CEC’s NEPA professionals have provided guidance, review, and direction on well over 100 NEPA documents for a large variety of federal agencies.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires all federal agencies consider the effects on the environment prior to the approval of any major federal actions (construction), federal permitting, or projects receiving federal funding. NEPA is purely procedural, it establishes a baseline standard and requires all federal agencies to take a “hard look” at how their actions would affect the human and natural environment. Under NEPA, the agency making the decision on the action (the Lead Agency) will determine the adequate level of NEPA review (Categorical Exclusion (CATEX), Environmental Assessment (EA), or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)) required for any specific project.
Federal Agencies Experience
CEC professionals bring a deep understanding of NEPA compliance, as well as the federal, state, and local permitting associated with a wide range of projects. Our professionals have provided guidance, review, and direction on well over 100 NEPA documents for a variety of federal agencies, including Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of the Interior (DOI), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and United States Forest Service (USFS). All of this experience, plus our record of accomplishment associated with preparing high-quality environmental documents based on demonstrated scientific rigor, have fostered strong relationships with our private clients as well as federal, state, and local agencies. Our professional NEPA practitioners have the skills and experience necessary to meet aggressive schedules and create clear, strong, and defensible NEPA documents. To this end, our team of seasoned NEPA professionals provide a solid strategy and framework for developing the required NEPA compliance document needed for any project.
Our NEPA practitioners provide a wide range of NEPA-related services to our private and public sector and federal clients. These include:
- Critical issue analysis
- Development of purpose and need statement
- Description of the proposed action
- Alternatives development
- Characterization of the affected environment or baseline conditions
- Environmental baseline surveys
- Resource impact assessments
- Human resources, biological resources, physical resources, socioeconomic resources, environmental justice
- Cumulative impact assessment
- Recommendations to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate environmental impacts
- Public/stakeholder engagement plans and strategies
- Dispute resolution
- Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) drafting
- Records of Decision (ROD) review
- Expert testimony
