  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - Oct. 14, 2003
03-203
BELLEVUE - Four government agencies are trying a new approach to speed the start of major transportation projects and protect the environment.
A team of senior environmental experts began work today at the Multi-Agency Permitting (MAP) Team, representing Washington's departments of Ecology, Transportation (WSDOT), Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, based at Ecology's regional office in Bellevue.
The team will work on many of the $4.2 billion dollars in transportation projects funded by the state's new five-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax. The team already has at least 35 projects to work on, including lane expansions, interchanges and bridge replacements in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
"We needed a way to work more closely together," said Tom Fitzsimmons, chief of staff for Gov. Gary Locke. Fitzsimmons had first proposed creating a co-located team while he was director of Ecology.
"Permits for projects like these can be very complex. It can take too much time to coordinate between offices at various locations, and this should improve and speed communication tremendously," Fitzsimmons added.
WSDOT will fund the MAP Team as a pilot project through June 30, 2005.
"We are very excited about the prospects for this team" said Doug MacDonald, Secretary of Transportation. "We think that we can make better, faster permit decisions so that our projects that citizens want can serve environmental goals as well as transportation goals."
The team will start with eight members: a stormwater engineer, wetlands expert and permit specialist from Ecology; a biologist and engineer from WDFW; and a project environmental coordinator and team leader from WSDOT. The Corps of Engineers will rotate a staff member onto the team, as needed.
"All of us involved in this unique project have the same overarching goal: improving the state's transportation systems, and protecting and enhancing our fish habitat, water and other natural resources," said WDFW Director Jeff Koenings. "Both are vitally important to the long-term economic health and vitality of our region, and are not mutually exclusive."
"There's much to gain from just being able to lean across the aisle and work out problems together," said Ecology's interim director, Linda Hoffman. "This team can save time and tax dollars and be more effective at protecting the environment than when each agency works separately."
###
Contacts: Scott Boettcher, regulatory improvement coordinator,
360-407-7564
Larry Altose, public information, 425-649-7009, pager 206-663-1785
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
