Category Archive for ‘environmental-planning-and-documentation’ at Herrera Environmental Consultants

Environmental Planning and Documentation

Herrera provides planning services for preparation of comprehensive plans, community and sub-area plans, and planned actions under the Growth Management Act, and zoning, Shoreline Management Act, and critical area regulations updates.

We recognize that interaction with regulatory agencies, the public and other interested parties has become a major component of public facilities planning for our clients. Our focus is to facilitate stakeholder understanding of all interests, project objectives, and environmental constraints, leading to implementable, cost-effective comprehensive land use plans.

Herrera has substantial experience completing large, complex projects requiring extensive interdisciplinary coordination. For example, Herrera has assisted jurisdictions in developing science-based environmental policies and regulations that are specific to local natural resource conditions and socio/economic goals. Herrera has also provided assistance to Washington State Department of Transportation's Salmon Habitat Protection and Restoration Workgroup, to revise and update the agency's white papers addressing science-based regulatory and design requirements for salmonid protection. Herrera staff also has extensive experience working with jurisdictions on complex regulatory amendments including critical areas and GMA based land use code updates.

Herrera's staff can also assist with environmental document preparation; site and alternative selection; coordinate and participate in public involvement; prepare mitigation plans; and support clients in obtaining project permits. Our staff prepare technical documentation and background studies in the areas of earth, water, plants and animals, energy and natural resources, land and shoreline use, public services and utilities, socioeconomics, and environmental health. We prepare concise, cost-efficient, defensible SEPA and NEPA environmental documents. We recognize that environmental assessment is typically part of a larger process leading to permit approval, and we focus our efforts on helping our clients achieve that goal.