10.5-Mile Louisiana Pipeline Project

• Client

  Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream

• Division

  Environmental

• Scope

  Wetland Delineation, T&E Species Surveys, Environmental Reporting, Nesting Colony Survey, and Federal/State Authorizations

• Completion

  2020

Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream (Boardwalk) retained C. H. Fenstermaker & Associates, L.L.C. (Fenstermaker) to provide environmental services necessary for the construction of 10.5 miles of new pipeline located in St. James Parish, Louisiana.  The new pipeline will transport brine from an existing pipeline valve site to an Occidental Chemical Corporation facility.  The proposed pipeline route traversed cypress and bottomland hardwood wetlands located within the Louisiana Coastal Zone.  Fenstermaker’s scope of work for this project included wetland delineations, threatened and endangered (T&E) species surveys, preparation of reports of findings, a nesting colony survey, and obtaining authorizations/clearance letters from federal and state agencies.

Fenstermaker conducted the delineation in accordance with the 1987 U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Delineation Manual and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region (Version 2.0, November 2010). A report of findings was generated, and a preliminary jurisdictional determination was obtained from the USACE.  Per LA Department of Wildlife & Fisheries requirements, a T&E survey was conducted to verify if nesting colonies were located within 1,000-ft. of geotechnical soil boring locations.  The survey was conducted via a Mavic 2 drone (UAV) and DJI goggles. Flights were conducted at an elevation of 250-ft. with 500-ft. between each transect.

Fenstermaker secured Section 408 approval for the proposed pipeline crossing of the Mississippi River protection levees.  Furthermore, Fenstermaker secured regulatory permit authorizations from the Office of Coastal Management and the USACE for impacts to coastal wetlands.  Fenstermaker was instrumental in securing all necessary permit authorizations from federal and state agencies within the allotted permitting timeline, thereby preventing construction mobilization delays.