Environmental Planning Services - CEQA & NEPA Compliance

Planwest guides clients and lead agencies into the environmental compliance necessary for project entitlement.  We offer the professional qualifications and practical experience required for preparing efficient and effective Initial Studies, Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), and Negative Declarations for California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] compliance, and Environmental Assessments, Findings of No Significant Impact, and Environmental Impact Statements for National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] compliance.

For projects subject to CEQA or NEPA, we conduct initial environmental assessments to clearly define the potential range of impacts that must be evaluated, and potentially mitigated, as part of environmental review. Next, applicable standards and significance criteria, appropriate design measures, and impact avoidance techniques are applied.  Clear mitigation measures and timely monitoring procedures are then developed for any remaining potential impacts. We also work with the lead agency to develop a range of alternatives appropriate for the plan or project.

Specific in-house environmental planning services include the following:

  • Project Description Preparation
  • Aesthetics
  • Agricultural Resources
  • Mineral Resources
  • Cultural Resources
  • Hazardous Materials (screening level)
  • Public Utilities
  • Land Use and Planning
  • Noise Assessment
  • Air Quality Assessment
  • Visual Analysis, Assessment, and 3-D Illustrations
  • Biological Resources (screening level)
  • Population and Housing
  • Public Services
  • Economic Analysis
  • Mapping, GIS and Spatial Analysis
  • CEQA/NEPA Document Preparation
  • Project Management
  • Public Participation and Scoping Meetings
  • Public Hearings

We also maintain good working relationships with a wide range of technical subconsultants available to provide expert services in: traffic assessment, hazardous materials investigation, endangered species investigations, fisheries investigations, wetland regulatory compliance, wetland delineations, water quality analysis, and section 401 and 1403 permitting.  Our capabilities include running UPlan for Blueprint Planning.

Strengths and experience that distinguish Planwest with respect to environmental planning services include the firm’s authoritative knowledge of CEQA and NEPA, our excellent budgetary control, schedule performance, and quality assurance, a high level of repeat clients, and professional and qualified staff.  We have also assisted Regional Transportation Planning Agencies with prioritizing regional trail planning efforts.