Fiberline Regulatory Compliance

In order to maintain compliance with federal railroad regulations, Canadian National (CN) Railroad was required to install a new fiber optic line from Jackson, MS, to Mobile, AL, on the Beaumont Line. 

The 188 mile long corridor crosses:

• USACE Mobile District and USACE Vicksburg District

• 260+ NHD streams

• Section 10 waters including: Pearl River, Pascagoula River, Escatawpa River, and Leaf River

• DeSoto National Forest

• Known gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker habitat

Cypress completed an expedited jurisdictional wetland and stream delineation to establish extent and locations of wetlands and streams along the route to facilitate design of the fiber optic route to minimize impacts. Additionally, a threatened and endangered species survey was conducted for all applicable species along the route with particular emphasis placed on identification of appropriate habitat or occurrences for gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), red-cockaded woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus borealis), and Louisiana quill wort (Isoetes louisianensis).

Field studies were completed in less than half the time projected by the railway project managers. Spatial data was delivered to the client in CAD compatible format so that project engineering could occur in parallel with environmental studies and permitting. Project was iteratively designed with senior environmental staff to minimize environmental impacts and streamline permitting. This project included multiple layers of regulatory review, including Section 404, 208, 408, and 10 reviews by USACE in two separate Districts. Environmental construction oversight was provided to ensure construction was completed in accordance with environmental permits and to prevent impacts.