Environmental Consultation and Resource Information for Long Range Planning

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1 New Horizons Environmental Consultation and Resource Information for Long Range Planning TRB Meeting Federal Surface Transportation Requirements in Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning Trisha White Habitat and Highways Campaign

2 Road Map Habitat and Highways Campaign Integrating Conservation and Transportation Planning: The Basics The National Scene Tools and data sharing Consultation techniques The role of NGOs Section6001.org Challenges

3 Habitat and Highways Campaign Reduce the impact of roads and highways on wildlife and habitat. Existing roads should be modified where necessary to allow wildlife to cross, and minimize impact on the surrounding environment.

4 Habitat and Highways Campaign Reduce future impacts by incorporating wildlife conservation into transportation planning. Future road development should avoid wildlife habitats and environmentally sensitive places.

5 Integrating Conservation and Transportation Planning: The Basics SAFETEA-LU Section 6001 The long-range transportation plan shall be developed in consultation with State, tribal, and local agencies responsible for land use management, natural resources, environmental protection, conservation and historic preservation. A long-range transportation plan shall include a discussion of potential environmental mitigation activities and potential areas to carry out these activities, including activities that may have the greatest potential to restore and maintain the environmental functions affected by the plan. Consultation under clause (i) shall involve comparison of transportation plans to State and tribal conservation plans or maps, if available, and comparison of transportation plans to inventories of natural or historic resources, if available. 1. Consultation with resource agencies 2. Comparison with conservation plans, maps 3. Discussion of mitigation activities, areas

6 Points of Intervention Transportation Planning Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Long term vision for the state for at least the next 20 years. Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Short-term planning on two year cycle. Includes future project list Often includes project costs Projects are NOT Guaranteed to be built Project Selection Priority Projects Budget Constraints Politics Project Development Public Participation Permit Approval Construction State Wildlife Agencies Biologists Advocates Sec 6001 SWAPS Goals and objectives Priority Conservation Species, Habitats, Issues Conservation Actions and Policies Priority Area Maps (Some) NEPA Review Process Generally restricted to legal requirements. Costly and controversial to request changes at this point.

7 The National Scene

8 Integrating Conservation and Transportation Planning Workshops

9 Tools and Data Sharing NatureServe svista State Wildlife Action Plans Habitat connectivity plans

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11 Consultation Techniques World Café Model a meeting process featuring a series of simultaneous conversations in response to predetermined questions. participants rotate through tables during the process spending minutes face-to-face conversations at each.

12 The Role of NGOs Support Organization Data Influence public Influence decision makers

13 Section6001.org The Conservation Professional's Guide to Integrating Conservation and Transportation Planning Transportation Planning 101 Conservation Planning 101 In Your State FAQ Resources

14 Challenges 1. Inertia 2. Responsibility 3. Data 4. Resources

15 Trisha White HabitatandHighways.org Section6001.org