Highlights – Page 7 – Environmental Technical Assistance Program Newsletter

– EPA (Notice of proposed reissuance of NPDES general permit, notice to states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for consistency review with approved Coastal Management Programs)

Membership in the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

– FAA (Solicitation of applications

U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee; Notice of Public Meeting

– Maritime Administration (Notice)

Environmental News Highlights – June 7, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Provides Environmental Review Insights to FHWA

– AASHTO Journal

House Science Committee seeks info on federal research of hazmat-by-rail safety –

Progressive Railroading

DOE Launches New Energy Earthshot to Decarbonize Transportation and Industrial Sectors

– DOE (media release)

NEPA

The Point of NEPA

– Roads & Bridges (editorial/commentary)

NEPA and the Debt Deal

– Legal Planet (opinion)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

New Jersey authorities practice hurricane response, urge residents to prepare

– WCBS-TV

Wyoming Lawmakers Want To Tax Electric Vehicle Drivers To Make Up For Lost Fuel Revenue

– Cowboy State Daily

State legislatures adapt to electric vehicles

– The Center Square

Charging Ahead: How the Electrified Mobility Collaborative envisions a radical shift.

– Thinking Transportation (podcast)

Amtrak is the climate-friendly option – if extreme weather doesn’t disrupt your trip.

– Grist

LA freeway lights darkened by vandalism make for dangerous driving

conditions

– KCAL-TV

How we can make EVs even better for the planet

– Sustainability Times

AIR QUALITY

Pittsburgh-area utilities and transit agencies are launching hydrogen pilots, anticipating wider use in the future

– Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

How green mobility can help world to achieve zero emission goals

– Urban Transport News

Curbside recycling turns out to be a surprisingly good climate investment

– Anthropocene

With $9B in Transportation Funding, Minnesota Looks to Meet Climate Goals

– Route Fifty

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

How AI can advance, harm transportation equity

– Smart Cities Dive

The US can’t achieve environmental justice through one-size-fits-all climate policy

– Brookings

Study Quantifies Disparity Among Marginalized Communities Exposed to Traffic-Related Air Pollution

– UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

NATURAL RESOURCES

Wyoming DOT Seeing Results from Wildlife Crossings

– AASHTO Journal

Trash Bins At Wyoming I-80 Rest Stops Lead To More Littering, Not Less, WYDOT Director Says

– Cowboy State Daily

CULTURAL RESOURCES

WVDOT Finishes Carrollton Covered Bridge Rebuild Project

– AASHTO Journal

Wisconsin DOT Unveils More Dual-Language Highway Signs

– AASHTO Journal

City of Temple, Texas plans to transform historic railroad into hike and bike trail

– KWTX-TV

Universities aren’t doing enough for climate. Here’s what a real sustainability plan would look like

– Salon (commentary)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Virginia warns of rise in crashes involving bicycles

– WTTG-TV (video)

Presley’s Place At Pittsburgh’s Airport Is A Model To Be Copied

– Forbes

Clark County, OH group seeks to make area more pedestrian-friendly

– Springfield News-Sun

Officials vow ValleyBike program will return as partner company faces bankruptcy

– MassLive

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Protecting Wildlife Habitat is a Robust Slice of Transportation Planning

– TRB

Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways, Volume 1: Alaska

– NCHRP

Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways, Volume 2: California

– NCHRP

Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways, Volume 3: Florida

– NCHRP

Pollinator Habitat Conservation Along Roadways, Volume 4: Great Basin

– NCHRP

Practices for Adding Bicycle and Pedestrian Access on Existing Vehicle Bridges

– NCHRP

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan; Request for Comment

–

Office of the Secretary, USDOT (Notice)

Department of Transportation Equity Action Plan Update

– Office of the Secretary, USDOT (RFI)

National Public Transportation Safety Plan

– FTA (Notice of availability; request for comments)

Designation of Transportation Management Areas

– FHWA and FTA (Notice)

Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Grant Programs

– NHTSA and FHWA (Final rule)

Expansion and Extension of the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program

– United States Patent and Trademark Office (Notice)

Safety Zone; Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and Other Disasters in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana

– Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Port Access Route Study: The Pacific Coast From Washington to California

– Coast Guard (Notice of availability of study)

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project, Calhoun and Matagorda Counties, TX

– Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program; Petition To Object to the Title V Permit for Cove Point LNG Terminal; Maryland

–

EPA (Notice of final action)

Environmental News Highlights – May 31, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

Detailing Rural America’s Mobility and Accessibility Needs – AASHTO Journal

Sen. Carper, Key Transportation Policy Leader, Retiring in 2024 – AASHTO Journal

Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Power to Address Water Pollution – New York Times

EPA under pressure to revive noise pollution program – E&E News Greenwire

FAA Seeks Public Input on Drone Operations – FAA (media release)

Highway Infrastructure: Better Alignment with Leading Practices Would Improve USDOT’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program – GAO

COVID-19

Here’s how far Thurston County, WA Intercity Transit has come since the COVID-19 pandemic – The Olympian

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

How a Bay Area Community is Fighting Port Pollution – Earthjustice

Can Boston improve pedestrian safety with redesigned streets, intersections? It’s about to find out. – Smart Cities Dive

The Parking Reform That Could Transform Manhattan – CityLab (opinion)

AIR QUALITY

California seeks EPA approval to ban sales of new gasoline-only vehicles by 2035 – Reuters

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

DC DOT’s Lott Named Vice Chair of Equity in Infrastructure Project – AASHTO Journal

NATURAL RESOURCES

How to Open a National Park for the Summer Season – New York Times

Metro Detroit wetlands: What they are, how they’re shrinking – ClickOnDetroit

Audit finds California water agency not adequately considering climate change in forecasts Los Angeles Times

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Travel and Tourism: DOT Should Improve Strategic Planning and Data Collection – GAO

Expanded mountain bike trail creating new kind of tourism in Michigan – WPBN/WGTU-TV

‘Culture Wars’ Have Not Overlooked Public Transit, Urbanist Ideas – Government Technology

NYC DOT Launches Series of Themed Self-Guided Bike Route Maps to Encourage Cycling – NYCDOT (media release)

New Route 66 U.S. Bike Route signs unveiled in Tulsa – Oklahoma DOT (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

IIHS: Trade-Offs when Mandating Slow E-Scooter Speeds – AASHTO Journal

Philadelphia named “most walkable city” in the U.S. – KYW-TV

Richard Montanez, Deputy Commissioner of Transportation, City of Philadelphia – Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program – ITE Talks Transportation podcast

Restricting ride-hailing apps makes transportation systems less efficient– University of Florida

E-Bikes Are Putting a Dent in Denver’s Vehicle Miles Traveled – Government Technology

North Little Rock opens portion of Arkansas River Trail for bicycles and foot traffic – KATV-TV

New half-mile Southwest Greenway in Detroit opens – Detroit News

Denver has exceeded its goal of 125 miles of new bike infrastructure, mayor says – Denverite

NHTSA Proposes New Crashworthiness Pedestrian Protection Testing Program – NHTSA (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: New Minimum Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Rule – TRB

TRB Webinar: Electrification and Hydrogen Technologies in Airports – TRB

The Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs – TRB

Program Evaluation Report Card Tool for Wildlife Hazard Management Plans: User Guide – TRB

Resilient Design with Distributed Rainfall-Runoff Modeling – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee; June 2023 Virtual Meeting – Coast Guard (Notice)

Community Disaster Resilience Zones and the National Risk Index – FEMA (Notice request for information)

Environmental News Highlights – May 24, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

AASHTO Signs MOU with Association for Commuter Transportation – AASHTO Journal

US Lawmakers Want to Bar Automakers From Eliminating AM Radio in New Vehicles – Reuters

