NC Environmental Roundtables
CTE's Environmental Roundtable Series fosters constructive dialogue on emerging
transportation and environmental issues in North Carolina that require strong
inter-agency coordination. CTE hosts and facilitates roundtable sessions on
NC State University's Centennial Campus, and documents the proceedings of those
sessions for roundtable participants. The following roundtables are currently in
progress.
(CTE Facilitator: Janet D'Ignazio)
Conducted in cooperation with the NC Department of Transportation
and NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the North
Carolina Air Quality Roundtable was established in 2001 to form a
cooperative of more than 13 stakeholder organizations charged with
finding ways to efficiently achieve transportation conformity in anticipation
of USEPA's new revised standards for ozone and particulate matter.
The NC Air Quality Roundtable is the recipient of the 2002 Innovation
Award by the National
Association of Development Organizations (NADO). The Roundtable
is currently addressing the implications of EPA's recent non-attainment
designation areas for North Carolina.
Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Roundtable
(CTE Facilitator: Katie McDermott)
In exploratory discussion phase since January 2003, the NC Wildlife
Connectivity Roundtable comprises five agencies, of which the NC Department
of Environment and Natural Resources is the lead. The group is considering
how to identify and integrate critical terrestrial wildlife habitats
into the statewide conservation plan, which is currently in development
as an activity of NCDENR's "One
North Carolina Naturally" program. The North Carolina Department
of Transportation already has strong data on wetlands and aquatic
systems in North Carolina. A statewide habitat connectivity map would
serve as an additional tool to improve environmental decision making
about transportation planning and project development.
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