Aspen Environmental services

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and similar state laws, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), require comprehensive, interdisciplinary analyses of proposed projects` environmental impacts in support of public decision-making. Aspen Environmental Group is highly qualified in this area, having conducted environmental impact assessments for many large and complex infrastructure and energy projects as well as small industrial and commercial facilities.

At the time of project approval, lead agencies must adopt specific mitigation measures, recommended in the environmental assessment document, to reduce project impacts during construction and operation. The monitoring of mitigation measure implementation implementation and completion is especially important for linear and other complex and controversial projects where a variety of habitats or environmental resources could be affected. Mitigation monitoring can range from `spot-checking` to full-time on-site inspection based on the size and environmental sensitivity of the project.

Climate change, renewable energy technology improvement, and the emergence of smart grid technologies are motivating policies that will dramatically change how future energy and natural resource needs are met in the West. Aspen recognizes that advances in science, technology and policy have elevated the importance of integrated evaluations of environmental, engineering, and economic trade-offs and synergies. In response, Aspen has supplemented its core environmental science and engineering expertise with complementary economic and engineering expertise. Aspen`s Integrated Planning and Analysis Division was formed in 2006 to provide policy makers with these critical capabilities needed to address the West`s emerging policy challenges. Aspen`s core clients are public sector clients and thus, like Aspen`s core Environmental Services business, Aspen`s Planning and Analysis staff are free from private developer conflicts of interest and thus are able to focus on issues from a public interest perspective. The Integrated Analysis and Planning Division brings economic and engineering expertise in the areas of electric system resource planning and policy assessment, electric transmission planning and policy assessment, demand forecasting and energy efficiency program evaluation, water resource planning, hydropower relicensing evaluation, natural gas resource planning and policy assessment and global climate change and air quality management policy assessment. In addition, the staff has experience testifying and providing regulatory support services in electric, gas, water, air quality, and greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment natural resource segments. Please see our Power Generation and Energy Infrastructure services and experience for additional, related information.

Biological resource assessment is a significant component of environmental impact assessment and permitting that is routinely required by both federal and State law to protect endangered and threatened species against `incidental take.` Aspen conducts biological surveys and analyses of data for environmental impact assessments, performs endangered species consultations, and prepares biological mitigation and habitat restoration plans.

Restoration of degraded habitats has become a national priority. In Southern California, less than five percent of historic riparian habitat remains and many watersheds have been degraded by a variety of anthropogenic disturbances. Aspen`s qualified team of biologists, ecologists, planners and other scientists have extensive practical knowledge in the restoration of degraded ecosystems throughout California. Aspen comprehensively assesses restoration goals, opportunities, and constraints and prepares plans and design documents to optimize ecosystem function and achieve community and species diversity goals that are consistent with existing and future environmental conditions. We also apply our expertise to the preparation of Watershed Management Plans and Special Area Management Plans that allow local and regional organizations to prioritize and plan specific restoration projects.

Air quality assessments for industrial and land use development require an understanding of the emission sources, viable control strategies, and the science and art of realistically modeling impacts. Innovative mitigation is also necessary to protect the environment and ensure regulatory compliance. Aspen personnel have decades of combined experience providing air quality and related services for a wide range of projects types including electricity generation, transmission lines, pipelines, rapid transit, and airports, for a variety of government and industrial clients.

NEPA and CEQA emphasize the public`s role in the environmental review process. By virtue of Aspen`s extensive experience preparing environmental documents, we have managed and participated in many public meetings and are thoroughly familiar with the public notification requirements of these laws. We value public participation and, thus, we are effective at applying the appropriate techniques and procedures for coordinating the public involvement process. Aspen has gained over 11 years of experience with public participation and notification activities on our projects.

Many of our clients performing environmental assessment and permitting, including regulator agencies and developers of industrial projects, can make use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capabilities to enhance their projects. GIS increases project understanding, speeds up data collection and analysis, enables comparison and selection of alternatives, and improves presentation effectiveness. Project Managers can reduce budget expenditures using GIS. The industry trend is toward digital spatial knowledge replacing paper documents and lower tech solutions. Pinpointing exact locations in project analysis, project managers can increase productivity and can better respond to stakeholders inquiries; regulatory agencies can identify and map sensitive resources; and specialists can utilize geographic data for specific analysis. Aspen`s expanded GIS Services Department will join Aspen`s internal project teams to provide value added service to all of our clients. In addition, GIS Services will be available for independent projects, outsourcing, and consultation.

Because of safety and liability concerns, both the public and private sectors have been increasingly interested in studying the causes, probabilities, and consequences of accidents associated with the production, storage, transport, and use of hazardous and toxic materials. Aspen provides the thorough knowledge of processes, equipment, and procedures required for safety and hazard assessments and mitigation, as well as knowledge of methods of release, dispersion, and consequence analysis.