NEPA Environmental Assessment 5005 Joe Thomas Road EBI ...

NEPA Environmental Assessment 5005 Joe Thomas Road

EBI Project #61061741 Tallahassee, Florida

E B I C o n s u l t i n g

APPENDIX B

SITE PHOTOGRAPHS




1. View toward Project

Site from the east.

(looking at access road)


Site from the east.





Site from the north.


Site from the

northwest.





Site from the southeast.

6. View from Subject

Property toward the

northeast.





Property toward the

south.


Property toward the

east.




APPENDIX C

INFORMAL BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

May 9, 2006

Ms. Kristen LutzCingular Wireless 1101 Greenwood Blvd. Lake Mary, FL 32746

Subject: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment TLHSFLT012/ Fort Braden 5005 Joe Thomas Road, Tallahassee, Florida EBI Project #61061741

Dear Ms. Lutz:

EBI Consulting is pleased to provide you with a summary of the Informal Biological Assessment performed byEBI at the site referenced above. The purpose of this Assessment was to evaluate the site for the presence ofhabitats associated with federal- and state-listed threatened and endangered species. In summary, based on ourreview, it appears unlikely that the existing telecommunications facility at the property referenced above impactshabitat likely to sustain threatened or endangered species. Information to support this conclusion is presented below.

Project Description

The Subject Property consists of an approximately 4.5 acre lot that is predominantly undeveloped wooded land, and is improved with an existing 354-foot guyed telecommunications tower and associated equipment compound.

Cingular Wireless currently owns a 354-foot guyed tower, which is located on the northeast portion of the Subject Property (herein, the Project Site). According to records obtained at the Leon County GrowthManagement Department, AT&T Wireless constructed the tower in 1997. Cingular Wireless acquired this tower from AT&T Wireless. Cingular Wireless maintains telecommunications antennas on the tower, andstores support equipment inside a 12-foot by 20-foot support equipment shelter at the base of the tower within the compound. No new construction activities are currently planned at this facility.

Surrounding Areas

During the inspection, a visual assessment of adjacent property uses was conducted from public areas and fromthe Subject Property boundaries. Vicinity properties to the south and west of the existing tower site are vacant,wooded land. Areas to the east of the existing tower include Joe Thomas Road, followed by rural residentialdevelopment. Areas to the north of the existing tower include Highway 20 and a residential/commercialproperty. Aboveground utility lines are present along the roadways surrounding the Subject Property.

Vicinity Hydrology and Geology

No surface water bodies were identified on the Subject Property. The nearest surface water is Lake Talquin located approximately 3,000 feet northwest of the Project Site.

According to the Flood Insights - Transamerica Flood Hazard Certification, the Subject Property is on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) identified as Community and Panel #12073C – 0250D, dated November 19, 1997. The Project Site is mapped in an area labeled as Zone X, which is defined as an area outside the 100 and 500 year floodplains.

Wet or marshy areas were not observed at or within 250 feet of the Project Site at the time of the EBI inspection. Based on a review of National Wetlands Inventory Maps on the US Fish and Wildlife Service Website, the Project Site is not located within a designated wetland area.

The depth to groundwater is not known. Local groundwater gradient is expected to follow surface topography; therefore, groundwater flow near the Subject Property is expected to flow to the north/northwest. Groundwater flow gradients are best evaluated by a subsurface investigation involving the installation of at least three groundwater monitoring wells and precise measurements of hydrostatic pressure. Monitoring wells were not observed on the Subject Property.

Information concerning the geology of the Subject Property was obtained from the USGS National Water Summary (1984), Florida region. The Subject Property is located within the Coastal Plain physiographic province, which is a region that has generally low relief and is underlain by unconsolidated to poorly consolidated sediments and indurated carbonate rocks. Florida is mantled nearly everywhere by surficial sands that overlie a thick sequence of bedded limestone and dolomite.

According to the Soil Survey of Leon County, the soil type beneath the Subject Property is classified as Albany loamy sand. This soil type consists of nearly level and gently sloping, somewhat poorly drained soils on low ridges within the flatwoods and broad flats of the uplands. They have rapidly permeable sandy layers to depths of 40 to 60 inches over moderately to moderately rabidly permeable subsoil.

Relationship to Potential Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat

The NEPA Desktop Screening Report, dated May 2006, identified the existing tower to be located within an area potentially occupied by threatened and endangered species. According to the GIS data, the Subject Property and surrounding area are located within an area potentially occupied by threatened and/or endangered species, in particular, an area listed as an Ecological Resource Area, as defined by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). These ecological resource areas were defined in 1991 during a workshop sponsored by TNC, the Florida Audubon Society, and the Department of Natural Resources.

