ATM acted as representing agent for Southern Liquid Natural Gas/El Paso Energy (SLNG) on the development of a 735-foot-wide,1600-foot-long slip. Following NEPA guidelines, this slip was constructed to provide for the safe and secure docking of tankers carrying liquefied natural gas. Project needs included the dredging of 3.3 MCY of new work material dredged to approximately -42 feet mean low water. As agent, ATM performed all of the studies and coordinated with resource agencies as part of the report compilation and permit application review. SLNG retained ATM at the point of project conception in order to provide recommendations on the 404/Section 10 permitting process regarding NEPA consistency, avoidance issues, and project design. ATM provided a detailed project description, alternatives analysis, and project justification as part of the permit development.

ATM chaired two successful interagency meetings to discuss the findings associated with environmental studies performed during the permitting effort. This project required close interaction and data review by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GaDNR), Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD), and the U.S Coast Guard (USCG). ATM worked closely with USACE to draft the environmental assessment, notice of intent, and case document.

ATM provided the environmental studies (listed below) and corresponding reports for the development of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) report. On behalf of SLNG, ATM also participated in two FERC-sponsored public meetings to discuss the project, and provided responses to public comments and stakeholder evaluations.

Ecological studies performed by ATM as part of the SLNG project included:

• Threatened and endangered species survey of approximately 140 acres with USFWS consultation
• Essential fish habitat evaluation and consultation with NMFS
• Wetlands identification, delineation, and development of mitigation scenarios with USACE and USEPA consultation

Environmental engineering studies included:

• Development of sediment geochemistry sampling and analysis plan with USACE coordination
• Collection of sediment cores and grab samples
• Interpretation of sediment geochemistry study with development of USACE report
• Recommendation of sediment and dredge material management
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment of property identified within project footprint

Water quality studies and identification of potential impacts to the river system included:

• Use of boundary-fitted hydrodynamic and transport models within the system called WQMAP (Water Quality Mapping and Analysis Program) to predict shoaling rates located at the proposed berth
• Modeling and calculation of anticipated needs in terms of maintenance dredging in the slip
• Model of anticipated changes in current velocities in the vicinity of the slip
• Characterization and modeling of changes in water quality parameters that result from slip construction