HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE 121001 DEC
a
Memorandum
To : Commission for the Environment
From : Roy Fortmann , Chair
Date : December 3 , 2001
Re : December 10 , 2001 Meeting Agenda
Please find attached the agenda and materials for the next meeting of
the Commission for the Environment , on
Monday, December 10, 2001
7 : 30 p . m .
Southern Human Services Center
2505 Homestead Road
Chapel Hill , NC
Please note that we are scheduled to adopt the State of the Environment
Progress Report 2001 (the final draft is enclosed).
If you have questions , or will be unable to attend , please contact Carol
Melton ( 245 - 2597 , cmelton@co . orange . nc . us ) by the Friday before the
meeting .
f
AGENDA
Orange County
Commission for the Environment
December 10 , 2001
7 : 30 p . m .
Southern Human Services Center
2505 Homestead Road , Chapel Hill , NC
Time Pg # Item
7 : 30 I . Call to Order
7 : 32 2 II . Approval of Minutes ( November 12 )
7 : 35 III . Committee Reports
Each committee will be asked to present their goals , status
reports , plans and priorities for 2002 .
8 : 35 separate IV . 2001 State of the Environment Progress Report
The final draft of the report is included as Attachment 1 . Action
is needed on the report, which will be transmitted to the Board
of Commissioners at their February retreat .
8 : 50 V . Priorities and Goals for 2002 - 2003 ( BOCC Retreat)
A draft will be emailed prior to the meeting and provided as a
handout .
9 : 15 VI . BOCC Agenda Items Update
Please see Attachment 2 . This will become a regular agenda
item at future meetings
9 : 25 23 VII . Calendar of Meetings for 2002
Please see Attachment 3
930 VIII . Adjournment ( next meeting — January 14 )
01
COUNTY OF ORANGE
COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Draft Summary of Meeting November 12, 2001
Held at Orange County Southern Human Services Center,
Chapel Hill , NC
Members Present : Julie Tucker ( Chair) , Mark Smith , Roy Fortmann , Cara Crisler, Laura Cotterman ,
Johnny Randall , Hervey McIver, Dan Okun , Chris Wachholz, Annette Jurgelski and Commissioner Alice
Gordon .
Excused Absences : Richard Pratt, Lee Rafalow
Staff Present : David Stancil , ERCD Directors Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Managers Bradley Decker,
ERCD Interns Carol Melton ERCD staff.
I . Call to Order
Chair Tucker called meeting to order at 7 : 35 p . m .
II . 2001 State of the Environment Progress Report
Tucker provided an overview of the status of the 2001 State of the Environment progress
report . She thanked intern Bradley Decker for compiling the draft sections prepared by
each committee into single document .
CfE members reviewed and discussed the draft report . Suggestions were made for editing
the EIE Committee 's section , including adding more information on progress , removing the
bond education example , moving the Cost of Community Services paragraph to the goals
sub - section , and changing the format to match the other sections . It was agreed that Staff
will edit the format , insert a missing paragraph , and add EIE committee information on
progress to date .
The Water Management Committee 's section was discussed next , which led to comments on
the committee name . It was agreed that the committee would be re - named the Water
Resources Committee , and that staff would incorporate BOCC goals into their section and
make necessary formatting changes .
Other suggested changes to the report included amending some negative sounding status
statements to make them sound more positive and responsive . Chair Tucker suggested that
the committees meet for brief breakout session to finalize changes and to give Staff their
final edits . Fortmann inquired about an Executive Summary . Decker reported he had
prepared a draft summary and that it had been sent to the Chair . It was agreed that the
summary would be distributed to the members by email along with the final version of the
report . It was also agreed that a one - sentence purpose statement be added to each
committee section .
Action to adopt the report was postponed until the December meeting because the BOCC 's
retreat will be rescheduled from December to early 2002 . A revised draft report will be
DRAFT - Meeting Summary Pagel of 4
CFE November 12 , 2001
th
emailed to CfE members by November 26 CfE members were asked to review and reply
with any changes by November 30th
Finally , a draft cover from Tucker to the BOCC was handed out and discussed . A few
corrections were suggested and noted . A final version will be included in next meeting
agenda packet .
III . Resolution Concerning Non - Member Participation
Tucker introduced the possibility of allowing other members of the public to participate in
CfE meetings or work groups . Stancil explained the procedures for making amendments to
the membership section of the CfE Rules of Procedure ( Article III , Section A ) . He explained
that any proposed amendment to Rules of Procedure would need to be in accordance with
the procedure described in Article VI ( Amendments ) , which states that proposed
amendments " shall have first been presented to the membership in writing at a regular or
special meeting preceding the regular meeting at which the vote is taken, and provided
further, that any amendment shall be reviewed by the BOCC. "
CfE members discussed the idea of allowing non - member participation , reasons for doing
so , and possible criteria to consider , including the following :
• Identify expert candidates
• Different perspectives
• Time frame/ term of service ( as needed , but not longer than 1 year )
• Pool of experts willing to be called on from time to time
• " Friends of the CfE "
• Advisors or persons to assist with special projects
• Work Groups such as students
• See this happening in the next 12 - 18 months
• Screening process at CfE discretion
• CfE retains final decisions
• Non - voting participants
• Empower committees to seek expertise and / or outside advice
• Recognition incentives
Stancil noted that as the previous Water Resources Committee completed its work , there
had been a similar use of ex - officio participation .
Tucker asked for volunteers to work on drafting a resolution incorporating the ideas
presented and asked staff to email the example of the previous WRC . Wachholz and Tucker
volunteered to draft a resolution for December presentation and January action by the CfE .
IV. Election of Chair and Vice - Chair
Elections were held as required by the Rules of Procedure of the CfE . The members
discussed nominations . Chair Tucker noted that the positions begin at the next meeting and
opened for floor for nominations .
DRAFT - Meeting Summary Page 2 of 4
CFE November 12 , 2001
MOTION : Jurgelski motioned to nominate Fortmann for Chair . Seconded by McIver .
VOTE : Unanimous .
MOTION : Cotterman motioned to nominate Crisler for Vice - Chair . Seconded by McIver .
VOTE : Unanimous .
V . Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan 2002 - 2003
Stancil reviewed the funding sources for the Lands Legacy program acquisitions .
Lands Legacy Fund $ 400 , 000/ yr .
Parks & Open Space Bond * 81000 , 000
Alternative Financing for Easements * * 39000 , 000
$ 11 , 400 , 000
* includes $ 1 million for Chapel Hill - Carrboro Greenways
* * for conservation easements on non - public access lands
Shaw reviewed the draft recommendations from the Biological Resources Committee ( BRC )
for the Lands Legacy action plan for 2002 - 03 . BRC members gave minor edits to staff .
MOTION : Cotterman . motioned approval of the BRC recommendations with revisions as
stated . Seconded by Crisler .
VOTE : Unanimous
VI . Input to BOCC Annual Planning Retreat
Staff to prepare draft and present at December 10th meeting .
VII . Resolution for participation in the International Council for Protection program
Stancil reviewed the following draft CfE resolution recommending that the County
Commissioners approve of Orange County joining the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives ( ICLEI ) and the Cities/ Counties for Climate Protection Program .
Resolution
Orange County Commission for the Environment
Whereas, Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro are communities
that take great pride in their awareness and interest in environmental protection at
the local, Sate, national and global levels, and
Whereas, the County received information about the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Cities/Counties for Climate Protection
Program earlier this year, and
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners on November 20 will receive a report
regarding the potential for joining these programs, and
Whereas, the Town of Chapel Hill 's resolution regarding joint efforts toward a County
emissions inventory is consistent with the Commission 's interests and goals, and
DRAFT - Meeting Summary Page 3 of 4
CFE November 12 , 2001
offers an excellent opportunity for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the County to work
together on important issues that affect the environment and our quality of life .
Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Commission for the Environment
recommends that the Board of Commissioners agree to become a member of 1CLE1
and the Cities/Counties for Climate Protection Program in July 2002, and
recommends that the County work with Chapel Hill and Carrboro to develop an
emissions inventory as an important step in protecting our natural resources .
MOTION : Jurgelski motioned adoption of resolution as read and to forward to the BOCC .
Seconded by Crisler .
VOTE : unanimous
VIII . Committee Breakout Sessions
IX . Next Meeting ( December 10, 2001 )
X . Adjournment
The CFE adjourned at 10 @ 15 p . m .
DRAFT - Meeting Summary Page 4 of 4
CFE November 12 , 2001
ATTACHMENT 2 07
Update Items from
Last Month ' s
Board of Commissioners Meetings
The attached are selected materials of interest from the previous
month' s Board of Commissioners agendas . Where appropriate ,
action taken on the item s written on the top of the abstract .
� v
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ORANOF COUNTY PLANNINQ DEPAR7
PRESENM770N R EQAIN
C4UIVE OR7W AND
MAINTAIN QUALITYOFLIFE
n lnforrrmeticnal meeting wril be held in the Mudge F . Gordon Battle Superior
Courtroom of the Now Orange County Courthouse , 106 E . Margaret Lane ,
Hillsborough , North Carolina , on Monday , November 26 , 2001 at a p p roxi mate I y
p . m . This meeting will follow the completion of the public hearing on on
unrelated matter.
The purpose of th rs forum is to provide information regarding the development of
an updated comprehensive plan for Orange County , The original plan was
created in 1951 with subsequent amendments thereafter. This meeting will
highlight the demographic changes that have occurred in the county and some
growth management oconoepts that are widely used to promote quality
development . There will be no items up for con sideration or vote cn this topic at
this meeting , Additional meati nqs will be scheduled for early next year ,
The new plan can to teased on the principle of balance and al location of
resources } the idea that economic, social , and environmental factors should be
balanced when considering new development, An explanation of these
principles and their role in land use will be presented . A 45 - minute presentation
by planning staff is anticipated followed by questions and answers . Comma nt is
welmme and encouraged .
Questions regarding the meeting may be directed to the Orange County Planning
Department located in the Planning and Agricultural Center , 306F Revere Road ,
Hillsborough , Norte Carolina , Office hours are from $ : fig a . m . to 5 : 00 p . m. Monday
through Friday, You moy a Isc call 245000t2575 ( Hillsborough ) , 088 - 7331 ( Du rhar ) ,
907 -9 51 ( Chapel Hill- arFboro ) , or 2 7- 31 (Mebane/Graham ) , PNeese ask for
extension 2576 or 2585 . You will be directed to a :staff member who will answer
your qu estlo n ,
09
COUNTY OF ORANGE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
.Meeting Date : November 19 , 2001
Action Agenda
Item No .
UB,1ECT : ICLEVC ties / Ccunties for Climate P rotection Program
DEPARTMENT , ERCD PUBLIC HEAFUNG : (YIN )
ATTACHMENT ( $ ) : INFORMATION CONTACT :
IGLEI CCP Informational Pamphlet David Stancill 45- 5g0
• Chapel Hill Town Gouncil Rem ,
1012 101 TELEPHONE NUMBERS .
■ Resolution — Commission for the Hillsborough 7r32 & 8181
Environment Chapel Hill 9684501
Durham 688 .7331
Mebane 336w227w2031
P U RPOSE . To cons ider• joining the Inte ational Council far Local Environmental InitlatIves
( ICLEI ) and the Cities and Counties for Climate Protection ( P ) program , administered b
ICLEI at the University of Califomia in Berkeley , California .
BAC KG ROU NDrh The goal of the CGP program is to reduce greenhou Se gas ( G H ) emissions
that have been implicated ire long -term climate change and are also the result of inefficient use
of fossil fuels . To qualify for the program , cities or c ountlers ( both cities acid counties may be
members ) must 1 ) conduct a local emissions analysis and inventory of community erid
municipal H sources ; ) adopt anemissions reduction target ; � } draft err action plan to
achieve the target ; and 4 ) carry out implementation and monitoring . Tha ICLEI provides
support in the farm of technical assistance , annual training wor<shops , publications , competitive
grants , and access to a network of partielpeting local governments .
The need for emisslons reduction is s" ng in the Triangle , which ranks among the nations 25
most ozone - polluted regions , On a related note , `triangle d Council of Governments qualified
the Triangle region for the U . S . Department of Energy' s Clean Cities Program in November
2000 . a voluntary , locally based initiative to expand the use of alternative fuel vehicles _
These programs are dez igned to be oomplemerfta ry in helping protect the environment , and are
also consistent girth the Board ' s proposed Air Quality goal , which includes c bject ives related . to
examining emissions In the County vehicle fleet , pursuing aM promoting a Item atrve - fu el
vehicles , and reducing emissions Countywide , The Board of Commissioners also has under
consideration a proposed Regulated Reoyclable Materials Ordinance , which v+rt3ile prirriarily
focused on the regulation of soled wastes , could also produce a secondary benefit of improved
air quality through its provisions that would ban roost open turning of waste in unincorporated
Orange County .
. . . . . —
2
The Po a rd reviewed the I L E IIC P program In January and asked staff to evaluate the
possibilities of joining the program , Since. that time , the Torn of Chapel Hill has adopted a
resol utian asking the County and Carrboro to partner in the program and jolnby develop the
local emissions inventory and analysis . On November 12 , the Commission for the Environment ,
which has also reviewed thesCities / Counties for Climate Protoction program , adopted a
resolution in support of joining ILEI .
