DRG Helps Ocean County, NJ Airport Expansion Progress

Ocean County Airport

Davey Resource Group helped Ocean County, NJ officials plan a build-out of its airport located within the NJ Pinelands Preservation Area by performing wetland delineations, threatened and endangered species surveys and creating a habitat management plan.

Project Narrative:

Ocean County has planned the build-out of the Ocean County Airport, formally Robert J. Miller Airpark, which is located within the NJ Pinelands Preservation Area. The airport build-out includes additional runways and runway relocations, taxiways, taxi lanes, hangers, apron expansion, obstruction removal, and pavement maintenance. Ocean County Airport is home to nine NJ and Pinelands-listed E&T wildlife species and a Pinelands-listed plant, sickle-leaved golden aster. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the NJ Pinelands Commission and the County of Ocean was required in order to authorize the proposed projects. Davey Resource Group (DRG) performed E&T species surveys and prepared a habitat management plan; assisted with the application for the MOA, delineated onsite wetlands; and performed monitoring services during the construction of Phase 1 of the airport build-out.

Moving The Expansion Forward

State listed threatened species including barred owl, northern pine snake, Pine Barrens treefrog, red-headed woodpecker, and grasshopper sparrow were identified during the surveys. DRG also identified the extent of the Pinelands listed endangered sickle-leaved golden aster population. DRG developed critical habitat maps. Areas of disturbance for the proposed projects were overlaid onto the habitat mapping to determine potential impacts and enable minimization of impacts in design.

DRG designed a Habitat Management Plan to facilitate project development and protect and enhance rare species habitat. DRG presented survey results and the habitat management plan to the Pinelands Commission and met with a non-profit group called the Pinelands Preservation Alliance to discuss the findings and recommendations. DRG facilitated the MOA between Ocean County and Pinelands Commission. DRG transplanted clusters of sickle-leaved golden asters from the footprint of the development to the management area; oversaw the development of the Reptile Habitat Management Area; and performed threatened and endangered snake monitoring during the Phase 1 build-out of the airport. DRG also delineated wetlands in the project area and interfaced with the NJDEP to determine any wetlands or flood hazard area permits required for the proposed obstruction removal. DRG prepared an application for a NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Permit for tree cutting for obstruction removal, a wetlands permit was not required. DRG performed endangered and threatened species monitoring during construction of a crosswind runway and oversaw construction of the reptile habitat enhancement project.

>> Learn more about our team in New Jersey