Construction Permitting and Monitoring Services

Transcription

1 Statement of Qualifications Construction Permitting and Monitoring Services Stillwater Sciences believes in developing environmentally beneficial solutions to real-world problems that are reasonable, sustainable, and scientifically supportable. Learn more at

2 From infrastructure upgrades to environmental restoration, many engineering and construction projects require environmental permitting and construction monitoring. Stillwater Sciences provides a comprehensive set of environmental services designed to help you streamline the regulatory process and get your project off the ground within a tight schedule. Our familiarity with regulatory agency concerns and strong working relationships with local, state, and federal government agencies allows us to quickly respond to issues that may arise at the project site. Stillwater Sciences staff have been involved in every phase of projects from the initial design to long-term biological monitoring. Our fish, wildlife, botanical, water quality, and wetland experts conduct construction monitoring and environmental awareness training, which includes developing project- and species-specific environmental handouts that help guide construction crews on how to avoid the environmental pitfalls that could add time and cost to your project. We take on both small and large construction projects and have enough qualified staff and resources to be flexible in meeting your needs. Our expertise in construction services includes: Permitting support: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Clean Water Act Section 404 permits and endangered species consultations, California Department of Fish and Wildlife streambed alteration agreements and incidental take permits, and Regional Water Quality Control Board 401 certifications Environmental awareness training: preparation of materials (brochures, hard-hat stickers) and on-site training for construction staff for compliance with state and federal permits Pre-construction biological surveys: fisheries, wildlife, special-status plant, bird nesting, reptile, and amphibian surveys Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP): SWPPP development and on-site best management practices (BMP) and storm water quality inspections Dewatering and fish rescue: dewatering process and water management support, cofferdam design and placement assistance, fish and amphibian rescue and relocation Construction monitoring: specialty monitoring for compliance with state and federal permits terms and conditions regarding biological resources including nesting birds, wetlands and buffers, erosion control, hydrocarbon spill control surveys, environmentally sensitive habitat exclusion fencing, and discharges to waters of the State and U.S. On-site contractor support: assistance with on-site construction means and methods to reduce environmental impacts on sensitive species and habitats Reporting: preparation and distribution of reporting deliverables on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual, and project completion basis 2

3 Project examples involving construction services: Almaden Valley Pipeline Inspection & Rehabilitation Project; San Jose, California Clients: Con-Quest Contractors, Inc. and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) Cost of Project: $141,000; Key Staff: Nicole Jurjavcic, Michael Scaffidi Stillwater Sciences supported Con-Quest Contractors, Inc. on a SCVWD project which included inspection, maintenance, and repair of approximately 12 miles of pipeline in the City of San Jose. Stillwater Sciences terrestrial biologists conducted pre-construction special-status surveys for target species including California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, foothill yellow-legged frog, San Joaquin kit fox, dusky-footed woodrat, bald eagle, least Bell s vireo, tricolored blackbird, and western burrowing owl. The biologists also provided nesting bird surveys during the nesting season and provided-on site biological monitoring support during construction. Stillwater Sciences aquatic biologists provided on-site water quality monitoring during initial dewatering efforts. Stillwater Sciences staff worked closely with the district biologists to ensure that resources identified during the pre-construction surveys were protected and to ensure that monitors were available during construction efforts when biological resources had the potential to be impacted. 8

4 Missouri Flat-Gold Hill 115 kv Reconductoring Project; Sacramento and El Dorado counties, California Client: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Cost of Project: $1,5000,000; Key Staff: Nicole Jurjavcic, Michael Scaffidi PG&E and their contractors upgraded approximately 26 miles of poles and conductor for the Missouri Flat-Gold Hill Line and Gold Hill Line from the community of Shingle Springs in El Dorado County to the City of Folsom, in Sacramento County between 2016 and Stillwater Sciences supported the project prior to construction by conducting biological resource surveys, preparing a Proponent s Environmental Assessment (PEA), developing a detailed permitting strategy and schedule, preparing a Biological Assessment for Section 7 consultation with USFWS, and developing a special-status plant mitigation and monitoring plan. Stillwater Sciences provided construction compliance including tracking all CEQA measures and permit terms and conditions for the project. Services included: Development of a nesting bird management plan and routine preconstruction surveys for burrowing owl, white-tailed kite, tricolored blackbird, and other migratory birds during the nesting season; Routine pre-construction special-status species surveys for western pond turtle, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, vernal pool fairy shrimp, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, western spadefoot toad, coast horned lizard, and pallid bat; Environmental awareness trainings and presentations; Environmental Inspection and daily reporting for biological resources, air quality, cultural resources, SWPPP, hazardous waste management, solid waste management, wildland fire prevention, geology and soils, nighttime noise and lighting, and traffic control; and Specialty-Monitoring around special-status plants in the Pine Hill Preserve. 8