FINANCIAL IMPACT : The membership cost for ioining I LEI will be $ 1 , 57541 , 75D per year.
Staff Is recommendlng that the County join eftctive July 1 , 2002 and that adequate funds be
appropriated in the FY 02 - 03 budget. As a result of jbining the program , a local emissions
Inventory and analysis must be performed , The Town of Chapel Hill has suggested a joint
Countywide analysis and inventory , with a proposed gent application to cover costs (which are
expected to be 30-50 , 0 ) _ The City of Durham obtained a $ 50 ,0000 I LEI gent and funds
from the H . . State Llniversky Industrial Extension Servfce for this purpose, but those funding
sources are no longer available . However, Federal funds may be available through the LDS
Department of Energy Clean CIttes Program , the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
Improvement Program~ and the Mate Energy PTogram ,
RrECO IMENDATION ( ) : The Manager re mmend 's that the Beard agree to join ICLEI and
th a ChlesJCou noes for Cl imate Prot do n Prog ram as of J u ly 1 , 2002 and that fu nd s be
allocated in the upccming budget for this purpose . The Beard may wlsh to discuss the proposal
from the Town of Chapel Hill for coordinating the emis4sions inventory at an upcoming Assembly
ofo Gcve i n ments meeting .
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Proposal fbr Cooperative Effort for, Working on International Counoil for Local Enviror► . . Page I of 3
6
AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
UM
TO : Mayor and Town. Council
FROM 1 . Calvin Haxtm , Town Manager,
UBJECTO Prapoaal for oopwative Effort far orldeng on Intenatioral Coun � l far Local
Buvinnmental Initiatives
DATE . October 22 , 2001
The attacbed resolution requests the mange County Board of Con= sdonm and the C =boro Board
of Ald. ormen try awborize their I enag to wc�rl� jointly with chapel Hill staff to obtain a funding
50 = 0 and prepare a countyweide emi.asicns reduction plan. �:meee feuding becomes available .
0 as as tea
This memorandum responds to tho . Councallsoroquesto foz k report an whether C =bom and Orange
County are will ' to work Writh hapol r1i11 on a county itie emissions red=o6on ply ,
BACKGROUND
Sri August 23 , 1999 , the Council adopted a resolution pledging the Town to join in the i#aes for
Cli mate Protection Campaign , spar red by the Int = atioaal Qmncil for Local Envirarnnental
Initiatives and the U . S . Enviro=antal Protection Agency. The resolution autho =J ud the Town
vranager to , .
* Take a le &zsliig rile in i reasmg energy eff d =y and. reducing greenhouse gas ez� i .Ssi
aon �
frown municipal operations ;
• Apply for a grant from International Council for Loeai Envirenn=W Initiatives (ICI); and,
If a grant is av&-arded, retain the seirvc cs Ufa eonitanC and develop and MP lament a loyal action
plan which desuAbes the steps to be taken by the Town and the oonr unity to reduce both greenhouse
,has and ai£ pollution emissions ; 1he plan would include :
o Obtain an analy�ls of greenhoLse gas emis �;iong corning from rnumcipd operations and the
unworn unity as a whole.
o Develop a forecast of emissions gmwtb for a future (foreast) year , .
o Adept a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
o Develop a local action plan spmify the actions to be taboo to achieve. the emissions reduotiou
target . •
c Implement and monitor the plan and report the results .
Proposal for Cooperatilve EiTrrrt for crkfn orstc #ionaloux,.ci1 for Local Environn . . Page 2 of
` 7
{On August 27 , 2001 a until member p �til.ioned the Council to request that the Town ]Y%mager
c -ontact the Carrbm Tov m Maaager and the Orange County Manager to discuss worldng together on
Intmi tionA Council for Local Environrncntal Initiativess projects and p7ovide C �out� eil with an
annsw5r to the request by late September or early October 2001 (please see Attaohment 1 ) +
DISCUSSION
I have spoken with County Manager Jeri Link and Carrboro Town Manager Bolen Morgau about
Int =afional Council for Local Envirernmcntal hniti,ativcs . They both said they believed 0 that their
governing boards would be interosted in working togethff on a grant appli tion .
In the past we havfc b = n unable to scotue graze money to pay for an action Flan from the
hAernati on al Council for Local Environmental ,initiatives.
Wo recently contacted the Yntc�rn booze otmcil for Local Environmental Initi Ves agate to inquire
about other funding opportumde.& that may b ome availablc . e Nvill be pro idi other funding
ideas as we hem of thern . For eLxamplo , an opportunity to apply for 8TMt Money may be the EPA } s
Clean ,fir Tmnr portation commuaities Grants Program, which provides grant funding on annual
basis as part of a rcpest for proposals pmcess .
C ,�rrhoro ' s parti �ipatiorr in a tern tivrYal ounoil for Local Env�nmmental Ir batives and the
�Cor nty ' s int t in joining aswell provide a cost- sharing opportunity I'er funding a greenhouse gas
emissions reduction plan . A eounLy Ari de plan also would, be more effecti ve than ome that simply
f0eWos on sources within the Timm limits ,
RECONfKENDA ION -
� e reco= end. the Council adapt e attached resolution.
ATTACIDEENTS
1 . AugLst 27 , 2001 Ivierrmorandumn Proposal far Coopernti Effort fur Working on Intemational
Council far Deal Enviro ental Initiatives . 4) ,
SOLUTION DIMCTING THE TOWNT TO REQUEST PARTICIPATION BY
ARRBOR0 AND ORANGE COLWIrY IN GRANT APPLICATIONS TO FUND J
COTJNT` VID1 EMISSIONS IDUCF ] ON STUDY (2001406=221R-3
WHEREAS , on August 23 , 1999 , the Council adoptcd a resolution pledging the 'Town to j om in the,
Cities for Climate Prot � timn Campaign, sponsored by the International Gau d for Local
Environmental IJaitiatives (ICLED and the UT S . Enviranmmtat Protection Aormcy', and
IV
FIER A , the ouno" I stated that the Town woo d develop a greenhouse gas emissions study in the
ovens that grant: funding is obtained ; aad
7AFEAS , a countywide emissions reduction plan would be more effective than one that focuses on
sources INIthin the Town limits in address ' the regional proll of air pollutioia ; and
Proposal far Cooperative, Effort for Working on InWrrmtional Count 11 for Laval avironrne. „ Page 3 of 3
V KEPLEAS , the C=b oro Fo M and Orange County Manager have expressed irate rat in working
ein with Chapel Hill on ICLEI initiatives .
NOW , BE IT I $ OL by the Council of the T�v� n of Chapel TIil1 that the
Council requests the Orange County Board of Un=isawneas and the Caiibom Board of Aldermen
to authorize thw Managers to work jointly with Chapel Hill staff to obtam a funding scurec and
prepare a countywide cnussio= reduc don playa once funding becomes av �ilable .
This the 22�' d day of Ootober, 2001 . ,
7
Resolution
Orange Coutity Commlission for the Environment
WHEREAS , Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro are
communkiles that take great pride in their awareness ' and interest In
enviro n w entil protection at the local , State, rational and global levels , and
W H E REAS , the Cournty received information isboutthe IntemationaI Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives ( ICLEI ) and the Cities / Counties for Climate
Protection Program earlier this year , and
WHEREAS , the Board of Counter Commissioners on Navember 20 will receive a
report regarding the potential for Joining these programs , and
HEREA , the Town of Chapel Hill ' s resolution regarding joint efforts toward a
County emissions inventory is consistent with tl� � � rnr� issic� n ' s interests and
goals , and offers an excellent opportunity for Chapel Hill , Carrboro , and the
County to work together on important issues that affect the environment and our
quslity of life :
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission for the
Environment recommends that the Board of Commissioners agree to become a
member of I LEI and the itiesl oundes for Climate Protection Program in July
2002 , and recommends that the County work with Chapel Mill and arrboro to
develop an emissions inventory as an important stop in protecting our natural
re � o �, r� es ,
This , the 12 "' day of November, 2001
tJ ul o Ti ceker , Cha it
ornm i ssion for the Envuonmejat
ATTEST
Carol C . Melton
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date ; November 19 , 2001
Action rAgia n a
Item No .
SUBJECT : Appointment to the Garrboro Committee to Preserve the AdEm's Property on
Bolin Greek
]DEPARTMENT , Board of CammlsslonGrs PUBLIC HEARING : (YIN) No
ATTA H IVE N T ( ) : ( Under Separate Cover)
# Appointment Chart
• Letter of Reca m me nd atio n from Sarah INFORMATION CONTACT .
'h i ll iamso n , Oarrbo ro Town Clerk Clerk' s Office , ext . 2130 , 2125 , 2126 , 212
• Excerpt of Minutes cf Carrboro Board of
Aldermen , 08114101 TELEPHONE NUMBERS ,
• Resolution of Carrboro Board of H it tsboroug h 245 -2 1 30
Aldermen , adopted 08121 / a 1 , Fie - Chapel Hill 9684501
affirming the Town ' s Desire to Preserve Durham 688 =7331
PropertyAlong Bolin C rpek Mebane 336=227w2031
* 1010212001 Oarrboro Agenda Item
Abstract Establishing a Committee to
Preserve the Adams Property
PURPOSE ; To appoint a representative to Carrboro ' s Committee to Preserve the Adam' s
Property on Bolin Creek .
BACKGROUND ; The Town of Carrbom is requesting the Board of County Commissioners
appoint one representative to serve on the Committee to Preserve the Adarn ' Property on
Bolin Creek . Thin gill be a shorWerrn t siC fore . The appointee may be a County
Commissioner or designee .
INAN IAL IMPACT : None
RECOMMENDATION ( ! ) ; Appoint Rich Shaw , staff member of the Orange Counter Land
Conservation Manager , ER CD , to serve as the representative of the Beard of County
ommissioner$ on the Corr mlIttee to Preserve the Adam ' s Property on Bolin Creek, for a term
ending approximately 0613012002 .
� P
Mo c� ?c
ORANGE COUNTY
13DARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Dato : November 19 , 2001
Action Agenda
Item No . �
SUBJECT ; Southeast High peed Rail Tier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT ; Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING , ( YIN ) No
ATTA HMENT( S ) , INFORMATfON CONTACT .
1 ) SEH R Tier I Dmft EIS Public Hearne Karen Lincoln , ext . 2594
Information Package and Comment Sheet rah Benedict , ext . 259
( under separate cover) TELEPHONE NUMB EFTS ;
Hillsborough 732m8l 81
Chapel Hill 9684501
Durham 668 "7331
Mebane ( ) 227 -2031
PURPOSE : To receive a report on the Southeae High Speed Rail ( EH R ) and potential impacts
for Orange County .
BACKGROUND :ND : The North Carolina Department of Transportation ( N DOT ) Rpil Division has
released the Southeast Hrgh Speed Rail ( EH R ) Fier I Draft Environmental Impact Statement
( EIS ) . N DOT nduch d eleven ( 11 ) public hearin $ in Berth Carolina ( S eptember 11 th = gh
November 8 ) to encourage public comment re4jaixIing the project+ In addition , complete drafts of
the EIS are available for public review and mments at various locations , Nearby Iocatlons where
the draft EIS can be reviewed include the NCDOT Distdct 1 Office in Raleigh , the NCOOT Dwision
ffl its Durham , and the Lee Counter Manager' s Office in anfbrd . N DOT will consider
comments submitted during this process in making the $ turfy Area Recommendation Deport , whlch
I
s to be completed by the end of this year.
The EIS process for this project i5 divided into tiers . Thy: purpose of the Tier I EIS is to
consider regional impacts of the incremental high sped rail project in order to identify a general
ooMdor location : and to gather public input into the prows : . The Tier II phase of the project will
provide details of track rations ( relocations } , station arrangements and other final design
elements .
The Tier l Graft EIS compares potential environmental impacts and engineering concerns for nine
( 9 ) alternative routes throughout the sturdy area . Six of those alternatives use the ENorth Carolina
Railroad ( NCRR) corridor that traverses Orange County . N DOT wil ) use the comparison of
I ire Tier I Draft EIS , along witty public comments , to determine alternatives to be carried
forward ire a Final Tier I EIS . The Federal Highway Administration ( FHA) and Federal Railroad
Administration ( FI ) will then issue a Record of [decision ( ROD ) for the pr}oaeot . If the ROD selects
build alternative , the pr�aject will begin the Tier 11 phase .
The Tfar I EIS uses secondary data sources and general trends within the study area to compare
environmentaJ impacts of the nine alte matives . The conclusions , therefore : are based on a " big
picture ' perspective and not based on actual surveys qn +d precise impacts , Specific imps. cts ,
Fir t
2
benefits and rn itigation measures vill be detailed in the Tier 11 environmental documentation
process .
Impacts of the SEHSR project In Orange County cannot be fully determined until the Record of
Decision has been made and details to he determined In the Tier 11 EIS . have been worked out .
