Project Background
A natural gas transmission client intended to install a new, 165-mile gas pipeline through West Virginia. During the property acquisition phase of the project, the client determined that they needed an efficient, cost-effective method to assess the entire work zone for potential environmental concerns that may endanger the health of their workers and/or unexpectedly stop work once pipeline construction began. Upon our recommendation for solving this problem, the client contracted AGES to conduct an Environmental Desktop Site Assessment (EDSA).
Pipeline Assessment Project Work
Environmental Desktop Site Assessment and Report
After receiving a KMZ file of the proposed pipeline, work zone and affected land parcels from the client, AGES remotely scanned all 165 miles of proposed pipeline and compared these areas to available, large-scale, current and historical aerial photographs and topographic maps back to the 1940s.
In the submitted report, AGES identified and included figures for 215 Potential Recognized Environmental Concerns (PRECs). Based on a risk assessment process that was pre-determined by AGES and the client, AGES concluded that 110 of the 215 PRECs were “high risk” and in need of further investigation.
EDSA Site Visits
Over the course of the next several months, AGES coordinated with numerous land agents and land owners to visit each of the 110 high-risk PRECs. Many of the PRECs were located in remote areas that were only accessible though distance hiking and/or with the use of GPS equipment. The environmental concerns identified during the site visits included numerous hydrocarbon spills, leaking aboveground storage tanks, improperly abandoned and outdated oil & gas exploration equipment, and historical dumping areas, among other. After locating and visiting the high-risk PRECs, AGES made recommendations for further action, most often in the form of soil sampling, proper disposal or documentation of identified environmental concerns. As a result of AGES Environmental Desktop Site Assessment and subsequent site visits, the client decided to reroute several areas of the proposed pipeline. The project is ongoing.
Key Features
AGES cost-effectively assessed a large land area in a short period time, allowing the client to conduct their due diligence, identify potential risks, help reduce environmental harm to their workers and contractors, and stay ahead of their project schedule.