5 Arcata Distribution Line Reconductoring Project, Humboldt County, CA Client: Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) Cost of Project: $500,000; Key Staff: Krista Orr, Emily Teraoka Stillwater Sciences Stillwater Sciences provided field-based assessments and regulatory support to PG&E for a project in Humboldt County that included reconductoring a 5-mile distribution line. Stillwater Sciences biologists conducted a comprehensive biological constraints analysis that included an evaluation of habitat suitability for special-status plant and animal species and a preliminary identification of waters and wetlands potentially subject to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or California Coastal Commission jurisdiction. Stillwater Sciences completed applications for Coastal Development Permits from both Humboldt County and the City of Arcata, a 401 water quality certification from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and a Nationwide Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, Stillwater Sciences worked with Humboldt County and the California Coastal Commission to develop a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance and authored an accompanying Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. Stillwater Sciences assisted with regulatory compliance during construction by performing preconstruction nesting bird surveys, on site construction monitoring, and planning for mitigation implementation. During the post-construction restoration phase of the project, Stillwater Sciences assisted PG&E with development and implementation of the mitigation plan associated with the CEQA MND to enhance existing and create new wetland habitat along an old roadbed in the marshes surrounding King Salmon, California. Stillwater Sciences completed the fourth and final year of monitoring in the mitigation area, demonstrating that the success criteria had been met and the wetland mitigation area was considered successful and self-sustaining. Relative percent cover of native wetland vegetation in the newly created wetland area exceeded 80% and cover of the invasive weed, Spartina densiflora, in the surrounding area was less than 1%. 8

6 Potrero Power Plant Northeast Project Area; San Francisco, California Client: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Cost of Project: $100,000; Key Staff: Nicole Jurjavcic, Christina Buck Stillwater Sciences Stillwater Sciences has provided support for various phases of the decommissioning of PG&E s Potrero Power Plant Site adjacent to San Francisco Bay including permitting and compliance support, pre-construction surveys, environmental awareness training and on-site biological monitoring. Stillwater Sciences began by summarizing the necessary and/or recommended avoidance and minimization measures based on the Project s Mitigation and Monitoring Reporting Program from the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), Section 404 Permit conditions from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Letter of Concurrence from National Marine Fisheries Service. Prior to construction, Stillwater Sciences conducted nesting bird surveys and provided environmental awareness trainings, including the development of brochures and hard hat stickers for work crews. During in-water work, Stillwater Sciences performed biological monitoring ensuring that construction activities remained in compliance with the project biological and mitigation measures. Daily biological monitoring activities were recorded in daily reports and submitted to the client in weekly bundles. In addition to biological monitoring, Stillwater Sciences provided compliance support including consultation regarding the potential use of an impact hammer rather than pile-driving hammer for in-water removal of a failing bulkhead. Stillwater Sciences assessed noise impacts of pile driving, developed mitigation options, and provided recommendations for noise reduction. In collaboration with sub-consultants, Stillwater Sciences provided technical assistance for the underwater noise assessment and review of acoustic-related permit conditions. Stillwater Sciences prepared annual construction monitoring summary reports for submittal to permitting agencies, identifying how biological permit conditions were adhered to and any deviations from permitting conditions, including any agency consultation during the construction period to resolve unanticipated issues. 3

