Pipeline Services 110 South Edison Avenue Tampa, Florida 33606 (813) 259-1085, (813) 259-1086 fax www.birkitt.com
FIRM PROFILE Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc. (BES) was formed in 1996 in Tampa, Florida to provide environmental services and permitting and certification assistance for projects throughout Florida and the eastern United States. Our firm is dedicated to achieving environmental sustainability and economic, social, and personal growth through: Quality Dependable quality in professional service to our clients and execution of work products Integrity Integrity in our business practices and our relationships Experience Applying our experience to create new opportunities to achieve success in all endeavors BES utilizes innovative and strategic approaches for the design of environmental projects and to expedite permitting. We provide cost-effective practical solutions to environmental issues. Few projects in the current regulatory environment involve simple technical assistance. Most projects require a team of experts or specialists in a variety of disciplines. BES is highly experienced in the management of largescale development, construction, and environmental restoration projects involving multiple technical disciplines with proven experience in effective environmental planning and design and in expediting state, federal, and local regulatory agency negotiations. Services are tailored specifically to meet our client s needs whether it is directing an entire project, serving as a team member, providing technical input to an existing team, or furnishing support services to supplement a client s own staff. BES has maintained an excellent reputation with our clients throughout the state. We take pride in maintaining good working relationships with resource and regulatory agency staff. This facilitates permitting coordination and negotiations. BES also has recognized expertise in wetlands restoration, environmental monitoring, mitigation and mitigation banking and acknowledged ability in environmental construction and compliance monitoring and successful resolution of regulatory compliance issues. For over 13 years, BES principal, Beverly F. Birkitt has regularly served as faculty for the Florida Chamber Permitting Short Course on a variety of environmental topics. Beverly F. Birkitt, (M.S. Ecology) is President of BES. Ms. Birkitt s 27 years of experience in environmental studies and regulations includes 10 years with a major international consulting firm and 10 years with state and local governments. Ms. Birkitt has specialized in environmental permitting and mitigation, wetlands, wildlife habitat and water quality assessments, wetlands restoration, enhancement, and creation, particularly associated with pipeline projects.
BES has a staff of six full-time professionals and two half-time professionals with degrees in environmental science, planning, ecology, and geography. In addition, a select group of contract employees are available when needed. The professional staff is currently supported by three administrative staff. Our professionals have a wide range of experience including coastal and freshwater benthic habitat assessment, wildlife studies, wetlands restoration and design, water quality sampling and compliance, permitting, public relations, project management, and GIS support. BES is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) under the Statewide and Inter-Local Minority Business Enterprise program and has been certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
PIPELINE SERVICES BES has documented success in the certification and permitting of almost 1500 miles of natural gas pipelines in Florida. Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc. (BES) has extensive experience in all phases of pipeline projects from siting studies through permitting/certification, mitigation design, and construction monitoring. Specialization in innovative and strategic approaches to expedite permitting and provide cost-effective practical solutions to environmental issues throughout the project makes BES unique in this field. For over 17 years, BES President, Beverly F. Birkitt has personally managed or directed numerous multi-disciplinary fast-track pipeline projects and understands the complexities and balance in environmental permitting, practicable and cost-effective construction methodologies, and environmental monitoring and compliance, both domestically and internationally. Pipeline projects include natural gas transmission lines, petroleum products pipelines, and water and wastewater lines and associated facilities. BES staff have in-depth knowledge of all regulatory processes, experience in all phases of pipeline permitting and construction, documented success in the certification and permitting of almost 1500 miles of natural gas pipelines in Florida, and strong relationships with key regulatory management and staff. BES monitors over 500 wetlands along pipelines in three southeastern states for regulatory compliance and has assisted on pipeline projects in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, U.S.A., and Bolivia, S.A. Pipeline Services: Regulatory and Permitting Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC) Certification NEPA documentation; Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 and Section 10 State Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) State Owned Uplands and Submerged Lands Easements Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc.
