# Presentation: 232698

## Charles County, Maryland

- King George County, Virginia
**December 11, 2006**

- DRAFT

## DRAFT

**Overview**
- This Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Project Improvement Project serves as a guideline for distributing public information and engaging the public in this project.  This plan outlines the process that the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) will implement to identify public concerns, public outreach strategies, public comment opportunities, and potential stakeholders in this project.
- The public involvement process for this project will focus on all parties potentially affected by this project as well as those who have a vested interest.  MdTA assumes that nearby neighborhood associations, local residents and boaters; state, local, and regional authorities; major employers, and community facilities/services fit into this criteria.

## DRAFT

**Public Involvement Plan Summary**
- MdTA will perform the following tasks as part of implementing the Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Improvement Project:
-       Prepare and continue to update a project mailing list of individuals and groups that have 	interest or could potentially be affected by the project.
-       Prepare fact sheets, brochures, and/or newsletters about the status of the project that will 	include information on upcoming meetings, milestones, and project deadlines and distribute 	to project mailing list.
- 	Maintain up-to-date project webpage.
-       Establish a Focus Group made up of stakeholders, which would include community and 	business representatives, special interest groups and other stakeholders.

## DRAFT

**Public Involvement Plan Summary (Continued)**
- MdTA will perform the following tasks as part of implementing the Public Involvement Plan for the Nice Bridge Improvement Project:
-          	Place environmental documents in local repositories for public review and comment.
-       Initiate and facilitate meetings with interested parties, if necessary.
-       Initiate and facilitate public meetings (in both Maryland and Virginia) at significant project 	milestones/decision points and provide written information on the project at these 	meetings.
-       Respond thoroughly and appropriately to concerns, questions, and issues raised by any of the 	interested parties.
-       Monitor and evaluate the public involvement process to ensure that all questions of interested 	parties or groups have been adequately answered.

## DRAFT

**Public Involvement Objectives**
-    	Provide public with effective, consistent opportunities for potentially affected and interested parties to voice their concerns and ideas.
-     	Provide public with information on the project status, including timeframes, design issues, environmental impacts, and social impacts.
-               Build lasting relationships with the community and interested parties and provide reasonable opportunity for their involvement.
-    	Coordinate with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) throughout the course of the project for their input on public involvement.
-    	Where applicable, adhere to public involvement provisions included in SAFETEA-LU and other federal and state laws.
- 	Include outreach efforts that are targeted toward minority, low-income and bilingual communities who may not be reached by ordinary outreach strategies (i.e., speakers of other languages).

## DRAFT

**Public Involvement Plan Activities and Timeline**
**	**_**Activity**_**	****	****	****	**_**Timeframe **_**	**_**Status **_
- Develop Public Involvement Plan		May 2006		Completed
- Compile Project Mailing Lists			May-June 2006	Completed
- Publish Project Initiation Announcement		July 2006		Completed
- Develop and launch Project Website 		July 2006		Completed
- Hold Focus Group Meeting #1 		December 2006	Completed
- Conduct Property Owner Notification		December 2006
- Circulate First Project Newsletter		January 2007
- Advertise Alternatives Public Workshop		February 2007
- Hold Focus Group Meeting #2 		February 2007
- Hold Alternatives Public Workshop		Spring 2007
- Circulate Second Project Newsletter		Fall 2007

## DRAFT

**Public Involvement Plan Activities and Timeline (continued)**
**	**_**Activity**_**	****	****	****	**_**Timeframe **_**	**_**Status **_
- Hold Focus Group Meeting #3 		Jan – Feb 2008
- Circulate Third Project Newsletter		Feb – March 2008
- Hold Focus Group Meeting #4 		Summer 2008
- Circulate Draft Environmental Document/	Summer 2008
- Technical Reports for Public Review
- Advertise Public Hearing			Fall 2008
- Hold Public Hearing				Fall 2008
- Address Public Comments 			Fall 2008
- Hold Focus Group Meeting #5 		Winter 2009
- Circulate Final Environmental Document for 	Spring 2009
- Public Review
- Circulate Fourth Project Newsletter		Summer 2009
- Record of Decision (ROD)			Summer 2009

## DRAFT

**      ****Key Milestones**
- 		Project Initiation Announcement
- 		Alternatives Public Workshop
- 		Draft Environmental Document Published for Public Review and Comment
- 		Location/Design Public Hearing
- 		Final Environmental Document Published for Public Review and Comment

**      ****Ongoing Activities**
- 		Maintaining Project Mailing List
- 	 	Nice Bridge Improvement Project webpage
- 		Project Newsletters
- 		Receiving/Addressing Comments on Project
- 		Community Requested Meetings
- 	  	 Focus Group Meetings
- 	 	Outreach to environmental justice and bilingual 		communities

## DRAFT

**Project Newsletters**
- _Objective_
- To inform the public of the latest project activities and recent developments.  Newsletters will be circulated prior to public workshops and the public hearing, as well as posted on the project website.  The purpose of circulating a newsletter prior to the workshop helps to encourage involvement and participation from the public.  Distributing a newsletter following the workshop is a way of showing the public their thoughts and concerns were heard.
- _Anticipated Newsletters and Purpose_
- Winter 2007	Provide background information on and the status of the Nice 	Bridge Improvement Project; provide information on NEPA 	process, provide project timeline and contact 	information.
- Fall 2007 	Recap Alternatives Public Workshop and Interagency Coordination 	activities; provide project updates.
- Spring  2008	Announce circulation of Draft Environmental Document, ARDS 	and Fall 2008 Public Hearing; provide other project updates.
- Summer 2009 	Recap Public Hearing and comments on the Draft 		Environmental Document; provide projected post-NEPA schedule.

