Address Environmental Concerns with Real Data

Logan A. Norris

Many environmental concerns about rights-of-way (ROW) siting, construction and management can be addressed most effectively with scientific data from field- and laboratory-based research and monitoring programs. The most useful data will come from efforts developed by well qualified individuals using a detailed plan of work, including careful documentation, and that includes critical peer review of the results. The interests of the public and of the entities managing ROW will be served best by an increase in organized research and monitoring efforts. The basic tenet of this paper is that having sound technical knowledge (including data) about ROW programs will help you address the environmental issues and concerns that involve ROW siting, construction and management. Examples from research and from the practice of rights-of-way management are used to illustrate this point.

Keywords: Rights-of-way, monitoring, water quality, buffer strips