TRB Environment and Energy Workshop 2010 

Raleigh, NCJune 7,  2010

Mary HuntUS EPA Region III  

GREEN HIGHWAYS PARTNERSHIP“Overview of Mid‐Atlantic GHP and 

Insights into Future Direction”

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 sustainability 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.

PartnershipsDiverse & Growing

Rewards & RecognitionRecognize  projects, etc. for excellence in achieving of 

“better than before.”Economic efficiencies and regulatory flexibility

OpportunitiesDemonstration Pilots & ResearchTrainingNational Networks and Information Access

GHP Pillars

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?

Counties , & Municipalities PG, Baltimore, Fairfax, Arlington

FederalUSEPA FHWAUSFWSUSACE

StateMDSHAMDEDCDOTVADEQ/DNRDELDOTDNRECPADEPPENNDOTNYDOTNYSDECNJDOTWVDEPWVDOT

Env. NPOsLow Impact Development- LIDAmerican ForestryConservation FundMD Coastal BaysDELEP

AcademiaUMDVillanovaUWISC-UNHUVTUC

OtherTRBNEMWI

IndustryACAAIRCSCARMANRMCAACPAFIRSTCMRANCASINSANAPA

It’s All About The “P”!

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

Rewards & Recognition

Recognition!

Promote Leading Edge Pilot/Demo Projects & ResearchTrainingNational Networks and Information AccessIncrease Visibility & Transfer of Innovative 

SolutionsInspire Pursuit of Green SolutionsStrengthen Cooperation & Collaboration

Opportunities

GHP Communications

AN INFORMATION RESOURCE GUIDE FOR GREEN HIGHWAY PRACTITIONERS

GHP “Theme Teams”

• Innovative Watershed‐DrivenStorm water Management

• Recycling and Reuse

• Conservation and Ecosystem Protection

GHP “Theme Teams”

Innovative Watershed‐DrivenStorm water Management

• 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

GHP Storm Water Team Objectives

Watershed‐Driven StormwaterManagement 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 infrastructure planning and decision‐making – both  the  “grey and the green.”

GHP “Theme Teams”

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.

Conservation & Ecosystem Protection

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 HighlightsRecycling and Reuse of Industrial Material Byproducts Team

Mid-Atlantic GHP R/R Workshop, August 2007

State DOT pilot projects that optimize beneficial use of byproducts in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania

Virginia GHP demonstration project

Project includes various highway applications, materials

Workshop – Fall 2009 (USEPA $$$)

Virginia Green Rating System Development

West Virginia GHP R/R workshop/New Workgroup

Mid-Atlantic Specification Harmonization Task

Information 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. Bioretention2. Porous Asphalt/Pervious Concrete3. Environmentally Friendly “Green”

Pavements4. Forest Buffers5. Restored and Storm water Wetlands6. Stream Restoration7. Wildlife Crossings & Corridors8. 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.ORGContact Information

Mary Hunt – hunt.mary@epa.gov