## DRAFT

**Stakeholders**
- Local Business Representatives**	****	****	**
- Major Employers
- Local Community Associations/Organizations
- Elected Officials
- Local Government Entities/MPO (Tri-County Council)
- Residents (and boaters)/Property Owners within the study area
- Travelers Using Facility (automobiles and trucks)
- Utility Companies
- Boating, Fishing and Camping Associations
- Shipping vessel associations
*The initial list of interested parties, however, may be expanded upon if other organizations, groups, or community members perceive that they may be affected by this project.*

## DRAFT

**Local Businesses**

- Bel Alton Motel (Bel Alton, MD)
- Lafayette Inn (Bel Alton, MD)
- Town 'N Country Motel (Faulkner, MD)
- Robertson's Crab House (Newburg, MD)
- White House Motel (Newburg, MD)
- Captain Billy's Crab House (Newburg, MD)
- Gilligan's Pier Seafood & Steakhouse (Pier III)
- 	(Newburg, MD)
- Tims II at Fairview Beach (King George, VA)
- Morgantown Generating Station (Morgantown, MD)
- Aqualand Marina Owner (Newburg MD)
- Dan’s Equipment, Inc. (MD)
- G&M Auto Service (MD)
- General Dynamics Information Technology (VA)
- Oscar Lease Services (MD)
- Somerset Homes (MD)

**Major Employers**

- TASCO (Waldorf)
- Chopp & Company (Waldorf)
- Applied Ordnance Technology, Inc. (Waldorf)
- Genesis Elder Care Network (Waldorf)
- Maryland Independent (Waldorf)
- Verizon
- Besche Oil – (Waldorf)
- Chaney enterprises (Waldorf)
- Automated Graphics Systems, Inc. (White Plains)
- Southern Maryland Oil (La Plata)
- Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (Hughesville)
- American Community Properties Trust (St. Charles)
- Facchina Construction Co.(La Plata)
- College of Southern MD (La Plata)
- Civista Medical Center (La Plata)
- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head (Indian Head)

- Naval Surface Warfare Center (Dahlgren)
- King George County Public Schools (King George)
- Vitro Corporation
- White Packing Co., Inc.
- EG & G (Gaithersburg, MD)
- Computer Science Corporation (King George)
- MCSI Technologies, Inc.(King George)
- Syscon Corporation
- Heritage Hall (King George)
- McDonalds Restaurant of VA (Dahlgren)
- Tate Facilities Service, Inc.
- Food Lion, Inc.
- Chemical Waste Management
- Solite Corporate
- Northern Neck Transfer, Inc. (King George)
- Integrated Microcomputer Systems
- FMC Corporation
- King George Word Processing
- System Maintenance & Technology

## DRAFT

- _Maryland_
- Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland
- Charles County Chamber of Commerce
- Charles County Economic Development Department
- Conservancy for Charles County (MD)
- Charles County Office of Tourism
- Charles County Planning Commission
- _Virginia_
- King George County Planning Commission
- Rappahannock Area Development Commission (RADCO)
- King George Park and Recreation Department & Advisory Council
- King George County Historical Society

- Cliffton on the Potomac (MD)
- King George on the Potomac (VA)
- Hoes Ferry (VA)
- Liberty Plantation (VA)
- Parkbridge on the Potomac (VA)
- Monmouth Village (VA)
- Chatham Village (VA)
- Ferry Dock Landing Homeowners Association (VA)
- Meadows of Dahlgren (VA)
- Culpeper Commons (VA)
- Peppermill (VA)
- Scenic Ridge (VA)
- Kitchen Point (VA)
- Swan Point Property Owners Associations (MD)
- Homeowners along Roseland Road (VA)
- Barnesfield Park (VA)
- Wayside Park (VA)
- Aqua-Land Marina & Boat Ramp (MD)
- Dahlgren Marine Works/Marina (VA)
- Hayden & Love Ramp (MD)
- Jimmy & Ann's Store/Ramp (MD)
- Colonial Beach Yacht Center (VA)
- Potomac Rivers Charters (VA)
- Monroe Bay Marian (VA)

- Banks O'Dee Citizens Association, Inc. (Newburg, MD)
- Cobb Neck Citizens Alliance (Cobb Neck, MD)
- Citizens for a Better Charles County (Bryans Road, MD)
- Sierra Club (La Plata, MD)
- King George Bicyclist Association (King George County, VA)
- Southern Maryland Audobon Society (MD)
- Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club (MD)

**Community Associations/ **
**Special Interest Groups **

**Local Organizations/Government Entities**

**Other Interested Parties **

## DRAFT

**Engaging Stakeholders**
- _Determine the Appropriate Public Involvement Techniques_
- After identifying key stakeholders in this project, it is also necessary to determine the appropriate public involvement techniques that meet the expectations of each stakeholder group.  The matching of expectations and appropriate techniques can include:

## DRAFT

_**Media Resource List**_
-  	_**Type**_			_**Media Resource**_
**	**Newspaper		The Maryland Independent (MD)
- 				The Examiner (MD)
- 				Washington Post (regional)
- 				The Washington Hispanic (regional)
- 				The Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
- 				The Journal Press (VA)
- 				The Free-Lance Star (VA)
- 	Radio			WWZZ 104.1 FM; Waldorf, MD
- 				WSMD-FM 98.3 FM; Mechanicsville, MD
- 				WGRQ 95.9 FM; Colonial Beach, VA
- 				WBQB 101.5 FM; Fredericksburg, VA
- 				WFLS-FM 93.3 FM; Fredericksburg, VA