ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 2020-2021

NCE documentation of whooping cranes in Platte County, Nebraska, 2016.

We are certain to be one of the top wind farm environmental service providers in the state, if not Great

Plains. New Century Environmental, LLC (NCE) is a professional environmental firm poised to meet the

environmental challenges of the 21st century for the energy, transportation and agricultural business

sectors of society. The company was formed in 2007 with a broad range of professional environmental

services and support. We are supported with hundreds of years of expertise and experience with full or

part-time environmental scientists, biologists, ecologists, geologists and environmental engineers, who

collectively assess and manage a variety of compliance and natural resources issues. Our business model

utilizes the best expertise available on a project by project basis. The firm has a collective network of

retired state and federal employees, former electric company personnel, university professors, botanists

and professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds that bring decades of world and national experience

to all our projects. We take pride in being the best field ecology firm in the entire Great Plains and will

match our scientific data recovery abilities with anyone in the United States.

Robert Kaul (left) and Michael Gutzmer holding vouchers of Ute ladies’ tresses orchid at the UNL Herbarium

Documentation/discovery of the Topeka shiner in July 2019 in northeast Kansas

Threatened & Endangered Species Assessments

NCE ecologists have conducted siting, baseline and impact assessment studies, inventory and monitoring

studies for numerous regional threatened and endangered (T&E) species. We have incorporated Habitat

Evaluation Procedures (HEP), stream corridor inventory, and wetland investigation methods into many of

our wildlife assessments. We have been part of the Nebraska Department of Roads on-call wetland

program since 2012. We have expanded distributions (wood frog, SD), northern long eared bat, black

footed ferrets, sicklefin chubs, found new habitats (Dakota skipper, SD) and discovered a plant in the

Nebraska sand hills yet to be identified (Lehr property, Merrick County, UNL Herbarium, 2005). We

pride ourselves in being one of the best regional “on the ground” firms in the Midwest and elsewhere.

Our staff has worked with T&E species, small mammals, upland game birds, waterfowl, shore birds,

carnivores, big game animals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. NCE uses a broad range of impact

assessment tools to evaluate effects of projects on wildlife populations and terrestrial/aquatic ecosystems.

We have evaluated effects using impact matrixes, narratives, and qualitative and quantitative habitat and

population models. We also employ Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods when assessing

wildlife and terrestrial habitat.

Blue cohosh, Caulophyllum thalictroides, Winnebago Reservation, 2015

Plant Community Assessments

NCE is second to none for conducting thorough flora inventories across the Great Plains. The Nebraska

Natural Legacy Project identifies numerous at-risk plant communities within the state (e.g., tallgrass

prairie, oak woodland, saline wetland), which contain significant biological diversity. NCE is an expert

in identification of these. Generally, assessments are conducted to determine if any rare or high quality

plant communities occur in specific project areas. Further loss, degradation and fragmentation of

remaining occurrences of these rare communities should be avoided. Early identification of these

communities within a project area can aid in designing infrastructure to avoid or minimize impacts. The

Natural Heritage Program maintains a classification of plant communities in the state and a database of

documented occurrences of communities, and can provide community survey recommendations. NCE

has over 1,000 flora distribution records across the Great Plains and takes great pride in our taxonomic

and assessment of a multitude of ecoregions in a 5- to 7-state area.

Northern long-eared bat

Bats

New Century provides acoustic surveys for bats using either state-of-the-art or regulator-approved suites

of acoustic bat detectors and acoustic bat identification software. Long-term acoustic surveys, when

coupled with redundant, multi-source software analysis provides for the increasingly robust samples and

interpretation necessary to resolve conservation and regulatory management issues associated with bat

fauna, which are increasingly listed as threatened and endangered by state and federal agencies.

Swainson’ thrush on Winnebago Reservation, 2015

Birds

New Century has conducted avian point counts in the spring & fall for wind farm projects in 4 states over

the Great Plains the past 10 years. We have skilled birders (sight & chorus) who have provided detailed

inventories on a variety of construction projects, wind farms and FERC compliance plans. Our staff has

compiled much information for breeding bird surveys, incidental observations and has expanded bird

distribution records in several states and counties. Mist netting, point counts and ground count data sets

were successful in documenting numerous rare, threatened and endangered bird species in Nebraska and

the Dakotas. NCE is regionally one of the best avian inventory firms available.