EBI reviewed TNC’s on-line resources, and the web site indicates that the Subject Property is located within a large-scale conservation area known as the Apalachicola River and Bay. This is a large area of northwest Florida containing the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, which flow into Apalachicola Bay. These rivers and the bay reportedly support a high diversity of wildlife species, including some rare plants, fish, and amphibians. The Nature Conservancy web site indicates that the primary threats to the ecological quality of the area include:

! Rapid development; forest destruction, conversion and fragmentation; and fire suppression threaten the lands surrounding the Apalachicola River and Bay.

! On the river, reservoir operations and water withdrawals from the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers havechanged the Apalachicola’s natural flow, threatening the survival of native species and cutting off the state’s largest forested floodplain.

t ! Navigational channel dredging that destroys river habitat and increases bank erosion. ! Dams on the rivers block fish from impor ant spawning and nursery habitat.

The construction of the tower at the Subject Property included the disturbance of a minimal amount of land area (less than one acre), and did not include the disturbance of any water bodies or wetland areas. No

reservoirs were created, no river water was withdrawn, no channel dredging occurred, and no dams werecreated or modified as part of this construction. Additionally, development was consistent with surrounding siteuses, including scattered residential and commercial properties and aboveground utility lines. Note also that theProject Site is located over 20 miles east of the Apalachicola River. The closest water body to the Project Siteis Lake Talquin, which is located approximately 3,000 feet northwest of the Project Site. Lake Talquin drainsinto the Ochlockonee River, which eventually drains into Ochlockonee Bay.

Construction of the tower is therefore not expected to have contributed to the decline of the ecological qualityof the Apalachicola River and Bay.

Conclusion

With consideration given to the fact that no suspected habitats for listed threatened or endangered specieswere identified in the area occupied by Cingular Wireless, and based on the characteristics of the Subject Property and vicinity, it is EBI’s opinion that: a.) the project is not within designated and proposed criticalhabitats as defined and listed in 50 CFR, b.) the project will not significantly affect listed and proposed speciesand is not expected to have a significant impact on the ecological quality of the area in which the Project Site is located, c.) the referenced facility is not located in an officially designated wilderness area, and d.) the referencedfacility is not located in an officially designated wildlife preserve. Based on EBI’s evaluation, the existing tower is not expected to impact threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat.

Sincerely,

Ms. Devon Pavlek Ms. Caitlin GraffProject Scientist Program Director

Attachment:Ecological Resource Area Data

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Apalachicola River and Bay

The Apalachicola River is formed by the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, which flow from the Appalachian foothills to Apalachicola Bay, one of the most productive and pristine estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere.

Wildlife

The Apalachicola River supports the highest diversity of freshwater fish species in the state.

The river’s basin holds the second highest concentration of amphibian and reptile species in North America.

Pine woodlands provide habitat for the world’s largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers.

The bay’s barrier islands are nesting grounds for sea turtles and shore birds and provide a critical resting and feeding area for migrating birds and butterflies.

Rare species include fire-back crayfish, Apalachicola dusky salamander, flatwoods salamander and Gulf sturgeon

Rare Plants

Florida torreya

Florida yew trees

Few-flowered croomia

Florida anise

Gentian pinkroot

Threats

Rapid development; forest destruction, conversion and fragmentation; and fire suppression threaten the lands surrounding the Apalachicola River and Bay.

On the river, reservoir operations and water withdrawals from the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers have changed the Apalachicola’s natural flow, threatening the survival of native species and cutting off the state’s largest forested floodplain.

Navigational channel dredging that destroys river habitat and increases bank erosion.

Dams on the rivers block fish from important spawning and nursery habitat.

Apalachicola River and Bay program area

Apalachicola River© Eric Blackmore

Learn more about this project with theOnline Field Guide.

Page 1 of 2Florida - Apalachicola River and Bay

5/11/2006http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art16201.html

Conservancy ActionThe Conservancy works at a large scale to conserve and restore the lands and waters of the Apalachicola River and Bay region.

Since 1968, the Conservancy has helped protect more than 190,000 acres here including 50 miles of riverfront.

The Conservancy is working with the states of Florida, Alabama and Georgia to forge an agreement that will lead the way for the future of aquatic conservation throughout the Southeast.

With the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners the Conservancy is working to develop fish passages and modify dam operations so that fish species, including the endangered Gulf sturgeon, can find their way to spawning grounds.

The Conservancy is leading an effort to coordinate invasive, non-native species management and control on a watershed-wide scales with more than 24 public and private partners in the region.

