National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) / Environmental Impact Reporting (EIR)
Contact Person: Ian FrostComprehensive multi-staged involvement
Coordination of scoping and public involvement
Detailed analysis of critical criteria
Preparation and support of Findings of No Significant Impacts (FONSI)
Preparation of Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
Preparation of Virginia State Environmental Impact Reports
Example Projects
Strategic Petroleum Reserve EIS
3e was a major subcontractor to the Department of Energy to complete the natural resource and water resource sections of an EIS and the lead consultant for Biological Assessment and environmental permitting for a proposed 260 million barrel expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 3e also played a major role in preparing public information materials including presentations, public hearings, presentations for Congressional and Senator meetings, and responses to the public and conservation groups. The value of the construction project was estimated to be $4.5 billion. The work included the following:
- Wetland, floodplain and stream impacts of over 1,000 acres from the storage sites, sediment dredging plan for new marine terminals, and pipeline alignmentsvarying in length from about 5 to 100 miles long, and raw water intakes for over 50 mgd.
- Evaluation of the impact to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for fifteen different species that are regulated by the Magnusson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Recovery Act, preparation of a Technical Report on Mitigation of EFH impacts, and coordination with the National Marine Fishery Conservation Service for the Finding of No Adverse Impact.
- Consultation for the potential effects to federally endangered and threatened species including the least tern, gulf sturgeon, bald eagle, brown pelican, and red cockaded woodpecker. Coordination with the US Fish & Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act to secure a Finding of Not Likely to Adversely Impact.
- Preparation of the Natural Resources Section and Water Resources Sections and Cumulative Impacts Section of the Draft EIS and Final EIS
- Preparation of a Floodplain Finding and Wetland Finding in accordance with Executive Orders 11990 and 11988 regarding the protection of floodplains and wetlands.
- Preparation of the Biological Assessment and Section 7 Consultation for impacts to three endangered species from the proposed Raw Water Intake structure. Coordination with the USGS, USFWS, and various state resource agencies on Minimum Instream Flow and mitigation for the 52 mgd water withdrawal.
- Development of a conceptual wetland and stream mitigation plan for over 1200 acres of wetland impacts and 33 stream crossings.
- Initial coordination of the Section 404 permit, wetland compensation credit assessment, wetland functional assessment, and wetland and stream mitigation plan for the project.
Radford Army Ammunition Plant NAC-SAC Unit Environmental Assessment
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for Radford Facility Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) for the proposed action to construct and operate a replacement facility for the existing Nitric Acid Concentrator/Sulfuric Acid Concentrator (NAC/SAC) currently in operation at RFAAP.
The existing NAC/SAC facility was built in 1977 with a life expectancy of 20 years. The existing facility experienced increasing equipment failures resulting in a downtime rate of 55%. The proposed Action site is located within the limited area of the 4,080 acre main plant area. The EA presented an evaluation of environmental and human resource impacts resulting from the Proposed Action and alternatives. 3e also completed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).