Our environmental permitting services at Coldwater Engineering provide a critical balance to our hydrologic and hydraulic analyses. We pride ourselves on offering the full scope of services, beginning with survey and H&H and ending with permit closeout. We believe that having familiarity with a project from the beginning stages allows us to better represent a client in all phases of environmental permitting. Our staff at Coldwater Engineering has a thorough knowledge of environmental permitting as it pertains to a variety of railroad projects. While serving a handful of Class I and Class II railroads, our permitting team has gained an understanding of the permitting requirements in over 15 states. This permitting experience has encompassed projects ranging from bridge replacements and capacity projects, to emergency services.

At Coldwater Engineering, we have extensive experience in obtaining federal, state, and local permits. A majority of our projects fall under the federal jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. We have obtained permits from several Corps districts by primarily utilizing the Nationwide Permits (NWPs) and/or Regional General Permits (RGPs), but also have experience in obtaining Individual Permits. Determining which 404 permit a project will require depends heavily on a jurisdictional determination of the stream and/or wetlands that would be impacted. We employ an experienced environmental scientist who has extensive experience in wetland delineations and determinations on whether waterways and wetlands are likely jurisdictional.

States have the ability to set their own standards for environmental permitting. Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires that any applicant for a federal permit provides certification that any discharges comply with state water quality standards. States review the NWPs every five years to determine if an applicant will be automatically granted water quality certification based on the NWP being used, or if an applicant is required to apply for an individual water quality certification. At Coldwater Engineering, we are familiar with many states’ water quality certifications and are able to discern when a project is granted automatic certification or when an individual certification is required.

Some states also require State Specific Permits, allowing them to ensure that a project is meeting their state specific environmental standards. For example, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin require permits for new bridges and/or culverts being constructed over state waterways, while Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota have no relevant permit to apply for. At Coldwater Engineering, we have done extensive research into state specific permits and have experience in obtaining them from several states, some of which were not included in the example above.

We also have significant experience in obtaining Floodplain Development Permits. Any time a project is located within a FEMA-mapped 100-year flood zone, a Floodplain Development Permit is required from the local jurisdiction (i.e. city or county). With our broad knowledge of H&H at Coldwater Engineering, we have the ability to determine the effects a project will have on the floodplain. Some projects require a CLOMR/LOMR review by FEMA, which the staff also has experience completing.

Our staff also has the capability to create Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and Erosion Control Plans for larger construction projects (greater than 1 acre). These plans are typically prepared based on track designs for railroad capacity projects. As construction plans can be ever-changing, we adapt to these changes and are able to make modifications to the plans, either based on client request or significant changes in design.

In addition to the extensive experience that our staff at Coldwater Engineering has gained, we also stay informed of potential changes to permitting regulations and how those changes may impact the way we serve our clients. For example, the definition of Waters of the United States has a significant impact on what is required for permitting a project. Being well-versed in the latest definition, as it is ever-changing, allows us to save time and more efficiently serve our clients.