Preserves and Land ManagementThe Conservancy manages more than 7,500 acres in the region:

Apalachicola Bluffs & Ravines Preserve, Liberty County (Open to the public)

Calhoun Spigellia Preserve, Calhoun County

John S. Phipps Preserve, Franklin County

Jeff Lewis Wilderness Preserve, Franklin County

Eastpoint Preserve, Franklin County

Future GoalsTo protect the Apalchicola River and Bay, the Conservancy will:

continue to work with willing landowners on behalf of state partners to purchase additional acres critical to maintaining a healthy Apalachcicola River and Bay system and develop a corridor of conservation land from the Apalachicola Bay to Georgia;

expand efforts to restore the biologically rich longleaf pine and wiregrass forests throughout the region and will share scientific expertise with our public and private land management partners;

work with partners to develop restoration plans to repair river areas damaged by dredging and navigation; and

remove a dam and restore a steephead stream at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve to restore aquatic habitat and develop expertise in stream restoration.

For More Information To learn more about the Apalachicola River and Bay, call our Northwest Florida Program office at P.O. Box 393, Bristol, FL 32321, (850) 643-2756.

Learn more about the Apalchicola Bluffs and Ravines preserve, including visiting hours and directions.

Torreya State Park© Jeff Ripple

Earth Day 2006 | Contact Us | Help/FAQs | Careers | Privacy Statement | Governance | Financial Information | Legal Disclosure | Site Map

Copyright © 2006 The Nature Conservancy

Page 2 of 2Florida - Apalachicola River and Bay

5/11/2006http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art16201.html




APPENDIX D

BUILDING PERMIT




APPENDIX E

QUALIFICATIONS

EBI CONSULTING Devon C. Pavlek

Project Scientist

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE

Devon Pavlek is a Project Scientist with over two years of experience specializing in Phase I

environmental site assessments and NEPA assessments.

Environmental Site Assessments: Ms. Pavlek has successfully completed over 100 ASTM Phase I Site

Assessments for a variety of properties located within the United States. These properties have

included industrial, commercial, retail and telecommunication sites. ASTM investigations inlcude

correspondence and evaluations with federal, state, and local government offices.

NEPA Assessments: In addition to environmental assessments, Ms. Pavlek has prepared and managed

NEPA reviews for telecommunications sites throughout the United States. Ms. Pavlek has helped clients

facilitate the environmental review process to ensure compliance with Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Environmental

reviews include analysis of historic properties, wetlands, endangered species habitat, floodplains, and

other areas of environmental concern and the possible impacts of telecommunications installations on

these sensitive areas.

RELEVANT PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Multiple Projects in California: Ms. Pavlek has helped manage and perform NEPA evaluations for

existing telecommunications towers lacking NEPA and/or Section 106 compliance as part of large

acquisition package. In addition to conducting field work and report writing, Ms. Pavlek facilitated

extensive conrrespondence and consultation with historic preservation offices and the FCC.

Multiple Projects in the Midwest: Ms. Pavlek helped manage and perform environmental site

assessments and NEPA evaluations for approximately thirty telecommunications towers in Wisconsin,

Minnesota, Indiana, and Illinois as part of a large acquisition package. In addition to conducting field

work and report writing, Ms. Pavlek assisted and managed other scientists in order to complete the

project efficiently and uniformily.

EDUCATION

B.S., Geology, Western Illinois University

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS

! OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER) Certification/ 8-hour

HAZWOPER refresher training.

! Geological Society of America (2000-Present)

! American Red Cross First Aid Training- August 2003

EBI CONSULTING Caitlin B. Graff

Program Director


Caitlin B. Graff has over seven years of experience conducting due diligence reviews, site assessments,

subsurface investigations, and NEPA Assessments. In addition, Ms. Graff has extensive experience

overseeing NEPA and ASTM environmental reviews for the telecommunications industry. Ms. Graff

manages EBI’s Telecommunications Services Program for EBI’s wireless industry clients, including

cellular/pcs companies, tower construction companies, and turnkey telecommunications network

development companies.

Ms. Graff has conducted over three hundred environmental pre-acquisition assessments/due diligence

assignments for a wide range of properties throughout the United States. These assessments have been

performed to evaluate site conditions, potential off-site liabilities, environmental control systems, and

site remediation costs in order to advise prospective buyers, current operators, and owners of potential

and existing environmental concerns. These properties have included industrial, commercial, retail and

multi-family residential properties. Ms. Graff has worked with corporate environmental officers, legal

counsel, real estate brokers, and telecommunications siting specialists to develop strategies for site

evaluation. Ms. Graff is experienced in soil and ground water contamination assessments,

radon/lead/asbestos assessments.

