ROBERTA NEE ADAMSStaff Writer

Metro Moore County is contracting with Tony Grow, owner of Grow Environmental Solutions, (GES) of Tullahoma, to consult on Moore County’s behalf for the Silicon Ranch and Three Rivers projects. Grow is a licensed Tennessee Professional Geologist and a State Qualified/Certified Hydrologic Professional. He and his company will monitor the Silicon Ranch and Three Rivers facilities to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental regulations and responsible land use.

As construction on the substation at Silicon Ranch is due to begin soon, with installation of solar panels to follow, Grow will be involved in monitoring the site from the beginning. Stumps will have to be removed and the land graded. This is a critical time, says Grow, as the land needs to be revegetated as soon as possible to prevent erosion and water contamination. Silicon Ranch intends to graze sheep on the land and Grow will advise them as to which native grasses and plants are best to plant for grazing and erosion prevention. GES will continue to monitor the site for the duration of the project.

Three Rivers is in the process or rebuilding their site after the Sept. 9 tank failure. GES will monitor the progress there as well. Three Rivers is already addressing safety and containment issues and will work in collaboration with GES to make any needed adjustments that may be required.

Grow started GES in 1995, and has completed over 250 residential, commercial, and industrial projects involving over 58,000 acres of land in nine states. The company’s services include Phase I and II site assessments, wetland delineations, water resource assessments, environmental compliance, aerial photography, bat surveys, asbestos surveys, and ecological surveys. The ecological survey involves surveying the property for rare, threatened, and endangered species, as well  as assessing freshwater and stream habitats.

According to Tony, the GES team includes professional staff and employees who are certified and/or licensed in many disciplines. These include Professional Wetland Scientist, Registered Archaeologist for Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, Professional Geologist, Professional Certified Storm Water Specialists Levels 1 and 2, Licensed Asbestos Inspector, Licensed Bat Scientist, and Licensed Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Scientist. It certainly could be said that the GES team covers a lot of ground, in more ways than one.