NEPA Projects
Environmental Assessment Highway Extension
A one-mile extension of a main transportation arterial will include construction of a bridge over a creek that feeds the Arkansas River in central Oklahoma. Blackshare Environmental Solutions obtained all of the environmental clearances and permits, assisted in the public meeting and is currently completing the final draft of the Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA has been reviewed by ODOT and will ultimately be approved by FHWA.
Environmental Clearance 28-mile Pipeline Construction Project
Prior to construction of a 28-mile refined products pipeline in Southeast Oklahoma, Blackshare Environmental was engaged to obtain all of the environmental clearances and permits. The project included the acquisition of a Nationwide 12 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and clearances from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, the State Historic Preservation Office and Native American Tribes. Field surveys were also required for the American Burying Beetle, wetlands areas and potential archeological sites.
Environmental Clearance & EA Preparation 100-mile Pipeline Construction Project
A major pipeline company retained Blackshare Environmental to conduct all of the environmental permitting and clearances for construction of a crude oil pipeline between central Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Pipeline route issues included river and lake crossings, Native American lands and potential archaeological sites. In addition to consultations with all appropriate federal and state agencies, Blackshare Environmental conducted wetland surveys and obtained a Nationwide 12 Permit from the Tulsa District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Preparations of Environmental Assessments (EAs) were required for pipeline sections that crossed Native American owned tribal lands.
Preparation of FERC 7C Report and Wetland Survey
Construction of natural gas pipelines under FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) jurisdiction require the preparation of environmental documents similar to an EA. For a sixteen mile pipeline construction project in Kansas and Missouri, Blackshare Environmental conducted a detailed wetland survey along the entire corridor and prepared a FERC 7C report for FERC review and approval. The 7C report consisted of thirteen separate resource reports which included reports on water quality, wildlife, cultural resources, socio-economics, air and noise quality, project alternatives and reliability and safety. The project was approved by FERC.
Airport Runway Extension Environmental Assessment (EA)
A municipal airport in western Oklahoma proposed a 1,500-foot runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft loads and allow for lower visibility instrument approaches to the runway. Blackshare Environmental solicited clearances from all jurisdictional federal and state agencies and incorporated the information into an EA document. The EA addressed all impacts from the proposed runway extension including noise, socioeconomic, air, water, cultural resources, biological resources and other receptors. The EA was submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the project was approved.