Environmental Regulations and Compliance Services
Raven has managed more than sixty projects requiring compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws including the Clean Water Act (CWA) the National Forest
Management Act (NFMA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Our Project Managers attend ongoing NEPA
and other regulatory training courses, and are vigilant in monitoring changes that effect the regulatory
environment. Our staff has an in-depth knowledge of the flora and fauna of all the National Forests and
Grasslands of Texas and the southern U.S. – especially endangered, threatened, and sensitive species.
Some examples of regulatory compliance projects Raven has managed are pipeline construction, oil and/or
gas well location construction, seismic exploration, new road construction, utility rights-of way
establishment, and timber harvests. Raven’s well rounded and experienced staff can provide our clients
with turnkey regulatory compliance services that also include wetlands delineation and avoidance,
botanical inventories and classification, mitigation planning and implementation, and GIS-GPS support
services.
Federal Compliance
Raven specializes in NEPA compliance including Biological Assessments (BA’s), Biological Evaluations
(BE’s), and Environmental Assessments (EA’s) that are variously required for projects occurring on
federal lands, or that involve federal minerals or federal funding. Raven can also procure the permits
required by many state and federal laws /agencies for industries such as oil and gas, geophysical,
construction, and communications. Raven provides turnkey services for projects that result in the
need for mitigation to offset the loss of critical habitat. Examples include endangered species
management and habitat improvement or restoration.
Special Use Permits
One of the above NEPA documents is normally included in a larger package known as a Special Use
Permit Application. A Special Use Permit, called a SUP, is required for most projects occurring
on U.S. Forest Service lands where potential impacts are anticipated. Raven has acquired many
Special Use Permits for our clients, including the hiring and management of archeological subcontractors
as necessary. With former U.S. Forest Service employees on staff and more than a decade of regulatory
experience, we can expedite a turnkey and cost-effective Special Use Permit Application Package for our
clients with all the necessary documents, forms and maps.
Risk Analysis
Oil and gas exploration, and other surface use projects, often involve regulatory issues regardless
of ownership. Raven provides our clients with remotely-sensed risk analysis maps and summary documents
for large scale projects (such as seismic exploration) utilizing GIS software and public domain
information including color infrared aerial imagery, USGS topographic maps, NRCS soils information,
USGS and EPA regulated sites, impaired water bodies and streams, flood hazard areas, endangered species,
and federal lands. This analysis minimizes the regulatory risk when choosing site-specific locations.
Raven’s highly qualified personnel can then conduct surveys on-the-ground to identify and avoid wetlands
and other compliance or regulatory issues.
Environmental Audits
Raven can provide independent, third-party environmental compliance audits for oil and gas or seismic
exploration projects when required by the surface-use agreement between the operator and the private
landowner. Our expertise in wetland delineation, resource inventory, regulatory compliance and Best
Management Practices positions Raven to provide a fair and thorough assessment of surface impacts.
We can also provide compliance audits for management system standards that include the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative©, the Forest Stewardship Council©, and ISO 14000 EMS.
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