U.S. DOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center’s Post

Revitalizing Small Towns with a Hidden Gem: Ohio's Brownfield Remediation Grant! Picture this: The abandoned factory at the edge of town transformed into a bustling community hub, or the old gas station site reborn as a vibrant green space. Sound like a dream? It could be your town's reality with Ohio's Brownfield Remediation Grant! At Phoenix Environmental, we've seen firsthand how this grant can turn neglected sites into beacons of community pride and economic growth. From assessing environmental risks to navigating grant applications, we're here to guide small towns in reclaiming their forgotten landscapes. Want to discover the incredible transformations that are possible in your town? We've delved into this topic in our latest blog post, sharing insights into how we can support your journey towards revitalization. But here’s the question: What hidden potential lies in your town's overlooked spaces, just waiting to be unlocked? Find out more and be inspired by visiting our blog:  https://lnkd.in/gAQkRHhu #CommunityRevitalization #BrownfieldRemediation #SmallTownTransformation #PhoenixEnvironmental #EnvironmentalInnovation

"The dark art of noticing" - David M. Watson "when you tune in to nature there's so much to be learned". I noticed there was fox fur on the fence. So I put a lure there three weeks ago to see when the fox would come and what it would do. Friday night. I am a noticer. I'm watching the evolving short-terming and fixed contract delivery of Landcare and other government funded natural resource management/conservation programs with increasing alarm. My alarm is also raised by the simultaneous change of government attitude towards the community on natural resource management and conservation. The de-funding of long-term, noticing relationships with people and place and nature. Community knowledge cut out. In the past decade there has been a noticeable shift to blow in blow out roles that have no time and no budget to get to know people in a community, to run a long game of noticing to build greater, stronger conservation outcomes. This Government-led national de-funding of conservation activities and noticing and relationships with people in places, means we are losing connection to the nuanced story nature has to tell us about what it needs. From us. Over time. We are losing the story of nature in context of land use because careers as long-term, experienced, conservation minded, positive parts of place are not being created, rewarded, and resourced. When conservation has no capacity to notice over time because it is forced to be in a short-term, "now" goal kicking external deliverables agency (where the story is pre-set by humans not by place), Government cannot say Government investment is protecting, enhancing, and conserving.

📈 📣 Exciting update from our Environmental Health Monitoring Program! We’ve been refining our framework to elevate it for better community wellbeing and waterway stewardship in SEQ! https://lnkd.in/gP37dxiq Partnering with The University of Queensland, we’ve been refining the framework in two phases: ✅ Consultation: 32 stakeholders have been delving into challenges, experiences, and the impact of our waterway management efforts. 🔍 Technical Assessment: This phase focuses on enhancing impact, statistical robustness, and cost-effectiveness. #environmentalinsights #stewardship #waterways #southeastqueensland #ecosystems #reportcard #communitystewardship This review is supported by Healthy Land & Water, run by The University of Queensland and funded by the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, City of Moreton Bay, Noosa Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Seqwater, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Unitywater and Urban Utilities.

Environmental planning is the practice of making interrelated decisions about the natural environment, landscapes, infrastructure, cultural heritage, socioeconomics and human health. FEMA  Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation provides environmental planning and historic preservation guidance and compliance before, during and after disaster. These experts share specialized knowledge and practical long-term planning assistance to help people and communities across the nation use environmental planning to achieve disaster recovery and community resilience. Our vision is to be a trusted partner for sound and proactive environmental and historic preservation guidance and compliance through knowledge, planning, and partnership. Environmental and Historic Preservation supports the FEMA 2024 Year of Resilience through three primary action areas : Cultivating Partnerships, Enhancing Customer Experiences, and Providing Sound Guidance to Reduce Risk to People and Natural and Cultural Resources. #emergencymanagement #disasterrecovery #communityresilience #environmentalplanning #historicpreservation #planning

Exploring Key Trends in Land Management Practices in the United States In the vast expanse of the United States, land management practices play a pivotal role in shaping environmental sustainability, economic development, and social well-being. From urban planning to rural conservation efforts, the management of land resources is a multifaceted endeavor influenced by a myriad of factors. Let's undersatnd some of the key trends in this article. #landmanagement #usa #gis #lams ##sustainablelandmanagement

