Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson AZ
US Air Force
Harris Environmental revised and updated the installation’s Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) per Sike’s Act and Air Force requirements. This work entailed preparing and submitting a Notification of Intent to prepare/revise the INRMP to involved stakeholders and agencies including the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prepare a preliminary draft of the INRMP for internal Air Force review, prepare a preliminary draft for external agency review, prepare a draft for public review, prepare a final draft for agency review, and prepare a final INRMP. The numerous iterations required extensive scoping and coordination with the Air Force and external agencies to address concerns and comments provided for each submittal, and also required extensive research specific to unique resources found on the installation. We were key authors and in charge of all coordination and consultation efforts with the involved agencies. Throughout the duration of the INRMP revision process, we maintained a detailed Administrative Record of all information gathered during research and composition as well as a geodatabase of all relevant spatial data used in producing maps. Initial document reviews by involved management agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department resulted in minimal comments readily addressed by staff authors for prompt resubmittal of the document. Additionally, during contracting, Harris Environmental worked with the installation to complete the document revision with limited available funding.
(TOP)
Landrum and Brown / FAA
To support the addition of a much needed second runway at Tucson International Airport, we developed all supporting documentations for an Environmental Impact Statement to determine the effects on the environment. We helped our client be successful by providing the full range of natural, environmental, and cultural resources specialists required. This project included developing a Biological Assessment, conducting a Class III archeological survey, and conducting a Jurisdictional Delineation for navigable waters of the U.S. It exemplifies the full range of solutions we bring to every project we are entrusted with by our clients.
Columbia River Estuary
US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District
Harris Environmental provided lead support for development of an EIS and accompanying BA for the USACE’s management plan for double-crested cormorants within the Columbia River Estuary. Under extremely short deadlines, we developed a population model in close collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife Service (Pacific Region) for evaluating effects of management alternatives, prepared pubic meeting/ scoping documents, graphics and materials for public meetings and webinars, compiled all agency comments and 150,000+ public comments, drafted final responses to comments and revised document drafts based on comments received, provided technical editing for all final materials, developed a FONSI, kept the Administrative Record, and oversaw 5 different sub-contractors. The project is very contentious with national interest and a high level of scrutiny (Featured in the New York Times).
We met all deadlines for product delivery and maintained great working relationships with all cooperating agencies throughout the process. During public meetings, USACE personnel and individuals from the public repeatedly expressed satisfaction with how well the EIS was written.
(TOP)
Locations in Arizona
Federal Highways Administration; ADOT; local DOTs
Harris Environmental has conducted over 125 transportation projects. These include work as prime on on-call contracts with numerous counties and cities and as sub consultant to engineering and landscape architecture firms for FHWA, ADOT, and municipal projects. We have conducted biological, cultural, and hazardous waste surveys, investigations, and reporting. Projects included enhancement, bridge replacement, multi-use pathways, widening, new roadways, and transportation corridor planning. Dr. Harris served as a member of a multi-discipline team (total of 5 members) who developed Pima County’s Roadway Design Manual for Developing Roads within Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
(TOP)
Neah Bay Air Route,
Surveillance Radar and the VHF Omnidirectional Range,
Neah Bay, WA
Federal Aviation Administration
Harris Environmental is developing an Environmental Assessment for tree trimming at the Neah Bay Air Route Surveillance Radar and at the VHF Omnidirectional Range near Neah Bay, WA. Reviewing and synthesizing all past research, documentation, and monitoring data; we developed a preliminary draft EA, and will assist with scoping and analyzing public comments, and provide a final EA to the FAA. These towers are located on two rugged peaks in the remote northern Olympic peninsula of Washington state. The towers are located within the traditionally recognized territory of the Makah Tribe and is located within the present-day boundaries of the Makah Reservation. We facilitated tribal coordination and synthesized responses of tribes that continue to recognize a relationship to the Olympic Peninsula based on traditional land use, origin, beliefs, mythology and spiritual beliefs and practices.
(TOP)
Locations in CA, AZ, NM, NV
Western Area Power Administration; Unisource Energy (TEP); others
We have worked on many electrical transmission lines, including Western Area Power Administration. For Western, we conducted biological monitoring and environmental awareness training for Hoover-Mead #6 and #8 230-kV Transmission Lines Emergency Jumper Repair Project and Maricopa-Saguaro and the ED#2-Saguaro Transmission Lines Emergency Tree Removal Project. We have worked with Tucson Electric Power since 1995, conducting numerous cultural surveys/compliance documents for a variety of projects throughout Arizona and New Mexico. These have included transmission line maintenance, booster station development, planning for new transmission lines, power plant expansion permits, pole replacement/movement, and new line installation. We have numerous studies over many years, including testifying at Arizona Corporation Commission hearings for Tucson Electric Power’s proposed Sahuarita-Nogales, Arizona, 345kV Transmission Line.
In addition, our experience includes numerous electrical co-operatives throughout Arizona. For these, we have conducted natural and cultural surveys/compliance reports.
(TOP)
San Francisquito Creek, CA
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District
We are developing the San Francisquito Creek Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study and Integrated EIS. The USACE and San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority are conducting a feasibility-level investigation to identify and evaluate potential improvement plans to reduce the fluvial and tidal flood risks, restore ecosystem quality and function, and where possible, provide additional recreation opportunities to San Francisquito Creek, Cities of Menlo Park, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, the Towns of Portola Valley and Woodside, and Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, California. Flooding has been a common occurrence in the San Francisquito Creek watershed as a result of inadequate flow conveyance capacity stemming from development in the watershed, vegetation encroachment, sedimentation, land subsidence, levee settlement, and erosion. Major flood events occurred in the watershed in 1955, 1958, 1969, and 1998. These flood events caused damages to residential, commercial, and public infrastructure. The ecological function and habitat quality of San Francisquito Creek has been considerably degraded since the 1800s, yet its riparian corridor remains a diverse and productive ecosystem supporting a wide variety of vegetation, wildlife, and aquatic resources.
(TOP)
Jameson Lake, WA
US Bureau of Land Management
We developed an EA (Environmental Assessment) for analyzing range management and restoration on Bureau of Land Management-administered lands within one range allotment in Douglas County, Washington. An EA was needed by the BLM for analyzing the effects of range management on biological, cultural, and environmental resources for the Jameson Lake analysis area. Reviewing and synthesizing all past research, documentation, and monitoring data; we developed a preliminary draft EA, assisted with analyzing public comments, and provided a final EA to the BLM.
(TOP)
Ash Springs Recreation Area, NV
US Bureau of Land Management
We recently completed an EA (Environmental Assessment) and Comprehensive Management Plan for the Ash Springs Recreation Area in Ash Springs, Nevada. This is a small thermal spring that received heavy recreation until a temporary closure was enacted due to public safety concerns and threats to the endangered White River Springfish (Crenichthys baileyi) and BLM sensitive species. We lead the public scoping, coordination, and EA development to balance recreational use of the site with threatened, endangered, and sensitive species occurrence. We provided all-inclusive natural resource, hydrology and water quality, cultural, and recreation specialist reports that were included in the EA. We provided key planning and design support and were the lead facilitator of public meetings where we provided several posters to inform and solicit constructive public response.
(TOP)