Natural Resource Management
As stewards of the environment, we serve as caretakers of our natural resources. While our goal is to provide reliable electric service to our customers, we also have a commitment to maintain the health of our environment and conserve our land for the use and enjoyment of others, and for future generations.
Natural resource management can often serve dual roles as Pepco’s Riparian Enhancement program does. Through a partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources-Forest Service and the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), the program was created to stabilize the banks of streams and other natural beds of water on our rights-of-way. Many school and college-age students sponsored by the MCC, who otherwise may miss out on the opportunity, are introduced to the great outdoors and the importance of natural-resource management. Pepco’s rights-of-way cover over 10,000 acres and cross approximately 205 creeks and streams throughout our territory. Many of the streams crossing Pepco’s property are protected through our meadow-management program which creates buffers for the run-off water carrying excess nutrients and pollutants from impervious surfaces. This program improves reliability by maintaining low-growing-vegetation, prevents pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and enhances wildlife habitats.
Maintaining the health of our environment often requires partnering with other organizations such as the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP). On May 20, 2004, Conectiv Energy joined together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Delaware to launch the Delaware CWRP. The program was unveiled at a meeting of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce with Tom Shaw, PHI Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, accepting an award of recognition for Conectiv Energy’s participation in the program.
The CWRP is a public-private partnership between the federal government, state governments and private corporations to restore wetlands and other aquatic habitats.
In the CWRP, funds contributed by corporations to undertake aquatic ecosystem restoration projects are matched by federal and state funds. Atlantic City Electric is a charter member of the New Jersey Coastal Wetlands Restoration Partnership formed in 2003. In 2004, the partnership received the Environmental Excellence Award for Healthy Ecosystems from the New Jersey Department of the Environmental Protection Agency for its work to protect the state’s horseshoe crab and shorebird populations.
Since 1998, PHI has been a member of the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. PHI has implemented a variety of management techniques on its 10,000 acres of transmission line rights-of-way. One of the beneficial partnerships formed, based on rights-of-way stewardship, is the collaboration between PHI, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and WHC.
Again in 2004, PHI’s rights-of-way received international recognition through WHC’s Corporate Wildlife Habitat Certification/International Accreditation Program, which distinguishes meaningful wildlife habitat management programs and environmental education programs.
In addition, the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Corporate Homes for Wildlife Calendar showcased PHI for our efforts undertaken on behalf of wildlife.
As a good environmental steward, PHI has implemented programs such as low-impact development (LID) projects to restore natural beauty to the land as well as protecting our surrounding resources.
LID is a low-impact development technique that decreases river pollution by increasing ground absorption of storm water runoff near its source. Rain gardens are built in low-lying areas, with specific layers of soil, sand and organic mulch to filter particulate matter, trace metals and other pollutants prior to discharge to the river. The soil holds the rainwater and nourishes the garden’s grasses, trees and flowers.
The success of the LID technique at Edison Place, PHI’s headquarters building, and at the Benning Service Center, led to the installation of the Anacostia River Watershed’s second rain garden at the Benning Service Center in 2004.
Environmental stewardship also means managing our natural resources in a manner that is fiscally responsible. PHI uses an advanced Geospatial Information System (GIS) to help develop its construction strategies. GIS is a computer-based mapping system that enables a user to locate waterways, wetlands, endangered species and other ecologically sensitive areas.
PHI used the GIS to help plan the construction of the proposed Red-Lion-to-Indian-River transmission project. The line is being built to enhance power transfers within the Delmarva Peninsula as requested by the Delaware Public Service Commission.
Use of the GIS to identify wetland pole locations for relocation to upland areas where possible, eliminated the need to use helicopters for installation at these locations, resulting in a substantial savings. It also steered the project away from sensitive wetland areas.