Ms. Graff also has extensive experience conducting and overseeing FCC NEPA reviews for proposed

telecommunications installations throughout the United States, including new tower constructions as

well as collocations on existing structures. Ms. Graff has prepared and managed NEPA assessments for

telecommunications clients, including consultation with federal, state and local agencies and Native

American Indian Tribes, and site evaulation under the 2001 Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for

the Collocation of Wireless Antennas. Ms. Graff has over six years of experience working with the

Section 106 process for FCC-licensed telecommunications projects, and has successfully worked with

SHPOs and telecommunications providers across New England to evaulate and minimize the potential

effects of telecommunications installations on historically sensitive properties and districts. Ms. Graff

also maintains good working relationships with local, state, and federal consulting agencies throughout

New England in order to facilitate the NEPA process on behalf of EBI’s telecommunications clients.


Cingular Wireless, Multiple Sites. Ms. Graff prepares and manages NEPA reviews and Environmental

Assessments for telecommunications sites throughout New England. Ms. Graff has helped Cingular

Wireless facilitate the environmental review process to ensure compliance with Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA). Environmental reviews include analysis of historic properties, wetlands, endangered species

habitat, floodplains, and other areas of environmental concern and the possible impacts of

telecommunications installations on these sensitive areas. Ms. Graff has helped Cingular Wireless

evaluate over 500 cellular sites using this review process.

EBI CONSULTING Caitlin B. Graff

Program Director

Verizon Wireless, Multiple Sites. Ms. Graff has completed, reviewed, and managed over 400 NEPA and

ASTM Assessments for Verizon Wireless throughout New England. As part of this work, Ms. Graff has

gained considerable experience working with environmental, historical, and ecological issues as they

relate to the telecommunications industry.

Proposed Development Sites, Puerto Rico. Ms. Graff performed Phase I Environmental Site

Assessments for a portfolio of five proposed development sites throughout the Commonwealth of

Puerto Rico. Ms. Graff sucessfully evaluated potential environmental liabilities present at each site, and

facilitated the acquisition of the portfolio for the client. Environmental concerns were identified at two

of the five sites, and Ms. Graff successfully completed Phase II Limited Subsurface Investigations at these

two properties to evaluate soil and groundwater conditions at the sites.

EDUCATION

B.S. Resource Ecology and Management University of Michigan,

School of Natural Resources and Environment

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS

OSHA 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER) Certification.

AHERA Asbestos Inspector Accreditation

Coursework for Professional Certificate in Environmental Site Investigation and Remediation,

Northeastern University

Wetland Delineation Training Certificate (Army Corps of Engineers methodology)

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Section 106 Training Seminar, 2003

EBI CONSULTING Jeffrey C. Previte

Managing Consultant


As Managing Consultant, Mr. Previte works with EBI Consulting’s Telecommunications and Real Estate

Services groups. Mr. Previte specializes in the business development and client management of the

Telecommunications Program, across the country with a focus on overall project completion. He serves

as a primary point of contact for EBI’s clients, provides frequent progress reports on individual

assignments to the appropriate contact, and makes sure that EBI Consulting meets our scheduled

commitments.

Mr. Previte has developed relationships with and continues to work with all of the major developers of

wireless infrastructure across the US. The wireless carrier clients include AT&T Wireless Services,

Cingular Wireless, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, USA, U. S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless. The major

turn-key clients include General Dynamics Wireless Services, and LCC International. In addition, Mr.

Previte works, or has worked with many of the tower-build companies including American Tower,

Crown Castle International, SBA, Spectrasite, and myriad others.

Mr. Previte is a Boston College M.B.A. graduate with a concentration in Technological Marketing, and

holds a B.S. in Environmental Geosciences also from Boston College. Mr. Previte has worked part time

with EBI Consulting for the past ten years, and full time for over 3 years. He has been responsible for,

or participated in environmental and historical assessments for telecommunications projects. Mr.

Previte has successfully completed environmental site assessments in the United States and Mexico for a

wide range of property types and conditions. Before joining EBI, Mr. Previte was President and Founder

of a contracting company providing environmental and general contracting services to real estate

owners and developers.


PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Wireless Communications Infrastructure Development- Northeast

CLIENT: Cingular Wireless, Nextel Telecommunications, T-Mobile, USA, Verizon Wireless

Mr. Previte and EBI Consulting’s Telecommunications group have completed a majority of the Phase I

Environmental Site Assessments, NEPA Assessments, and Geotechnical Services for all of the wireless

carriers listed above for site development in New England. Additionally, EBI works with many of these

carriers on a national level.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Real EstateDue Diligence Portfolio Management

CLIENT: Investment Banking Firms/Wireless Clients

Managed the completion of environmental and property condition due diligence for investment banking

companies in their purchases of mortgage portfolios. These projects incorporate many of EBI’s

capabilities including risk assessment, business consultation, and environmental analysis.

EDUCATION

B.S. Environmental Geoscience; Boston College

Master’s of Business Administration; Boston College

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