Stormwater Monitoring and Inspection Services for the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid Project

PWA was the Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP), responsible for Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) monitoring and inspections for the construction of the Microgrid at the Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport. PWA performed this work under a subcontract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. and in collaboration with Tesla, Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, and Redwood Coast Energy Authority.

PWA meets the qualifications required by the State Water Resources Control Board to conform to the provisions required in the Construction General Permit (CGP), including QSP and Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD) services. All QSP services for this project were provided under the responsible charge of Randy Lew, who is a CASQA qualified QSD/QSP for PWA.

PWA conducted the BMP inspections, required stormwater sampling, pre- and post- rain event inspections, daily rain event inspections, as well as the required weekly and quarterly SWPPP monitoring. PWA prepared Rain Event Action Plans (REAPs) and conducted field inspections to identify all disturbed soil areas that required BMP treatments. PWA completed and retained the required monitoring documentation that was included with the SWPPP on site.

According to Cal Poly Humboldt, “The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid [RCAM] has been designed and developed by the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University… it will be owned by the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, and will run on power lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). This interagency collaboration is the first of its kind in California. RCAM will provide energy resilience for Humboldt County’s regional airport, including emergency services and medical life flights, as well as the neighboring U.S. Coast Guard Air Station. During power outages, emergencies, and shutoff events, RCAM will typically be able to island and run independently.”

References and Related Links:

“100% Renewable Microgrid ‘Takes Off’ at the Redwood Coast Airport.” Cal Poly Humboldt: Humbolt|now, 9 September 2021, http://now.humboldt.edu/news/100-renewable-microgrid-takes-off-at-the-redwood-coast-airport. Accessed 24 February 2022.

“Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid.” Schatz Energy Research Center, https://schatzcenter.org/acv/. Accessed 14 June 2022.

Guilfoil, J. “Humboldt County Airport, Coast Guard Station Get Renewable Energy Microgrid.” Eureka Times-Standard, 10 June 2022, https://www.times-standard.com/2022/06/10/humboldt-county-airport-coast-guard-station-get-renewable-energy-microgrid. Accessed 14 June 2022.