GHP PARTNERSHIPS

NETWORK COOPERATIVE EFFORTS

The GHP partner network is constantly expanding...following is a snapshot of some recent cooperative efforts carried on through the Mid-Atlantic GHP network:

The GHP has formed a key partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The GHP’s partnership with such a widely influential transportation-related organization points to the increasing acceptance of green approaches to transportation and infrastructure practices. A GHP/ASCE sponsored web teleconference held in October of 2009 entitled “Green Highways and Green Streets for 21st Century Infrastructure: Strategies, Technologies and Funding” is the first product of the partnership A second partnership effort is the ASCE Sponsored National Green Street & Highways Conference planned for fall 2010. The Green Highways Partnership and EPA Region 3 are Co-sponsoring this event and are participating in the development of the interactive solution oriented agenda with a focus on sustainable transportation infrastructure including green infrastructure technology for linear facilities

Research – Coordination of government and industry sponsored research in the areas of stormwater management, beneficial use of industrial byproducts, and conservation ecosystem protection. A few specific studies supported by GHP Partners:

Phosphorus Removal from Stormwater using Steel Slag – an EPA Region 3 RARE project which is studying the viability of using electric blast furnace slag material to remove P from stormwater runoff.

EPA Region 3 has partnered with the National Asphalt Pavement Association, Prince George’s County, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and Villanova University to conduct a study of porous pavements as stormwater BMPs. The study will compare their effectiveness in handling water quantity and quality, their durability, long-term O&M costs, and where they can be used most advantageously.

GHP took part in Virginia Regional Environmental Management System (V-REMS) meetings; as a result, V-REMS, the Army Environmental Center, ACPA, and Essroc Italimenti Group studied the performance of NOx absorbing pavement.

Regional/National Collaboration – GHP is collaborating with other EPA Regions, DOTs and organizations interested in transfering the Green Highways Partnership model to their area. In particular, GHP is working with the Great Lakes Program to incorporate Green Highways stormwater strategies into its regional development initiatives and with EPA Region 2 in creating a Green Highways Partnership 101 Training for EPA Regional Offices and other interested parties.

The Recycling and Reuse Program Team is working closely with the Industrial Resource Council, members of which serve on the team. The IRC is developing a number of parallel activities that will promote the beneficial use of recycling and/or using industrial byproducts, including applications for the transportation sector.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is partnering with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to integrate goals in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. PennDOT is examining ways to use local manure products, which will help reduce commercial fertilizer use, as well as assist in building a market for manure products.

GHP’s involvement in the Anacostia Watershed revitilization has resulted in a number of powerful new partnerships: Koch Industries is a well-respected company with multinational holdings devoted to community resource supply; Groundwork USA is a national non-profit sponsored by the EPA and the Department of Interior and is an instrumental community-based revitalization organizations; and North American Realty, a renowned firm specializing in redevelopment activities of former PEPCO properties.

EPA, Prince George’s County, and MDSHA have partnered to utilize Prince George’s County’s Best Management Practice (BMP) Decision Support System in selecting pilot stormwater management pilot projects in Maryland.

GHP KEY CHAMPIONS

The individuals and organizations that significantly contributed to the program development and ongoing implementation and operation are the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration. The key individuals responsible for developing the GHP are GHP originator, Dominique Lueckenhoff, Associate Director, Water Protection Division, Office of State and Watershed Partnerships and Denise Rigney, GHP Project Officer of the same EPA office, Cindy Burbank, formerly Associate Administrator for Planning, Environment and Realty, now with Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc, and Neil Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration. Other key supporters include Craig Hooks, EPA - HQ Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, and Maria Vickers, EPA – HQ Deputy Director, Office of Solid Waste. In addition to the names above, the following is a tiered list of participation and support of other GHP partners. Tier 1 signifies greatest degree of resource investment, support and involvement. While differing degrees and types of support are recognized by the GHP, it is our intention to engage all to define and disclose the unique assets that each entity agrees to bring to the overall effort, in addition to individual “theme team” activities

Tier 1: US EPA: Region 3 - Jon Capacasa – Director, Water Protection Division, John (Randy) Pomponio – Director, Environmental Assessment and Innovation Division (EAID), William Arguto, EAID, Abe Fergus – Director, Land and Chemicals Division (LCD), Mary Hunt, LCD, Ronald Landy, Regional Scientist, Region 3, EPA – Office of Research and Development; Headquarters - Benjamin Grumbles – Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, FHWA: Gloria Shepherd, Associate Administrator, FHWA HQ Office of Planning, Environment and Realty, FHWA HQ, King Gee, Associate Administrator, FHWA HQ Office of Infrastructure, Peter Stephanos, FHWA - HQ, Nelson Castellanos, Administrator, Delaware & Maryland FHWA Division Office, Brian Yanchik, FHWA Resource Center; State DOTs: Karuna Pujara, MDSHA, Kathleen Penney, District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Faisel Hameed, DCDOT, Stanley Hite, Virginia Department of Transportation

Tier 2: Julie Luther Garbini - RMC Research and Education Foundation, Tom Adams– American Coal Ash Association, Neil Weinstein - Low Impact Development Center, Jerry Voight & Leif Wathne - American Concrete Pavement Association, Robert Garbini - National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Michael Blumenthal– Industrial Recycling Council, Robb Jolly & Brenda Delano – ReVision Strategy+ Design, Hal Kassof - Parsons Brinckershoff Inc., Gary Moll - American Forests, Dr. Gary McVoy – New York State DOT. Other Agencies - Delaware DOT, West Virginia DOT, Maryland DE, Maryland DNR, Virginia DEQ, Delaware DNREC, District of Columbia DOE

Tier 3: National Asphalt Pavement Assoc., AASHTO