Smart Commuter Scooter  Source: SRPC
Planning


Kyle Pimental, principal regional planner, Colin Lentz, transportation planner, and James Burdin, regional economic development planner, met with Josh Whipple and John Pasquale from the MtBE Remediation Bureau at the NH Department of Environmental Services on Thursday, May 17, to discuss the state's clean-up efforts. Since its creation in 2014, the MtBE Remediation Bureau has been investigating and remediating MtBE-contaminated sites throughout the state. MtBE is a gasoline additive used in New Hampshire from the late 1970s until 2007, when it was banned. It is the most common non-naturally occurring contaminant in groundwater.
 
The NHDES staffers gave an update on current MtBE funding and discussed how SRPC could help identify prospective sites in the region for additional evaluation. Likely candidates for MtBE funding include salvage yards, non-operational gas stations, and defunct auto body shops. In the past, these sites may or may not have been eligible for brownfields funding due to ownership challenges; however, the MtBE program is more flexible and more focused on preventing further contamination. If there is a site in your community that might be a candidate for MtBE remediation and you'd like to learn more, please contact Kyle at kpimental@strafford.org or call 603-994-3500.
 
For more information on the MtBE program  visit:

 
For a brief history of the MtBE settlement and overview of projects that are eligible for assistance, download the article at:


Pieces of Interest

  SRPC hiring for a GIS Planner

MMRG Branch River Paddle - May 26

Transportation

There are only nine working days left in the commuteSMART Seacoast B2B Challenge!
 
During this month-long competition, #TeamSRPC has been working hard to reduce congestion by using multiple smart commuting methods. As of Friday, May 18, staffers have logged 40 trips, totaling over 1,300 miles, saving close to $800 and 1,200 pounds of CO2!
 
Among the modes of transportation staffers used are biking, walking, taking the bus, taking the train, carpooling, riding a scooter, and telecommuting. We are also excited to announce that we have 100-percent participation! Every staffer has logged at least one smart commute trip.
 
SRPC is using Facebook and Twitter (#CommuteToWin) to documentour progress. We hope you will take a look!
 
Learn more about the challenge at:

 http://commutesmartseacoast.org/challenge/b2b-challenge-2018  

Economic Development

Since June 2015, SRPC has been working with the Town of Barrington to complete a series of chapters to update the town's 2004 master plan. The town approved the housing and demographics chapter and the existing land use chapter In August 2016 and adopted the vision chapter the following July.
 
Work on the latest chapter to be completed, the economic development chapter, began in October 2017 with the formation of a steering committee. James Burdin, economic development planner, worked with this committee over seven months to complete the draft. This effort included completing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis with the group and data and other analyses resources. The town adopted the completed the chapter on Tuesday, May 15. The final version can be found online at https://bit.ly/2GrtH6t .


Pieces of Interest  
 

Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org | www.strafford.org


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