Storm Water Management for Electric Transmission Project

Delineating Natural Resources and Assisting With Construction Of New Transmission Line and Three Substations

Challenge

Constructing a transmission line through the steep and environmentally sensitive foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains presented significant regulatory and logistical hurdles. The client needed to obtain an individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit and develop a compliant Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (EPSC) Plan, critical to project approval and environmental protection. Additionally, they faced the ongoing challenge of maintaining strict compliance during construction, requiring a qualified Environmental Inspector and EPSC Specialist to oversee activities in the field and ensure adherence to complex environmental standards.

Solution

TRC conducted risk evaluation for the individual stormwater discharge permit in a myriad of challenging conditions, including steep terrain, highly erodible soils, rare, threatened, and endangered species (RTE), wetland and water resource boundaries along the project corridor. TRC assisted in the preparation of detailed construction and erosion prevention and sediment control plans in compliance with the Vermont standards and specifications for erosion prevention and sediment control, setting a standard in Vermont for transmission line construction projects.

In collaboration with the VELCO engineering and environmental teams, TRC developed specific wetland and stream crossing procedures, and permanent passive stormwater controls (e.g. appropriate construction road grades and work pad plans, water bars, drainage swales, etc.) acceptable to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, yet practical and achievable for construction contractors.

Subsequent to the permitting process, TRC was retained by VELCO to develop and implement a comprehensive environmental training and compliance program, and provided two full time Environmental Inspectors to ensure compliance with all the project environmental permit conditions, and specifically the Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit Conditions and requirements.

Results

With more than 20 years of experience on transmission and substation projects, TRC provides a complete package of engineering and environmental services to develop effective and practical Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit applications and permit compliance oversight.