GES conducted wetland delineations and stream determinations of the project site to document all water resources. Water resources were overlaid with a site design to determine total impacts. An individual aquatic resource alteration permit (ARAP) and an individual 4345 permit were compiled and submitted to TDEC and USACE for 401 and 404 certification, respectively. Permitted impacts included linear road crossings and utility crossings, as well as the filling of wetlands.
The filling of wetlands exceeded the de minimis allowed (0.5 acres) under a general permit; therefore, wetland mitigation will be performed onsite to offset impacts associated with the wetland fill. Coordination with TDEC and USACE regarding mitigation is on-going. In addition to the above services, a presence/absence survey for the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and federally threatened northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was conducted by permitted biologists at GES at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A total of 7 bats were captured: 3 eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis) and 4 evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis). No Indiana or northern long-ear bats were captured. Therefore, a not likely to affect determination was made and clearance was obtained from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to perform clearing activities associated with the proposed development.
