Projects
Transformer Spill Response and cleanup Anchorage, Alaska
While excavating conduit during the installation of underground power cables at the chugach Electric Association, Inc. (CEA) Dowling Substation in Anchorage, a piece of conduit snapped in half and hit the northernmost fin of transformer TI. Transfromer oil began spraying out of the 2,500-gallon transformer, and MSE was called out to site to assist with managing and reporting the spill. The spill. Spill containment and response activities were immediately initiated, and the transformer was emptied of it’s of its components. The transformer oil which did spill impacted an area of approximately 278 square feet.
Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) Water Upgrade Phase I Environmental Compliance and Oversight Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) Yard Upgrade Phase I project involved replacing approximately 2,300 feet of 70 year old water main located at or below the groundwater level in the ARRC Anchorage terminal Terminal reserve yard. The project consisted of approximately 200n feet of auger boring, 900 linear feet of open trenching, and 1,420 feet of horizontal directional drilling. Out of the 4,600 cubic yards(CY) of excavated material, 2,480 CY required characterization, sampling and proper disposal.
Shepard Point- Cordova, Alaska
MSE has led the effort in advancing this complex, long-term project by managing permitting processes, conducting environmental baseline studies, performing wildlife surveys, ensuring NEPA compliance, and securing grant funding. To comply with NEPA and both state and federal regulatory requirements, MSE has carried out environmental fieldwork including surveys for Bald Eagle nests, migratory birds, sensitive plant species, and fish habitats. Additionally, MSE has conducted cultural and archaeological research as well as a Phase I site assessment and investigation. Wetlands delineations were performed in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permitting requirements. MSE also compiled and submitted detailed summary reports of its findings.
MSE has secured the following permits and approvals for the Shepard Point project:
• USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit
• Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) tidelands easements
• Memorandum of Agreement with the Alaska State Historic Preservation Office (AK SHPO) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) authorization for construction and drilling activities
In support of project development and compliance, MSE has also created detailed ArcGIS maps of the project area, calculated environmental and area impacts, and converted engineering drawings to facilitate fieldwork, surveys, and permit applications. As part of this project, MSE successfully developed grant applications and NVE was awarded over $80 million in funding for the project.
Fire Island Wind Enviromental Compliance and project permitting Fire Island, Alaska
MSE acted as the environmental representative for Fire Island Wind, LLC for project compliance and permitting for the Fire Island Wind 53-megawatt renewable wind energy project located three miles off the west coast of Anchorage. Project planning included scoping and obtaining all required project permits – including coastal zone, wetlands US Army corps of Engineers (USACE) section 404 and associated National Enviromental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) permits, US Fish and Wildlife Service Eagle Permits, Federal Aviation Administration obstruction evaluation , and endangered species among almost 60 other project permits.
Quartz Creek Transmission Line Upgrades
MSE provided full permitting coordination and environmental compliance services for Chugach Electric Association (CEA) 115 kV transmission line rebuild from the Summit Lake Substation to Anchorage. The project included reconstruction with steel and wood H-frame structures, removal of outdated infrastructure, and installation of fiber optic cable on new and existing structures.
MSE obtained all required federal, state, and local permits, including those from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), and Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT). MSE also developed an ADEC-approved Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) in compliance with the APDES Construction General Permit and conducted SWPPP inspections, advising Best Management Practices (BMPs) to ensure regulatory compliance throughout construction.
AT&T Small Cell & 5G Upgrades
MSE provided comprehensive environmental permitting and compliance support for the MasTec constructed and AT&T Communications owned small cell tower upgrade project, involving over 100 towers throughout the state of Alaska and 60 tower sites throughout Anchorage. Serving as the environmental consultant for the project, MSE managed regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions and owners, including the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA), Chugach Electric Association (CEA), and Fairbanks.
Our team secured all necessary local permits—Right-of-Way, Zoning, Building, Erosion and Sediment Control, and Electrical—and ensured full compliance with federal regulations through the preparation of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) site location reports under NEPA and RF safety guidelines. MSE’s efforts ensured regulatory compliance and environmental protection throughout the 5G infrastructure deployment.