7 Humboldt Bay Power Plant s Canal Remediation Project; King Salmon, California Client: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Cost of Project: $2,100,000; Key Staff: Emily Teraoka, Lauren McClure, and Dennis Halligan Stillwater Sciences biologists have worked with PG&E during the decommissioning of the Humboldt Bay Power Plant s (HBPP) nuclear and oil-fired generating units in King Salmon, California. Stillwater Sciences has been, and continues to be, involved in a variety of projects associated with the decommissioning including the Canal Remediation Project. Stillwater Sciences is providing biological, permitting, design and construction monitoring support for the HBPP Canal Remediation Project. The purpose of this project is to excavate radionuclide-contaminated sediment from the former intake and discharge cooling water canals and develop and implement a restoration plan. The plan will restore freshwater wetland, saltmarsh, mudflat, eelgrass and shellfish reef habitats to support critical species such as longfin smelt, steelhead and coho and chinook salmon. The project includes: Development of a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan including a fish rescue and relocation plan and grading and planting plans for mitigation areas; Development of a restoration plan design that incorporates extensive native planting, large woody debris and oyster shell reef structure; Development of a habitat assessment and special-status plant surveys to support CEQA; Wetland delineation and development of a Biological Assessment to support the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit; Construction monitoring including environmental awareness training for construction crew members; and Implementation of the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. 4

8 St. Helena Comprehensive Flood Control Project; St. Helena, California Clients: City of St. Helena and Waterways Consulting, Inc. Cost of Project: $82,000; Key Staff: Dennis Halligan Stillwater Sciences provided pre-construction and construction support services for the St. Helena Comprehensive Flood Control Project. This project entailed the removal of 17 houses, 16 acres of vineyard, 850 feet of gabion wall, along with construction of a flood control wall, low elevation floodplain, instream habitat restoration structures, bio-engineered streambank stabilization, and riparian vegetation planting. The Stillwater Sciences lead biologist was the primary author and analyst for the biological assessment that analyzed the effects of the project on ESA-listed steelhead and California freshwater shrimp and contributed to the project s Environmental Impact Report. The lead biologist was also the lead author for the project s dewatering and fish rescue plan. Other tasks included surveys for salmonids, California freshwater shrimp, western pond turtles, raptors, and bird nests, as well as instream habitat quantity and quality. Construction support services included providing construction crews with education and training on endangered species, implementing a dewatering plan for the instream portion of the project to rescue and relocate affected aquatic species, and conducting construction monitoring while operations were taking place within the active channel. A post-construction biological report was produced once the project was completed. Stillwater Sciences completed a five-year post-construction monitoring program that assessed the effectiveness of the restoration design to develop into freshwater shrimp habitat and be occupied by this species. 3

9 L303 ILI Gas Pipeline Inspection and Repair Project; Alameda and Contra Costa counties, California Client: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Cost of Project: $97,000; Key Staff: Holly Burger During routine inspections of Line 303 (a 43-mile pipeline which runs from Antioch to Milpitas) PG&E found three anomalies that required more extensive direct examination involving excavation, inspection/repairs, and then reburial. Permits required to complete this work included Nationwide Permit 12 for compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act; Section 401 certification (and associated Mitigated Negative Declaration); Section 7 consultation with the USFWS for Endangered Species Act compliance; a California Endangered Species Act consistency determination from CDFW; and a Letter of Assurance to California State Parks. Stillwater Sciences supported PG&E in the implementation and tracking of the various measures required in each of these permit documents, and developed all the necessary documentation, reporting, and supporting materials to help keep the project in compliance. Services included: Pre-construction surveys for burrowing owl, other nesting special-status birds, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, vernal pool fairy shrimp, longhorn fairy shrimp, and San Joaquin kit fox; Biological resources training for all construction personnel; Construction monitoring to ensure that all minimization and avoidance measures from the project s various permits and regulatory documents were implemented; and Implementation of the five-year restoration and monitoring plan. 4