PIPELINE SERVICES, Cont. Water Use Permitting Local Permitting and Licenses Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Coordination Ecosystem Management (Team) Permitting Ecological Wetland Delineation. Mapping, Functional Assessment, and Mitigation Ecological Studies Benthic Habitat Mapping, Impact Assessment and Mitigation Essential Fish Habitat Consultation/Coordination Threatened and Endangered Species Assessments (ESA) Section 7 Consultation/Coordination Water Quality Impact Assessments Habitat Restoration Public Involvement Coordination of Environmental/Special Interest Groups Public Scoping Meetings Public Open Houses Preparation of Public Viewing Materials Monitoring and Construction Development of Implementation & Monitoring Plans Construction Inspection and Monitoring Representative Project Experience: Technical advisor on FGT pipeline proposed to cross Tampa Bay, Florida. Provided assistance with planning for federal, state, and local permitting. FGT Phase IV Expansion Vegetative Monitoring of the Phase IV and Phase V Expansion of the FGT Pipeline to ensure success of both herbaceous and forested wetland revegetation. Technical services include onsite field surveys for approximately 500 wetlands, preparation of the monitoring reports, and maintenance for control of exotics and nuisance species. Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc.
PIPELINE SERVICES, Cont. This project covers over 140 miles of pipeline route located within Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee, Charlotte, Desoto, Lee, Manatee, and Bradford Counties in Florida and in Greene and George counties in Mississippi. Gulfstream Natural Gas System Environmental management and permitting/certification for the Calypso Natural Gas Pipeline Project. The 95-mile long pipeline begins at an LNG facility in the Bahamas and crosses the Atlantic Ocean, making landfall at Port Everglades in Southeast Florida. FERC certification and state and local permits were obtained. Development of training program for construction management. Environmental permitting (state, federal, and local) of the 753-mile natural gas pipeline for Gulfstream Natural Gas System, utilizing the team permitting approach in Florida. The pipeline crosses the Gulf of Mexico, entering Florida at Port Manatee in Tampa Bay and extending across ten counties in central and south Florida. (CONSTRUCTED) Environmental permitting and mitigation development for Buckeye Florida effluent pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico. Florida Gas Transmission Company. Development of Project Management Program for pipeline certification and permitting, including Mircrosoft Project schedules for obtaining all regulatory approvals. Florida Gas Transmission Company (ENRON) 815-mile Phase III Pipeline Expansion though four southern states. Responsible for siting studies; FERC certification; federal, state, regional and local permitting; water quality variances; wetlands and wildlife mitigation; construction and post-construction environmental monitoring. (CONSTRUCTED) Assisted in construction monitoring and contractor training for FGT Phase III 815-mile pipeline through Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc.
PIPELINE SERVICES, Cont. Assessment of potential impacts of the GATX 134-mile petroleum products pipeline (Tampa to Ft. Myers) on wetlands, wildlife, and water quality; environmental permitting assistance and mitigation plan development. Bolivia, S.A. Services included conducting an environmental assessment, preliminary engineering design, surveying, and environmental permitting for a proposed effluent pipeline to the Escambia River for Champion International Corporation in Pensacola, Florida. Environmental permitting of a 22-mile water transmission line through wetlands in Sarasota County; development of mitigation plan for crossing the Myakka River, a designated Wild & Scenic River. (CONSTRUCTED) ENRON/Tenneco 562-km Bolivia Pipeline. Responsible for preparation of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), environmental management plan, and health and safety plan for compliance with lending institution requirements. (CONSTRUCTED) Southern Natural Gas 86-mile Jacksonville Pipeline. Responsible for siting, environmental permitting and implementation of political and public relations strategies, compliance monitoring, and mitigation. (CONSTRUCTED) GATX Southwest Florida Pipeline. 150 miles Tampa to Ft. Myers, Florida. Responsible for environmental studies; preparation of permit applications and permitting negotiations. Portland Natural Gas Pipeline - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont. Technical advisor on preparation of FERC certification application. Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc.