Chenega Bay Community Center Wetlands Determination
MSE completed a wetlands analysis field investigation and prepared the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination Report for the construction of a community service center located in Chenega Bay, Alaska. This work included a field investigation to characterize any jurisdictional wetlands or other Waters of the United States that may have been present within the project area. MSE performed the wetlands field investigation in accordance with the Regional Supplement to the USACE Wetland Delineation Manual: Alaska Region (Version 2.0) and the 1987 USACE Wetland Delineation Manual.
MSE delineated wetlands within the project area, identifying them as Palustrine Emergent Persistent Saturated (PEM1B) and Saturated Palustrine Scrub-Shrub Needle-Leaved Evergreen (PSS4B) types. Following field investigations, MSE digitized the findings using ArcMap GIS software to produce detailed wetland maps. Deliverables included a Preliminary Wetlands Determination Report along with all GIS native files and mapping documentation.
Cordova Community Clinic Phase 1 & Phase II ESA & GPR Study
The ESA was required to evaluate the potential presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products at the property under the scope and ASTM Practice E 1527 prior to the development of a new clinic facility. Through interviews and historical photos, MSE identified that the property was previously a community landfill. The landfill was suspected to have metal debris, wood pilings, and gravel fill. To confirm the suspected landfill, MSE utilized ground penetrating radar (GPR) throughout the project area. The GPR helped determine the best locations to drill to confirm buried debris and determine the vertical and lateral extent of the landfill. Following the GPR survey, MSE worked with drillers to take macro-core samples at 12 locations throughout the property. The core samples were field-screened and sent to the laboratory for analytical results. MSE conducted the field screening using PID instrumentation and procedures in accordance with the ADEC Field Sampling Guidance. Samples were analyzed in accordance with ADEC regulatory guidance. Recommendations based on sampling and GPR results were finalized in the Phase I and Limited Phase II ESA final document.
Togiak Airport Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) & Contaminated Soil Removal
The Togiak Airport Snow Removal Equipment Building (SREB) project involved demolishing an existing SREB and constructing a new 2,600-square-foot building on the same site. The project required no water or sewer services. Activities included demolishing the old SREB, removing a 1,000-gallon oil heating tank, and installing a new 2,000-gallon heating oil tank and 2,000-gallon fuel tanks. MSE managed contaminated soil. A Work Plan was prepared, overseeing the segregation and screening of excavated soils. Sampling was done five times per project, testing for Gasoline-Range Organics (GRO), Diesel-Range Organics (DRO), Residual-Range Organics (RRO), BTEX, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). MSE coordinated disposal of contaminated soil for disposal and obtained ADEC approval for the process.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Fiber Optic and Electrical Intertie- Gustavus, Alaska
The Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) encompasses approximately 3.3 million acres at the Northern end of Southeast Alaska. This project is located approximately 40 miles west of Juneau. The project area routes along Gustavus Road, Mountain View Road, and the Park Road from Diesel Power Plant within Gustavus to the switchgear at the GLBA Depot. The GLBA Depot is located approximately 1.5 miles east of Bartlett Cove near the Glacier Bay entrance. Electricity was generated by diesel-fired generators located in the central powerhouse. Power is then distributed 12.47Y7.2 KV. This project constructed an underground feeder for 8.5 miles of fiber optic cable and 6.1 miles of underground electrical from the Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) Falls Creek Hydroelectric Plant, ultimately providing the Park with a clean, renewable energy source and updated telecommunications utilities.
MSE was selected as the lead environmental consultant for the design-build team. For this project, MSE conducted environmental, cultural, and archeological surveys, completed Section 106 consultation, conducted a avian survey, wetland delineation and report, ecological baseline surveys including anadromous fish streams, rare and sensitive systems, and contaminated sites. These surveys were used to determine potential projects impacts as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation. Other deliverables provided by MSE include a project permitting matrix and execution plan, vegetation salvage plan, a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping services, Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT&PF) utility permits, Right-of-Way permits for the National Park Services (NPS) and existing condition survey reports.