Environmental Assessments

The staff at EM Strategies has planned and prepared more than 100 environmental assessment documents required under either the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). These documents were primarily for development projects located throughout the western United States. Figure 1 shows representative NEPA projects completed in Nevada (click image for full-size image).

figure-1-NEPA-projects

They included:

    1. NEPA Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs),
    2. CEQA Initial Studies and Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs),
    3. Joint NEPA/CEQA documents for natural resource development projects, electrical generation and transportation services, and chemical/ manufacturing plants.

Detailed information regarding any specific project of interest is available upon request, subject to the confidentiality requirements of our clients.

EM Strategies has planned, managed, and conducted field baseline environmental data collection programs and/or impact assessments for:

  • biological resources (including threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and vegetation species);
  • noxious weeds;
  • cultural resources and Native American issues;
  • visual resources (including the preparation of photo simulations for the presentation of visual effects);
  • noise;
  • hydrologic resources (including groundwater resources and impact studies and wetlands/”waters of the United States” assessments);
  • air resources (including pollutant emission inventories and air dispersion modeling impact assessments);
  • geology and geologic hazards (including mineral resource assessments);
  • reclamation issues;
  • socioeconomics; and
  • cumulative impacts.

In addition to NEPA and CEQA environmental assessment documents, EM Strategies has extensive experience in effectively preparing NEPA, CEQA and other required decision documents for all levels of government agencies.

Examples include:

  • BLM Records of Decision, Decision Records, and FONSIs;
  • CEQA-required Notices of Preparation / Completion / Determination;
  • Section 15091 Findings;
  • Statements of Overriding Consideration; and
  • Mitigation Monitoring Plans.

 

When prepared correctly and in conformance with regulatory and judicial requirements, these decision documents can substantially reduce (although not eliminate) the potential for appeals and judicial proceedings.

If approval of a project were appealed, EM Strategies and its talented staff have substantial “hands-on” experience with federal/NEPA, California/CEQA, and other regulatory appeal and litigation processes. This experience includes the preparation of Responses to Statements of Reasons for appeals to the Interior Board of Land Appeals.

Examples include:

  • BLM Records of Decision, Decision Records, and FONSIs;
  • CEQA-required Notices of Preparation / Completion / Determination,
  • Section 15091 Findings,
  • Statements of Overriding Consideration, and
  • Mitigation Monitoring Plans.

When prepared correctly and in conformance with regulatory and judicial requirements, these decision documents can substantially reduce (although not eliminate) the potential for appeals and judicial proceedings.

If approval of a project were appealed, however, EM Strategies and its talented staff have substantial “hands-on” experience with federal/NEPA, California/CEQA, and other regulatory appeal and litigation processes. This experience includes the preparation of Responses to Statements of Reasons for appeals to the Interior Board of Land Appeals.