New Century provides diverse surveys for the full range of regulatory and management needs: point-

count surveys, eagle surveys, breeding surveys, population estimates. Surveys are tailored to meet the

needs of all stake-holders, and to ensure compliance with all regulations, including the Migratory Bird

Treaty, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, or other state or federal

regulations or listings.

Black footed ferret discovery on Standing Rock Reservation, 2012, meadow jumping mouse, Santee, 2018

Mammals, Insect, Amphibians, Reptiles and Other Fauna

Our staff has several publications in working with amphibians and reptiles across Nebraska and the Great

Plains. We pay close attention to insect communities in all our assessments as we agree that holistic

ecological approaches to sampling tell more complete stories about what is going on. We have an

extensive big game management vitae, but also have expertise in small mammal assessment as shown by

our recent publication.

Gutzmer M.P. K. Tooley, M. S. Franks, C. J. Shank, S. M. Gutzmer, W. P. Gutzmer, J. C. Kelly, A. Quinn,

and A. T. Byrne. 2018. Small Mammal Abundance On The Standing Rock And Lake Traverse Indian

Reservations in North and South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, Vol. 97 (2018)

pages 83-89.

In October 2012 NCE documented the most endangered mammal in North America, the black-footed

ferret (Mustela nigripes), on Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota. In October

2015 NCE scientists (Kurt Tooley, Gutzmer and Chris Shank) also discovered the northern long eared

bat, Myotis septentrionalis on Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The species is listed as

threatened.

Gutzmer, M.P. and J. C. Kelly. 2014. Documentation of the Black-Footed Ferret, Mustela nigripes on the

Standing Rock Indian Reservation, Mobridge, South Dakota. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 34,

46–48.

Shank, Christopher J. Tooley, Kurt, Gutzmer, Michael P. and Kelly, Jeffrey C. 2016. Documentation Of The

Northern Long-eared Bat, Myotis Septentrionalis On The Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Proceedings of the

South Dakota Academy of Science . 2016, Vol. 95, p85-89. 5p.

Wetland delineation on wetland crossings on Milligan Wind Farm, 2017

Wetlands

NCE provides professional wetland consultation and resource mapping. Our professional staff and

associates, who are fully trained, certified and experienced, have conducted over 150 wetland

investigations in over 20 states. We have conducted numerous vegetation surveys, rare plant inventories,

wetland delineations, and riparian corridor assessments. NCE has completed comprehensive wetland

studies for government and tribal agencies, industry and developers.

Our wetland scientists are experienced with mapping and characterizing wetlands, identifying functional

values of wetlands, reviewing and documenting wetland losses, preparing wetland mitigation plans, and

coordinating and participating in regulatory agency consultations for permit acquisition.

NCE is often called upon to assess and inventory riparian habitat for restoration and monitoring programs.

We use state of the art methods for evaluating wetlands and riparian areas, and sensitive and rare flora

and fauna associated with these habitats. We have also conducted range and upland studies to assess

vegetation species composition, distribution and density.

In 2012 we developed and implemented a streamlined method for simultaneously collecting wetland

determination data and delineating and mapping wetland boundaries and resource features. Integrating

our sophisticated GNSS/GPS and GIS mapping technology with an extensive, comprehensive and region

specific, electronic wetland database, we are afforded the ability to identify, classify, delineate and map

wetland resources using electronic media in a very professional, yet rapid manner. This cutting-edge

technology consists of a complete and comprehensive electronic wetland survey protocol, fully integrated

with our GNSS mapping system.

Our wetland survey and mapping system is designed to expedite the data collection and processing of

Routine Wetland Determination forms, as prescribed in the new Regional Supplements to the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual. This allows our scientists to reduce survey and

report time by more than 50% by allowing them to digitally record wetland data in the field and eliminate

handwritten notes and typed survey forms.

At the same time our electronic database (i.e., consisting of region-specific vegetation, hydrology and

soils protocols) is used to conduct a routine wetland determination, our GNSS system is used to map

wetland boundaries and other features. Upon completion, these data (i.e., wetland data and GIS files) are

transmitted directly from the field to our secure database server. This ensures that data forms are not lost

or damaged in the field, and that survey data are immediately available to our office personnel for quick

report generation. In addition, the wetland data collected in the field are immediately processed by our

GIS and wetland software systems.

