Location: Lycoming County, PA
Brickhouse Environmental prepared an expert rebuttal report related to the construction of a 30-mile natural gas transmission pipeline and appurtenant facilities. Brickhouse was retained by the construction company in support of their efforts to collect over $17 million in unpaid invoices. The pipeline owner alleged that errors in erosion and sedimentation control and difficulty in obtaining environmental permits by the construction company and its subcontractors directly resulted in project delays and significant additional costs.
Brickhouse Environmental’s Professional Engineer and Professional Soil Scientist staff evaluated the permitting, erosion and sedimentation control measures, industry practices, and engineering aspects of this project. The owner contended that the construction company did not properly delineate all streams and wetland crossings, and that the wetland and stream encroachment permits were incorrectly prepared. Brickhouse found that the wetland delineation and permitting was proper and was conducted in accordance with the industry standard.
The owner further contended that the construction company failed to install and maintain proper erosion control best management practices during construction. Brickhouse used detailed reviews of the plan drawings and daily precipitation records, along with a flyover site inspection, to confirm that the construction conformed to accepted practices.
The expert rebuttal report and real-time trial support provided by Brickhouse resulted in a court victory for the construction company on all counts, with a total award in excess of $20 million.