NTL Record

Title Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program: Implementation and Next Steps: Progress Report
Record ID 33592
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.); United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Natural and Human Environment
Publisher United States. Department of Transportation
Publication Date 20090200
Language English
Abstract In July 2008, the FHWA’s Office of Natural and Human Environment (HEPN) selected the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to participate in a carbon sequestration pilot program (CSPP). Through the CSPP, FHWA intends explore the feasibility of state DOTs reducing and sequestering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in vegetation within highway rights-of-way (ROW). Under the pilot program, NMDOT is undertaking a four-year, $2 million research project to quantify the amount of atmospheric carbon that grasslands along highway ROW can sequester. The protocol that will result should be applicable to DOTs nationwide, an important consideration since part of the pilot program’s success centers on the DOT’s ability to measure then divest the carbon captured. Options for divestiture are (1) selling carbon credits on an appropriate GHG market or registry for revenue, (2) using carbon credits to offset the DOT’s emissions, or (3) using the credits toward meeting statewide objectives. NMDOT’s initial experience with this ground-breaking effort has revealed a number of lessons useful to other DOTs and FHWA Division Offices in evaluating the viability of carbon sequestration practices in lands they control.
Rosap ID dot:18148
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/18148
TRT Terms Carbon; Greenhouse gases; Climate change; Right of way (Land); Highways; Climate change mitigation; State departments of transportation; Land use; Vegetation control
General Subjects Carbon sequestration
Geographical
Coverage
New Mexico; United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1124561
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/33000/33500/33592/FINAL_C-Seq_Report_021109.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository