Agenda - 09-01-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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® Comprehensive Site Search: The County has conducted a comprehensive site search to locate the proposed waste transfer station. The site selection process consisted of three distinct phases: (1) identification of potential sites; (2) selection of candidate sites, and (3) evaluation and final ranking of candidate sites. Defer to www.olvencom/orangecoLjgt for . additionaa details. 2.2 Wetlands As a planned follow -up to the February 2009 Environmental Assessment, an investigation to determine the existence and to estimate the extent of ' wetlands on the candidate property was completed by Hal Owen Associates, Inc., (HOA) as described in a report dated April 7, 2009. In response to concerns raised regarding wetlands delineation, the area covered by the wetlands evaluation was expanded farther north into the property. HOA was asked to return to the property to flag their estimation of the extent of wetlands in this additional area. A copy of the revised HOA report is included in Appendix A. Summit Consulting, Inc. has surveyed the extent of streams and wetlands on the site as identified by HOA.. A representative of HOA met with the surveyors on the site to coordinate these efforts. A copy of the preliminary site plan (site layout and aerial) showing the potential wetlands, potential streams, and associated buffer areas as identified by HOA and also showing the proposed transfer station has been completed (see Appendix B). Olver has had several discussions with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) personnel to discuss the potential impact of the entrance road to the wetlands, mitigation, and permitting for those impacts, and the process that would be required to complete the delineation under County authority. As shown on the site plan, the entrance road crossing is the only site development activity causing a disturbance to the streams and wetlands as identified by HOA. This crossing is necessitated since other alternatives would produce greater impacts to the wetlands and streams. The location of the crossing has been selected and the final design will be developed to minimize the area of disturbance and impact to the wetlands at that location. As shown, the estimated area of wetlands impact will be 0.l to 0.2 acre, well below the 0.5 -acre threshold available under the Nationwide Permit. After the wetlands have been officially delineated by the COE, the site plan will be adjusted, if necessary, to further minimize impacts. Application for the wetlands permit will then be made. Under the Nationwide permit, the permitting process should take no more than 50 days. As discussed with COE personnel, impacts will be minimized and any required' mitigation is expected to be achieved by a combination of a dedicated Conservation Easement for other wetlands on the property and replacement wetlands in the same drainage basin. Orange County Transfer Station May 2009 2