True North was retained by a nationwide energy capital firm to assist with the environmental requirements of a federal loan guarantee provision administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) through the completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA’s purpose was to ensure the USDA was complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable environmental requirements. The project included the proposed construction of a three-megawatt solar facility on approximately 11 acres of a capped landfill in Tennessee.
As part of the EA, True North completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to identify any recognized environmental conditions (RECs). Additionally, we completed the remaining EA requirements, which included consultations and a concurrence request from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Tribal Preservation Offices (THOPs) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). True North was able to compile a concise public document that allowed for an issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) by the USDA and release of funds to construct the solar facility.
