Federal / Military

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), signed into law in 1970, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their proposed actions. In the intervening decades since the law was signed, the level of effort required to document federal consideration of environmental impacts in the decision-making process under NEPA has dramatically increased. The law also reaches beyond federal agencies – state and local governments can be required to ensure that projects under their jurisdiction comply with NEPA when those projects are federally funded or require federal approvals.

HELIX Environmental Planning provides NEPA compliance and related environmental services on proposed federal actions for many federal agencies. We have prepared NEPA documents for highway, rail, and airport development, other public infrastructure projects, energy generation and transmission projects, cross-border facilities (including in support of Presidential Permits), institutional facilities, and military projects. Our Department of Defense (DoD) experience spans multiple states in the western U.S. and covers a wide variety of project types from live fire training ranges to military family housing to the disposal of surplus federal property.

We also have extensive experience providing NEPA support for clients dealing with federal agencies that have adopted a more streamlined approach to NEPA compliance, including preparing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Rural Utilities Service NEPA checklists.

Innovative Thinking

At HELIX, we assess technical concerns and develop effective analyses, including developing and evaluating alternatives and developing effective and implementable project design features and mitigation measures to minimize impacts. Our interdisciplinary capabilities allow for innovative thinking that facilitates effective and efficient solutions to environmental and regulatory issues.

Regulatory Permitting Experts

On behalf of our clients, HELIX has successfully coordinated with and obtained permits from federal resource/regulatory agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as from state agencies that have been delegated authority under federal laws, including Regional Water Quality Control Boards and State Historic Preservation Officers. We have also successfully supported consultations with the U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Fisheries Service, and prepared Coastal Consistency Determinations/Certifications, for coastal zone projects subject to federal jurisdiction.