mod_rewite ENV variable to php $_ENV

Does anyone know if it's possible to pass an ENV variable created
using a mod_rewrite rule in an .htaccess file to the $_ENV superglobal
in php? I assumed this would work:

RewriteRule ^(.+[^/])(/?)$ /#/$1/ [R,NE,L,E=OLD_PATH:$1]

<?php echo $_ENV['OLD_PATH']; ?>

But it does not, at least with my configuration. Is it a
configuration issue, or is this just not possible?

Any other soltuions to this problem? I need to get that path info to
php and rewite it remotely at the same time. I also tried this
approach which didn't work, pardon my mod_rewite nubishness.

RewriteRule ^(.+[^/])(/?)$ index.php?path=$1 [L]
RewriteRule ^(.+[^/])(/?)$ /#/$1/ [R,NE]

Thanks,
Sam