Storm Water Management for Electric Transmission Project

Delineate all natural resources in project area and assist with construction of a new transmission line and three substations.

This comprehensive permitting assignment included obtaining an individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction Stormwater Discharge Permit and the preparation of an associated Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Plan (EPSC). In addition, TRC was retained to serve as the Environmental Inspector/Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Specialist during construction of this transmission line project located in the steep foothills of the Green Mountains in central Vermont.

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.

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.