The Tier II study process Is schedulers to begin in January 2003
The attached information package from the public hearing held in Durham can September 18 , 2001
contains pertinent pages fromo the Executive Summary of the Tier I Draft EIS . ( The Information
package seat under separate cover has been roplied from the October 16, 2001 BOCC agenda
mateaals . Please infer to the October 16 infbnnation package for color pullouts of the ah'amative
mutes, which are provided in Mack and white in the aftached information package .)
FINANCIAL IMPACT . None at #bis time .
RE DM MEN DA110 N : The Administration recommends that the Board receive the report and
address any comments .to staff to be fbrwarded to N DOT Rail Division .
h
MEN
Exhibit ES -2
Southeast High Speed Rail :
Pier 1 EIS Alternative Study Areas
1Nashi afro Area
G
{Zp ' Fredericksburg
� RF & P
A4 *
Richmond
Petersburg t '
S - line
South Hill Emporia
Virgin a-North roiina order
SA - line
K - line S - line f NO, .
Roanoke apids
�JV Henderson ntoo l
Gr _ nsboro ofi
r _
WSSB 11urh3d�' Rock Mount f 1 A - lln e
High t 1 f y
NCRR
ftal2i
.�3'r�• , , �4Vil son
Asheboro - � NCRR
Sanford MPeg
a
Tro
arlotte ~`~ ACWR
N Legend
Existing R ail Lines
Aff
IF
existing Intercity Rail Passenger Service
� Other Existing Rail Lines in Study Area
g �p Other Existing R ight- Of-W ay in Study Area (tracks removed )
-' Urban Areas
Preliminary Study Area
Q State Boundaries
Source : United States Department of Transportation , 1997 , prepared by Carter & Burgess , 1999
ES - 4
SEHSR Washington , DC to Charlotte , NC
Executive Summary
07/02 /01
22
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Additional
Information Items
Commission for the
Environment
December 10 , 2001
Agenda
t
TM
Vol . 12, No . 5 October—December 2001
Congress Approves
LWCF Funding Editorial : William Spencer, a Citicorp
executive and board member of The
M Congress approved a $ 19 . 1 billion Interior appropria - Conservation Fund, foresaw the merger of
tions bill on Oct . 17 to fund the four land management business and conservation interests ,
agencies for fiscal 2002 , which began Oct . 1 .
Funding for federal land acquisitions and state grants
under the Land and Water Conservation Fund program Greenways : Eastman Kodak Co . has
rose $29 million (5 . 4 % ) over fiscal 2001 (see page 7 table) . awarded grants to 31 community groups to
Among the biggest LWCF programs : help plan and develop greenway projects .
• LWCF state grants : $ 144 million (the most since 1981 ) .
• Grants to Florida for Everglades restoration : $ 15 million . Conservation : The Doris Duke Charitable
• Funding for the Army Corps of Engineers for Everglades Foundation has awarded grants to The
restoration : $ 16 million .
Congress also approved : Conservation Fund and others for projects in
• $ 65 million for the Forest Legacy program ( +$5 . 1 mil- the South and the Yellowstone region .
lion), which funds easement acquisitions to protect forest
land from development .
See LWCF, page 7 Small Tracts : The rush to buy and sell
chunks of Maine, a huge rise in wetland
mitigation banking and surprising results
Louisiana and Maryland Wetlands , of a Brookings Institution study on sprawl .
Wyoming Parkland Protected
Watersheds : CF Industries highlights
® The Richard King Mellon Foundation recently donated partnerships in Alaska, Idaho, Vermont
100 square miles of freshwater swamp to the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries . The land, located in and Wisconsin .
St . John the Baptist, St . James and Ascension parishes be-
low Baton Rouge, is now the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife
Management Area . The gift, one of the largest in the 10- Corporate Notes : Bass Pro Shops helps
year history of the Mellon' s American Land Conservation protect the Chesapeake Bay and Illinois-
Program, represents a big step in the state' s effort to pro- American Water Co . teams up with a land
tect 858, 000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat by 2018 . The trust to clean up the Mississippi River .
Conservation Fund helped the foundation with the dona-
tion, which followed earlier gifts of 3, 700 acres of wetlands
and wildlife refuges in the Lake Pontchartrain basin .
Databank : The Conservation Fund achieves
® The state of Maryland will protect 1 ,271 acres of high- top ranking of 39 environmental nonprofit
quality mature forest, including 90 acres of wetlands and groups for its program effectiveness .
See Wetlands, page 7
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2001
AConservationists have lost one of their Greater New York Blood Program,
pioneers in the corporate world—William Spencer was a driving force in The Con-
Corporate Spencer—a long- time director of The Conser- servation Fund' s success . His banking and
vation Fund who died Sept. 9 . Beginning business background helped the Fund de-
Pio n ee r more than a quarter century ago, he led ef- velop systems to monitor finances and focus
forts to promote a common agenda for the on the financial needs of the rapidly grow-
corporate and environmental communities , ing organization .
resi- His experience and dedication helped
I met Spencer in 1974 when he was p
dent and chief administrative officer of the Fund increase its effectiveness and effi-
Citicorp / Citibank . I worked closely with him ciency . The former is reflected in the Fund' s
for decades to bring business leaders and record accomplishments during his years on
conservationists together to work on conser- the organization' s board of directors . The
vation projects . After joining the board of di- latter can been seen in the Fund' s history of
rectors of The Conservation Fund in the allocating 95 % of expenditures to its conser-
1980s, he never missed a board meeting until vation programs and only 5 percent to ad-
his death at age 84 . ministration and fund raising .
He was born in Grand Junction, Colo . , A talented manager, fund-raiser and
graduated from Colorado College in 1939 conservationist, he assisted the Fund in
and moved to New York C ity to begin his ca- building its Corporate Partners Program
_ reer in banking. While in military service that now includes more than 200 of the
is published quarterly as a during World War II, he suffered a serious nation' s leading businesses . He brought
service to the conservation injury that required a six-month recupera- great enthusiasm to his conservation work
community by tion. "From the moment of my recovery, I and remained committed throughout his life
The Conservation Fund vowed to repay through volunteer work the to habitat conservation in his native Rocky
Patrick F. Noonan organizations zations that helped me so much and to Mountains . The Fund will remember him
John F. Turner make a contribution to life," he said . fondly for building the relationships that led
President Spencer was true to his word . His com- to the preservation of 30,000 acres of work-
Mike McQueen mitment to conservation spanned decades , ing ranchlands and elk range in Colorado .
Editor He was a long-time member of the Boone Spencer left a legacy of concern for the
Jack Lynn and Crockett Club and served on the board environment .Editorial Consultant Many corporate leaders have
Meg West of The Nature Conservancy before joining followed in his footsteps . His life' s work and
Art Director The Conservation Fund . Spencer' s dedication unwavering spirit inspire us as we continue
For address corrections and to charitable work was strong, extending to protect and conserve our natural world ,
information, contact: well beyond conservation . He served as di- —Patrick F . Noonan
April Berry rector of the New York Medical Center and The author is chairman of the board of directors
Circulation Manager New York CommunityTrust and chaired the o The Conservation Fund .
The Conservation Fund f
1800 N. Kent St., Suite 1120
Arlington, VA 22209
703 / 525-6300
COMMON GROUND routinely
grants permission for reprints.
Address editorial correspondence
and reprint queries to:
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Printed on recycled paper.
Zt
NO
W p
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"I've always had this dream of buying a little farm ''
g .�'p by
and then sellin it o iece iece. " o
O
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
Kodak Awards American Greenway Grants Kodak Greenway
® Eastman Kodak, National Geographic Soci- • David Burwell, president and CEO of the Grantees
e - uracerans and The Conservation Fund have reco Surface Transportation Policy Pject and co- Kac Heritage Land
g p Yro� Trust,
Alaska
nized four conservation leaders and awarded founder of the Rails-to -Trails Conservancy, Sky Island Alliance, Ariz .
grants to 31 groups for their greenway, trail was honored for his lifetime achievements Friends of Sausal Creek,
and open space projects . in conservation . Calif.
Trees, Water & People, Colo .
• Delaware Greenways of Wilmington, Del . , Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,
Kodak sponsors the annual American is a statewide nonprofit group that has D . C.
Greenway Awards program, which has pro - helped to acquire more than 400 acres of Delaware Greenways, Inc.,
vided 360 rants over eight ears, to stimu- open space and developed more than 12 Del.
g g Y p p p Broward Urban River Trails,
late planning and design of greenways . The miles of trails along the Northern Delaware Fla .
31 local greenway groups (see list at right) Greenway, the state' s first greenway. Wood River Land Trust,
were chosen from nearly 200 applicants to • The State of Maryland created the nation' s Idaho
receive rants u to $2,500 . first GreenPrint program, which provides Living Lands and Waters
g p _ P g � P Restoration Organization,
Among the grantees : $30 million a year to protect and link the 111 .
• The Headwaters Trail System in Three state" s most ecologically important lands (see Canal Corridor Association,
Forks, Mont. , will use its grant to establish a CG 12 :4 ) . The state also completed the Ill .
5 -mile trail to link the cityto the Missouri nation' s first green infrastructure assessment Jo FouDavnds Conservation
g Foundation, Ill .
River Headwaters State Park. and published a statewide atlas of blueways, Morehead Downtown
• The Broward Urban River Trails in Ft. greenways and green infrastructure . Association, Inc ., Ky.
Lauderdale, Fla . , will develo a lik Roanoke Valle Greenwa Commission of Eastern Trail Alliance, Maine
p near par Y Y North County Land Trust,
along an abandoned railroad corridor link- Roanoke, Va . , is a government-appointed Inc„ Md .
ing Broward Urban River Trails to the corri- group that has advised Roanoke City, Saginaw Bay Greenways
dor and nearby neighborhoods . Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton, Va . , in Collaborative, Mich .
• Friends of Sausal Creek in Oakland Calif. , planning or developing greenway ro ects . , Headwaters Trail System,
p g p g g Y p j Mont.
will complete plans for a creekside trail and The awards were presented Sept. 18 at Friends of the Buffalo
prepare a booklet to generate public support the Mid-Atlantic Governors Conference of Niagara Rivers, N.Y.
for the trail . Greenways, s and
d Green Infrastruc- New York Parks and
Y Conservation Association,
The outstanding achievement awardees : ture held in Arlington, Va . N.Y.
Jackson County Greenways
Commission, N. C.
® " New River Community
Partners, Inc ., N. C .
Duke Foundation Awards Grants to Fund Lewis & Clark Bicentennial in
Oregon, Ore.
® The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Idaho . The ranch will be transferred to the Roaring Run Watershed
Association. Pa.
recently awarded $5 . 6 million to The state Fish and Game Department for addition Great Smoky Mountains
Conservation Fund for land conservation in to the Sand Lake Wildlife Management Area . Regional Greenway
the Greater Yellowstone region and the The $3 . 5 million rant for the southern Advisory Board, Tenn .
g g Cumberland Trail
southern Appalachian Mountains . Appalachians will help protect priority for- Conference, Tenn.
estland properties . It is the fifth site chosen City of Roxton, Texas
The Fund received a $2 . 1 million grant by the foundation for its $34 million national Virgin River Land
Preservation Association,
to conserve natural areas and working land- land conservation initiative . Utah
scapes in Idaho and Wyoming under the The two recent grants follow a $3 . 5 mil- Woodstock Conservation
foundation' s Greater Yellowstone Initiative . lion grant the foundation gave to the Fund Commission, Vt.
The grant will be matched on a 54o4 basis last year for land conservation in the gulf Piedmont Environmental
Council, Va .
to protect 10, 000 acres in the region . Partners coastal plain of south Georgia and north Gilmer County Family
include Teton Regional Land Trust, Jackson Florida . Partners are the Tall Timbers Re- Resource Network, Inc.,
Hole Land Trust, Henry' s Fork Foundation search Station, Georgia Conservancy, 1000 W. Va .
"I support Friends of Florida, The Nature Conservancy Heritage Foundation Dane County Natural
Y• pp Y , we
and The Nature Conservanc
conservation projects that respect private and Trust for Public Land . The Fund is work- Milwaukee River Partner
property rights and support rural communi- ing with the research station to acquire land Team, wise .
ties," said Idaho Gov . Dirk Kempthorne . and conservation easements .
"Cooperative actions can provide environ- "In these biologically diverse regions of
mental improvements without putting America where conversion of natural lands is
people out of business . " so prevalent, it is timely to have the vision,
The Fund has committed $500, 000 of the leadership and support of the Doris Duke
grant to protect a 1 ,500-acre ranch along the Charitable Foundation," said Rex Boner, of
Henry' s Fork of the Snake River in Chester, the Fund' s Georgia office . 3
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER DECEMBER 2001
;= x 77 - _,�? r� . r�� .�- �3:, r.:�iF'"a^g.,a J ^,l' .�`l':t ti,: .f �t " •I f� >': .it � .. yr. .L.. v f .' ..� lii,^r'2f. �,?