Quality, Integrity, and Experience Calypso Pipeline Project Client Tractebel-Calypso Contact Lafayette Herring Tractebel Power, Inc. 1177 West Loop South 713-552-2214 Status Ongoing Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc. is providing services to obtain environmental permits (state, federal, and local), assistance in the preparation of FERC Resource Reports, and environmental project management support for 95 miles of natural gas pipeline for the Calypso Pipeline System. The pipeline begins at a LNG facility in the Bahamas and crosses the Atlantic, making landfall at Port Everglades in Southeast Florida. The project involves issues associated with nearshore coastal waters, potential impacts to coral reefs and seagrasses, and traversing John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. A coordinated permit process was utilized that required extensive coordination with regulatory agencies, resource and planning entities, local governments, environmental groups and other special interest groups. An Environmental Resource Permit and submerged lands easement, Broward County Environmental Protection Commission approval, and FERC certificate have been obtained. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10/404 permit is pending. Quantitative Site 5 Anemones (white cerianthid) 1.29%
Quality, Integrity, and Experience Gulfstream Natural Gas System Client Coastal ANR/Williams One Williams Center Tulsa, OK 74172 Contact John H. Shafer (ENSR International) 713-520-9900 Status Permitted 2001 Obtained all environmental permits (state, federal, and local) for the Florida portion of a 753-mile natural gas pipeline for Gulfstream Natural Gas System, utilizing the team permitting approach. The pipeline crossed the Gulf of Mexico, entering Florida at Tampa Bay and extending across the state. The project involved issues associated with nearshore coastal waters in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties, the phosphate mining district, Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem, Kissimmee River Restoration Project, and wetlands and waterbodies thoughout the onshore route in central and south Florida. The project required extensive coordination with over fifty agency representatives including regulatory agencies, resource and planning entities, local governments, environmental groups, and other special interest groups utilizing the team permitting process. Responsibilities also included preparation of the draft Team Permitting Agreement involving more than 15 regulatory agencies and local governments and a petition for a variance from water quality standards. Permitting responsibilities included Environmental Resources Permit (FDEP), Section 10/404 Permit (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) for offshore, nearshore, and onshore portions of the pipeline, a Marine Construction Permit and public easement for the Tampa Port Authority, and approval from Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission. Numerous public coordination meetings were held across the state and an extensive effort to identify locally recommended mitigation sites was made. Over 100 sites were identified for consideration. Site selections from this list were based on criteria that included environmental quality and habitat characterization, land availability, restoration opportunities, and public benefits. Gulfstream Natural Gas Pipeline
Quality, Integrity, and Experience FGT Vegetative Monitoring Client Florida Gas Transmission P.O. 945100 Maitland, FL 32794-5100 Contact David Parham 407-838-7119 Status Ongoing Phases III, IV, V, and VI Expansion of the FGT Pipeline Routes total approximately 270 miles and are located within Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee, Charlotte, Desoto, Lee, Manatee, and Bradford Counties in Florida and in Mississippi and Alabama. BES is providing monitoring services to ensure success of both herbaceous and forested wetland re-vegetation for compliance with FDEP, USACE, and FERC permit and certification conditions. Technical services include onsite field surveys for approximately 500 wetlands, preparation of the monitoring reports, and maintenance for control of exotics and nuisance species. Beverly Birkitt was responsible for all field surveys, permitting, mitigation design and construction oversight for the 815- mile Phase III expansion project. Five regional mitigation sites involving wetland restoration, hydrologic enhancement, and exotic species removal were designed. Approximately 1,350 acres of wetlands mitigation were developed in Florida; over 500 acres in other states.
Quality, Integrity, and Experience Champion International Corporation - Environmental Impact Assessment Client Champion International Corporation 375 Muscogee Road Cantonment, FL 32533-0087 Contact Kyle J. Moore (850) 968-2121 Terry Cole, Esq. (850) 521-0700 Status Completed 1998 Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc. (BES) provided project management and environmental services including preliminary engineering design, surveying, environmental assessment, and environmental permitting for a proposed industrial wastewater effluent pipeline to the Escambia River in north Florida. Additional services included threatened and endangered species surveys, wetlands delineation, and cultural resources review. An Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) was prepared, as well as, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10/404 permit applications and supporting documentation.
Quality, Integrity, and Experience Effluent Pipeline for Buckeye Florida Client Buckeye Florida One Buckeye Drive Perry, Florida 32347-9512 Contact Dave Weeden (850) 584-1398 Status Completed 1997 Birkitt Environmental Services, Inc. (BES) was engaged as Project Director for environmental permitting and mitigation development for the Buckeye Florida effluent pipeline. Tasks included wetlands and wildlife assessments; preparation of Florida Environmental Resources (ERP) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Section 10/404 permit applications; sovereignty submerged lands easement; development of mitigation plan; and permitting negotiations. In addition, BES provided expert witness testimony in the administrative hearing on the proposed ERP permit.