Athens Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion

Environmental Permitting - Tennessee

Project Need

A 23.48-mile length natural gas pipeline expansion planned by the Athens Utility Board required natural resource surveys, environmental permitting, and stream restoration services. The project intersected 47 jurisdictional streams, six hydrologic units, and four wetlands.

Services Completed

Lord & Winter completed natural resource surveys, environmental permitting, and stream mitigation services for the 23 mile ROW. Natural resource surveys included delineation of four wetland areas, state of Tennessee hydrologic determination scoring of 47 streams, and an endangered species assessment. Environmental permitting services included an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit application to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and a Section 404 Permit under Nationwide Permit 12 with the US Corps of Engineers – Nashville District. A state protected rare, threatened and endangered species clearance was conducted in consultation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Natural Heritage Program. A review of impacts to federally listed endangered species were documented in a Biological Assessment. A Phase 1 Cultural Resources Survey was conducted in consultation with Tennessee State Historic Preservation Officer and the US Corps of Engineers Archaeologist. Impact to a Clean Water Act jurisdictional ephemeral stream was mitigated by restoration of 140 LF of channel restored with native riparian buffer plantings, establishing a meandering thalweg, increasing pebble count, and constructing riffle pool aquatic habitat.

Issue Resolved

As a result of the services provided by Lord and Winter, LLC, the client was approved for construction of the 23.48 mile pipeline by obtaining a Section 404 Permit from the US Corps of Engineers – Nashville District and a state of Tennessee Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit.

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