Natural Resources
Avoid. Minimize. Mitigate.
Spectrum Environmental’s natural resource services can help you manage how you interact with the environment around you. Our services follow the established regulatory hierarchy for managing a project’s environmental impact: AVOIDANCE – MINIMIZATION – MITIGATION..
Our natural resource scientists are experts in these processes and have successfully permitted and completed multiple projects across a wide range of regulatory jurisdictions. Spectrum has successfully evaluated, permitted, and completed projects working with multiple Corps of Engineers District offices and their unique Regional Supplements as well as with a myriad of other federal and state stakeholders including HUD, FEMA, ADEM, TDEC, FDEP, GDNR, MDEQ, LDEQ, NCDEQ and others. As part of this effort, our professionals have guided our clients through the requisite NEPA process to achieve compliance with Section 7 (T&E) and Section 106 (NHPA).
Check out how Spectrum Environmental can help you with a variety of natural resource services:
Waters of the US (WOTUS) evaluations
WOTUS evaluations involve the determination of whether a specific body of water falls under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. This evaluation can have significant implications on the planning and ultimate use of the properties as well as help determine the necessary permitting requirements, land use stipulations, and environmental protection measures needed.
Federal and State Delineation Verifications (AJD, PJD, HD, etc.)
Federal and State Delineation Verifications are carried out by regulatory agencies to confirm the completeness and accuracy of completed WOTUS site delineations, often with a focus on the accuracy of environmental assessments and regulatory compliance. Examples include Army Corps of Engineers’ Approved Jurisdictional Determination (AJD) and Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (PJD), as well as state-specific Hydrologic Determinations (HD) similar to those required by the state of Tennessee.
NHPA Section 106 cultural resource services
The National Historic Preservation Act was passed into law in 1966, and Section 106 requires that federal agencies take into consideration a project’s potential impacts on historic properties listed or with the potential to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Though this evaluation is primarily driven in cases where a Federal Permit or Federal Funding is a part of the project, the consideration of Section 106, and specific state regulations governing cultural resources and burials, is vital for the success of a project. Spectrum’s cultural resource services involve collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies, tribal authorities, and other stakeholders to protect and preserve the cultural heritage associated with any project and all of its stakeholders.
Site Delineations
Site delineations to establish WOTUS boundaries allow Spectrum’s personnel to apply their technical expertise in conducting a detailed site reconnaissance in which the subject property is traversed and identified WOTUS features are mapped. This is typically one of the first steps of an environmental due diligence process that allows the landowner, the engineer, or the developer to begin considering the best and highest use for the selected site. The objective of the Site Delineation is to gather data from which Spectrum’s professionals can produce maps, datasheets, and reports that describe the location, type, geomorphology, length and areal extent of WOTUS features that are identified. This information then is utilized by the engaged parties to establish next steps in determining future land use.
Habitat and/or species-specific studies:
As part of overall NEPA compliance for federal permitting actions, Spectrum assists our clients in considering the requirements under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Initially, it is important that the subject site is considered for the presence of potential habitat of Threatened & Endangered (T&E) species. The habitat studies and assessments help Spectrum’s professionals to determine the ecological conditions and suitability of the site to support target species. Based on the findings of the initial habitat evaluations, a species specific studies may be needed. These studies are narrowly focused investigations aimed at determining the presence or absence of the species of interest.