At start-up of the field survey, our GNSS system recognizes our project location and immediately

populates our survey protocol with Regional Supplement fields (i.e., regional vegetation, hydrology and

soils indicators, as well as region specific plant lists) necessary for performing a wetland delineation. At

the same time, our sub-centimeter accurate GNSS system is used to map the wetland.

A recent trend in wetland permitting, especially in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Omaha

District, is the focus on agriculturally affected (or problematic) wetlands. This focus has resulted in an

overall need to provide a specialized wetland determination service to assess disturbed wetlands in

agricultural settings. Because of this, our scientists have become regional experts identifying and

assessing these problematic wetlands, which includes extensive knowledge and experience in plant

taxonomy, hydrology and function, and disturbed soil conditions. Most wind farm projects in the

Midwest and Great Plains regions are constructed within agricultural landscapes, requiring thorough

problematic wetland inventories. Our experience with this protocol allows for easier and quicker wetland

permit acquisition.

Mitigation Plan Development

With our overall wetland determination and delineation surveys, we incorporate the project’s construction

plans, drawings, GIS shapefiles, etc. to measure, with great confidence, the expected wetland impacts of

the project. We use centimeter grade GNSS technology throughout the delineation process to produce

accurate and reliable results. Measurement of the project’s wetland impacts allows us to: 1) determine

whether mitigation is required, and 2) the amount or size of wetlands that must be mitigated. If mitigation

is required, then we formulate alternative wetland mitigation site locations; preferably on the project site.

These alternatives are presented in a wetland mitigation concept memorandum and submitted to USACE.

Upon further consultation and agreement with USACE, a final wetland mitigation plan, using GIS

information, topography, hydrology, etc., is developed and again submitted to USACE for approval.

Essentially, NCE assists its clients during the entire assessment, permitting and mitigation process.

Upon construction of the wetland mitigation site, if required, USACE typically requires the client to

monitor the site from 5-10 years, depending upon type of wetland that was mitigated. This is required to

monitor plant succession and overall wetland function of the mitigation site – or overall success. NCE

also assists its clients with this process.

A new Platte County record on a Lyman Richey Mitigation site in 2018. Alisma plantago-aquatica

Mitigation Banking

Our mitigation banking resume is impressive. NCE Principal and staff have worked with credit stacking

models for the Union Pacific Railroad since 2009 for their service territory in 22 states. We have

proposed mini-bank concepts for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Nebraska and

created property selection tools and models for several industries for large, commercial wetland banks,

especially in eastern Nebraska. We are ready and prepared to begin developing your wetland mitigation

bank today.

Shovelnose sturgeon on Nemaha River, 2018- Wes doing carbon sequestration plot for UPRR, California, 2010

ESA Phase I & II Assessments

NCE Principal, Michael Gutzmer, PhD developed a bio-assessment model for the State Superfund

Program in Texas and is a former NPDES permit writer, RCRA compliance inspector and Prof.

Sanitarian. Our firm has conducted over 100 ESA Phase I or similar hazard waste evaluations. Our fully

trained staff is ready to complete your environmental compliance documents today. We are qualified as a

Certified Wildlife Biologist (#03142013), Certified Fishery Professional (#3229), Certified Senior

Ecologist (#05231998), Professional Wetland Scientist (#000161), Certified Environmental Professional

(#960030339), and Technical Service Provider (NRCS) (TSP-11-7336). We provide full engineering

support, as needed.

Mapping tern and plover habitat on sand bars in the Loup River, 2018.

GIS Services

NCE applies professional GIS mapping services to a variety of projects and tasks. We provide GIS

mapping services for wetland delineations, wildlife population surveys and habitat analyses, critical

habitat surveys, sensitive flora and fauna inventories, invasive species assessments, bathymetry (i.e.,

depth contour mapping and volume measurement) for lakes and reservoirs, and infrastructure (e.g., roads,

trails, buildings, and other physical points and features). We also use GIS to measure sedimentation

volume in reservoirs and wetlands.