Environment: Water, Air, Brownfields,
Solid Waste and Land Use

The following projects and programs highlight the benefits gained from regional approaches to environmental management in the areas of water quality, ecosystems, air quality, solid waste recycling, land use planning, smart growth and brownfields redevelopment.

The NonPoint Source Pollution Public Outreach Program gained strength when the Central Savannah River Area Regional Development Center, in Georgia, purchased a nonpoint source pollution model and organized water quality workshops and demonstrations for local government elected officials, elementary students, civic organizations and the public. The model demonstrates where nonpoint source pollution comes from and how to reduce it. Some of the program’s results include an increase in local pollution mitigation projects.

Georgia’s Central Savannah River Area RDC demonstrates Non Point Source Solutions in the classroom.

The City of Griffin watersheds were close to breeching national water quality standards and failing to diminish and eliminate pollutants, before the city implemented Georgia’s First Stormwater Utility for the City of Griffin. Local partners, like McIntosh Trail Regional Development Center assisted in leveraging funding from sources including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for stormwater GIS mapping, bacteria tracking and drainage modeling. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cited the program’s pollutant removal techniques as a best management practice.

The Northwest Georgia Regional Water Resources Partnership Organization was created by the North Georgia Regional Development Center and Coosa Valley Regional Development Center. The regional development centers’ technical assistance and membership fees from water permit holders, local governments and other interest groups, support the organization’s mission to provide watershed education; fund and implement watershed assessments, water supply studies and storm water management plans; and coordinate regional activities under the proposed state comprehensive water management plan.

Western Illinois Regional Council, the solid waste management organization for a three-county rural area, created a Tri-County Solid Waste Management Recycling Awareness Contest to promote recycling to youth. The ‘Can-Do’ Can Recycling contest challenged 100 fourth graders to collect the greatest number of aluminum cans for their county in eight weeks. Over 4,796 pounds of aluminum, equaling 158,200 cans, were collected. Winning classrooms traveled to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry “Reusable City” exhibition.

Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission is using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology to generate a six-county Regional Brownfields Relational Location Information web-accessible, data source. The commission is developing a digital map layer of brownfield sites and their assessment, cleanup and redevelopment status. Sites are chosen according to the new legal brownfields definition, including mine- scarred lands, petroleum contaminations and controlled substance contaminations, e.g., former gas stations and narcotic (methamphetamine) labs.

Gateway ADD Cave Run Commission with Governor Paul Patton(D-KY, 7th from left) break ground on water facility.

The construction of the Morehead/Rowan County/ Morehead State University Recycling Center, in the Gateway Area Development District, in Kentucky, was completed in November 2000. The 24-hour recycling center has resulted in significant cost savings for the two counties and university and is now being used by seven counties and over 60 local businesses. During the first year of operation, the facility recycling outputs increased by more than 500,000 pounds.

Several communities in the Gateway Area Development District began experiencing water shortages in 1999, followed by use restrictions and new water meter waiting lists, so five local governments and the district formed a Regional Water Commission – Cave Run Water Commission. The commission has since worked to cooperatively pursue construction of a water plant and obtain $12,000,000 for project costs. The commission has acquired $5,050,000 and has satisfied federal and state requirements for construction.

The Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency’s (KIPDA) Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Partnership, in Kentucky, formed in January 2001, provides a forum for regional leaders to discuss and address mounting and costly infrastructure needs. The 21-member partnership is comprised of county judges, executives, mayors, water system managers, operators and engineers. Significant results have been the completion of two water system mergers (with two more in negotiation) and attainment of 27 state grants totaling $3,730,102.

Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission, formed by the Pennyrile Area Development District, in Kentucky, and community partners, aims to provide long term, cost effective safe drinking water services to two counties and one city. The commission is underway with the construction of a ten million gallon per day water treatment plant, eliminating nine treatment plants and combining 12 water systems. The projected construction cost is $75,000,000. The largest portion of funding ($48,200,000) is from USDA Rural Development.

Land-of-Sky Regional Council, in North Carolina, joined the Mills River Partnership and coordinated a grant application to the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, furthering the partnership’s mission to remove watershed impairments. Over $1,500,000 has come from the trust with local, private foundation and U.S. Forest Service match and from EPA (federal Section 319 – Clean Water Act.) The funds were used to hire a full- time watershed project coordinator and support other efforts, such as securing conservation easements.

The team leaders from each sponsor agency reviewing the identified implementation items at the work session to develop the North Carolina DOT’s Ecosystem Enhancement Program. L-R: Greg Thorpe (DENR), Bill Gilmore (DOT), and Scott McLendon (USACE).

A national model, the Ecosystem Enhancement Program is being established collaboratively between the North Carolina Department of Transportation, state Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers – Wilmington District. The program’s mission is to protect the state’s natural resources through the assessment, restoration, enhancement and preservation of ecosystem functions and to compensate for transportation and private sector developmental impacts at the watershed level.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and North Carolina State University Center for Transportation and Environment co-sponsored the North Carolina Air Quality Roundtable. The ongoing workshops bring together 30 different stakeholder groups to cooperatively act on improving state air quality. Stakeholders have identified three emphasis areas: decision-maker and media education, public education and agency technical capacity.