.i+� - i•.r ' , a .v _ �.i..wr+i ;hz -,3e r , yr>�' f °.,_, �N ..yam(. ;i k,; PS ' .:,:•'+' �, a . � ,�. r , .g), :tip' �:r ' :;t_. 1, . �r i Fr 5.r ; _ ; :
IS M A L L
The West developed land far more effi- Dramatic increases have occurred since
The Conservation Fund ciently from 1982 to 1997 than any other re- 1992 in the use of wetland mitigation bank-
Vital Statistics gion in the country, according to a report by ing to offset wetlands lost to development .
Land protected by TCF the Brookings Institution . In 1997, 10 of the At least 200 wetland banks now operate in
and partners, 2001 : 15 most densely populated metro areas in 41 states, up from 46 banks nationwide a de-
Acres protected: 278,092 the U. S . were in California, Nevada and cade ago . The Environmental Law Institute,
Est. value, $206,030,239 Arizona, according to "Who Sprawls Most? which has released preliminary findings of
Cumulative land protected, How Growth Patterns Differ Across the its new Wetland Mitigation Banking Study
1985-2001 , by TCF and U. S . " (free, 202 / 797- 6139, www . brookings , (www2 . ell . org / wmb) , is seeking to deter-
partners : edu / urban) . Researchers determined densi- mine the impact of the huge increase in wet-
Acres protected : 3,191 ,734 ties by dividing the population of metro land banking . One change since ELI' s .last
Est. value : $ 1 ,538,429,448 areas by the amount of urbanized land as study in 1993 : banks have changed from be-
TCF' s average annual fund- reported in the National Resources Inven- ing mostly publicly owned and intended for
IN raising expense: tort' (www . nhq. nres . usda . gov /NRI) , the sur- a single user to a mix of public and private
1 % of total income vey of land use conducted every five years banks intended for multiple users . In 1992,
The Conservation Fund by the Natural Resources Conservation more than 40 % of the wetland mitigation
is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit Service . Among many surprising findings : banks in the country were located in Califor-
organization established to Los Angeles is more densely populated than nia and Florida . Louisiana now leads the
advance land and water New York, Las Vegas led 280 other metro ar- nation in wetland banks, with 55 approved
conservation in America.
The Fund is a member of eas by increasing its population density by banks and 21 more in development. Califor-
Earth Share and participates 50 % between 1982 and 1997, and metro areas nia has 35 banks approved or under consid-
in the Combined Federal with large shares of foreign-born residents eration . Also ranking high are Florida,
Campaign as #0930 . had much higher densities in 1997 and Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia . Later
sprawled less from 1982 to 1997 than cities this year, ELI expects to create a searchable
with smaller percentages of immigrants . database of wetland banks on its Web site .
O.Earth Share It will publish the final results of its wetland
The Agriculture Department needs to bank study early next year, with analysis,
Conservation Leadership spend more than $2 billion to meet the de- case studies and recommendations for im
Courses mand for conservation programs that protect proving wetland banking .
"Gateway Communities : farmland, restore wetlands, enhance wildlife
Keys to Success" unterac- habitat and improve water quality, accord- The Society for the Protection of New
tive TV workshop), Dec . 6, ing to a new study by an environmental coa- Hampshire Forests has set a goal of protect-
2001 . 304 / 876-7462 * lition seeking more conservation funding in ing nearly 40 % of the state' s land by 2025
"GIS Design for Regional the Farm Bill . Nine of every 10 farmers and through the conservation of an additional
Conservation Planning;' ranchers offering to preserve open space by 1 million acres of the most significant natu-
March 11 -15, 2002; Nov. selling development rights are being rejected ral areas . The proposal, announced Sept. 22
18-221 20020 because of inadequate funding of the Farm- at a meeting celebrating the group' s 1001h
Shepherdstown, W.Va . land Protection Program, according to "Los- anniversary, was outlined in a white paper,
304 / 876-7452 . ing Ground" (www . environmentaldefense . "New Hampshire Everlasting: an Initiative
"The Practice of Environ- Org, 202 / 387-3500), a state-by-state analysis to Conserve Our Quality of Life" (free, 603 /
mentally Sensitive Devel- of conservation backlogs . More than 3,000 224-9945, www. spnhf. org) . The plan env'i-
opment," March 21-221 farmers offering to restore 500,000 acres of sions a connected statewide system of con-
2002, Orlando, Fla . ; April wetlands aren' t receiving funding . And 70 % servation land focused on protection of farm
11 -12, 2002, Chicago, Ill. ; of farmers and ranchers seeking federal and forestry land, community trails and
April 29-30, 2002; Vienna,
Va. 800 / 321 -5011 , funds to improve water quality also come up parks, wildlife habitat and land surrounding
empty-handed each year. At the same time, drinking water supplies . New Hampshire
"GIS Overview for Com- more than 90 % of federal farm payments currently has 1 . 3 million acres of conserva-
munity-Based Natural ,� provide income subsidies to the one-third of tion land, nearly half of which is in White
Resource Conservation, U. S . farmers who grow commodity crops Mountain National Forest . The state, the
April 19-21 , 2002 .
304 / 876-74526 such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and fastest growing in the Northeast, expects to
rice . Five of the largest agricultural states— absorb 400, 000 more people by 2020 . Inter-
Florida, California, New York, North Caro- national Paper announced in July it planned
lina and Pennsylvania—receive just 6 % of to sell its 171 ,500-acre holding in the state .
federal farm spending although they account The forest society is helping develop a con-
for 29 % of the gross revenue earned by farm- servation plan for the land, the largest block
ers and ranchers, according to the study . of private forestland in New Hampshire .
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
i2: a WA
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rLaw X
TRACTS
A record 1,263 local and regional land private support. In 1992, he helped create the
trusts were operating in the U . S . in 2000, Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas,
the Land Trust Alliance reports in its new which has secured more than $30 million to
National Land Trust Census (202 / 6384725, support Texas conservation .
www. lta . org) . The groups have protected
more than 6 . 4 million acres in all 50 states In the last three years, residents of Maine
through fee acquisition and conservation have witnessed striking changes in land
easements . California ( 1 . 25 million acres ) , ownership in the heavily forested state . In
New York (552,220 acres ) and Montana just 18 months, 22 % of the land in the state In just 18 months ,
(505,659 acres) led the nation in acreage pro- (4 . 8 million acres ) changed hands, including
tected . In the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, International Paper's acquisition of 913,000 22 % of the land in
New Mexico, Utah) , land trusts increased acres when it bought Champion Interna- Maine (4 . 8 million
protected lands to 929, 602 acres, up from tional last year . Some land is being protected acres ) changed
40,403 acres protected in 1990 . Trusts in the from development and conserved for for-
South Central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, estry : the Pingree family sold a conservation hands .
Oklahoma, Texas) boosted its protected acre- easement to the New England Forestry
age to 105,967 acres compared to 7,341 acres Foundation for $28 million in March on
a decade earlier . Massachusetts continued to 762, 192 acres of the state forestland in the
lead the nation with 143 nonprofit land con- largest private conservation project in U . S .
servation organizations . California ( 132) and history. Other forest land is being subdi-
Connecticut (112) followed . vided and sold : Plum Creek Timber Co . of
Seattle, which owns about 900,000 acres in
Andrew Sansom, who has run the Texas Maine, announced in July that it intended to
Parks and Wildlife Department since 1990, sell 89 lots on Moosehead Lake . Last year,
will leave his post Jan . 1 . Sansom, who the company sold more than 8,000 acres on
joined the department in 1987, engineered Spencer Lake for $ 10 million to media busi-
the acquisition of Big Bend State Park in nessman John Malone, who now owns all the
1989, a 300, 000-acre addition that now com- shoreline around the lake . The Natural Re-
prises half the state park system. He also led sources Council of Maine (www.maine
an effort to reduce the department' s depen- environment. org) keeps a tally of major land
dence on general tax revenue in favor of transfers in the state on its Web site .
CF Industries Honors Watershed Partnerships
® CF Industries has given National Water- Prairie Du Sac Power Plant on the Wisconsin Alliant chose to
shed Awards to organizations in Alaska, River rather than sell the land for develop - protect the 1 , 800 -
Idaho , Vermont and Wisconsin for demon- ment. The conservancy also has protected acre Merrimac
strating effective nonregulatory approaches and restored 340 acres of wetlands, ponds
to improve water quality , and other habitat in the Baraboo Hills . Preserve near
• Duck Creek Watershed Management the company 's
CF Industries, a North American farm Project (www . epa . gov / owow / showcase / Prairie Du Sac
supply cooperative based in Long Grove, Ill . duckcreek) in Juneau, Alaska, is a national
(www . cfindustries . com) , has honored a cor- demonstration site where partners are restor- Power Plant on
poration and three communities annually ing wetlands and salmon habitat. the Wisconsin
since 1996 for their innovative watershed • Tri-State Water Quality Council (www . River.
partnerships . The Conservation Fund ad- tristatecouncil . org) , based in Sandpoint,
ministers the awards . This year' s awardees : Idaho, whose volunteers from Butte, Mont. ,
• Riverland Conservancy, a nonprofit land to northeast Washington have helped clean
trust created in 1997 by Alliant Energy up the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille watershed .
(www . alliantenergy . com) of Madison, Wisc . , • Lake Champlain Basin Program (www.
won the corporate stewardship award . lcbp . org) , based in Grand Isle, Vt . , whose
Alliant chose to protect the 1 ,800-acre partners have reduced phosphate runoff into
Merrimac Preserve near the company' s the basin over five years by 38 . 8 metric tons .
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
® Bass Pro Shops has joined The Conserva- ® The Illinois-American Water Co . and
tion Fund, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Great Rivers Land Trust ( 618 / 467-2365 )
(CBF) and National Fish and Wildlife Foun- have entered into a partnership that allows
dation in a three-year partnership to raise $3 the utility to obtain a state discharge permit
million for land acquisition and restoration while saving millions of dollars on a new
work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed . Do - water treatment facility in Alton, Ill , The
nations by customers at Bass Pro Shop' s new utility will give $4 . 15 million to the trust
Donations by Outdoor World store in Arundel Mills Mall over 10 years to implement a watershed
near Baltimore, Md . , will be matched by at project that will remove at least 6, 600 tons of
Bass Pro Shop least 54o- 1 by the four partners . In the first sediment a year from a tributary of the Mis-
customers will year, the campaign will focus on conserva- sissippi River . Originally, the Illinois Envi-
be matched by at tion work along the lower Susquehanna ronmental Protection Agency planned to
the River in Pennsylvania, the Nanticoke and require the company to spend $8 million to
least 5- to - 1 b
y Pokemoke rivers in Maryland and the build lagoons, install dewatering equipment
four partners . Rappahannock River in Virginia . The Fund and landfill 3,300 tons of sludge each year
will concentrate on land acquisition and CBF from the plant . But objections to the sludge
will work on restoration in the focus areas . disposal process led the company to seek out
alternatives with the land trust, which plans
® Environmentally-related taxes are lower to acquire up to 2, 000 acres, stabilize
in the United States than 27 other member streambanks and construct silt basins and .
countries of the Organization of Economic dry dams to reduce sediment loads in the
Cooperation and Development (www . oecd . 78,000-acre Piasa Creek watershed .
org) . Revenue from green taxes, such as
Environmentally- those imposed on fuels and ozone depleting ® GreenBiz . com sends out a free e-newslet-
related taxes are chemicals, were below 1 % of gross domestic ter every other week called GreenBuzz . Its
lower in the product in the U . S . in 1998, compared to a aim: to provide resources to help companies
2 . 7 % average in all 28 countries . Denmark, profit from environmental leadership . The
United States Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and Portu- newsletter also prints articles from an im-
than 27 other gal all taxed pollution at more than 3 . 5 % , pressive group of news affiliates : Building
member countries while only Mexico rivaled the low U . S . rate . Operating Management (facilitiesnet . com /
bom), The Earth Times (earthtimes . org) , Earth
of the Organization ® Saving energy at the retail level: A recent Vision (earihvision . net) , edie (Environmental
of Economic Roper poll found that 88 % of Americans said Data Interactive Exchange, www. edie . net) ,
Cooperation and they' re more likely to buy energy-efficient Environmental Building News (building
appliances . Home Depot, the world' s largest green . com), Green@Work (www . greenatwork
Development . home improvement retailer, reported sales mag. com) , The Green Business Letter (green
of insulation products, energy-efficient light- bizletter. com), In Business (www . in
ing and solar-reducing window treatments business . org) , Journal of Industrial Ecology
have dramatically outpaced sales from last (mitpress .mit. edu) and the Natural Business
year . Sears, the number one retailer of EPA LOHAS Journal (lohasiournal . com) .
Energy Star appliances, also reported rising
demand for high-performance appliances ® The Conservation Fund notes with sad-
that conserve electricity and water. And ness the death of auto executive Roy Chapin,
Lowe 's has teamed up with Dominion, the who died Aug. 5 . In 1954 he created the
Richmond, Va . , energy producer, to offer American Motors Award to recognize out-
rebates on energy-efficient appliances . standing volunteer and professional work
on behalf of conservation, one of the first
Level of Environmental Concern Among New Car Buyers awards given by a corporation to an midi-
, �, , ' dual in the conservation field . After
50.0 /° 7-77
American Motors merged with Chrysler,
a0. o °io t.. " ` _ " Gulf Oil Company sponsored the award,
30 . 0 % to h + ,w Ai
y
yT
2o . o°io .' . which is now sponsored by Chevron Corpo-
g s � � m f .
r : ,
10 . 0°� r � . , ration . The award remains one of the highest
o . o /o 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 (1st honors a conservationist can receive . Chapin
ha[Q also was a bird hunter and avid fisherman .
