Environmental Services
Natural Resource Assessment and Planning
EDM’s technical specialists conduct wildlife studies to scope environmental issues, provide the framework for impact assessments, and identify opportunities for avoidance or mitigation. EDM proactively identifies project-specific environmental issues early in the planning process and incorporates protection measures into the project description to streamline assessments, optimize timelines, and minimize costs. Scaled to meet client goals, studies range from desktop GIS analyses to field-based habitat assessments, nest searches, or presence/absence surveys.
Related Technical Specialties Include:
- Special Status Species Identification
- Seasonal Wildlife Use and Presence
- Trapping, Tagging, and Tracking
- Habitat Assessment
- Linear Routing Analysis
- Infrastructure Siting Analysis
- Construction Work Plan Development
FEATURED PROJECT
On behalf of an electric cooperative, EDM developed a 5-year Construction Work Plan (CWP) for existing and proposed power line rights-of-way (ROWs) on federal and private lands to prevent costly and disruptive permitting delays. EDM developed an interactive mapping tool incorporating utility infrastructure/ROWs and sensitive species/habitat data from multiple sources. The tool was used to: a) identify areas where sensitive species could interfere with planned construction and maintenance; b) identify opportunities to schedule work for seasons that would avoid or minimize potential impacts; and c) develop a realistic work schedule that allowed adequate time, where needed, for federal and state permitting. The CWP and associated report allowed the cooperative to optimize their schedule and planning, facilitated permitting by providing appropriate Best Management Practices to minimize or mitigate potential impacts, ensured regulatory compliance and clear agency communications, and prevented project delays associated with environmental “surprises.”
Resources
Environmental Publications
EDM’s Environmental Services Group is a team of wildlife biologists, avian specialists, soil scientists, hydrologists, regulatory specialists and GIS experts. EDM works collaboratively across disciplines to develop practical, science-based solutions to high-profile environmental challenges on behalf of electric utilities, extractive industries, government agencies and non-governmental organizations. EDM is internationally known for research and consultation on avian electrocution, avian collision and animal-caused outages. EDM’s key to success is its team members, who are chosen for their unique and complementary skills and who conduct their work with passion, creativity and integrity.