10 Oakville Cross Road Bridge Replacement Project; Yountville, California Clients: Caltrans and County of Napa; Cost of Project: $67,000; Key Staff: Dennis Halligan Stillwater Sciences provided pre-construction and construction support services to Caltrans and Napa County during the demolition phase of the Oakville Cross Road Bridge replacement project on the Napa River. Services provided included surveys for California freshwater shrimp and red- legged frogs, assistance with CEQA documentation and permitting, development and implementation of an aquatic and amphibian species rescue and relocation plan, authorship of the long-term monitoring and rehabilitation management plan, construction monitoring, environmental training, and reporting. Services also included working directly with the contractor to manage the dewatering process in full compliance with state and federal permits while still allowing the project to remain on a fast-track schedule. Biological Resource Monitoring for Multiple 2015 UARP Projects; California Client: Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Cost of Project: $68,000; Key Staff: Holly Burger Stillwater Sciences provided regulatory support to SMUD in meeting the obligations under their renewed license for the Buck Island Weir Reconstruction, Rubicon Dam Outlet Modification, Robb s Peak Weir Construction, and Robbs Powerhouse Exterior Refurbishment projects. Stillwater Sciences conducted the necessary fish relocation and water quality monitoring associated with in-water work, as well as conducting wildlife pre-construction surveys. Services included: Fish and incidental aquatic organism relocation/exclusion; Water quality monitoring and reporting; Pre-construction surveys for the federally listed Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged frog; and Pre-construction surveys for roosting bats. 5

11 Highway 50 Enhancement Project; Sacramento, California Client: Argonaut Constructors; Cost of Project: $30,500; Key Staff: Holly Burger, Dennis Halligan Caltrans contracted Argonaut Constructors to (1) widen portions of the existing Highway 50, Harbor Boulevard Bridge, and Harbor Boulevard on-ramps and off-ramps; (2) construct new onramps and off-ramps for access to the Harbor Boulevard Bridge overpass; and (3) modify the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 50 in west Sacramento. The Project s permit terms and conditions required that construction activities avoid significant impacts to nesting migratory birds and raptors, which are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Stillwater Sciences prepared a migratory bird protection program and conducted pre-construction surveys to protect nesting migratory birds and raptors, their occupied nests, and their eggs prior to and during construction on and adjacent to State Highway 50 in West Sacramento. White-throated swifts were observed occupying the drain holes in the overpass structure, but monitoring data showed that construction activities were not disturbing the bird s behavioral patterns, so construction continued on schedule. Mad River Graham Bar Crossing Removal Project; Arcata, California Client: Granite Construction Co.; Cost of Project: $7,000; Key Staff: Dennis Halligan Granite Construction, as part of its reclamation responsibilities at their former Mad River aggregate processing facility, removed a culverted bridge abutment from the river. The Mad River is occupied by ESA-listed salmonids including Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead. Stillwater Sciences dispersed fish that occupied the project area, installed block nets to keep fish from entering the site, and monitored demolition and construction activities. 6

12 Key construction permitting & monitoring personnel: Stillwater Sciences Michael Scaffidi, B.S., Environmental Compliance Manager/Wildlife Biologist Michael Scaffidi has over 10 years of experience as an environmental compliance manager, lead environmental inspector, and/or biologist on a variety of linear projects including overhead and underground transmission lines, freeways, gas and water pipelines, as well as non-linear projects including substations, solar farm construction, power plant upgrades, and levee repair. He has conducted nesting bird and specialstatus species surveys, rare plant monitoring and restoration, and developed and provided environmental awareness trainings for all project personnel. Nicole Jurjavcic, M.S., Botanist/Plant Ecologist Nicole Jurjavcic has over 20 years of experience as a botanist/plant ecologist often in support of infrastructure upgrades throughout California. Her areas of expertise include special-status and invasive plant surveys, vegetation mapping and classification, wetland delineation, restoration design and plant monitoring, database design and analyses, environmental permitting and plant taxonomy. She has experience developing and implementing mitigation and monitoring plans, vegetation management plans, and weed treatment plans. Ms. Jurjavcic is experienced in environmental permitting and documentation and can adeptly negotiate with agencies to ensure reasonable measures are required for project implementation. Dennis Halligan, B.S., Senior Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist/Regulatory Specialist Dennis Halligan has conducted surveys for fisheries, terrestrial, avian, and amphibian species of concern and has been a primary or contributing author for a wide variety of state and federal regulatory documents and permit applications. Mr. Halligan has been the designated biologist on several construction-related projects in California. He has worked on gas pipeline repair, flood control, power pole replacement/reconductoring, bridge construction and upgrades, streambank stabilization, instream restoration, power plant decommissioning, gravel mining, and harbor dredging projects. Holly Burger, B.S., Project Manager/Wildlife Biologist Holly Burger has over 18 years of experience conducting special-status species surveys and habitat assessments for a variety of wildlife species and holds federal Section 10 permits for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, Alameda whipsnake, San Francisco garter snake, giant garter snake, and California red-legged frog. She has managed projects from the development of study plans, performing and leading field surveys, and analyzing data to writing and editing regulatory reports. Ms. Burger has led environmental awareness training sessions and construction monitoring for numerous projects including for levee rehabilitation, shoreline remediation, gas pipeline repair, utility pole replacement, levee setback, and fish passage modification. 9

