ESI conducted multi-taxa field studies, assisted with regulatory document preparation, and lead extensive federal and state agency coordination for American Electric Power’s Breaks-Haysi 69 kV Transmission Rebuild Project in Dickenson County, Virginia. The project involved rebuilding approximately six miles of 69 kV transmission line and over 13 miles of access roads crossing both federal and private lands, with portions of both the transmission line and access roads occurring within the Clinch Ranger District of the Jefferson National Forest.
Services included:
- Special Use Permitting: led the US. Forest Service permitting process including navigating compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and preparing associated permit applications and documentation
- Section 7 Endangered Species Act Compliance: completed protected species surveys across the entire project for federally and state listed species and for Forester’s Sensitive Species on federal lands: bats, plants, raptors, and invertebrates including beetles, butterflies, and crayfish
- Regulatory document preparation: prepared both a Biological Assessment and Biological Evaluation
- Aquatic resources: delineated aquatic resources; prepared a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and related permitting
- Section 106 Cultural Resources Compliance: completed field surveys and prepared related regulatory documents
- Sedimentation analysis: completed in support of U.S. Forest Service consultation to obtain Special Use Permit