PennDOT issues request for qualifications for wetlands mitigation banking proposal

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced this week that it is issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) through its Public-Private Partnership Office (P-3) for a private partner to develop a wetlands mitigation banking project in Chalfont, Penn.

PennDOT will also host an industry forum on Dec. 18 to outline the concept for the project.

“Having such a wetlands bank will help expedite environmental clearances for important transportation and other development projects,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “Tackling such an issue shows how our innovative Public Private Partnerships law can have wide, beneficial impacts for Pennsylvania.”

The P-3 partner would develop 140 acres for a wetland banking site in Chalfont, Bucks County on land owned by PennDOT. The proposed facility would provide on-demand wetland mitigation credits for PennDOT projects and other private development projects that have wetland impacts within the same watershed. PennDOT has begun working with federal and state regulatory agencies to lay the groundwork for the project.

Interested parties have 60 days to respond with a statement of qualifications.