The Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) has some of the most stringent air quality standard in the US and has focused their efforts to minimize fugitive dust generation from construction sites. To comply with these standards, ECS obtained a dust control permit and prepared a comprehensive project dust control plan that included 27 miles of ROW, access roads, storage yards and office locations. The MCAQD also assigned up to eight different inspectors that can visit any portion of our 27 mile long urban right of way. ECS’s subsidiary company EEG is onsite full time to provide compliance support and inspection services. To date, we have achieved 100% compliance. All personnel that access the ROW (including visitors) are processed through ECS’ environmental orientation program. During this training session, personnel are informed of project compliance requirements and area sensitivities.
Safety is paramount and ECS pays particular attention to safely transporting the materials and equipment due to the risk that unnecessary trips can have on the general public. This activity, like all safety risk items, are assessed in accordance with ECS’sSafety Policy and Procedures by our Industry leading Safety Professionals who compile a task hazard analysis before work activities begin and which are monitored throughout the durationof the project.ECS is responsible for the delivery of required foundation materials to complete the job.
Assembly of anchor bolts and rebar cages are completed off site well ahead of the start of drilling activities.As each foundation is excavated and drilling is complete, the anchor bolts are lifted into place with a 100 Ton crane with a 4-way bridge and 4 eye nuts attached to the anchor bolts equally spaced for placement into the drilled pier. The anchor bolts assembly is lowered into the drilled excavation slowly to avoid any contact to the walls of the shaft. Proprietary templates, made of 10 inch and 8 inch, I-beams are placed over each excavated hole to support the assembly ensuring elevation and alignment while the placement of concrete is complete. Steel concrete forms are used to ensure the reveals are maintained according to specifications.
ECS is erecting steel poles manufactured by VALMONT which are assembled and installed per Valmont and APS specifications.Prior to commencement of work, ECS Management and Safety Department conducted a Job Hazard Analysis to ensure that safe work procedures were established and communicated to all personnel. The pole weight is calculated with a 10% safety factor to ensure proper rigging is in place. ECS then utilizes proper sized equipment, slings and cranes to erect the structure.
ECS, utilizing its mission critical fleet, specialty equipment and industry leading expertise follows APS and IEEE installation guidelines for wire installation. The ECS Management team prepares and coordinates with APS personnel to prepare the wire stringing plan. Prior to commencement of work, ECS Management and our Safety Department conduct a Job Hazard Analysis to ensure that safe work procedures are in place where the importance of proper grounding procedures will be addressed. Conductors used for the project include 3 bundle Chukar – 500 kV and single bundle Bluebird – 230 kV.
