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“How the EEP Works” National Mitigation and Conservation Banking Conference April 2005. Presentation Outline. Program Goals Program Drivers Delivery Mechanisms Comments specific to full-delivery program* Framework for program assessment. Goals of EEP.
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“How the EEP Works” National Mitigation and Conservation Banking Conference April 2005
Presentation Outline • Program Goals • Program Drivers • Delivery Mechanisms • Comments specific to full-delivery program* • Framework for program assessment
Goals of EEP • Mitigation in advance of impacts • Watershed-based projects • Functional replacement of impacts
Advancing Mitigation Per MOA Years in Advance -3 -5 -7 Number of Years of Impacts MOA Year
Watershed-based Project ID • High level (river basin scale) • Target watersheds for concentration of efforts • Local level (hydrologic unit scale) • Detailed analyses to identify the most environmentally beneficial and cost-effective project investments
Rationale for Watershed Approach • Concentration of projects in focused areas generates greater environmental benefit • Cumulative impacts require cumulative solutions • Investing mitigation dollars into projects identified based on environmental need maximizes environmental benefits
Statistics on Areas of Focus • 25% of North Carolina is covered by Targeted Local Watersheds • These are watersheds where we ask full-delivery providers to focus • 5% of North Carolina is covered by Local Watershed Planning Areas • These are the watersheds that we currently ask full-delivery providers to avoid
Functional Replacement • Goal is to evolve from accounting in terms of acres and feet to quantifying functional losses and gains • Habitat, Water Quality, Hydrology • Interagency teams working on GIS and field assessment methods
Program Mitigation Commitments Program Drivers DOT Impact Projections In-lieu Fee Acceptances Nutrient Offset Buffer Tri-party MOA
DOT Impact Projections • Submitted on February 1st each year • Foundation of biennial budget and program operations • 7 year TIP • Inherent volatility • Efforts underway to improve projections
Operational Strategic Plan Program Mitigation Commitments Program Drivers Program Goals • Full Delivery RFPs • Watershed based Project Development • Design-Bid-Build • Preservation (Yrs 1-2)
Project Delivery Mechanisms • Design – Bid – Build • Full-delivery RFPs • Existing Mitigation Banks • Other agencies • Explore new options (Design-Build; LWP implementation)
Sept/Oct 2004Full Delivery Awards • 143,000 ft. stream • 625 acres of wetland • 75 acres of buffer • Total contract value $ 39,644,356
Comments on FD Process • Private Mitigation Providers are partners that help EEP succeed • After current FD process will work with PMPs on continuous improvement delivery mechanism • Will look to enhance environmental incentives for project identification • Will continue to identify new delivery mechanisms involving PMPs
Capacity Issues • Internal • At 80% total staff • Many staff are new to the business • External • FD and DBB use same designers and contractors • Construction costs increasing while number of bids decreasing
Sponsors Program Assessment and Consistency Group (PACG) EEP Liaison Council PACG Technical Committee Framework for Program Assessment