Extremely "Over the years, his love for the Atlantic
• e • Somewhat
— — Not at all Salmon made the protection of this species
his main drive,' said KiKu Hanes, a close
Source: CNW Marketing Research, Inc. family friend and Fund board member .
COMMON GROUND VOL. 12 NO. 5 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
LWCF, from page 1 reation program to rehabilitate city parks .
• $40 million for the Fish and Wildlife Ser- • $43 . 5 million for the North American Wet- Many thanks to these
vice to provide state grants to encourage lands Conservation Program . recent donors to the
landowners to restore wildlife habitat for • $ 10 million for grants to individuals and COMMON GROUND
rare and endangered species . groups to conserve rare and endangered spe- Research Fund :
• $30 million for the Urban Parks and Rec- cies on private land . Lillian Benson
Russell Cohen
Emily Earley
Total Appropriation for Public Land Agencies (in millions of dollars) Mr . & Mrs . Charles
Agency FY TO FY " 01 FY ' 02 Change from '01 Friedrichs
BLM $1 ,497*3 $2,14792 $ 11871 . 2 -276 . 0* Pauline Ney
FWS 886 .5 11227. 0 1 ,276A +49 .4 Robert Olshansky
NPS 11884 . 9 2113592 21323 . 1 + 187 . 8 Mrs . Bradford Purcell
USFS 3,210 . 0 41435A 41130A -305 . 0* Mr . & Mrs . David Strong
Land Acquisition and State Grant Spending (in millions of dollars)
Agency FY 100 FY '01 FY ' 02 Change from '01 Twenty donors have
BLM $47. 8 $56 . 5 $49 . 9 . 6 gi
-6 ven $1 , 105 to the COM-
FWS 61 . 9 12192 99 . 1 - -22 . 1 MON GROUND Research
NPS (total) 181 . 8 215 . 1 274 . 1 +59 . 0 Fund this year. If you
Fed, land acquis . 141 . 7 124 . 8 130 . 1 +5 .3 have not made your gift,
State grants 41 . 1 90 .3 144 . 0 +53 . 7 this is your last chance in
2001 . Send your check
USFS 156 . 0 150 . 9 149 . 7 -1 . 3
c / o The Conservation
LWCF Total 447. 5 5417 5719 +29 . 1 Fund, 1800 N. Kent St.,
* reduction due mostly to annual fluctuation in spending for fire fighting. Suite 1120, Arlington, VA
22209 -2156 .
Wetlands, from page 1
1 . 8 miles of Potomac River shoreline at Dou- tion Fund assisted in the acquisition with
glas Point in Charles County . The state' s help from funding provided by the Doris
new GreenPrint program, which protects a Duke Charitable Foundation for its Greater
network of environmentally significant land Yellowstone Initiative (see story on page 3 ) .
around the state, will provide $6 . 3 million to New TCF Web Site
purchase the land from Potomac Electric ® The Catto Charitable Foundation has hon- The Conservation Fund has
Power Co . The Conservation Fund assisted ored Sarah James of Arctic Village, Alaska, redesigned its Web site to
the state in the acquisition, which should with its American Land Conservation Award include the latest news on
q land acquisitions, sustain"
take place this fall . "Gov. Parris Glendening and an accompanying $50, 000 grant. James able programs and leader-
has changed the landscape of preservation in accepted the award on behalf of the Gwich' in ship training. Early next
Maryland and has preserved more land than people, who live in villages in northeast year, the Fund will distrib-
any other governor in the state' s history;' Alaska and northwest Canada . The Gwich' in ute a new electronic news-
said Patrick Noonan, chairman of the Fund . depend for both food and traditional lifestyle letter that will highlight
"More than one out of every four acres pro - on the migrations of the Porcupine herd of key accomplishments of
federal and rim caribous who calve on the shores of the the Fund . To receive the
tected in the state, including P e-newsletter, subscribe at:
vately protected land, were protected during Beaufort Sea . Their centuries-long steward- www. conservationfund . org
the Glendening administration . " ship of the land and its wildlife also has pro-
tected healthy populations of grey wolves,
® Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming wolverine, moose, musk ox and grizzly
recently acquired a 33-acre tract near its bears . "The Catto Charitable Foundation is
Granite Canyon entrance, the first large prim particularly inspired and pleased to present
vate inholding purchased by the park in a this award to Sarah James this year in the
decade . The Resor, Hauge and Laughlin midst of these difficult times ," said Jessica
families of Snake River Ranch sold the land Catto, foundation president . "Her work and
for $4 . 97 million, substantially below market commitment to the stewardship of the
value . "We have been hoping to transfer this Gwich' in lands and traditions are an ex-
land to the National Park Service for over 20 ample to all of us," said Catto, who pre-
years," said Bill Resor . "We are very pleased sented the award Oct . 1 at the Land Trust
that it will now be a permanent part of the Alliance' s Land Trust Rally in Baltimore,
Grand Teton National Park . " The park used Md . The Conservation Fund administers the
money from the Land and Water Conserva- award, the largest prize given to honor indi-
tion Fund for the purchase . The Conserva- vidual volunteer efforts in land conservation .
COMMON GROUND VOL, 12 NO . 5 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2001
®) • Q ,�J'.] � � ir;:;4" 3 �, u¢j : � �S�- c t ...,.,�- «,r�`� " �� � yy�� ,. 2 ' .� �:_l ' .i v;;tiy�� �-t;:� , a�
Ranking The American Institute of Philanthropy AIP expects that at least 60 % of a non-
(301 / 913 -5200, www . charitywatch . org) has profit organization' s costs should be devoted
Charitable given The Conservation Fund the highest to its charitable programs . The numerical
grade (A+ ) of 39 conservation and environ- ranges in the chart below reflect the differ.
Groups mental organizations it ranked according to ence between a charity' s and AIP' s view
program effectiveness and fund-raising cost. whether direct mail, telemarketing and so -
AIP, founded in 1993 and based in Bethesda, licitation costs are considered program,
Md . , grades charities each quarter in its Char- fund-raising or administrative expenses .
ity Rating Guide and Watchdog Report, avail- AIP also views spending of $35 or less
able for free to individuals who contribute to raise $ 100 to be a reasonable cost for most
$35 to become members . charities . The numerical ranges in the chart
The ratings are based on financial infor- again reflect AIP' s versus the individual
mation obtained from IRS Form 990s, annual charity' s treatment of how much of a
reports and audited financial statements . group ' s mail and telemarketing costs are
AIP rates more than 400 nonprofit organiza- considered program expenses . AIP also
tions in 37 categories . - graded itself: A—.
Organization Percentage of Amount spent Grade . I Organization Percentage of Amount spent Grade
expenses spent to raise $100 expenses spent to raise $100
on programs on programs
African Wildlife Foundation 71 -79 F $13-22 B Keep America Beautiful- 68 $21 B
Alaska Conservation Fdn . 8548 7-9 A National Office
American Farmland Trust 72-80 25-40 C National Arbor Day Fdn. 80 24 A-
"Ainencan Forests _ _ 73 24 B+ _ National, Audubon Society ` 70 1 25 _ B
American Rivers 66-80 13-25 B— National Park Trust 22-75 24-77 F
Center for Marine Cons . 66-73 29-36 C+ National Parks Cons . Assn, 51-58 3341 C—
Conservation Fund 95 1 A+ National Wildlife Federation 73-84 14-41 C+
-- _,
Conservation=Int' 1 Fdn 89 a 5 A Natural Resources ; 58V-80 ti 11 32 _ . .
Cousteau Society 70 12 B+ Defense Council
Defenders of Wildlife 4243 20-50 D Nature Conservancy 79 10 A—
Ducks Unlimited 82 27 B + Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 61 42 C
- - - -
Earth Island, Institute - 87 Rainforest ActionNetwork 68 =75 _ 11 17 B
_ . _
Earth Justice Legal 5941 18-28 C+ Rainforest Alliance 84 27 B +
Defense Fund Resources for the Future 68 17 C—
Environmental Defense 7641 14-18 A— Save the Redwoods League 88 4 A
Friends of the Earth ". . 75 80IF-
12 16 LZ �A- Sierra Club `61 41 C
Fi
_ -
Forest Service Employees for 59 26 C+ Sierra Club Foundation 86 7 A
Environmental Ethics Student Conservation Assn. 83 23 A-
Greenpeace Fund 82 16 A- Trust for Public Land 88 2 A
Greenpeace 50 57 ;; , r Ae�1 , 59 ( b9 D Wilderness Society 60=80 C
Izaak Walton League 78 15 A- World Resources Institute 78 6 A-
of America World Wildlife Fund 81 -88 16-29 B+
fill
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LAND TRUST Al
Tax, Membership Taos Land Trust (NM) re (
IS ® utheast Pr®gram Workshops Planned $ 400000 Organizational Adv,
LTA/Southeast Hires LTA will hold three day-long training Grant award to assist in hiri
First Director seminars in the Southeast this fall : lands director with legal ski]
I
Kevin Brice, former associate direc- ® 7 Ix Strategies for Land Conservation, grant programs are made po
I funding from Wilburforce Fc
for of Triangle Land Conservancy (NC offered Dec. 5 in Salisbury, NC , and) ,
has joined LTA as Southeast Program Dec. 7 in Chapel Hill, NC , in partner- LTA and Colorado Coa ,
director. In the new position, Mr. Brice ship with the Conservation 'Dust for Land Trusts Coordinate
will lead LTA's services for land trusts in North Carolina. The course, taught by
LTA/Southwest and the C
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, attorney William T. Hutton, covers
,
tax strate e q Coalition of Land TRusts CC
Mississippi, North Carolina South gi s and techni ues rele-
Carolina and Tennessee . vant to conservation projects forged a strategic plan for we
LTA' s Southeast Program office is including outright gifts, bargain jointly to service Colorado la
located in Durham NC . [Address and sales, donations or partial interests and forward conservation in
contact information for LTA regional : . and like-kind exchanges .
"The intent is to optimize t
programs is on page 2 .] ® Building Your Membership for skills the two organizations t
Among the programs that LTA/ F indralsing and Support offered Colorado , and to avoid overl,
Southeast will provide are technical Nov. 30 in Columb a, SC , in part- duplication of services , " said
assistance and training for land trusts nership with the South Carolina Southwest Director Rob Molac
and matching grants . Land Trust Network. Fundraising brings its policy skills and co
Mr. Brice has been with Triangle trainer and consultant Ellis Robinson to decision makers and agenc
Land Conservancy since 1997, serving will help land trust participants the ability to raise public awe
as stewardship coordinator, land pro- increase their local support and Colorado on the importance
tection specialist and associate director donor bases . conservation . LTA brings expo
Prior to moving to North Carolina for training, information and its ,
leverage national resources tc
i postgraduate studies in natural sci- Colorado land trusts . "
ences, he worked for the global division
of a Chicago based investment firm, A joint service committee
Southwest Program sentatives from CCLT and LM
doing projects in Europe , Australia
and Singapore . Fall Grant Awards Top $ 56, 700 west will develop a work plan.
"During my time with Tian le Land two organizations' activities it
g LTA' s Southwest Program this fall state . Together, they will raise
Conservancy, I 've had the opportunity awarded approximately $ 56 , 700 to for their plan and hire staff as
to work with many dedicated conser- land trusts in the region through its Final details for the partnersh
vation staff and volunteers, and it's been two grants programs . formal operating agreement
very rewarding . I look forward to this p g
Nine land trusts were awarded a worked out this fall ,
i opportunity to expand that work to an total of 16$ , 703 through its Matching "This will provide a comm(
even broader circle, " Mr. Brice said . Grants Program for capacity building for the land trusts and the fur
activities including strategic planning, community on behalf of Coloi
training and board development efforts , land trusts , " Mr. Molacek said .
I For a list of grant awards, see LTA's
Web site at www. Ita. . org/regionallta/
southwest. htm .
i
1
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Commission for the Environment
Progress Report 2001
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December 10 , 2001
Prepared by the
Orange County
Commission for the Environment
Lb
Orange County
Environment and Resource Conservation Department
P . O . Box 818 .1
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone : (919) 245 -2591 6L L, •
Fax : (919 ) 644 . 3351 � f
W�4
.r
Et"12G111 : t"S �2aZC � Co . 01'G2Y2 ('e . n [ . 21S
_..,...,.e... .... W. , ...w, .. .._._...., ,„. .__. .........w.,..,v......,....w_,.._... .-., ._ . ._. ,....._ ..,....._._._...... ,._w._,»,._.. ...� _ .�, �s �ss.d},�tlals�w' 'mow { F kFA +LI+wt.^• .December 10 , 2001
Stephen H . Halkiotis , Chair
Orange County Commissioners
208 South Cameron Street
Hillsborough , NC 27278
Dear Commissioner Halkiotis ,
Please find enclosed for your review the Commission for the Environment -
Progress Report for 2001 . This biannual interim report documents the progress
of the Commission for the Environment ( CFE ) since the 1St State of the
Environment Report ( February 18 , 2000 ) . This interim report presents the goals ,
objectives , and current status of each of the following CFE committees : Air
Quality , Biological Resources , Environmental Indicators and Education , and the
newly formed Water Resources Committee . The 2nd State of the Environment
report will be developed and presented in late 2002 .