Biden plan to sell land leases for conservation gets pushback – AP

FHWA Announces $749 Million to Repair Roads and Bridges Damaged by Natural Disasters and Catastrophic Events – FHWA (media release)

FHWA Highlights Efforts to Improve Safety for People Walking, Bicycling and Rolling Made Possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – FHWA (media release)

FTA Announces Availability of $220 Million to Modernize Ferry Service and Better Connect Rural Communities – FTA (media release)

DOE – DOT Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Launches New Funding Opportunity and Consortium to Improve Reliability and Accessibility of EV Chargers, Expand the Nation’s Clean Transportation Workforce – Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (media release)

EPA and Peace Corps Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Environmental Protection Around the World – EPA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Texas governor signs electric vehicle tax into law – KVUE

Washington governor vetoes collection of drivers’ odometer readings – Seattle Times

California governor wants to make it easier to build roads, dams and more. What’s in his plan? – CalMaters

LEDs Bring Energy Savings—and Light Pollution – Route Fifty

Truckers Are Caught on the Front Line of California’s EV Push – Wired

Mississippi River shipping infrastructure is aging. Who should pay for the repairs? – WWNO Radio

FEMA Announces an Additional $160 Million to Build Climate and Disaster Resilience Nationwide, Including Over $50 Million for Tribal Nations – FEMA (media release)

EPA to Engage the Public on Great Lakes Restoration and Protection Priorities – EPA (Media release)

NTSB Urges Action for Bridges Nationwide – NTSB (media release)

AIR QUALITY

Boeing’s new tool lets airlines plan for net zero emissions – Axios

Montana’s New Anti-Climate Law May Be the Most Aggressive in the Nation – Inside Climate News

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Ohio DOT adding adult-sized changing tables in 28 highway rest areas by 2026 – Columbus Dispatch

Advancing Equity in Accessibility and Travel Experiences: The Role of Gender and Identity – Minnesota DOT

No matter what: lessons of climate resiliency from environmental justice communities – Harvard University (video)

NATURAL RESOURCES

Tennessee Study Charts Six Year Drop in Roadway Litter – AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

Maryland SHA Sprucing Up Roadsides In Advance of Memorial Day Holiday – Maryland State Highway Administration

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Kansas City looking for new transit options for 2026 World Cup – WDAF-TV

New street mural unveiled to help protect cyclists and pedestrians in Tampa – That’s So Tampa

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Suffolk County, New York Launches ‘Transit To Trails’ Map Initiative – Long Island Press

Cape Coral, Florida Officially Opens Section of SUN Trail – Cape Coral Breeze

A Conversation About E-Bikes With a Transportation Researcher – Cobb County Courier

National Spending on Bicycles and Accessories Grew 620% from March 2020 to March 2023; Docked Bikeshare Grew 42% – BTS

UAB researchers working on new app to help keep pedestrians safe – WBRC-TV

Northern Virginia Opens New “66-Parallel” Bike And Walking Trail – Dcist

The Good News/Bad News For E-Scooters And Speed – Forbes

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TRB Webinar: Risk-targeted Ground Motions for Bridge Design – TRB

TRB Webinar: Innovation in Geoseismic Foundation Design and Performance – TRB

Impacts of Trains Longer Than 7,500 Feet Meeting #6 – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Credit Assistance and Related Fees for Water Resources Infrastructure Projects – Army Corps of Engineers (Final rule)

National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee; June 2023 Meetings – Coast Guard (Notice)

Revisions and Confidentiality Determinations for Data Elements Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule – EPA (Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking)

Great Lakes Advisory Board Notice for Virtual Meeting – EPA (Notice)

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC): Notice of Meeting – EPA (Notice)

South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act – Interim Assessment; Notice of Public Meeting – EPA (Notice)

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council – Forest Service (Notice of meeting)

Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary – NOAA (Notice; request for comments)

Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facilities Offshore New Jersey – Bureau of Ocean Energy (Notice)

