Provided continuous consulting services for two years on
this highly-contested 23-mile utility line which will link ITC's
Batavia substation and Simpson substation.
As a primary consultant, Atwell provided land surveying,
ecological assessments, floodplain review and determinations,
cultural resources assessments and facilitated permit negotiations
with state and local agencies.
Atwell kicked off the project with a detailed topographic survey
completed within ITC's aggressive timeline of just three weeks - in
fact, no other firm would commit to the expansive scope and
timing.
The firm's in-house ecological team assessed the natural
features found within the proposed utility corridor including
determination of critical habitat and wildlife corridor
assessment. The corridor crosses theSt. Joseph River, known
to contain the threatened Copperbelly Water snake, at numerous
points and is surrounded by a large forest system which is habitat
to the Indiana Bat and contains sensitive underground archeological
resources. Atwell was able to complete the full
ecological assessment within one season to keep the project moving
on schedule.
Upon completion of the wetland delineation and stream
assessments, Atwell will prepare the floodplain determination and
review for 15 watercourses identified throughout the
corridor. Of these 15 watercourses, six are regulated by the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and may require
additional permitting support. In addition, Atwell is
currently assisting ITC's permitting coordination group with state
and local environmental negotiations involving stream and wetland
impacts and crossings as well as potential impacts to threatened
and endangered species.