The CFE is committed to working hard to ensure a bright and healthy future for
the environment in Orange County . The CFE accomplishes the majority of its
work through the CfE committees , which are the workhorses and think tanks of
the CFE . The success of the CFE depends on the effectiveness of these
committees . The CFE currently has only 12 members even though it is allowed to
have 15 citizen members . Each committee is most effective when composed of a
minimum of four members ; however , we are unable to meet this desired target of
members per committee with only 12 members . The CFE recently created the
Water Resources Committee (to address ground and surface water issues ) ,
thereby expanding the CFE to four active committees . As a result of this
expansion and in light of our objectives for 2002 , there is an even greater need
for us to have a full set of members .
We ask that the BOCC appoint three new members to the CFE as soon as
possible so that we can effectively fulfill our objectives and make great progress
over the next few years .
2
If you have any questions about the report or our request for additional CFE
members , please feel free to contact me at 91 M41 - 1021 . Best wishes for a
pleasant and productive retreat . Thank you for taking the time to review our
interim progress report . We look forward to a bright and fruitful 20021
Sincerely ,
Roy Fortmann
Chair of the Commission for the Environment
3
Executive Summary.
The purpose of the Commission for the Environment Progress Report for 2001 is to state updated information,
progress , and plans from the Orange County Commission for the Environment (CFE) based on the goals and
objectives in the I " Annual State of the Environment Report ( SOE) , dated February 18 , 2000 . The Commission for
the Environment ' s (CFE) four committees . Air Quality, Biological Resources , Environmental Indicators and
Education, and the newly formed Water Resources Committee have achieved significant success since the
publication of the SOE . The Progress Report explains the refined objectives and current status of each of the
committee ' s work. This Executive Summary briefly highlights the objectives , progress , and plans for the work of
the Committees that are described in more detail in the report that follows .
Biological Resources
Obiectives:
• An improved inventory of biological resources in the northern half of the County
• A methodological approach to assess change in forest cover annually, or at least every five to ten years
• Greater watershed protection by Orange County in the Little River Basin
• Development of strong incentives for developers of private lands to respect and to contribute to the
protection of the County' s inventoried natural areas
• The development of a list of current County policies with a side -by- side listing of available remedies
• Amend the County's Environmental Impact Ordinance (adopted in 1992) to improve the protection of the
County' s most significant biological resources
• Establish a balance between private property owners ' rights to harvest timber and the negative effects of
forest clear-cutting
• Improved coordination of Orange County' s protection efforts with those of the surrounding counties .
Progress and Plans
• The ERCD requested and received a $ 5 , 000 matching grant for an update to its 1988 inventory of natural
areas and wildlife habitat; the update got underway in May 2001 and is expected to be completed by
Summer 2002
• The Committee is working with the ERCD staff and the NC Natural Heritage Program to develop a
procedure for updating the biological resources inventory on a more frequent basis
• The ERCD intern Amy Bleckinger worked with the ERCD staff on updating GIS layers to display
different forest cover types and to document changes from 1988 to 1998 . The new ERCD intern, Bradley
Decker, will resume this effort and complete the 10 -year assessment in 2002
• Orange County and Durham County purchased a 391 -acre tract adjacent to the North Fork of the Little
River for the Little River Regional Park and Natural Area
• The ERCD and the CFE ' s Biological Resources Committee began work on developing a new Natural
Areas Element of the Comprehensive Plan
• CFE/BRC and ERCD participated heavily in the development of a Triangle Greenprint
Air Quality
Objectives.
• Examine the emissions impact of the County vehicle fleet and take steps to lower emissions through the
purchase of alternative fuel and low emission vehicles
• Review the N . C . Division of Air Quality' s Emissions Inventory for the County, and identify initiatives at
County level that could be pursued to address air quality concerns
• Work with the State of North Carolina and other local governments to reduce emissions and adequately
monitor air quality in the County
• Examine Light Pollution Issues in the County
Progress and Plans
• The Alternative Fuels and Low Emissions Vehicles (AFLEV) workgroup was formed
• A Mobile Sources Emissions Reduction (MSER) grant was developed and submitted to the State but was
not funded . The CFE is currently identifying other potential funding sources for AFLEVs .
• An Ozone Air Quality Action Plan was developed in 2000 and is being implemented by the County
The Committee is working to clarify the role that the County can play in addressing air quality-related
transportation issues in the Triangle region
• The County Board of Commissioners has been proactive in the area of air quality, having joined the
Triangle Clean Cities Coalition in 2001 and having approved a plan to join the International Council for
Local Environmental Initiatives in 2002
• The CFE initiated work on light pollution, collected background information, and met with a
representative of the International Dark- Sky Association and is working to draft an Orange County
ordinance for possible recommendation to the BOCC .
Environmental Indicators and Education
Objectives:
• Adopt and implement a farmland preservation plan
• Update and maintain the Natural Areas Inventory
• Commit funds to developing bikeways according to the Bicycle Plan of the Bicycle Plan Task Force
• Commit funds to completing a report on sustainability indicators
• Commit funds to public outreach, for educating the public on the need to plan for the County ' s
environmental future and for building support for tools and methods
• Develop a cohesive plan for the protection of open space and adopt a resolution regarding specific actions
on the preservation of open space .
• Evaluate the environmental impact ordinance in terms of the environmental indicators used to determine
compliance
• Review the cost and benefits of a Cost of Community Services Study (COCS)
5
Progress and Plans:
• The County ' s Farmland preservation plan is conducted under the auspices of the Lands Legacy Program.
The Agricultural Preservation Board oversees these efforts . The program has already made key purchases
and the recent passage of the Parks , Recreation, and Open Space Bond gives it additional funds to work
with.
• The Natural Areas Inventory update is scheduled for completion in summer 2002
• The Air Quality Committee is addressing the development of bikeways
• The report on sustainability indicators was completed this year and the committee plans to further study
the indicators related to environmental quality and assign priorities
• The committee collected and reviewed environmental information that is available to citizens and will
develop a proposal for further public education and a public relations campaign.
• The committee will review and make recommendations on the environmental impact ordinance ' s
environmental indicators .
• The committee has reviewed and will continue to study the applicability of a Cost of Community Services
Study (COCS ) to Orange County,
Water Resources
Objectives:
• Help ensure an adequate supply of water of high quality
• Help ensure adequate sanitary disposal of wastewaters
• Help maintain the quality of surface waters
Progress and Plans:
• The County ' s original Water Resources Committee completed the Report of the Water Resources
Committee on March 17 , 2001 . The report provides a foundation for initial efforts to both understand and
plan a strategy for managing potential water supply and wastewater disposal problems in the County.
• The CFE formed a new Water Resources Committee in 2001 to continue work on this important resource
• With the cooperation of the Triangle J COG and other regional agencies , the newly formed Water
Resources Committee of the CFE will help bring data together to begin planning for the future water
needs of the County.
6
Orange County
State of the Environment Progress Report 2001
December 10 , 2001
The Commission for the Environment Progress Report for 2001 is an interim report on
the current progress of the four committees : Air Quality, Biological Resources ,
Environmental Indicators and Education, and the newly formed Water Resources
Committee . The status of their progress is based upon the 1 " State of the Environment
Report ( SOE) , dated February 18 , 2000 in which the Orange County Commission for the
Environment (CfE) set goals related to environmental protection, education, and
management . In this report, the committees state the goals , identified objectives , and
current status of their work .
The Biological Resources Committee for the CfE has set the following goals related to
biological diversity and natural resource protection .
1 ) More and better information available about biological resources in Orange
County
2) Increased protection for biological areas of concern
3 ) More effective conservation policies
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Since the publication of the SOE Report, the CFE has worked on a number of projects to
address these goals . The progress , status , and plans for CFE activities related to
biological resources during the coming year are presented below .
GOAL 1 : MORE AND BETTER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT BIOLOGICAL
RESOURCES
Objective 1 : An improved inventory of biological resources in the northern half of the
County, including a ground-based investigation of large forest tracts identified in
Landscape with Wildlife (Parts I & II) . Include private lands where site review is
permitted.
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• The Orange County ERCD requested and received a $ 5 , 000 matching grant from
the NC Natural Heritage Program for an update to its 1988 inventory of natural
areas and wildlife habitat .
• The inventory update (by consulting biologist Bruce Some) has included an
assessment of previously identified sites and a search for new sites in the northern
half of the County using the Landscape with Wildlife report and guidance from an
advisory committee .
Status
• The update of the County natural areas inventory got underway in May 2001 and
is expected to be completed by Summer 2002 .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• Results from the inventory will be published and used to identify sites for County
acquisition or protection through other voluntary means .
• Results of the inventory will also be incorporated into the new Natural Areas
Element of the Comprehensive Plan being developed by ERCD and CFE for
BOCC consideration in Fall 2002 .
Objective 2 : A dynamic , periodically reviewed biological inventory.
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• Pending
Status
• Work on this objective awaits the completion of the update of the County' s
inventory of natural areas and wildlife habitat (currently underway) .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• As the natural areas inventory update nears completion (Summer 2002) , the CFE
Biological Resources Committee intends to work with the ERCD staff and the NC
Natural Heritage Program to develop a procedure for updating the inventory on a
more frequent basis .
Objective 3 : A methodological approach to assess change in forest cover annually, or at
least every five to ten years .
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• ERCD intern, Amy Bleckinger, worked with the ERCD staff on updating GIS
layers to display different forest cover types and to document changes from 1988
8
to 1998 . Technical problems occurred with converting the 1988 data to a new
GIS .
Status
• Work on this project stopped with the departure of intern Bleckinger in July 2001 .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• CfE Biological Resources Committee will enlist the help of the new ERCD intern,
Bradley Decker, to resume this effort and complete the 10 -year assessment in
2002 .
GOAL 2 : INCREASED PROTECTION FOR BIOLOGICAL AREAS OF CONCERN
Objective 1 : Greater watershed protection by Orange County in the Little River Basin, _
and cooperation with Durham County as they [Durham County] develop an open space
plan for the Little River corridor .
Activities and Projress During 2000/2001
• Orange County and Durham County purchased a 391 - acre tract adjacent to the
North Fork of the Little River for the Little River Regional Park and Natural
Area.
• ERCD participated in Durham County' s development of a new Little River Open
Space Plan .
• ERCD staff co - authored an Eno River Association journal article on current and
proposed methods to protect natural and cultural resources of the Little River
Basin .
• Portions of the Little River corridor (both north and south forks) were identified
as priority areas for resource protection in the BOCC - adopted long-term priorities
plan for the Lands Legacy program (2002 -2010) .
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• Pending plans to amend the Little River Protected Watershed Overlay District .
9
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• ERCD will work with the CFE , Durham County staff, the Eno River Association,
and the Triangle Land Conservancy to identify other potential sites to
acquire/protect either adjacent to the regional park or along other segments of the
Little River corridor.
Objective 2 : Development of strong incentives for developers of private lands to respect
and to contribute to the protection of the County' s inventoried natural areas . [ If incentives
are inadequate , the County needs to consider imposing restrictions on development, land
clearing, or ecosystem disturbance on or near these sites . ]
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• Orange County adopted the Lands Legacy program, which has as one of its goals
to protect the County' s inventoried natural areas through acquisition or other
voluntary protection means .
• ERCD reviews all subdivision proposals as a member of the Development
Review Committee, administered by the Planning Department .
• ERCD and the CFE ' s Biological Resources Committee began work on developing
a new Natural Areas Element of the Comprehensive Plan, which upon BOCC
adoption will include new and improved County policies for protection of natural
areas and wildlife habitat .
Status
• Development of the Natural Areas Element is ongoing with a draft document
anticipated by the Spring of 2002 .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The draft Natural Areas Element will be presented to the BOCC for consideration
in Summer/Fall 2002 . It will then go to public hearing to receive further input and
refinements before going back to the BOCC for final adoption .
GOAL 3 : MORE EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION POLICIES FOR
ORANGE COUNTY
Objective 1 : The development of a list of current County policies with a side-by- side
listing of available remedies , which would inform both County employees and citizens of
what recourse is available when a significant natural area is in danger and what policies
need better means of enforcement .
10
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• ERCD and CFE ' s Biological Resources Committee reviewed County policies
regarding conservation of natural areas as a preliminary phase of the development
of a new Natural Areas Element to the Comprehensive Plan.
• ERCD conducted a detailed assessment of the 64 sites identified in the 1988
inventory of natural areas and wildlife habitat . The assessment used 1998 aerial
photography and found that many of the sites have been altered or partially
developed .