13 Lauren McClure, B.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Lauren McClure has over 15 years of experience in aquatic and terrestrial biology. Her areas of expertise include bird and bat surveys, construction monitoring, environmental awareness training, NEPA and CEQA analysis, and permitting. She has worked on a number of construction projects including power plant decommissioning, flood control, electric substation upgrading, electric line reconductoring, and others. Emily Teraoka, M.S., Ecologist Emily Teraoka has experience in conducting environmental impact analyses, permitting and regulatory compliance throughout California and the western United States. Her areas of expertise include botanical/wetland surveys, eelgrass population monitoring and restoration, riparian and upland forest restoration, aquatic invertebrate sampling and identification, biological impact analysis, permitting, NEPA and CEQA analysis, and GIS map design. Krista Orr, M.S., Senior Ecologist Krista Orr has 20 years of experience as an ecologist who has extensive experience leading development of regulatory documents, permit applications, and consulting with resource agencies. She has conducted numerous assessments of aquatic invertebrates, vegetation, bird, fish and amphibian communities throughout California. She is a SWAMP-trained ecologist who has led data collection, analysis, and reporting using the current SWAMP protocols. In addition, she has led surveys of vegetation, bird, fish and amphibian communities, as well as participated in water temperature, instream flow, and sediment transport studies. Christina Buck, M.S., Water Quality Christina Buck is a biologist with expertise in water quality and experience in fisheries, aquatic, and marine biology. She has experience in continuous long-term water quality monitoring and collecting SWAMP comparable ambient nutrient and phytoplankton samples in riverine, estuarine, and marine ecosystems in the western and southeastern U.S. Steven Wood, B.A., Birds/Raptors Steve Wood has experience in wildlife inventory, including construction monitoring, habitat surveys, monitoring, and analysis. He has extensive experience with raptor species and is a U.S. Forest Service-certified spotted owl and goshawk surveyor. 10

14 Stillwater Sciences holds a NMFS Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit authorizing the capture and handling of ESA-listed Central Valley steelhead and South-central California Coast steelhead associated with various Central Valley and southern California coastal watersheds. Stillwater biologists hold a USFWS Section 10(a)(1)(A) permit authorizing the capture and handling of ESA-listed California freshwater shrimp, tidewater goby, Alameda whipsnake, California red-legged frog, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, giant garter snake, and San Francisco garter snake. Stillwater Sciences also has a CDFW Scientific Collection Permit (SCP) to sample bats throughout California and coverage for numerous projects and species throughout the state. Stillwater biologists have been authorized by CDFW to collect voucher specimens of state-listed plants and to survey and/or monitor for numerous sensitive species including, but not limited to, California freshwater shrimp, numerous fish species, foothill yellow-legged frog, dusky-footed woodrat, Cascades frog, bald eagle, California spotted owl, northern goshawk, and other nesting birds. Stillwater also has staff with Qualified SWPPP Practitioner/Developer (QSP/QSD) certifications under the California Construction General Permit. Berkeley, CA Megan Keever megan@stillwatersci.com (510) x112 Arcata, CA Dirk Pedersen dirk@stillwatersci.com (707) x201 Portland, OR Kim Gould kgould@stillwatersci.com (503) Boulder, CO Julie Ash jash@stillwatersci.com (720) Davis, CA Russ Liebig russ@stillwatersci.com (530) x223 Morro Bay, CA Ethan Bell ethan@stillwatersci.com (707) Los Angeles, CA Wendy Katagi wkatagi@stillwatersci.com (424)