Environmental News Highlights – May 17, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

America’s aging flood control infrastructure is failing – federal funding is coming, but too often new construction relies on old data – The Conversation

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

EPA Developing $4B Clean Port Infrastructure Grant Programs – AASHTO Journal

Congestion Pricing in Manhattan Clears Federal Hurdle – Route Fifty

Norfolk Southern to set up home value reimbursement fund after Ohio derailment – Reuters

Winter Has No Chance Against WYDOT’s Newest Rig That Chews Through 5,000 Tons Of Snow An Hour – Cowboy State Daily

Here’s how the Port of Savannah is preparing to withstand the upcoming hurricane season – WJCL-TV

How a new digital tool could help cities meet key sustainability and mobility goals – World Economic Forum

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Providing a 5-Minute Pickup Priority for Ridehail Users Agreeing to Pool: Potential Impacts on Curtailing Bus Delay and Enhancing Equity – FHWA Office of Operations

Colombia’s Women-Led Electric Bus Fleet Is Reshaping Bogotá’s Public Transit – CityLab

Racial and ethnic disparities in traffic deaths revealed in NHTSA report – Smart Cities Dive

Los Angeles Metro’s Equity Platform spurs new equity information data hub, encouraging more Angelenos to participate in Metro’s decision-making process – Los Angeles MTA (blog)

NATURAL RESOURCES

This Lawsuit Could Change How the Forest Service Fights Wildfires – The Atlantic

New Hampshire, Vermont Put Measures In Place To Protect Bats At Bridge Worksite – Brattleboro Reformer

What’s Happening to the Trees in New Orleans? – CityLab

SFO is now monitoring airplane wastewater – San Francisco Examiner

FDOT plans state’s first wildlife crossing overpass across I-4 in Polk County – WFTS-TV

Snow fills Colorado mountains. Crews are throwing explosives at it. – USA Today

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Kansas DOT Issues Revised Active Transportation Plan – AASHTO Journal

Supporters Want E-Bikes Allowed on R.I.’s Bicycle Paths – ecoRI

Key concepts to consider when promoting active transportation – The Lancet

Connecticut DOT campaign promotes pedestrian safety during ‘Older Americans Month’ – News 12 Connecticut

Progress Continues On Virginia Capital Trail Extension – Peninsula Chronicle

Pedestrian bridge linking Crystal City and Reagan National Airport set to move forward – WTOP Radio

RTC of Washoe County, NV Asking For Feedback On Active Transportation Plan – KTVN-TV

CDOT Announces Free “Learn to Ride” Bike Riding Classes for Adults and Children in 2023 – City of Chicago (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Air Quality in Transit Buses – TCRP

In Pursuit of Equity: Environmental Justice on Tribal Lands – TRB News

Achieving Highway Runoff Volume and Pollutant Reduction Using Vegetated Compost Blankets: A Guide – NCHRP

Conference on the Marine Transportation System Innovative Science and Technologies Toward Greater Sustainability – TRB

TRB Webinar: Aggregate Sustainability – Production – TRB

A qualitative study of active travel amongst commuters and older adults living in English market towns – BMC Public Health

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council; Notification of Public Meeting – EPA (Notice)

Release of Volume 3 of the Integrated Review Plan in the Review of the Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standards – EPA (Notice of availability)

2023 Annual Joint Meeting of the Ozone Transport Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Northeast Visibility Union – EPA (Notice; public meeting)

Inland Waterways Users Board; Request for Nominations – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Notice of request for nominations)

Environmental News Highlights – May 10, 2023

FEDERAL ACTION

FHWA Issues $21.8M in National Scenic Byways Grants – AASHTO Journal

US settles landmark Alabama environmental justice case – Reuters

The Future of Transportation: The Role of Bike Lanes – Momentum Mag

Now Open: PROTECT Grants to Make Transportation More Resilient – National League of Cities

