After the Jefferson-Martin 230 kV Transmission Project was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), PG&E contracted Opus Environmental to provide environmental training and environmental compliance inspection services for the construction phase of the project. This project involved construction of an approximately 27-mile-long, 230-kV power line located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Opus Environmental began work on this project with the preparation and delivery of an environmental awareness training to over 2,000 project personnel. During construction, Opus Environmental staff provided environmental, biological, cultural, and paleontological resource monitoring for all segments in compliance with the project permits and plans. This work included having personnel on the ground up to 24 hours per day, seven days a week to ensure compliance and prepare daily environmental reports, which are distributed to the team.

The biological component of the project included monitoring for listed species, including the California red-legged frog, San Francisco garter snake, Pacific pond turtle, raptors, and nesting birds. To this end, we obtained approvals from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game to relocate sensitive species out of harm’s way.

Work on this project also included preparation of a Wetland Monitoring Plan, Final Paleontological Monitoring Report, and Final Post-Construction Report for submittal to the agencies.

Opus Environmental prepared a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Contra Costa County Community Development Department for a Chevron Pipe Line project involving construction of a 2-mile-long, 12-inch-diameter oil pipeline and associated aboveground pumping facilities.

In addition to preparing the environmental document, Opus Environmental is assisting Contra Costa County with this project during the construction phase. Prior to the commencement of construction, our team review the applicant’s submittals and verify that all the relevant plans have been prepared and permits have been secured. During construction, our environmental inspectors are overseeing environmental compliance on this project, ensuring that the mitigation measures in the MND and other permits are properly implemented.

Opus Environmental is currently providing biological and environmental inspection for construction of Phase III of the project. This phase involves construction of an approximately 6-mile-long, 230-kV transmission line and a 0.33-acre wetland mitigation site in Alameda County and Contra Costa County.

The environmental compliance inspection program for this project includes conducting environmental trainings in the field and inspecting for compliance with Environmental Impact Report and permit conditions. All of Opus Environmental’s on-site inspectors are authorized to survey, monitor, handle, and relocate California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander, in addition to survey for San Joaquin kit fox and burrowing owl.

Opus Environmental was retained by Tuscarora Gas Transmission Company in 2004 to assist in the regulatory approval phase of their Barrick Lateral Project, consisting of a 0.5-mile pipeline on private land. Opus Environmental’s scope of work included securing all required permits and authorizations for the project and preparing the project’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. The project was constructed during the summer of 2005.