foundry sand, recycled asphalt shingles, coal ash, scrap tires, RAP, compost) • Virginia Green Rating System West Virginia GHP

• GHP Workshop conducted October 28, 2008 in Huntington, West Virginia • Workgroup formed to identify secondary materials and roadway projects to demonstrate applicability. • Develop GIS Mapping Tool for Industrial materials: http://gisonline.dep.wv.gov/epa/#

GHP R/R Harmonization Task •Barriers of State lines •Industrial materials are treated different •Task is: –Attempt to address differences in specs –Attempt to address differences in regulations •Goal: –Permit the use of industrial materials with specs/regulations that allow easier use across mid- Atlantic states. Materials Targets for Task

• Coal combustion products • Foundry sands • Scrap tires • Asphalt shingles • Iron and steel slag Action Plan with RMRC Support

√ Reviewed and compiled the Mid‐Atlantic States specifications and regulations for targeted industrial byproduct, and other recyclable materials

√ Met with mid‐Atlantic State DOT and Environmental agency representatives on May 25th to discuss findings and areas to harmonize.

√ Findings/Results for path forward EXAMPLES OF GREEN HIGHWAY PRACTICES-

1. Bioretention 2. Porous Asphalt/Pervious Concrete 3. Environmentally Friendly “Green” Pavements 4. Forest Buffers 5. Restored and Storm water 6. Restoration 7. Wildlife Crossings & Corridors 8. Soil Amendments SOLUTIONS MUST BE SUSTAINABLE!

• BETTER THAN BEFORE! Future Direction of GHP • Continue to refine organization, structure and priority efforts through GHP Business Plan – Clarify geographical and programmatic scope of GHP • Update Website & maintain GHP Digest!! – Website potential to serve as “clearinghouse” for national coordination, communication, and networking on related issues/activities • Develop GHP “Blueprint” –a “how to guide” & lessons learned for interested regions/states. • GHP Training & Development Center • Webinars SOLUTIONS MUST BE SUSTAINABLE! THANKS!

WWW.GREENHIGHWAYSPARTNERSHIP.ORG Contact Information Mary Hunt – [email protected]