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Four new
initiatives will guide the Ecosystem Enhancement Program’s operations,
including a proposed Science Advisory Panel, improved financial
data-sharing, greater efficiency in contracting and increased access to
EEP for private mitigation banks.
The initiatives
continue the evolution of the program’s mission and will dovetail with
the implementation of a new
legal instrument in compliance with revised federal mitigation
rules. NCDENR collaborated with key
stakeholders in developing the four initiatives, which
include:
► Science
Advisory Panel
► Improving
Financial Data-Sharing
► Expediting
Contracts and Amendments
► Bank
Programming Initiative
SCIENCE
ADVISORY PANEL
A Science
Advisory Panel, a group of professionals with appropriate expertise,
would advise NCDENR, its pertinent agencies and ultimately the
state/federal Interagency Review Team on mitigation issues and policy
decisions. The panel would help to support the objectives of successful
mitigation practices based on sound science, and implemented with
effective and innovative technical methods for the protection of North
Carolina’s natural resources.
IMPROVING
FINANCIAL DATA-SHARING
Ongoing
steps to
improve the availability of information on EEP functions and finances
will be supplemented by new information technology in the form of an
interactive website.
The
complexity involved in implementing the state’s public-sector
compensatory mitigation initiatives has resulted in misunderstanding by
some parties. Improvements in financial data-sharing will increase the
visibility and clarity of the inner workings of EEP, and allow EEP
website visitors to mine data to the extent desired.
EXPEDITING
CONTRACTS AND AMENDMENTS
At the
request of
NCDENR, an independent analysis of EEP's outsourcing system was
conducted in 2010 under the leadership of the School of Government at
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This analysis, coupled
with ongoing outreach efforts with key private-sector partners at the
N.C. Environmental Restoration Association and the American Council of
Engineering Contractors/North Carolina, led NCDENR to propose
streamlined methods to expedite contract processing and increase
efficiency in contract administration.
BANK
PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE
The passage
of
Session Law 2009-337 by the N.C. General Assembly promoted the use of
mitigation banks and specified how governmental and private-sector
developers may satisfy permit requirements. To further this concept,
NCDENR is implementing a new initiative to evaluate the availability of
existing bank credits for possible purchase as part of its regular
mitigation programming decisions.
NCDENR
appreciates the input and support of partners in the development of
these initiatives, and looks forward to working in collaboration with
all stakeholders in their implementation. For more information on these
initiatives, please contact EEP Director of Communications Tad Boggs at
(919)715-2227 or tad.boggs@ncdenr.gov. |
