SHA Announces ICC Meeting on Environmental Issues

Following is an email from the State Highway Administration announcing this meeting. Would anyone be willing to attend and write a guest blog?

On Fri Aug 14 14:59:18 CDT 2009, SHA ICC Project wrote:

The State Highway Administration (SHA) is holding an open house for the Intercounty Connector’s (ICC) Environmental Stewardship and Compensatory Mitigation (ES/CM) program. Information on the ICC’s mainline environmental features, such as the box turtle relocation, and erosion and sediment control efforts also will be presented at the open house.

The ES/CM program includes an unprecedented level of mitigation to offset environmental impacts associated with the ICC. Above and beyond that mitigation, the package also includes Environmental Stewardship projects that were developed to specifically address degraded environmental conditions in the project area that existed prior to, and not as a result of, the ICC construction. The Environmental Stewardship and Compensatory Mitigation projects include stream restoration, wetlands creation and enhancement, and Stormwater Management Best Management Practices (BMP). The majority of the BMP projects are proposed within the Upper Paint Branch watershed because it contains the most sensitive aquatic resources within the project area.

The details are: Saturday, August 29 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., The National Capital Trolley Museum 1313 Bonifant Road, Silver Spring MD.

This forum will provide an update for interested parties, including an overview of the ES/CM program and progress to date on the proposed stewardship and mitigation efforts throughout the project area. There will be no formal presentations, but members of the project team will be available to answer any questions on the material showcased. We will also post an announcement of this meeting on the project website, www.iccproject.com; SHA encourages you to share this information with your staff.

SHA hopes that you also will take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the proposed environmental projects. In addition, please share this email with your staff members so that they may attend as well. If we may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. John Sales, Community Liaison, Office of the ICC, toll-free at 866-462-0020 or via email at iccproject@sha.state.md.us.

Sincerely, Melinda B. Peters, Director, Office of the ICC