Lake Chelan Community Hospital Project NEPA EA
Terraphase was engaged to provide environmental consulting and prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding of a new hospital in Chelan, Washington. The site, formerly used as an apple orchard, required careful evaluation and mitigation due to documented lead-arsenate contamination of soils.
Scope of Services
Terraphase led the preparation of the NEPA EA and developed site-specific cleanup strategies to address soil contamination. Cost estimates for remediation were integrated into the broader construction planning. The project involved coordination with local Native American nations and consultation with architects to align environmental planning with design and cultural considerations. The final EA was approved by the USDA, securing partial project funding through a loan program.
Notable Accomplishments
- Identified and planned cleanup for lead-arsenate soil contamination
- Integrated remediation costs into site construction planning
- Coordinated with Native American nations and project architects to successfully obtain funding
San Leandro Creek Pedestrian Bridge Debris Removal CEQA Notice of Exemption
Terraphase was engaged to support the City of San Leandro with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental compliance for the San Leandro Creek Haas Pedestrian Bridge Debris Removal Project. The project involved the removal of a fallen tree, a damaged pedestrian bridge, and associated debris to reduce flood risk and prevent further damage to the creek before the rainy season.
Scope of Services
Terraphase completed a Notice of Exemption for the project documenting the project scope and justifying exemption eligibility. The proposed work plan included installing a temporary cofferdam 50 feet upstream and downstream of the debris removal area, with a bypass system in place to divert existing water flows; mobilizing an excavator at the end of Cary Drive to pull the fallen tree out of the creek; and selectively demolishing and hauling out bridge debris from a position in the creek. Following debris removal using an excavator, disturbed areas were to be restored with a native seed mix. Terraphase worked closely with the City to ensure environmental considerations were addressed while expediting permitting. The city exempted the project under CEQA Guidelines, Class I Exemption.
Notable Accomplishments
- Supported permitting and environmental documentation for time-sensitive debris removal
- Helped mitigate flood risks by enabling pre-rainy season removal of tree and bridge debris
- Ensured minimal environmental impact through use of cofferdams, bypass systems, and native restoration measures
Palo Alto Unified School District CEQA Compliance Services
Terraphase supported a demolition and replacement project in Palo Alto, California, by providing environmental and cultural resource review services. The project required coordination with multiple stakeholders, including tribal representatives and state and federal agencies, to assess potential impacts to cultural resources and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
Scope of Services
Terraphase began by conducting client meetings, preparing a project schedule, submitting data requests, and reviewing design documents to create a detailed project description. Our cultural resources subcontractor reviewed the Sacred Lands File to identify tribal and/or culturally sensitive properties within or near the project area and performed outreach to Native American contacts as appropriate. A pre-field records search was conducted through the Northwest Information Center, as well as other state and federal databases. A pedestrian survey of the site was then performed and a letter report was prepared to document the regulatory, historical, and ethnographic settings, Native American consultation/outreach process, records search findings, and field survey results.
Notable Accomplishments
- The results of the cultural resources letter report were incorporated into a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)-compliant Initial Study (IS) that evaluated the current environmental setting at the project site and discussed potential impacts related to implementation of the project.
- All relevant resource areas were evaluated based on the IS Checklist. The Notice of Intent (NOI) was posted in accordance with CEQA Guidelines, ahead of construction the following year.
