Ecological Services

As an ecological Services consulting firm, we see opportunities due to the Federal and State regulations promulgated to preserve, conserve, protect, and enhance fish, animals, and plants in their natural habitats:

 

Wetlands Identification and Delineation

As economic development encroaches and puts pressure on natural habitats that are essential for our survival and wellbeing we are faced with critical decisions about the use of land resources. A wetland determination and delineation is a service provided by qualified personnel at CRG Texas to inform developers on the presence/absence and size/location of wetlands. With this information CRG Texas can help developers decide the best plan of action and navigate the regulatory framework to bring their projects to a successful and cost-effective completion.

 

Threatened and Endangered Species

As economic development and human induced climate change is significantly and rapidly causing species extinctions and population level reductions worldwide, we are faced with the critical task of deciding how to cope the ecological, social and economic consequences of these losses. A Threatened and endangered species assessment is a service provided by qualified personnel at CRG Texas to inform Federal/State/Local Governments and developers on the presence/absence of threatened and endangered species. With this information CRG Texas can help its clients decide the best plan of action and navigate the regulatory framework to bring their projects to a successful and cost-effective completion.

 

NEPA permitting

As we strive to find a balance between economic development and the health of human populations and of ecosystems, the federal government has enacted laws that help us as a nation achieve economic development and at the same time preserve the health of our people and our ecosystems.

Projects that receive federal funding or that are administered by federal agencies may be regulated by environmental laws including the Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), and NEPA; qualified personnel at CRG Texas can help its clients navigate the regulatory framework for them to get project approval.

 

Facilitating Sound Decision-Making

Taking a risk-based integrated approach to environmental compliance, CRG Texas excels at combining scientific expertise with strong communication skills to facilitate sound decision-making. We are highly experienced at achieving compliance with complex regulatory requirements, negotiating and obtaining environmental permits, and developing systematic processes for quantitatively and qualitatively assessing the potential impacts of proposed projects. We fully understand that accurate and comprehensive documentation is essential to securing appropriate project approvals.

Regulatory interaction and permitting are part of nearly every assignment CRG Texas conducts, from program planning through project development. Through this experience, we have forged positive relationships with regulatory agencies and key technical staff. Time and time again, this mutual respect between regulatory agencies and CRG Texas’ staff has facilitated successful outcomes for our clients. Our experience includes evaluating potential permitting requirements, developing permit applications, developing and evaluating licensing/relicensing applications and technical memoranda, conducting regulatory negotiations, and facilitating public meetings and/or hearings.

Coordinating with Regulators

CRG Texas’ work includes extensive coordination with regulatory agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. Our relationships with regional experts have facilitated successful consultation throughout the permitting and planning process. With the support of regulatory agencies, CRG Texas has implemented innovative testing and sampling protocols to ensure collection of the data necessary to support our clients’ needs in the area of management decision-making.

Below are some of the Environmental Permitting, Compliance, and NEPA services CRG Texas regularly performs:

  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
  • State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
  • Project Management
  • Ecological Risk Assessments
  • Natural Resource Damage Assessments
  • Human Health Risk Assessments
  • Expert Witness Support
  • Clean Water Act and EPA Sections 316(a) and 316(b)
  • National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permitting
  • State and Federal Wetlands and Streams Permitting (Joint Permit Application)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Consultations
  • USACE Wetland Assessments & Nationwide and Individual Permitting
  • Coastal Zone Consistency Certifications
  • Compliance Monitoring Programs
  • Mitigation Program Development