During the initial site selection phase for commercial and industrial projects, Penn E&R was engaged to evaluate environmental, engineering, permitting, and municipal constraints. Sometimes referred to as Due Diligence or Fatal Flaw Analyses, these services proved vital in selecting viable sites for development and avoiding unexpected feasibility and permitting roadblocks. Both desktop studies of publicly available data and on-site field studies were performed.

Components of Desktop Study:

• Current and historical aerial photography
• USGS topographic maps and PASDA topographic contours
• FEMA floodplain maps
• National wetland inventory maps
• USDA NRCS soil survey maps
• Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory
• Wellhead/drinking water source protection areas
• Stream protection designations
• Distribution of coal, oil and gas fields
• Utility location by preliminary design one-call

Components of On-Site Field Studies:

• Identified and delineated regulated wetland and water resources
• Evaluated access and preliminary engineering feasibility
• Confirmed locations of above- and below-ground utilities
• Located structures, water supplies and features requiring setbacks/buffers

Deliverables for these assessments included completed screening forms, photographs, and preliminary site layout figures, drafted to show development footprints in relation to constraints which may have been identified.  Permitting assessments also included recommendations and consultation on which permitting mechanisms (federal, state, and local) were available to authorize the proposed projects.