Environment Section Feature
Connected: The Relationship Between Railroads' Indigenous Peoples
Devin Sprinkle
Regional Manager - Environment (U.S.), CN, Vice Chair of the ARDA Environmental Section
Railroads, Native Americans, First Nations (native Canadians) and other indigenous peoples share a distinction in our culture as having long, storied and impactful histories tied to the creation and modernization of Canada and the United States. These entities and the people associated with them have connected in various ways since the mid-20th Century.
The connection between railroads and indigenous peoples continues today and is more important to railroads than ever. When Positive Train Control (PTC) regulations were enacted in 2008 by the U.S. Congress, railroads operating in the U.S. found themselves in a situation whereby the approval of thousands of new communications equipment sites along their respective networks would be subject to review and comment by the over 300 federally recognized tribes, bands and indigenous communities located in the Continental U.S. Subsequently, railroads found themselves working closely with indigenous peoples through an approval process regulated by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) represented Native American tribes within the PTC approval process. With the looming final federal deadline for PTC implementation set for December 31, 2020, it has become critically important for railroads to connect with tribal communities and work through the process of communications tower reviews in an effective and mutually beneficial manner.
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2017 Annual Meeting Registration is Open Now!
The
2017 Annual Meeting will take place from Sunday, June 18 through the morning of Wednesday, June 21 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. We will start off on the morning of June 18 with our Early Bird Golf Tournament at the
Mirimichi Golf Course, with a reception at the Peabody Hotel finishing the day.
On Monday, June 19 we will begin our educational program and association business, and then finish the day with a riverboat cruise and reception aboard the
Memphis Queen III. Guests of Annual Meeting attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a tour of Elvis'
Graceland mansion on Monday. On Tuesday, June 20, we will wrap up our educational program and association business, and welcome attendees and guests to the President's Dinner at the Peabody Hotel. On Wednesday, June 21 a farewell breakfast will be hosted in the morning.
Registration for attendees and their guests at the Annual Meeting and Golf Tournament is now open on the ARDA website at this
link. For guests interested in joining the Graceland tour, please contact Fred Oelsner at
staff@amraildev.com to register for that event separately.
Annual Member attendees are encouraged to book a room in the ARDA block the Peabody Hotel at a discounted rate of $185 per night. Reservations may be made via this
link, or by calling 1-800-PEABODY and requesting a room in the "American Railway Development Association Block."
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Renew Your ARDA Membership or Join Now
If you have not yet renewed your ARDA membership for 2016-17, please visit our website at www.amraildev.com and log-in at the top right corner of the page.
Your renewed membership allows ARDA to continue fostering the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North American railroads through the advancement of ideas and education of its members. Members also discounted registration rates at ARDA events, including a $200 discount on the Annual Meeting!
If you are not an ARDA member and would like to join, please visit our registration page.
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2017 ARDA Sponsors
Thank you to all of our 2017 sponsors! Your generous support is allowing us to put together two great events in Atlanta and Memphis focused on helping ARDA Members "Get Connected."
PLATINUM:
Bartlett & West
CSX
Norfolk Southern Corp.
GOLD:
AECOM
BNSF
CN
GEI Consultants
HDR
Kansas City Southern
Norfolk Southern Corp.
SILVER:
Florida East Coast Railway
LJA Engineering, Inc.
TerraPact
TRC Solutions
BRONZE:
Daley Mohan Groble
Jesco, Inc.
NRCMA
RMI Midwest
W.G. Yates & Sons Contsruction
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ARDA Sponsorship Opportunities
ARDA offers companies the opportunity to sponsor the association on an annual basis, or by specific events at our Annual Meeting and Executive Forum. Multiple levels of Annual Sponsorship are available for your consideration. Corporate commitments greater than $1,000 also include complimentary individual memberships in ARDA.
To sponsor ARDA for 2016-17 please contact Fred Oelsner at staff@amraildev.com or 202-715-1259
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Annual ARDA Sponsorships |
Amount
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Bronze Level
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$1,000 - $2,999
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Silver Level
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$3,000 - $4,999
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Gold Level
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$5,000 - $7,499
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Platinum Level
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$7,500+
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2016-17 ARDA Board of Directors
President: Alan Sisk, Norfolk Southern Corporation First Vice President: Gary Rozmus, GEI Consultants Second Vice President: Mark Holder, CSX Transportation, Inc. Treasurer: Doug Morrison, Bartlett & West, Inc. Secretary: Mike Ray, BNSF Railway Company Past President: Stephanie Johnson, Florida East Coast Railway
For more information, visit the ARDA website
or contact:
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The
American Railway Development Association
(ARDA) is a not-for-profit educational trade association founded in 1906 to promote Economic Development, Real Estate Development, Technology, and Environmental Activities of the North American Railroads.
The objectives of the Association are to foster the industrial, real estate, natural resources, market development activities and environmental concerns of the North
American railroads; and through the advancement of ideas and education of its members, further promote the effectiveness of railway development and related work
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New Members since February
George Fury
Property & Maintenance of Way Manager
SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority
Donald Seward
Associate Vice President
AECOM
Earl Wacker
Vice President
AECOM
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