Rural South Carolina’s Catawba River Task Force’s mission is to protect the river’s natural and cultural resources. It is being implemented by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments and other task force members, following goals set forth in the river corridor plan. The council and task force members have already established protection for two-thirds of the region’s 30-mile river frontage, by means of land acquisitions, securing conservation easements and adjusting local ordinances.

Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments “Growth Options” program in South Carolina, develops and implements a model strategy, linking land use, transportation and infrastructure planning and policymaking. The council and Charleston Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are undertaking the development of a broad group of project partners, analyzing regional growth pattern/trends, evaluating fiscal and environmental costs/benefits and investigating smart growth strategies. The program vision is to encourage a metropolitan region that is sustainable, environmentally responsible and proactive towards growth.

Award Winners Central Savannah River Area Regional Development Center, Non Point Source Pollution Public Outreach Program. Contact: Lori Sand or Andy Crosson, 3023 Riverwatch Pkwy., Suite A, Augusta, GA 30907; 706/210-2000; fax 706/210-2006; email lsand@csrardc.org; web www.csrardc.org McIntosh Trail Regional Development Center, Georgia's First Stormwater Utility for the City of Griffin. Contact: Lanier Boatwright, P.O. Box 818, Griffin, GA 30224; 770/227-6300; fax 770/227-6488; email lboatwright@cityofgriffin.com; web www.mtrdc.org North Georgia Regional Development Center and Coosa Valley Regional Development Center, Northwest Georgia Regional Water Resources Partnership Organization. Contact: Barry Tarter or Larry Vanden Bosch, North Georgia RDC, 503 W. Waugh St., Dalton, GA 30720; 706/272-2300; fax 706/272-2253; email ngrdc@ngrdc.org; web www.ngrdc.org; Contact: James Layton or Kristin Taylor, Coosa Valley RDC, P.O. Box 1793, Rome, GA 30162; 706/295-6485; fax 706/295-6665; email cvrdc@cvrdc.org; web www.cvrdc.org Western Illinois Regional Council, Tri-County Solid Waste Management Recycling Awareness Contest. Contact: Suzan Nash or Pam Miner, 223 S. Randolph St., Macomb, IL 61455; 309/837-3941; fax 309/836-3640; email wirpc@wirpc.org; web www.wirpc.org Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission, Regional Brownfields Relational Location Information. Contact: Debby Beavin, 221 East First St., Ferdinand, IN 47532; 812/367-8455; fax 812/367-8171; email debby@ind15rpc.org Gateway Area Development District, Rowan/Morehead/ Morehead State University Community Recycling Center. Contact: Gail Wright, Pamela Farmer or April Haight, P.O. Box 1070, Owingsville, KY 40360; 606/674-6355; fax 606/674-6658; email pamelas.farmer@mail.state.ky.us Gateway Area Development District, Regional Water Commission. Contact: Gail Wright or Pamela Farmer, P.O. Box 1070, Owingsville, KY 40360; 606/674-6355; fax 606/674-6658; email pamelas.farmer@mail.state.ky.us

Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA), KIPDA Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Partnership. Contact: Jack Scriber, 11520 Commonwealth Dr., Louisville, KY 40299; 502/266-6084; fax 502/266-5047; email tina.snyder@mail.state.ky.us; web www.kipda.org Pennyrile Area Development District, Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission. Contact: Dan Bozarth or Chris Sutton, 300 Hammond Dr., Hopkinsville, KY 42240; 270/886-9484; fax 270/886-3211; email chris.Sutton@mail.state.ky.us; web www.peadd.org Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Region B, Mills River Partnership. Contact: Bill Eaker, 25 Heritage Dr., Asheville, NC 28806; 828/251-6622; fax 828/251-6353; email bill@landofsky.org; web www.landofsky.org North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ecosystem Enhancement Program. Contact: Lyndo Tippett or Roger Sheats, 1501 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1501; 919/733-2520; fax 919/733-9150; email rsheats@dot.state.nc.us; web www.ncdot.org North Carolina Department of Transportation, North Carolina Air Quality Roundtable. Contact: Lyndo Tippett or David Hyder, P.E., 1501 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1501; 919/250-4092; fax 919/250-4208; email dhyder@dot.state.nc.us; www.itre.ncsu.edu/cte/Ncairquality/index.html Catawba Regional Council of Governments, Catawba River Task Force. Contact: Harold Shapiro, P.O. Box 450, Rock Hill, SC 29731; 803/327-9041; fax 803/327-1912; email hshapiro@catawbacog.org; web www.state.sc.us/cogs/catawba/ Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, Growth Options: Development and Implementation of a Model Program, Linking Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure. Contact: Ronald Mitchum or Dan Hatley, 5290 Rivers Ave., Suite 400, North Charleston, SC 29406; 843/529-0400; fax 843/529-0305; email danh@bcdcog.com; web www.bcdcog.com

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