ECOLOGICAL, STORMWATER AND WETLAND ANALYSIS AND PERMITTING

In the Midwest, many projects are developed in agricultural, forested, or undeveloped land. These areas can contain natural resources such as streams, wetlands, and endangered species habitats that often present a unique challenge when development occurs.

Owners or developers who negatively impact these resources and species, or inadvertently cause damage through stormwater runoff, can face severe fines from regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). But more importantly, they can unwillingly cause severe damage to a delicate ecosystem.

CTL Engineering’s team ofwetland scientists, field biologists, and stormwater inspectors are certified to perform all of the necessary field assessments and permitting associated with stormwater planning, wetland delineation, and habitat assessments. Engaged at the beginning of a project, CTL’s staff of engineers and natural resource specialists can guide you through a process to help keep a project on track.

ECOLOGICAL SERVICES

STORMWATER SERVICES

Any time new development occurs, it will inevitably change the pattern of stormwater runoff.

Untreated stormwater discharge can cause substantial ecological detriments when it reaches streams, rivers, and lakes – such as fish kills and algae blooms- by introducing pollutants into the water source. Stormwater that travels down the roadway, for instance, is likely to pick up chemicals and debris such as road salt and oil leaks that never gets treated, and ultimately is discharged into storm drains to local rivers and lakes.

Property and project owners that don’t handle stormwater appropriately may be subject to project delays and fines from the EPA, or state regulatory authorities.

CTL’s storm water team includes a mixture of engineers and environmental scientists with decades of experience and certifications from Envirocert International.

Common storm water services include:

NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES PERMIT)

The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging “pollutants” through a “point source” into “water of the United States” unless they have a permit through the NPDES.CTL helps clients obtain a permit and meet discharge, monitoring, and reporting requirements.

STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN (SWPPP)

The Clean Water Act’s NPDES programrequires nearly all construction sites engaged in clearing, grading, and excavating, or disturbing one acre or more of land to develop and submit aSWPPP permit package filed with the EPA, or state regulatory agency. CTL specializes in plan development, helping companies follow Best Management Practices (BMPs), and works with several partners who specialize in plan implementation.

STORMWATER MAINTENANCE AND ANALYSIS

Maintenance is often the area where property owners are most likely to run into trouble. Whether it’s damaged silt fence on an active construction site, or a facility’s storm water pond, any structures that direct the flow of stormwater must have maintenance that meets specific regulations. CTL professionals help companies craft a reasonable maintenance plan. For property owners looking to make changes to their stormwater infrastructure, CTL performs comprehensive analysis and planning.

COMMERCIAL STORMWATER REPORTING AND MAINTENANCE

By regulating how much stormwater discharge they produce, companies in some municipalities are eligible for tax credits.

OTHER STORMWATER SERVICES:

In addition, CTL also offers:

• 1. Permit Application Assistance
• 2. Active Construction Compliance Monitoring
• 3. Storm Water Program Audits
• 4. Right of Way Restoration Planning
• 5. Post Construction BMP Inspections and Maintenance
• 6. And many others.

WETLAND ASSESSMENT AND PERMITTING

Wetlands perform an essential role in the ecosystem and can provide flood control, climate change mitigation, water quality improvement, and important fish and wildlife habitats.

Unfortunately, over time many wetlands have been destroyed. To protect the remaining wetlands, restrictions have been put in place. Under the Clean Water Act, a project cannot adversely impact a federally protected stream or wetland without a permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers or the state EPA. Property owners who do cause adverse impacts to wetlands and streams can face stiff fines.

In many cases, however, wetlands may not be easily identifiable to the untrained eye. A trained scientist will examine the hydrology of a site, the soils, and vegetation to determine if a wetland exists.

An early assessment can potentially save property owners thousands in fines and minimize project delays. If a wetland is found on the property, a combination of permitting and civil engineering can often avoid unnecessary impact to the wetland and allow the development to proceed. If a wetland is NOT identified, property owners can continue development knowing they are not causing unnecessary harm.

CTL provides a variety of services to identify wetlands and obtain the necessary permits for development to proceed, including:

• Preliminary Jurisdictional Waters Assessment/Delineation (PJWA/D)
• FinalJurisdictional Waters Assessment
• US Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide permitting
• 401/404 permitting

HABITAT ASSESSMENT

CTL also provides services to ensure property owners comply with regulations designed to protect the habitat of threatened and endangered species.

Services include:

• Threatened and endangered species field assessments and permitting
• Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP’s)
• National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) project assessments and permitting
• Airport wildlife management
• General avian mortality and monitoring surveys

WHY CHOOSE CTL

Nearly every construction site is going to have to meet national and state EPA requirements. CTL’s engineers and biologists bring decades of experience to your project, ensuring the site meets requirements and avoids costly fines. Moreover, CTL works directly with clients to create plans that protect delicate ecosystems while still accommodating the client’s development goals.

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