Environmental Services Projects
City of Deming Gray Water Pipeline Alignment Investigation Project and Old City
Landfill Preliminary Characterization
The project consisted of preparation of a NEPA Environmental Narrative in Federal
Economic Development Authority (EDA) format for proposed improvements to consist
of installation of an approximate 6 mile gray water pipeline from the west side
of the existing City Golf Course area to transport treated wastewater effluent north
to a proposed natural gas fired electrical generation facility located along the
northern edge of the City. As part of the NEPA investigations, a Phase I ESA was
conducted of the entire preferred alignment. In addition, one alignment option extended
over the old City landfill which was shut down in the early 1970’s. This old landfill
is located immediately adjacent to the Mimbres River with the southern bank of the
Mimbres being the northern boundary of the landfill.
Zia conducted preliminary site characterization of the landfill by installation
of several test pits with a backhoe to determine the depth and extents of landfilled
materials. As a result of this investigation, the City is now pursuing the potential
full characterization of this site through the State’s Brownfield Pilot Program
and desires to consider future development of this site as a Greenfield property.
Turner Energy Center, LLC Environmental Site Certification And Wetlands Permitting
Zia was contracted by Calpine Corporation to conduct all necessary environmental
reviews and develop an application for site certificate for submittal to the Energy
Facility Siting Council (EFSC) along with air emissions modeling, BACT analysis
and permit application development for a 600 mw natural gas fired electrical generation
facility in Oregon. The EFSC application includes studies and discussion of the
following issues:
- Financial Assurance
- Soil Protection
- Protected Areas
- Historic, Cultural And Archaeological Resources
- Fish And Wildlife
- Socio-Economic Impact
- Facility Retirement
- Noise
- Water Pollution Control
- Structural Issues
- Land Use
- Scenic And Aesthetic Values
- Threatened And Endangered Species
- Recreation
- Waste Minimization
- Carbon Dioxide Emission
- Wetlands
- Water Rights
As part of the environmental permitting efforts, Zia provided Section 404 and Section
401 permitting for development of a wetlands and floodplain mitigation plan (including
wetlands design) for offsetting of the project impacts. Zia previously conducted
extensive environmental consulting services including wetlands and floodplain delineation
for the proposed improvements relative to the facility site and offsite infrastructure
and identified impacts to existing wetlands and floodplain areas. Therefore, Zia
developed a floodplain and wetland mitigation plan under Section 404 and Section
401 of the CWA and coordinated with the Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department
of Water Quality for approval of the plan. In addition, Zia developed a stormwater
pollution prevention plan for construction phase activities which will implement
best management practices for said activities. Finally, during wetland surveys,
Zia also conducted biological and habitat surveys. All results of wetlands, floodplains
and habitat areas were graphically mapped using Zia’s in-house GIS capabilities
and overlain on site aerials and topographs.
NEPA Environmental Assessment Natural Gas and Wastewater Effluent Pipelines, City
of Deming, NM
Zia provided NEPA environmental support services including preparation of a NEPA
Environmental Assessment in Economic Development Authority (EDA) format for proposed
improvements to consist of installation of a pipeline from the west side of the
existing City Golf Course area to transport treated wastewater effluent north to
a proposed natural gas fired electrical generation facility located along the northern
edge of the City and installation of a high pressure natural gas pipeline from the
southwestern edge of the municipal area to the proposed plant site. More than 10
miles of total linear alignments were involved.
The EA scope included analysis of:
- land form/land use;
- air/climatology/water resources;
- plant life, aquatic life, and natural resources;
- noise/light/environmental health;
- energy/utilities/transportation;
- socio-economic impacts to disadvantaged populations;
- public service, population/economics, community reaction; and
- archaeology, cultural, historic, and aesthetic resources
Wetlands and Environmental Permitting – City of Las Cruces Wetlands Pilot Project
and Alternative Transportation Pathway
Zia was recently contracted to provide environmental consultation and permitting
services associated with development of a proposed wetlands pilot park project and
for and a 1.1 mile alternative transportation pathway project, both along the Rio
Grande from Picacho Bridge north.
The intent of the Wetlands Pilot Project is to enhance riparian habitat, help reduce
pollution and help establish criteria for future wetlands restoration projects.
This will be accomplished by restoring a segment of riparian and aquatic habitat
within the historic floodplain of the Rio Grande, and in doing so, complement the
larger objectives of the City’s Comprehensive Plan for sustainable development along
the corridor. Criteria for selection of the site which Zia utilized in our analysis
included:
- capacity to reduce point or non-point source pollution;
- potential for the preservation of open space and enhancement of a linear park along
the Rio Grande;
- connectivity to existing or proposed alternative transportation pathways;
- feasibility of using the site to educate the public about the importance of ecosystem
functions and services, history, and archeology; and
- potential for the enhancement of eco-tourism.
The Alternative Transportation Pathway designed with permeable materials to diminish
run-off, which will link other modes of transportation in the community, and provide
a mechanism for the public to view and appreciate this corridor. This pathway would
be constructed from recycled and/or permeable materials, which would diminish run
off. The pathway is also intended to be a demonstration project for the usefulness
of alternative materials in the construction of larger transportation corridors.
Specifically, Zia is providing wetlands delineation, natural and cultural resources
review, wetlands permitting, NPDES stormwater permitting for construction phase
activities, development of an environmental assessment document under NEPA and coordination
with regulatory agencies including Army Corps of Engineers, NMED, USEPA Region VI,
International Boundary and Water Commission, Bureau of Reclamation, Elephant Butte
Irrigation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Department of Game
and Fish, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service and others
Columbus Port of Entry Expansion And Truck By-Pass NEPA
Environmental Assessment
Zia provided subconsulting services for development of an environmental assessment
(EA) report for General Service Administration-funded expansions to the existing
Columbus, New Mexico Port-of-Entry facility. The expansion is to consist of entirely
new building and inspection facilities and construction of a truck by-pass route
from the Port to the north end of the community of Columbus. This project included
development of a complete EA document, and design and implementation of mitigation
measures. The EA scope included analysis of:
- land form and land use;
- air/climatology and water resources;
- plant life, animal/aquatic life, and natural resources;
- noise/light and environmental health;
- energy, utilities, and transportation;
- socio-economic impacts, impacts to disadvantaged populations;
- public service, population/economics, community reaction; and
- archaeology, cultural, historic, and aesthetic resources.
(Existing Facilities)
The formal Cultural Survey conducted as part of the EA effort revealed the potential
presence of significant cultural resources along the proposed truck by-pass ROW
and thus necessitated development and implementation of a testingc plan for determination
of the significance of the archaeological resources. Zia prepared, implemented and
received letter concurrence from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Department
for its findings relative to cultural resources. Approval and issuance of a concurrence
of “no adverse effect” from the GSA and the New Mexico SHPO on cultural resource
mitigation issues was obtained in 21-days from submittal of a draft survey report
documenting newly discovered sites to delivery of a preliminary testing report documenting
results of archaeological testing.
Upon completion of the investigation and after coordination with reviewing agencies,
Zia developed a draft FONSI which was accepted by the GSA and published in the Federal
Register as the final record action.