New Jersey's REAL reforms are set to reshape how we build and protect our communities, addressing critical issues like sea-level rise and stormwater management. These changes, driven by scientific study, will impact developers and landowners, urging early planning to manage costs and design challenges. As the state modernizes its environmental land use rules, strategic foresight is crucial for all stakeholders. With public comments open until Nov. 3, it's a key moment for engagement. To my New Jersey network - Do these new regulations strike the right balance between environmental protection and economic development, or could they stifle growth in vulnerable areas? #NewJersey #ClimateChange #Sustainability #LandUse #Development #Resilience https://lnkd.in/gjrssGpC

🔽 Project Profile H3M Environmental Ltd.'s Environmental Planning team collaborated with a Métis Settlement to facilitate community workshops aimed at gathering information and reviewing historical studies to develop a Climate Resiliency Capacity Building Program. Noteworthy achievements of the project include: 🔸 Securing grant funding from Alberta Municipalities to support the project and to hire and train a local Indigenous Guardian as an environmental steward. 🔸Implementing a participatory process that allowed Settlement Members to voice their concerns regarding climate change and propose potential solutions. 🔸Providing support for prevention and mitigation measures. 🔸Offering recommendations for emergency response planning. 🔸Advocating for educational and community programs as actionable next steps. Our team takes pride in collaborating with Indigenous communities, and we extend our gratitude to them for welcoming us to assist with their initiatives, to work on their land, alongside their staff, community members, and local businesses. 🌐 To inquire about our Environmental team's support, please contact us at info@h3menviro.com. #H3M #H3MEnvironmental #EnvironmentalPlanning #ClimateResiliency #Collaboration #CommunitySupport #MitigationMeasures #Prevention #EmergencyResponsePlanning

Do you have a community project that addresses energy efficiency, affordable and sustainable housing, or training and workforce development? These are just some of the categories of investment that fall under Justice 40, the federal government’s historic commitment to invest billions into environmental justice census tracts. This is a generational opportunity for our region to move towards a more sustainable and equitable future. To prepare communities to access this funding, New Sun Rising and RiverWise partnered to develop the Ignite Environmental Justice Workshops. The next workshop is Wednesday, May 22 in Ohio Valley at the Whitted Media Content house. Deadline to apply is 8 p.m. on Monday, May 20. For more information and to register, visit: https://lnkd.in/eCVTd39r #justice40 #justice40initiative #environmentaljustice #environmentaljusticeforall #justiceforall #climatejustice #socialjustice #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #cleanair #cleanwater #vibrantcommunities #alleghenycounty #beavercounty #newsunrising #riverwise #equitabledevelopment #greencommunities #sustainability

As part of the Comprehensive Plan, Whatcom County, with input from its cities, needs to choose a low, medium or high population projection to plan for anticipated growth in our County over the next 20 years. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will help guide this decision. The EIS will outline proposed development and growth actions and how they’ll impact the following eleven elements: 👉 Earth 👉 Air Quality/Climate 👉 Water Resources 👉 Plants and Animals 👉 Land and Shoreline Use 👉 Plans and Policies 👉 Population, Housing, Employment 👉 Environmental Justice 👉 Cultural Resources 👉 Transportation 👉 Public Services and Utilities Consultants will review each element and analyze the proposed alternatives and offer mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or rectify the impacts from those alternatives. The public will get to comment on their report this summer once the draft is released. . . . #WashingtonState #GrowthManagementAct #PopulationPlanning #EnvironmentalImpactStatement #ComprehensivePlan #BellinghamCommunity #BellinghamWA #WhatcomCounty

Washington County proposes limiting tree removal within the Urban Growth Boundary Washington County recently issued draft Ordinance 902, which amends the County’s regulations for mapped Significant Natural Resources outside of riparian corridors and implements a tree code in certain parts of Washington County. The tree code would limit the ability of property owners and developers to remove trees and require onsite mitigation in the form of tree planting in instances where they are removed. This could result in adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of new infill housing in Washington County, even as the state is pushing for more price attainable units. Jordan Ramis has extensive experience working with local jurisdictions on environmental mapping exercises and can assist if you have questions about the draft ordinance or what it could mean for you property or project. Contact James Howsley or Ezra Hammer with any questions. Read Ordinance 902 here: https://lnkd.in/gH5VUPzQ You can use the County interactive map to determine whether your property is impacted: https://lnkd.in/gtkwDpNc