EPA Announces $4 Billion Through the Investing in America Agenda for Clean Port Upgrades and Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles to Improve Air Quality and Protect Public Health – EPA (media release)

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

FHWA Offering Grants for Port Electrification, Efficiency Gains – AASHTO Journal

Texas Wants EV Owners to Pay a $200 Annual Fee for Highway Costs – Jalopnik

NOAA to Improve Storm Surge Predictions Ahead of 2023 Hurricane Season – Nextgov

PHMSA Announces Bipartisan PIPES Act Proposal to Modernize Decades-Old Pipeline Leak Detection Rules, Invests in Critical American Infrastructure, Create Good-Paying Jobs, Improve Safety – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (media release)

AIR QUALITY

California enacts first-in-the-nation crackdown on pollution from trains – San Francisco Chronicle

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Troy, New York to audit accessibility of pedestrian infrastructure on city streets – Spectrum News 1

Hidden Treasures: Remote community airports play an essential role in Texas life. – Texas A&M Transportation Institute (podcast)

Pittsburgh Mobility Pilot Builds on Transportation Equity Goals – Government Technology

Pilot Project to Help Patients with Transportation Barriers Get to Appointments – UC San Diego

NATURAL RESOURCES

Supporters plan climate-friendly environment for Lake Superior parks – Capitol News Service

NC Wildlife Commission, NCDOT Renew Focus on Wildlife Passages to Reduce Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions – North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (media release)

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Wisconsin Bike Fed, partners request increased funding for trail infrastructure – Press Times

USDA Announces $36M to Improve Roads, Trails, Water Quality as part of Investing in America Agenda – USDA (media release)

HEALTH AND HUMAN ENVIRONMENT/ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Philly will increase policing of bike lanes in effort to improve traffic safety – PhillyVoice

Why cities continue to have a love-hate affair with e-scooters – CNBC

Euclid, Ohio seeking community input on transportation plan – News-Herald

Chicago expands Divvy bikeshare program to operate across entire city – WLS-TV

New Yorkers give low marks to city’s bike infrastructure in new ‘Cycling Census’ – amNew York

Bike boulevards bring hope to Durham, North Carolina cyclists – 9th Street Journal

Blind walkers winning safer road crossings – AP

Denver proved the power of e-bike rebates. Now, the discounts are going statewide – Colorado Public Radio

Comment period open for proposed U.S. Bike Route 37 in Indiana – Indiana Department of Transportation (media release)

CTDOT Celebrates National Bike Month this May – Connecticut DOT (media release)

TRB RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

TrainMate Robotic System Making Public Transportation, Public! – TRB (link to PDF)

Committee on Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Coast Guard Certificate of Compliance Examination Program for Gas Carriers – Meeting 4 – TRB

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES

Official Trail Marker for National Water Trails – National Park Service (Notice of designation)

Safety Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Key West, FL – Coast Guard (Notice of proposed rulemaking)

Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, Northwest Pennsylvania Sub-Committee Vacancy – Coast Guard (Notice; solicitation for membership)

Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution: Request for Public Comment – EPA (Notice of availability)

Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles – EPA (Proposed rule)

Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment Under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs – EPA (Notice; request for information)

Federal Baseline Water Quality Standards for Indian Reservations – EPA (Proposed rule)

Assessment of Biodiversity and Climate Change; Request for Public Comment and Nomination – Geological Survey (Notice)

Climate Adaptation Export Competitiveness Request for Information – International Trade Administration and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (Request for public comments and Information)

Proposals by Non-Federal Interests for Feasibility Studies, Proposed Modifications to Authorized Water Resources Development Projects and Feasibility Studies, and Proposed Modifications for an Environmental Infrastructure Program for Inclusion in … – Army Corps of Engineers (Notice)

Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area Plan Associated With the Mojave Trails National Monument Management Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment – Bureau of Land Management (Notice of intent)

Safety of Underground Natural Gas Storage Public Meeting – Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Correction)