Charles County, Maryland

1
Charles County, Maryland King George County,
Virginia December 11, 2006
DRAFT
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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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
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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
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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/Addres
sing Comments on Project ? Community Requested
Meetings ? Focus Group Meetings ? Outreach
to environmental justice and bilingual
communities
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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.
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Stakeholders Local Business Representatives Maj
or Employers Local Community Associations/Organiza
tions 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
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Local Businesses
Major Employers

• 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)
• Dans Equipment, Inc. (MD)
• GM Auto Service (MD)
• General Dynamics Information Technology (VA)
• Oscar Lease Services (MD)
• Somerset Homes (MD)

• 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

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Local Organizations/Government Entities
Other Interested Parties

• 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)

Community Associations/ Special Interest Groups

• 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)

DRAFT
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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
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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
DRAFT