(Stock photo)
A confidential client began the process of building a solar energy system in March 2016. The company hired Barr mid-project to assist with meeting Minnesota environmental-compliance requirements, including the construction stormwater general permit, agriculture impact mitigation plan (AIMP) requirements, and the Minnesota Public Utility Commission (PUC) permit. The project also had an independent, full-time, third-party inspector reporting to the state.
Initially, Barr worked to improve communication and cohesion among the contractors, owners, and stakeholders by training contractors in the basics of environmental rules, providing updates to the owner’s site representatives, communicating directly to the state inspector, and providing direction to stormwater BMP (best management practice) crews.
Barr provided owner representation for the PUC permit, stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) inspections, site monitoring to oversee contractors in sensitive areas, native-prairie expertise to assist with final restoration, wetland delineation and restoration, communications to state and local officials, enforcement-action support, civil-engineering support for drainage features, and inspection of tracker pilings to check for stress due to frost.