55 Mile Pipeline - Iowa-Illinois
Services: wetland delineations, endangered species investigation and permitting
JFNew delineated jurisdictional wetlands and waters of the U.S. on 55 miles of pipeline right-of-way between Bettendorf, Iowa and Galesburg, Illinois while coordinating fieldwork with client's engineers and surveyors. Fieldwork for the entire corridor was completed on a fast track schedule. JFNew also conducted an endangered species habitat evaluation for the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) while performing the fieldwork. Following the fieldwork, JFNew prepared and submitted a Nationwide Permit 12 for pipeline crossings of the Rock River and Hennepin Canal, and for impacts to jurisdictional wetlands and waters of the United States. All required authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency were obtained in less than 30 days. Individual permits were also obtained from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in less than 45 days.
5 Mile Pipeline and Terminal Site - Peoria County, Illinois
Services: wetland delineation
JFNew completed a wetland delineation on a proposed 5-mile pipeline extension and an 80-acre terminal site. JFNew identified jurisdictional wetlands on the terminal site and prepared a report documenting the wetland status while advising the client of permit and mitigation requirements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. JFNew submitted a Nationwide Permit 12 pre-construction notice for construction of the pipeline. Following JFNew's recommendations, impacts at creek crossings were avoided using directional drilling beneath creek channels.
41 Mile Pipeline Relocation and Restoration - Kansas
Services: Wetland delineation
JFNew completed a wetland delineation for a project in three counties in north central Kansas. JFNew's report included figures identifying each wetland along the route, including coordinates. This information allowed for easy and quick review and verification of the report by the reviewing agencies. JFNew worked closely with the client to make recommendations for construction techniques to avoid and minimize impacts to wetlands and other ecological resources, and to coordinate with state and federal agencies.
Terminal Site - Griffith, Indiana
Services: Wetland delineation, critical habitat assessment, endangered species investigation
JFNew completed a wetland delineation on 20 acres of this 80 acre site in the dune-swale area of the historic Lake Michigan shoreline. The site is adjacent to the Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve managed by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and features remnants of black oak savannas and wet prairies now uncommon in the heavily industrialized area south of Lake Michigan. Following the delineation, JFNew consulted with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to evaluate several mitigation possibilities, including the restoration, purchase, and/or donation of the wetland and prairie sites.
Botanical Inventory and Vegetation Treatment Study - Porter County, Indiana
Services: Botanical inventory, invasive species treatment, analysis
JFNew completed a baseline botanical inventory of an electrical transmission corridor near the Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve as part of an extended study of vegetation treatment options. JFNew established photographic stations and sampling quadrats to document woody and herbaceous threatened and endangered plant species present and areal coverage within each segment. We prepared a detailed report describing the methods used, survey dates, a complete plant list for each segment, and an index to statistically compare with future sampling after treatment. Following collection of the data, JFNew treated the non-native species within identified quadrants to assess the effectiveness of the treatment methods. The resulting effectiveness data has been used as the standard for future treatments within the areas containing sensitive species.
Vector Pipeline - Illinois-Indiana
Services: Timber value assessment, mitigation site location, construction, maintenance and monitoring
JFNew completed a timber assessment for the Vector Pipeline Project on Will County Forest Preserve District property. The work included conducting a field survey by a professional forester to identify and tally specimens within the wetland and upland communities and completing a report describing the raw fiber value based on fair market value for the area. JFNew also prepared a revegetation plan for the right-of-way, including recommendations for species and ratios for native plant seed mixes for the wetland and upland habitats. Recommendations were also provided for appropriate species, quantities and density for woody plantings in the wetlands and uplands in the forest communities.
On the Indiana segment of the pipeline, JFNew located a property suitable for meeting the wetland mitigation requirements. Following approval of the area by the agencies, JFNew was contracted to construct, plant and monitor the success of the area. JFNew has also been contracted to provide maintenance of the area to control invasive and exotic species during the monitoring period.
Overhead Electric Line Corridors - Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana
Services: Wetland determinations and delineations, maintenance to address endangered species habitat, permitting
JFNew is currently contracted with a large utility company to provide consulting services as needed throughout their Midwestern service area. Specifically, JFNew is contracted to collect environmental data for wetland and other natural resource issues, including rare, threatened and endangered species and prepare and submit permit applications. JFNew will also attend public meetings and provide expert witness testimony as necessary to support the permitting processes. To date, JFNew has conducted wetland delineation and utilized our GPS equipment to map wetland boundaries, pole locations and structures at several sites and corridors. JFNew also reviewed historic records with state SHPO and provided protected species consultation with DNR on several sites. JFNew prepared and submitted the necessary wetland permits with states and coordinated with the agencies through the process for new substation locations.
JFNew is also conducting rare, threatened, and endangered species reviews and assessments of transmission corridor maintenance activities in Michigan and Wisconsin. This review includes the acquisition of all state protected species occurrence records and the formulation of recommended maintenance practices in their proximity to minimize/eliminate potential impacts. Any required environmental permits as part of maintenance activities will be identified. On a related project, JFNew is providing construction oversight during replacement of the transmission line to ensure environmental permit and regulation compliance. Weekly reports and a final summary report for each line segment were generated and submitted. JFNew also completed the identification and eradication of invasive species within the subject corridor.