Status
• Work to develop the proposed guide is pending .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• ERCD in cooperation with the CfE will identify such a guide as an action strategy
in the forthcoming Natural Areas Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
Objective 2 : Amend the County' s Environmental Impact Ordinance (adopted in 1992) to
improve the protection of the County' s most significant biological resources , including
the County' s inventoried natural areas .
Activities and Progress During_2000/2001
• A preliminary review of the ordinance by ERCD and the CfE ' s Biological
Resources Committee found it to be outdated and inadequate to protect high-
priority natural resources .
Status
• Pending
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• A subcommittee of the CfE ' s Environmental Indicators and Education Committee
and the Planning Board will meet on an ad hoc basis to develop proposed
amendments to the Environmental Impact Ordinance for both advisory boards to
consider .
Objective 3 : Establish a balance between property owner rights to harvest timber and the
needs of the community as a whole to protect itself from damage inflicted by forest clea_r-
cutting in wildlife habitats , biological diversity, water quality and quality of life .
11
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Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• On November 28 , 2000 the CFE convened a panel of experts to discuss timber
management and harvesting practices and alternatives .
• CfE explored various non-regulatory options for improving forest management
practices in the County. Specific proposals were discussed with consultant Jerry
Gaertner.
• Orange County re- established a Forest Stewardship Committee to help improve
inter- agency coordination and communication of proposed forest management
plans and activities administered by the NC Forest Service .
• Representatives Insko and Hackney and Senators Kinnaird and Lee introduced
state legislation (House Bill 840 and Senate Bill 724) , which would establish a
forestry pilot program that promotes collaborative efforts among counties , local
Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the NC Division of Forest Resources .
Status
• The proposed legislation was not enacted . CFE interest in these issues remains
high . Further actions are being considered .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• A subcommittee of the CFE ' s Biological Resources Committee and the Planning
Board will meet on an ad hoc basis to discuss forest management/harvesting
issues and to develop recommendations for both advisory boards to consider
before elevating the issues to the BOCC .
12
Objective 4 : Improved coordination of Orange County' s protection efforts with those of
the surrounding counties .
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• The BRC and ERCD participated heavily in the development of a " Triangle
Greenprint " - - an effort being coordinated by the Triangle J Council of
Governments , Triangle Land Conservancy and NC Division of Parks and
Recreation to develop a plan for developing a coordinated network of protected
open space in the six - county Triangle region . [ Includes Orange, Chatham,
Durham Counties ; does not include Alamance, Caswell, Person Counties . ]
• The CFE and ERCD continued their participation on the New Hope Creek
Corridor Advisory Committee to help coordinate Orange and Durham County
efforts to protect and enhance open space in New Hope Creek corridor .
• ERCD participated in Durham County' s development of a new Little River Open
Space Plan .
Status
• The CFE and ERCD continue to participate in these regional natural resource
protection efforts .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The proposed Triangle Greenprint will be presented to the CFE and Orange
County BOCC in early 2002 to receive formal County feedback and endorsement
of the plan .
• The CFE intends to meet with the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission to
discuss resource protection issues of mutual interest [postponed from 2000/01 ]
and with similar, like-minded advisory boards from other neighboring
jurisdictions where they exist .
13
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The Air Quality Committee of the CFE has set the following goals related to air quality :
1 . Greater awareness of transportation and air pollution issues in the County
2 . Creation of a regional view of air quality issues
3 . Reduction of the impact of the County vehicle fleet on air quality
4 . Examine and Address Light Pollution Issues in the County
Since the publication of the SOE Report, the CFE has worked on a number of projects to
address these goals . As part of their work, the CFE generated recommendations for a set
of resolutions related to air quality that were subsequently adopted by the Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC) . The BOCC , in the spring of 2001 , also adopted a goal
for the County - to take proactive steps to improve and/or protect air quality within the
County. The BOCC goal has three objectives that are consistent with the goals stated in
the CFE SOE Report . The progress , status , and plans for CFE activities related to air
quality during the coming year are presented below within the context of the three
objectives stated in the BOCC Air Quality Goal for the County.
GOAL 1 : GREATER AWARENESS OF TRANSPORTATION AND AIR POLLUTION
ISSUES IN THE COUNTY
Objective 1 : Review the N . C . Division of Air Quality' s Emissions Inventory
for the Count and identify initiatives at Count level that could be pursued
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to address air quality concerns . (Related SOE Report goal - Gain a better
quantitative understanding of the sources of air pollution in the County and
the relationship between air quality and mobile sources within and outside the County. )
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• The BOCC adopted a resolution in 1999 built around recommendations by the
CFE authorizing the creation of an ozone air quality action plan for the County.
• The status of air quality and air contaminant sources in the County was reviewed
by the CFE air quality committee in 1999 and summarized in the lst Annual SOE
Report .
Status
An Ozone Air Quality Action Plan was developed in 2000 and is being
implemented by the County.
• There has been a low level of activity on this goal during the past year .
• The CFE and ERCD are developing a plan for addressing this goal during the first
half of 2002 .
14
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The CfE Air Quality Committee and ERCD staff will review the existing Air
Quality Inventory and identify any quantitative issues and/or additional concerns
with point, mobile , or area sources . The CfE will focus on this task from January
to May 2002 .
• Recommendations for addressing mobile sources , and other sources that the
County could pursue, will be developed and incorporated into the 2002 State of
the Environment report .
• A proposed target rate of reduction for emissions in the County will be developed
and included in the State of the Environment Progress Report .
• Recommendations will be developed for initiatives to address air quality concerns
in the County, including criteria for long-term alternative fuel vehicle and low-
emissions vehicle purchases as described under Objective 1 . The
recommendations will be included in State of the Environment report .
GOAL 2 : CREATION OF A REGIONAL VIEW OF AIR QUALITY ISSUES
Objective 1 : Work with the State of North Carolina and other local governments to
reduce emissions and adequately monitor air quality in the County, in order to maintain
the health, safety, and general welfare of the County' s citizens . (Related SOE report goal
- Gain a better understanding of transportation issues within the County. )
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• The County joined the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition in March 2001 .
• The BOCC adopted a resolution requesting staff to explore the potential for
joining the Cities/Counties for Climate Protection Program .
• An initiative was made to work with the Orange County Transportation Planner to
gain a better understanding of transportation issues in the County and region and
to clarify the role that the County can play in addressing air quality-related
transportation issues .
• The CFE met with Tim Saunders and David Bonk to discuss the Durham- Chapel
Hill- Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organization and the regional
transportation planning process .
• The Air Quality Committee of the CFE increased their activities related to
transportation . They reviewed the Draft 2002 - 2008 - .State Transportation
Improvement Program, the DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement
Program, and other relevant materials .
15
Status
• Plans to join the Cities/Counties for Climate Protection Program were suspended
until further information on the benefits can be obtained from local governments
that are members .
• The CFE Air Quality Committee intends to increase its activities on this
obj ective .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The CFE air quality committee has identified numerous tasks that must be
performed to address this BOCC goal . The CFE will request assistance from the
ERCD ' to complete these tasks .
• Opportunities for joining with other local governments in joint initiatives for
clean air will be identified and evaluated .
• Strategies will be developed and evaluated for creating a County air quality
component to deal with planning and enforcing local air quality initiatives
involving such issues as open burning and mobile source emissions .
• Potential strategies for involving the NC Division of Air Quality, the NC Division
of Motor Vehicles and the NC Division of Highways , as applicable, will be
developed, evaluated, and operationalized in an effort to enforce existing statutes
and encourage the development of new and more effective statutes addressing
mobile source emission reductions from large and heavy duty trucks .
• The CfE with assistance from the ERCD and the Division of Forest Resources
will explore the process for designation of air quality critical counties and
consistency with proposed air quality rules .
• The CfE will determine the status of air quality monitoring in the County,
potential expansion of monitoring by the N . C . Division of Air Quality particularly
for ozone in Chapel Hill/Carrboro , and will develop appropriate recommendations
to the BOCC .
• The CfE will investigate development of standards by the County to address open
burning, both through the land subdivision process and the land- clearing process ,
considering environmental and health issues , and provide recommendations to the
BOCC .
GOAL 3 : REDUCTION OF THE IMPACT OF THE COUNTY VEHICLE FLEET ON
AIR QUALITY
Objective 1 : Examine the emissions impact of the County vehicle fleet and take steps to
lower emissions through the purchase of alternative fuel and low emission vehicles .
(Related SOE Report goal - reduce the impact of the County' s vehicle fleet on air
quality . )
16
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
• The BOCC adopted two resolutions in 1999 that were developed in response to
the CfE recommendations . The BOCC resolutions ( 1 ) established a committee to
research a plan to use alternative- fueled vehicles , improve fleet maintenance ,
and/or reduce vehicle miles traveled, and (2) directed that low emission and fuel
efficient vehicles be considered for future purchases of vehicles for the County
fleet .
• The Alternative Fuels and Low Emissions Vehicles (AFLEV) workgroup was
formed . It consisted of members of the CfE ; a citizen with interests in electric and
solar vehicles ; and County staff _from ERCD , Engineering, Public Works ,
Purchasing, and Planning .
• The AFLEV workgroup met on a routine basis during 2000 .
• The AFLEV workgroup prepared a report that included a plan for purchasing six
compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles , a CNG refueling station, one electric
vehicle, and a charging station . The report was submitted to the BOCC in
November 2000 .
• The ERCD , with input from the AFLEV workgroup and CfE, prepared a Mobile
Sources Emissions Reduction (MSER) grant that was submitted to the State of
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources in December
2000 .
Status
• The MSER grant was not funded . The program has been de4unded due to the
State budget problems . The program has been temporarily suspended , no grant
applications will be accepted for FY ' 02 .
• The County purchased low emission vehicles during 2001 that were replacement
vehicles .
• The CfE is currently identifying other potential funding sources for AFLEVs .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The AFLEV workgroup will prepare a status report summarizing progress on
LEV purchase during 2001 .
• The AFLEV workgroup will prepare a plan for purchasing low emission and/or
alternative fueled vehicles during 2002 .
• The CfE and ERCD will research other funding and grant opportunities for
purchase of alternative fuel and low emission vehicles .
17
• The CfE, with assistance from the AFLEV and ERCD , will evaluate the
cumulative County vehicle fleet impact on air quality and identify target areas for
reduction .
• The CfE, with the assistance from the AFLEV and ERCD , will conduct further
research on the use of alternative fueled and electric vehicles in the County fleet .
• The AFLEV workgroup , CfE, and ERCD will develop a plan and
recommendations for long-term alternative fuel vehicles and low- emissions
vehicle purchases , including provisions to ensure that emissions reduction gains
are not offset by purchases of high emissions vehicles in other departments . The
plan and recommendations will be included in 2002 State of the Environment
report .
GOAL 4 : EXAMINE AND ADDRESS LIGHT POLLUTION ISSUES IN THE COUNTY
Objective 1 : Draft an Orange County light pollution ordinance
Activities and Progress During 2000/2001
Y
The CfE initiated work on light pollution, collected
background information, and met with a representative of
the International Dark- Sky Association .
• On November 7 , 2001 a meeting was held between CFE and Planning Board
representatives , with Planning and ERCD staff attending, which included an
information session about light pollution and discussion of possible approaches to
ordinances in Orange County. There was general agreement to proceed with
development of an ordinance, with Planning Staff taking the lead . Those present
also favored additional action regarding outreach to other stakeholders (the
municipalities , UNC , power companies , astronomers) , to be taken by staff and
CfE representatives over the next two months .
Status
• Planning Department staff has begun working to draft an Orange County light
pollution ordinance for recommendation to the BOCC , tentatively in Spring of
2002 .
Plans for 2002 to Address the Goal
• The CFE will continue to work on this goal , consulting with Planning staff on
ordinance development and developing initiatives for outreach to stakeholders .
18
T j t d f .i .. i 1 � V
This section was created by the Environmental Indicators and Education (EIE)
Committee of CfE to address current and emerging environmental issues in the County.
In the 1999 SOE report, the Environmental Indicators and Education Committee warned
that several critical indicators — among them, a deficit in recreational parks , a decline in
farm and forest lands , and an accelerating population growth — predicted a development
pattern of 2 - acre lots and subdivisions . In thirty years , this trend could result in a County
with little remaining farmland or wildlife habitat and limited recreational alternatives .
The Committee strongly recommended that the County focus on guiding development in
a way that preserves rural character, productive farms , critical habitat, and recreational
open space and wildlife resources .
The recommendations (goals) suggested at that time were the following .
GOAL 1 : IMMEDIATELY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A FARMLAND PRESERVATION
PLAN . THE EIE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS IMPLEMENTING BOTH TRANSFER
OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR) AND PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS (PDR) FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN ACQUISITION METHODS . ALSO
INCLUDE THE LANDS LEGACY PROGRAM AS A PRESERVATION TOOL .
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
The County ' s farmland preservation program is conducted under the auspices of the
Lands Legacy program and is overseen by the Agricultural Preservation Board . The
Lands Legacy Program has already made several key purchases , including the County ' s
first farmland conservation easement purchase in July, 2001 .
