Waters Delineation Report, Mussel Survey, Agency Coordination, and Waterway Permitting – Confidential Transloading Facility – Cincinnati, Ohio

STONE completed this very fast track project on the Ohio River within the Cincinnati area. STONE’s federally-permitted freshwater mussel surveyor coordinated with USFWS to perform a Group 4 Phase 1/Phase 2 mussel survey – and obtained approval from USFWS to conduct the mussel survey outside of the survey season timeline to allow time to complete permitting activities and initiate construction in the spring. STONE completed the mussel survey and relocation, as well as a wetland delineation within a floodplain wetland area. In an effort to expedite the Section 401/404 permitting, preapplication meetings were held with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Ohio EPA. The project was further complicated by cultural resource concerns, which were subsequently addressed through a viewshed analysis and completion of a Public Meeting. STONE quickly prepared an Individual Section 404 permit and an Individual Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) permitting package and extensively coordinated with agencies to ensure timely review.