Recognizing the relationship between the natural and man-made features of our environment is essential to successful project completion. Palmer offers a full range of environmental services for client regulatory compliance, merger and acquisition, waste management, and site development needs:
Palmer Engineering’s environmental scientists are experienced in field work and always familiar with current regulations. They identify areas of concern and appropriate mitigation strategies, in collaboration with the appropriate officials. Their extensive knowledge of environmental permitting enhances efficient project development and avoids costly schedule delays in obtaining permits.
Palmer Engineering was selected by the KYTC to perform Phase I Design, Environmental Services, and Phase II Design to improve safety, upgrade geometrics, and address capacity issues for 1.24 miles of KY 15 from Morton Blvd. to the KY 15 Bypass. Palmer Engineering, along with Redwing Ecological Services, teamed on this project that is located in a mountainous region of Kentucky and had numerous environmental considerations. Palmer and Redwing performed the associated baseline studies that included socioeconomic, terrestrial and aquatic biology, UST/HAZMAT, air, noise, and cultural resources.
The East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) planned to build a 278-MW coal-fired unit at the existing J K Smith Power Station. The facilities for this project were expected to impact existing streams and wetlands and would require mitigation. Palmer Engineering was part of a team selected by EKPC to provide land surveying, ecological, and civil engineering services for the mitigation of streams and wetlands on three creeks at the 3,272-acre site.
Palmer conducted an Environmental Overview for the reconstruction of 1.6 miles of Leestown Road for the KY Transportation Cabinet. After the Overview, the Cabinet initiated Phase I design with a five-lane typical section and bicycle lanes. Palmer was then selected to perform in-depth base studies for the project corridor from Greendale Boulevard to Masterson Station Park.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc., retained Palmer to complete lease termination obligations for a facility the company had leased from a private owner. Palmer’s environmental staff performed a Phase I ESA on the 11-acre commercial site, which also contained a 36,000 SF building, parking lots, shed, and associated undeveloped property. A Phase II study confirmed the presence of mold, animal droppings, and asbestos in the floor tile mastic that were noted during the Phase I ESA.
Palmer Engineering was part of team selected to conduct an Environmental Assessment for the reconstruction of 5.6 miles of KY-185 for the Transportation Cabinet. Palmer responsibilities included air, noise, socioeconomic, cultural historic, public involvement, and the NEPA document. An alignment shift required baseline addenda, and the socioeconomic addendum required a further Environmental Justice determination for several locations.
Palmer Engineering supplied the Clark, Powell, and Rockcastle County Fiscal Courts with documentation that follows the National Environmental Protection Act pursuant to the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) standards with regard to potential construction sites of future Emergency Operations Centers (EOC). The proposed construction sites are currently under consideration and followed provisions of NEPA. A Finding of No Significant Impact is expected through this process.
This project involved the scoping study for the relocation of US-119 from Zebulon to Bent Mountain. The mountainous topography, development along the valley bottoms, potential adverse environmental impacts, and economic impacts associated with coal and natural gas complicated this project. Four alternate alignments were included in the planning study, which included potential environmental impacts and the development of roadway geometrics with their associated construction estimates.
Palmer was selected by the KY Transportation Cabinet to verify and refine the corridor, perform a Phase I Design, and prepare an EIS for 33 miles of new interstate in the mountainous landscape between Pikeville, KY, and the King Coal Highway in WV. An extensive public involvement program was utilized throughout the project because the 2-mile wide planning corridor was eventually reduced to 4 study alignments for Phase I Design and EIS development.