Status
This goal is now more appropriately being addressed by the Biological Resources
Committee and Agricultural Preservation Board. This goal will no longer be addressed by
EIE .
19
GOAL 2 : COMMIT TO UPDATING AND MAINTAINING THE NATURAL AREAS
INVENTORY AS ONE OF THE COUNTY'S CORE TOOLS FOR PLANNING AND
GUIDING DEVELOPMENT .
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
An update of the 1988 inventory was funded by a $ 5 , 000 matching grant from the NC
Natural Heritage Program and is currently underway.
Status
The inventory update (by consulting biologist Bruce Some) is scheduled for completion
in summer 2002 ,
Plans for 2002 �
This goal is appropriately being addressed by the Biological Resources Committee and is
no longer a goal of EIE .
GOAL 3 : COMMIT FUNDS TO DEVELOPING BIKEWAYS ACCORDING TO THE
BICYCLE PLAN OF THE BICYCLE PLAN TASK FORCE .
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
The EIE committee has not addressed this goal during the last year .
Status
Work on this goal has been transferred to the Air Quality Committee, which is more
appropriate because the committee addresses transportation-related issues .
Plans for 2002
The Committee continues to endorse this goal but the Air Quality Committee will address
it .
GOAL 4 : COMMIT FUNDS TO COMPLETE A REPORT ON SUSTAINABILITY
INDICATORS
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20
Activities and Progress during 2000 - 2001
The County' s report on Sustainability Indicators was completed this year . It includes a
wide array of measures , such as economic , open space, social and environmental . EIE
Committee members met with the project consultant, Pam McIntosh, to discuss the
progress of her work, which was built upon that of the SOCK Its task force identified
potential indicators for sustainability . Ms . McIntosh tracked the availability of existing
data from a variety of sources including County, City, State and Federal Departments as
well as private sources that could be used to validate these indicators . The report is an
excellent tool that should be distributed to all County departments and advisory groups
and used to help the County measure progress toward its goals . The EIE Committee
provided examples by matching environmental and open space indicators to goals stated
in the SOCF Task Force report
Status
Specific indicators related to the environment have been identified as appropriate for
further evaluation by this Committee, assuming support from County staff
Plans for 2002
The Committee plans to further study the indicators related to environmental quality (as
well as those highlighted in other reports in the State and Nation) and assign priorities .
Also , the Commission expects to use environmental indicators to guide the formatting of
future SOE reports .
GOAL 5 : COMMIT FUNDS TO PUBLIC OUTREACH , FOR EDUCATING THE
PUBLIC ON THE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE COUNTY'S ENVIRONMENTAL
FUTURE AND FOR BUILDING SUPPORT FOR THE VARIOUS TOOLS AND
METHODS PROPOSED , FUNDS SHOULD BE BUDGETED TO DISSEMINATE THE
SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS REPORT AND TO MAINTAIN , EXPAND , AND
PROMOTE THE COUNTY' S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION WEBSITE AS
DEVELOPED BY THIS COMMITTEE .
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
The committee collected and reviewed samples of the environmental information
currently available to Orange County Citizens . It found publications on air and water
quality, soil erosion, stormwater runoff, horticulture, recycling, land preservation and
other relevant documents that directly address many issues of concern to environmental
stewardship . However, many County residents and constituents are undoubtedly unaware
of the existence of these informative materials and few mechanisms exist for their
distribution other than personally visiting these offices or requesting them by phone . The
EIE Committee has been researching the concept of incorporating a variety of single -
issue pamphlets into a pocket folder piece or compiling basic information into a single
flyer that would provide one - stop shopping for anyone interested in Orange County
environmental concerns and programs
21
The EIE also discussed various alternatives at the County ' s disposal for dissemination of
information and compiled the following list :
Speakers bureau for church civic group and other meetings
Booth presence at County festivals : Apple Chill, Hog Day, October Moon, Festifall
and Fiesta del Pueblo
• Greater use of the County website with links to other pertinent sites
Email broadcasts
Other County departmental (e . g . Environmental Health) , and in some cases non-
County, direct mailings as ride alongs
• Flyers and literature at sympathetic area businesses such as real estate offices , banks ,
home improvement and grocery stores , and stores selling camping and outdoor
recreation equipment
• Attachments to lenders ' documents on home loans
• Monthly press releases to newspapers (perhaps written by ERC interns)
• Solicitation of donated or discounted printing, advertisements , radio PSAs and other
public relations resources that do not rely on 100 % County taxpayer funding for the
above efforts .
Environmental Heroes award program to recognize individuals , businesses and
organizations that further the County ' s environmental objectives
Status
EIE is continuing to review materials currently available to assess the need for further
information and alternatives for increasing distribution .
Plans for 2002
Over the next year the EIE Committee will develop a proposal for a public education and
public relations campaign for the County to consider and implement . Its goal will be to
better inform citizens as well as visitors and workers with out- of- County residences on
environmental issues of concern to County leaders . Further work will also to be done on
the formatting and budgeting of the "pocket folder" project .
22
GOAL 6 : DEVELOP A COHESIVE PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION OF OPEN
SPACE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION REGARDING SPECIFIC ACTIONS OR THE
PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE . THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT ( ERCD) SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO REVISE
AND ENHANCE EXISTING TOOLS AND IMPLEMENT NEW TOOLS FOR SUCH
PROTECTION .
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Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
The Lands Legacy Program, which the County adopted in April 2000 , is a forward-
looking plan for acquiring open space in Orange County. The program is empowered to
make land purchases , buy or accept as gifts conservation easements , donations , and
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charitable gifts and use other methods for acquisition of natural and cultural resource
lands and potential park sites .
Status
The County made four major purchases in 12000 -2001 .
Plans for 2002
The EIE has determined that the Biological Resources Committee would be the more
appropriate committee to work with the County on prioritizing acquisitions for the Lands
Legacy Program . However, the EIE will incorporate information on the program in its
proposal to publicize Orange County environmental programs .
New Goals :
GOAL 7 : EVALUATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ORDINANCE IN TERMS OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS USED TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE .
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
Pending
Status
Pending action
23
Plans for 2002
Members of the committee will review the ordinance and a collective recommendation
will be made .
GOAL 8 : REVIEW THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A COST OF COMMUNITY
SERVICES STUDY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Activities and Progress during 2000 -2001
During this past year, the Commission heard presentations from the Triangle J Council of
Government (COG) on the value of a Cost of Community Services Study (COCS ) .
Essentially a COCS study demonstrates the real costs of development in terms of the
public services that must be provided with tax dollars when forest and farmland are
developed for industry or housing . The standard argument in favor of such development
providing increased tax revenue may not be balanced against the entire cost of providing
schools , roads , police and fire protection, water etc , nor are intangible losses in air and
water quality considered . A COCS study can help government and elected officials make
better development decisions by providing thorough information on the complete costs of
development as well as the economic value of leaving more farmland and forest intact .
Such a study is estimated to cost between $ 13 , 000 - $ 30 , 000 . Triangle J COG will
contract to provide a turnkey COCS study for the County for approximately $ 30 , 000 . If
local resources such as County staff and/or local universities such as UNC or NCSU can
be involved, the cost could be considerably less .
Status
A preliminary discussion has been held . The EIE Committee suspects that a COCS for
Orange County would likely confirm findings in other communities . ( See for example
TJCOG' s COCS report for Wake County. )
Future Plans
The EIE Committee will further examine the costs and benefits of a COCS for the
County and provide a recommendation to the BOCC .
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The Water Resources Committee of the Commission for the Environment was formed
during the year of 2001 . As this committee did not exist in previous years, no prior set of
goals and objectives were developed. The following section provides narrative that will
be used to develop goals and objectives for the 2002 State of the Environment report.
Orange County' s water resources are generally adequate for current needs and for decades
into the future . Further, because we are located at the headwaters of the river systems in
the County, ground and surface water quality is relatively good . However, management
of water supply and wastewater collection and disposal are of growing importance in
Orange County. As the urban population of the County continues to grow, it is expected
that areas currently served or to be served by public water supply and sewage systems
will cause strains on both water yields and ambient water quality. Rural areas of the
County beyond these service areas are also expected to experience unprecedented growth,
possibly placing strains on both yields and quality for private and small community
groundwater supplies . Managing these utilities , particularly the smaller ones , is difficult
because of limited quality of supervision and inadequate capacity of the state regulatory
agencies .
In 1992 , the BOCC created an ad hoc Water Resources Committee to develop a long-
range study and planning process to identify and address the impacts of various land uses
and waste treatment options on the quantity and quality of ground and surface water
resources in Orange County, so that these impacts can be factored into long-range
planning . Its final, March 17 , 2001 , report provides a foundation for initial efforts to both
understand and plan a strategy for managing potential water supply and wastewater
disposal problems in the County. A summary of the WRC recommendations , comments
upon them by the County Board of Health, along with comments from the CfE are
attached to this report .
GOAL 1 : DEVELOP A SET OF COALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE 2002 STATE
OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT
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GOAL 2 : USE THE WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT TO DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS ON GROUND WATER STRATEGIES AND THE LINKAGE
BETWEEN SURFACE WATER AND GROUND WATER SYSTEMS
Objective 1 : Explore the findings of the 1992 - 2001 Water Resources Committee
The following findings are drawn from Section 5 of the WRC report . The report provides
a foundation for initial efforts to both understand and plan a strategy for managing
potential water supply problems . The following set of findings is from Section 5 of that
report .
• Potable water is a finite resource in the County.
• The availability of potable water is an issue that has public health, economic
development, and environmental ramifications .
• A decline in quantity or quality would represent a potential serious environmental
and/or public health problem, and scarcity of potable water would hinder the
economic development potential of the County.
Ground water quality in the County is generally good and may be considered a reliable
source of potable water . Although there have been isolated or localized incidents of
ground water quality problems , the results of the last eight years have not turned up any
widespread problems of ground water contamination . The primary ground water quality
concern in the County appears to be from naturally occurring sources , such as iron and
manganese . However, while quality is generally good, elevated water-borne radon levels
in certain geologic formations of the County (more often found in the south- central part
of the County) may pose health risks and should be evaluated further .
Ground water quantity in the County can vary dramatically, due to the type of fractured
rock geology that underlies the surface . While ground water availability is adequate to
meet current needs , the density of development permitted by zoning in some watershed
basins may exceed the ability for ground water to be recharged to meet demand .
Protection of water supplies needs a conservative approach to maintain our resource in a
sustainable way and ensure that adequate ground water remains for future generations .
The results of the cooperative research with USGS have provided a solid baseline of
information on ground water quality and quantity, which may be used to assess trends
and changes in well yields and water quality over time . The results of the two studies
with the USGS provide sufficient data for plans and policy recommendations to be
developed to ensure sustainable use of the resource . While new developments are
currently required to address the availability of acceptable soils for wastewater disposal
systems , no similar requirements exist for assuring adequate water supplies prior to
development . The 1996 USGS study provides data and examples that can be used to
evaluate the available ground water supply by watershed, and to site new wells
appropriately. The effect of dense development could cause a net reduction in ground
water recharge rates and in base flow to streams , thus reducing supplies . Well plumbing
design and maintenance are important components of well construction . Good pump
system installation, the appropriate sizing of well pumps , and balancing the pumping rate
to in- flow can help to address these issues .
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Objective 2 : Explore the inter-relationships between surface and ground water, and
ensure that recommendations are consistent with both
Ground water and surface water quantity and quality are inextricably inter-related .
Ground water ' represents the source of up to 50 % of stream flow . In order to ensure that
the use of available ground water does not exceed availability (i . e . , demand does not
exceed supply) , future planning for water resources must recognize the inter-relationship
and address ground water and surface water protection as two parts of the same whole . In
addition to their findings , the Report of the Water Resources Committee also contained
recommendations that have since been reviewed by both the Board of Health and the
Commission for the Environment ( see attached Comments on the Report of the Water
Resources Committee .
Plan for 2002 to Address the Goal
It is the above findings and the referenced recommendations of the Water Resources
Committee that will guide the activity of the Commission for the Environment with the
overriding objective of safeguarding a sustainable healthy water supply for the County
and appropriate methods of wastewater collection and disposal to ensure public health
and environmental protection . If the expected growth and development occurs without
adequate attention to water-related issues , adequate water supplies and wastewater
disposal for the new communities may not be adequate or may be too costly. While water
is a renewable resource , yields are limited . Water shortages are not uncommon when dry
years occur . It is important that economies and efficiencies of scale and modern
management such as regionalization of water and sewerage services be introduced to
replace the ad hoc provision of services common today. Reclamation of wastewater for
non-potable uses may become an essential measure for conservation of the limited high
quality sources now available . Beginning to plan for regionalization and water
reclamation will help to ensure that appropriate investments can be made at lowest cost
when these practices are needed .
With the cooperation of the Triangle J COG and other regional agencies , the recently
created Water Resources Committee of the Commission for the Environment will help to
bring data together to begin planning for the future water needs of the County. The
specific goal of the Water Resources Committee is to help ensure an adequate supply of
water of high quality and sanitary disposal of wastewaters for urban and rural residents of
Orange County along with maintaining the quality of surface waters of the County.
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