OWF News
The J.M. Smucker’s Company Retains Ohio Wetlands Foundation For Mitigation Project
December 14, 2011
In March of 2010, the J.M. Smucker Company announced plans to replace the company’s existing fruit spread manufacturing facility in Orrville, Ohio with a new, state-of-the art facility. Referred to as “Project Heritage,” the company broke ground on the new Orrville facility in the fall of 2010. The new 460,000 square-foot manufacturing facility will offer the opportunity to implement the most current equipment and technologies available and help ensure the company’s long-term competitiveness. Smucker’s anticipates the facility will be fully operational in the summer of 2013.
In order to provide compensatory mitigation for impacts to the wetlands and a stream on the property being developed for the new plant, the J.M. Smucker Company retained Ohio Wetlands Foundation (OWF), on a fixed cost basis, to develop a mitigation and monitoring plan for the Little Stillwater Wetlands Mitigation site. OWF worked closely with their ecological consultant, Davey Resource Group, to develop a compensatory mitigation plan that was acceptable to regulatory agencies. The approximately 12-acre mitigation site is located in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio.
Wetland mitigation will be provided for impacts to 1.439 acres of forested wetlands and 0.489 acre of non-forested wetlands; all wetlands impacted are ORAM Category 1 or 2, non-isolated wetlands. The project also provides mitigation, via additional wetlands restoration, for impacts to 120 linear feet of Class 1 ephemeral stream. OWF developed this plan to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources associated with the construction of Project Heritage. Additionally, OWF will be responsible for implementation of this plan and completing all monitoring and remedial measures necessary to meet the terms of the final 401/404 permits.
A minimum of 3.38 acres of forested wetlands and 1.16 acres of non-forested wetlands will be reestablished on the Stillwater site. This will provide the required compensatory mitigation for the impacts that will occur at the new manufacturing site.
Messerly To Be Panelist At Upcoming Seminar
November 29, 2011
Ohio Wetlands Foundation President, Vince Messerly, will be a featured panelist at the December 6 Ohio Oil and Gas Association Environmental Seminar titled “Wetlands, Streams and Sensitive Habitat Areas”. The seminar will be held at the University Center on the Kent State University – Stark Campus in North Canton, Ohio. The Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) is a statewide trade association with over 1,450 members who are actively involved in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas within the State of Ohio.
Boyden Joins Ohio Wetlands Team
September 27, 2011
We are pleased to announce that Sara Boyden has recently joined the Ohio Wetlands Foundation team as administrative and marketing assistant. With a bachelor of science degree from Ohio University, Sara will assist OWF with credit sale inquiries, invoice and payables, client communications, records and office management, and event marketing efforts. Welcome, Sara!
Guidelines for Wetlands Mitigation in Ohio Released by USACE
August 30, 2011
On July 20, after more than three years of development, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released guidance for the establishment of mitigation banks in Ohio. The guidance was developed by the Interagency Review Team (IRT) which includes staff from the following agencies: USACE; United States EPA; Ohio EPA; Ohio Department of Natural Resources; United States Fish & Wildlife Service; and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. While this document will provide some increased predictability in the review process, it will also have a significant economic impact on the cost of development of mitigation banks in Ohio. Ohio Wetlands Foundation (OWF) anticipates the additional criteria included in this document will likely result in an increased cost of mitigation credits by 25 percent or more. OWF believes that the additional requirements and associated costs place an unreasonable burden on permit applicants in Ohio (adjacent states do not have such stringent requirements for the development of mitigation banks). Click here to read the guideline in its entirety.