Environmental Planning Qualifications
The environmental qualifications of FHI include environmental impact analysis and documentation, permitting and regulatory compliance, and ecological and natural resource studies. FHI has depth of experience in environmental impact analysis and documentation, ranging in purpose from screening of project alternatives to the comprehensive documentation required by federal and state environmental policy acts. FHI also has expertise in preparing a variety of environmental permit applications required by federal, state, and local laws and reviewing projects to identify regulatory requirements. In support of project impact analysis, permit application materials, or conservation and development planning, FHI carries out specialized ecological and natural resource studies, including mitigation planning and design. These qualifications are described in more detail below.
Environmental Impact Analysis and Documentation
FHI staff are highly experienced in the preparation of environmental documents under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and corresponding state environmental policy acts in order to identify potential project impacts to natural, cultural, social, and economic resources. Our staff have the expertise to take a project from public scoping to the Record of Decision (ROD) and guide the project development process as well as provide the required technical evaluations. Our experience includes evaluating and documenting existing conditions, potential direct and indirect impacts, and mitigation measures, as required by NEPA, for any or all portions of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA). We have worked under the environmental documentation regulations of numerous federal agencies, including FHWA, FTA, EPA, FRA, USPS, FAA, and the Department of the Navy. During the process, we ensure compliance with executive orders and relevant legislation. Integral to our work is strong coordination with the regulatory community and an ability to design and orchestrate public involvement programs to match the needs of the project. Resources and issues we commonly evaluate include:
• Wetlands, water, coastal and natural resources: 
FHI staff have expertise in the inventory and assessment of inland and tidal wetlands, surface and groundwater, floodplains, aquatic habitats, coastal resources, plant and animal communities, threatened and endangered species, and important farmlands. Technical analyses include descriptions, classifications, functional assessments using various methodologies, and quantitative and qualitative impact assessments. Our capabilities include Section 7 coordination and Biological Assessments under the Endangered Species Act and various field surveys of plants, animals, and habitat quality. 
Back to top
• Land use, socio-economics, and community/neighborhoods: FHI analyzes impacts to local communities involving land use, zoning, demographics, neighborhood cohesiveness, socio-economics, property acquisitions, public safety, and consistency of the proposed action with other state, regional and local plans. We stay current with evolving methodologies for Environmental Justice determinations, including the public outreach aspects. Back to top
• Traffic, parking, and pedestrian/bicycle considerations: For project impact documentation, FHI evaluates traffic, parking, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, conditions, and safety, often involving evaluations of existing and future levels of service (LOS) at key intersections. Back to top
• Air quality and noise: In conjunction with the preparation of environmental impact analyses, FHI has the expertise to carry out microscale and mesoscale air quality modeling and noise impact analyses for proposed transportation projects, using state-of-the-art software including CAL3QHC and Mobile 5B and 6 for mobile source air quality analysis and TNM for noise impact analysis. Back to top
• Visual quality: FHI undertakes a variety of visual quality assessments, including FHWA’s visual impact assessment methodology based on characterizing landscape quality, viewsheds and viewer groups. FHI capabilities include field observation, three-dimensional (3D) GIS analysis, and photo-simulations to prepare descriptive and illustrative results for visual quality impact evaluations. Back to top
• Historic and archaeological resources: FHI performs documentary surveys of resources to assess historic resources for eligibility on the National Register of Historic Places, oversees archaeological investigations, carries out impact analysis, and navigates the historic coordination process from initial negotiation through Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). FHI staff have expertise in undertaking agency coordination and resource documentation in conformance with NEPA, with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act. Back to top
• Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) resources: FHI has substantial experience evaluating impacts to Section 4(f) resources, including publicly owned recreational lands, wildlife refuges, and historic resources on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, as well as to Section 6(f) resources, properties purchased with Land and Water Conservation Act funds. FHI has prepared numerous Section 4(f) Evaluations, each leading to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that enables the project to go forward with certain mitigation commitments. Back to top
• Secondary, cumulative, and construction impacts: FHI staff are trained and experienced in conducting secondary and cumulative impact analyses in order to anticipate potential future effects such as induced growth and water quality degradation. We are also experienced at identifying and documenting reasonable, cost effective measures to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate adverse impacts from the construction, operation, and maintenance of proposed projects. Back to top
• Public utilities, services, and energy use: FHI evaluates the availability of existing municipal infrastructure, and power, and other utilities and public services in relation to project needs and impacts. Using several methods, we also estimate energy consumption related to a project’s construction and ultimate operation. Back to top
• Hazardous materials: FHI performs corridor land use evaluations and site specific database analyses to determine potential risks of encountering hazardous materials during project construction. FHI staff are familiar with federal programs such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Superfund as well as many state programs dealing with contaminated and hazardous materials handling and mitigation. Back to top
Permitting and Regulatory Compliance
Our staff is intimately familiar with laws, regulations, and approval processes that can affect the feasibility and implementation schedule of development projects. FHI has expertise in preparing environmental permit applications, carrying out agency coordination, reviewing projects for regulatory issues, opportunities, and constraints, and providing associated expert testimony. Back to top
• Water resource related permit applications: The array of water resource-related permit applications our staff have prepared includes Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 and Section 10 wetlands and waterways, U.S. Coast Guard bridge permit, state and local inland wetlands and waterways, water diversion, tidal wetlands, marine structures/dredging, stormwater discharge, floodplain management certification, Section 401 water quality certification, and coastal zone consistency. Associated work products have included wetland functional analyses, environmental impact reports, stormwater pollution prevention control plans, and wetland mitigation planning. Back to top
• Agency coordination: Agency coordination is an integral part of our regulatory and permitting qualifications to ensure that projects are grounded in the realities of implementation. In addition to coordinating verification of wetland boundaries and pre-application meetings, FHI has expertise in Section 7 coordination under the Endangered Species Act and Section 106 coordination under the National Historic Preservation Act, as required for federal permitting. Back to top
• Regulatory review of projects and opportunity and constraint analysis: FHI draws upon solid knowledge of federal, state and local regulatory frameworks to provide early identification of regulatory and permitting issues during project planning. While this is often the “constraint” side of a project, we also identify site opportunities such as best locations for facility placement, transportation access, wetland mitigation, or land conservation utilizing GIS analysis, professional judgment, and inputs from agency coordination. Back to top
• Expert testimony: FHI provides expert testimony regarding potential environmental impacts from proposed projects and provides technical support in defense of permit applications. Back to top
Ecological and Natural Resource Studies
FHI’s qualifications encompass a variety of ecological and natural resource studies in support of master planning, project impact analysis, and environmental permitting. Key services include wetland functional assessments, habitat surveys and impact assessments, plans of conservation and development, and mitigation planning and design. Back to top
• Wetland functional assessment and oversight of wetland delineation: FHI has a thorough understanding of inland and tidal wetland ecology and solid experience in assessing wetland functions and values per federal Army Corps of Engineers guidelines. We have expertise in tidal wetland delineation and oversight of inland wetland delineation, as well as integrating the NEPA and Section 404 review processes for environmental streamlining. Back to top
• Habitat surveys and impact assessments: Our expertise in habitat surveys includes field surveys of threatened plant and animal species, habitat assessments for aquatic and terrestrial species, and characterization of vegetative communities and associated wildlife. We have applied these capabilities to assessments of Essential Fish Habitat, Biological Assessments pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, forest fragmentation impact studies, and wildlife crossing mitigation evaluations. Back to top
• Plans of conservation and development: FHI’s strong planning and technical skills in transportation, natural and cultural resources, land use and zoning qualify us to prepare municipal Plans of Conservation and Development. Our experience in traffic studies and access management is directly relevant to growth management and quality of life, as is our expertise in field studies, assessments, and regulatory compliance for environmental resources. Our technical work has kept us abreast of current smart growth initiatives, stormwater issues/regulations, best management practices (BMPs), and other contemporary measures for enhancing, maintaining, and restoring environmental quality of life. Back to top
• Wetland and upland habitat mitigation planning and design: FHI’s qualifications include wetland and upland mitigation planning and design in both tidal and freshwater environments. Our experience ranges from identifying and screening potential mitigation sites in order to maximize the success of wetland mitigation to designing grading plans, planting plans, and erosion/sedimentation control plans for specific wetland and upland habitat creation and/or restoration projects. Back to top
Mr. Ken Livingston
Principal Associate/Vice President
Tel: 860-256-4907
klivingston@fhiplan.com
Quick links: