Commercial Retail Center

Burns & McDonnell has been retained to provide permitting services for a proposed retail store in Hammond, Ind. The services consist of performing a jurisdictional wetland delineation, habitat survey for threatened and endangered species and cultural resources surveys; coordinating with Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM); preparing a wetland delineation report, alternative analysis, wetland mitigation plan, and Phase 1b and II cultural resource reports; and negotiating a conservation easement for the proposed mitigation site.

• State Isolation Wetland Permitting
• Cultural resources
• Wetland mitigation and monitoring
• Threatened and endangered species
• Vegetation study
• Alternatives analysis
• Agency coordination
• Wetland studies

The project is on an 18-acre tract of wooded land with isolated dune and swale wetlands. Burns & McDonnell assessed the project site for the presence of jurisdictional wetlands and determined that there are approximately 2 acres of wetlands within the dune and swale wetland complex on site. After consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, these wetlands were determined to be isolated waters of the state. Therefore, IDEM will administer and regulate the permitting and mitigating of the wetlands. Burns & McDonnell obtained the first State Isolated Wetland Permit for a dune and swale wetland in the state of Indiana on behalf of the retail center.

Burns & McDonnell prepared an application packet for IDEM that consisted of cultural resource studies (Phase I and II surveys), wetland delineation reports, a wetland restoration plan, and an alternatives analysis. The IDEM reviewed the application packet and determined that an Individual Permit would be required for the proposed project. The IDEM prepared a 30-day public notice which received minimal response from the public. This in part was due to the proposed wetland mitigation plan that consisted of restoring approximately 20 acres of dune and swale wetlands that have been invaded by such exotic species as Phragmites, cattails, cottonwoods and honeysuckle. The mitigation plan proposed to manage the site in three phases:

1. Perform a controlled burn
2. Cut and apply herbicide to undesirable trees and shrubs
3. Plant grasses, trees and shrubs native to dune and swale wetlands. 

The IDEM issued the individual permit for the proposed project. Burns & McDonnell is currently working with the project team and a local not-for-profit organization to purchase the 20-acre site. Restoration is scheduled to start in the spring of 2008.

Burns & McDonnell will oversee the restoration of the dune and swale wetland over and perform the five-year wetland mitigation monitoring.