As the saying goes, things are bigger in Texas – and transportation projects are certainly no exception. It seems no matter which way you turn, major construction is within view: LBJ Express, IH 35Express, North Tarrant Expressway, Chisholm Trail – and the list continues. What do all these large design-build transportation projects have in common?… VRX is providing environmental services. To continue providing the top-notch environmental services for which VRX is known, VRX recently welcomed Environmental Project Manager Joseph “Moss” Fennell and Environmental Scientist Kyle Hill to the VRX Family. Mr. Fennell and Mr. Hill, and the VRX environmental group as a whole, are busy supporting nearly all of the North Texas area’s largest design-build transportation projects:
LBJ Express Managed Lanes, Trinity Infrastructure, LLC
VRX is part of the Trinity Infrastructure Environmental Team, assisting with the design and construction phases of this $3.2 billion design-build managed last project During the preconstruction phase, VRX prepared the ISO 14001-compliant Project Comprehensive Environmental Protection Plan. During the construction phases, VRX’s hazardous materials management duties include waste characterization and disposal evaluation; disposal permitting, compliance and sampling; emergency land and water spill response operations oversight; state and federal agency regulatory reporting and notification; assessment and remediation of pre-existing hazardous materials encountered; and environmental issue coordination with TxDOT. VRX’s scope also included preparation of USACE nationwide permit preconstruction notifications and mitigation plans and coordination the USACE for temporary discharge approval and re-authorization of the entire project. VRX provides daily construction inspections to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local environmental regulations. The LBJ Express Project was selected by an independent judging panel of industry and environmental specialists as the winner of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association – Transportation Development Foundation’s 2013 Globe Award in the Major Highway ($100 million or greater) category.
“I can’t speak highly enough about the (VRX) guys, and how hard they work to help keep us in compliance… Without [VRX’s] diligence, we would not be where we are today!” Christopher Tolar, Environmental Manager, Trinity Infrastructure, LLC, LBJ Express (IH 635 Managed Lanes)
“I have had the privilege of working with [Trinity Infrastructure]’s environmental team lead by manager Christopher Tolar and found them to be proactive in prevention and mitigation of construction impacts to the environment. [Trinity Infrastructure]’s environmental management approach for the IH 635 (LBJ) Managed Lanes Project (a $2.7 billion project) has been exemplary.” Maurice Pittman, PE, LBJ Project Manager, Texas Department of Transportation, LBJ Express (IH 635 Managed Lanes)
IH 35Express, AGL Constructors
Serving as environmental compliance manager, hazardous materials manager, water quality specialist and natural resources specialist, and providing daily environmental compliance inspections and agency coordination for the IH 35Express Project, VRX has several staff fully dedicated to 35Express. Listed as one of Texas’ 100 most congested roadways, this section of IH 35E extends from US 380 in Denton County to IH 635 in Dallas County. The $1.4 billion design-build redevelopment of 30 miles of IH 35E spans eight cities and two counties and will include managed lanes with dynamic pricing.
North Tarrant Express, North Tarrant Express Mobility Partners (NTEMP)
VRX is currently serving as the environmental advisor to NTEMP, providing oversight of the construction contractor’s environmental compliance efforts and providing environmental compliance support and training and ensuring that NTEMP’s maintenance and operation activities are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state and local environmental regulations. Specific duties for this $2.5 billion design-build project to redevelop 13.5 miles of Loop 820, SH 121 and SH 183 include providing a monthly review and comment of the construction contractor’s environmental compliance documentation and periodic construction site activity evaluations.
VRX conducts storm water management audits, hazardous substance quantity monitoring and hazardous substance storage inspections, and provides environmental training for maintenance and operation staff and Section 404 (Clean Water Act) compliance reviews, delineations and permitting assessments. VRX is also providing emergency response oversight and agency coordination in support of maintenance and operations activities, including spills on active roadways. Within two hours of notification, response activity documentation, agency notification and data gathering to ensure appropriate report closure for submission to agency personnel has begun.
Chisholm Trail Parkway Section 6, North Texas Tollway Authority
VRX is providing the environmental team responsible for the project’s ISO 14001: 2004 Certified Environmental Management System. VRX developed the project Hazardous Materials Management Plan, Project Mitigation Plan, Environmental Monitoring Plan, Vegetation Management Plan, Disposal Plan, Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan and the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SW3P). During construction operations, VRX assessed structures and debris piles within the project right-of-way for asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint and coordinated abatement and Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) notifications. Hazardous materials management duties include assessment, evaluation and disposal of hazardous materials discovered on the project, oversight of emergency response operations and state and federal agency regulatory reporting related to environmental incidents.
VRX also provides daily environmental compliance inspections, weekly SW3P inspections, migratory bird surveys, archaeological investigations and USACE permitting for discharges to streams, wetlands and jurisdictional ponds. To date, VRX has provided environmental protection training to more than 500 contractors for this project.
For additional information on VRX’s environmental capabilities and experience, or to discuss future teaming opportunities, please contact Environmental Manager Eric Huff, CWB: eric.huff@vrxglobal.com; Cell: 940.367.5766
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