Minutes of the Meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee – July 18-19, 2006 (Houston,
Texas)
Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on
Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf
Coast Study
Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.7 of the
U.S.
Climate Change Science Program
Day 1 – July 18, 2006
Welcome and Introductions
The meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) was
called to order at 9:30 A.M. by
Michael Savonis (Project Lead, DOT), the Designated Federal Officer (DFO). Mr. Savonis welcomed the committee members
and introduced the next speakers. Alan
Clark (Houston-Galveston Area Council) welcomed the committee to Houston,
and provided some introductory remarks concerning the importance of the
study. Virginia Burkett (Project Lead,
USGS) gave an overview of the history of the project, and explained its
designation under the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) as Synthesis
and Assessment Product 4.7. Victoria
Sutton (Chief Counsel, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, DOT)
provided introductory comments regarding the DOT
Center on Climate Change and its
role as sponsor of the Gulf Coast Study.
Michael Savonis reviewed the requirements and
responsibilities of the FAC members, including the restrictions that apply to
them as special government employees. The FAC unanimously decided to not designate a committee chair. Michael Savonis recognized John Biers of Dow
Jones Newswires.
Copies of all draft reports discussed at the meeting were
available to the public. Additional
copies can be requested by contacting Michael Savonis at michael.savonis@dot.gov. A list of meeting attendees is available upon
request.
Study Design
Joanne Potter (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) gave an overview
of the study, including Phase I tasks and products, the current draft schedule,
and a description of the review processes involved before the final report is
produced.
Draft Task 2 Findings – Review of data collected for the regional
characterization
Andy From (USGS) and Virginia
Burkett (USGS) presented the draft findings of the USGS research team regarding
study area characteristics and climate trends and projections. Andy From described the geospatial data that
was collected by the USGS team to characterize the region. Virginia Burkett presented four main topics:
regional demographic, social, economic, and related data and trends and their
implication for transportation planning in terms of societal vulnerability; sea
level trends and projections and related data for the region; regional
temperature and precipitation trends and projections; and storm surge modeling
for the Gulf Coast.
Draft Findings: Transportation Analysis Team Technical Memorandums
Ken Leonard (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) introduced the
upcoming presentations of individual Transportation Analysis Team (TAT) draft
technical memorandums, describing the scope and structure of the memos,
analytic approach, and context for the analysis.
Marine Facilities and Waterways
Alan Meyers (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) presented the
draft findings of the Marine Facilities and Waterways technical memorandum,
followed by questions from the FAC members and discussion.
Freight and Passenger Rail
David Hunt (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) presented the draft
findings of the Freight and Passenger Rail technical memorandum, with questions
from the FAC members and discussion.
Public and Stakeholder Questions and Comments
Michael Savonis asked for questions and comments from the
public. Since no members of the public
were present at this point, he moved to the next agenda item (general
discussion and observations).
Discussion/Observations
The FAC members and other meeting participants held a
general discussion of the day’s presentations and implications for next steps
in the analysis.
The meeting was adjourned for the day at 6:00 P.M.
Day 2 – July 19, 2006
Discussion – Review of Day 1 Conclusions/Questions
Michael Savonis called the meeting to order at 8:15 A.M. Mr. Savonis and Virginia Burkett facilitated a review of the previous
day’s conclusions among the FAC members and other meeting participants, with
questions and discussion.
Draft Findings: TAT Technical Memorandums, continued
Highway and Transit
Ken Leonard (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) presented the
draft findings of the Highway and Transit technical memorandum authored by Dan
Beagan (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.), with questions from the FAC members and
discussion.
Airports
Mike Maynard (Wilbur Smith Associates) presented the draft
findings of the Airports technical memorandum, with questions from the FAC
members and discussion.
Pipeline Transmission System
Les Olson (Texas Transportation Institute) presented the
draft findings of the Pipeline Transmission System technical memorandum, with
questions from the FAC members and discussion.
Emergency Management
Russell Henk (Texas Transportation Institute) presented the
draft findings of the Emergency Management technical memorandum, with questions
from the FAC members and discussion.
Long-Range Planning and Investment
John Suhrbier (Cambridge Systematics, Inc.) presented the
draft findings of the Long-Range Planning and Investment technical memorandum,
with questions from the FAC members and discussion.
Tasks 3 and 4: Risk and vulnerability assessment
Wesley Dean (Texas
A & M University)
presented on behalf of the author, Eric Lindquist (Texas
A&M University)
a draft conceptual framework for performing a risk and vulnerability
assessment, followed by questions from the FAC members and discussion.
Public and Stakeholder Questions and Comments
Michael Savonis invited members of the public to address the
committee.
Roy Conn (Continental Airlines) described his position at
Continental, their interest in the topic, and the areas of research that they
would find most helpful to their operations. He also answered several questions from the FAC regarding Continental’s
decision-making processes.
No other members of the public were present.
Wrap-Up Discussion
Michael Savonis facilitated a wrap-up discussion among the
FAC members and other meeting participants.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30
P.M.
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