Biological Assessments & Species-Specific Surveys

From Desktop Intelligence to Field Mastery

We offer a tiered approach to biological compliance, allowing you to scale the level of investigation based on the site’s risk profile:

Desktop Biological Reports (DBR): Our team utilizes high-resolution GIS data, the USFWS IPaC system, and state natural diversity databases to provide a rapid "red flag" analysis of potential biological constraints before you even step foot on a site.

Biological Assessments (Field Investigations): Our senior biologists conduct on-site habitat characterizations to determine the actual presence or likelihood of protected species, moving beyond mere database "hits" to provide ground-truth data.

Focused Plant & Animal Surveys: When specialized data is required, we perform species-specific surveys—including rare botanical transects and protocol-level wildlife trapping or counting—to satisfy stringent state and federal requirements.

Section 7 Consultationd: We manage the formal and informal consultation process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NOAA Fisheries, drafting the technical justifications needed to secure biological opinions and incidental take permits.

Beyond FCC NEPA: Jurisdictional Expertise

Telecom and utility projects often trigger requirements that go beyond the federal NEPA checklist. EAS manages these "hidden" hurdles seamlessly:

State-Level Compliance: Expert navigation of state-specific acts (such as CEQA in California or SEPA in Washington) and coordination with State Departments of Fish and Wildlife.

Jurisdictional Delineations: Identifying and mapping Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) and wetlands to determine the need for Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting.

Long-Term Agency Correspondence: We don’t just file a report and walk away. We maintain years-long professional relationships with regional agency staff, ensuring that our clients have a seat at the table during multi-year project rollouts.