Tetra Tech EC, Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in the preparation of high-quality National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documents. We have completed more than 1,000 environmental impact statements (EISs) and environmental assessments (EAs) over the past 20 years, and have developed an outstanding reputation for our in-depth comprehension of requirements of NEPA as well as corresponding state environmental impact assessment regulations. Our staff has written EISs and EAs for most major federal agencies, and has provided client support from the Notice of Intent to the Record of Decision or Finding of No Significant Impact. Our clients include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Bonneville Power Administration, the US Forest Service, NASA facilities nationwide and the Bureau of Reclamation. These projects include elements of natural resource studies, recreation studies, socioeconomic studies, water quality studies, archaeological/cultural resource studies, and public involvement.

Our approach to preparing successful environmental documents is to focus on the regulatory requirements and salient project issues, and to structure project activities from the beginning to address those ends. The means to implementing this approach is to focus on the following factors:

• Identify Regulatory Requirements. We are thoroughly familiar with NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508) and are experienced in preparing documents that meet both federal and state requirements. Our staff knows that a successful document meets both the letter and the spirit of the law, and satisfies the requirements of the agencies having permitting authority.
• Surface Important Issues Early. Perceptions of the impacts of individual projects often changes as more information about the project comes to the attention of Tribal and agency representatives, environmental groups, and interested citizens. For efficient project execution, we feel it is prudent to draw out all environmental concerns as early in the planning process as possible.
• Focus on Needed Studies. In the execution of any complex planning and environmental assessment study, there are certain issues that require detailed analysis, while others are relatively straightforward. We believe that the most efficient, least-cost solution is to avoid duplication of previous analyses and preparation of unimportant analyses. The content of an EIS need not be voluminous and all-encompassing if all significant issues are comprehensively addressed.
• Establish Systematic Criteria for Evaluation of Impacts. We strongly advocate the use of an impact analysis and reporting approach in which significant thresholds of environmental impact significance are established for each of the environmental elements evaluated in the EIS. In addition, we stress the use of quantifiable thresholds whenever possible to permit rigorous systematic assessment of impacts. This approach strengthens the legal standing of our environmental documents by reducing the likelihood that impact analyses are subjective, biased, or inaccurate.

Endangered Species, Wetlands, Watersheds and other Natural Resource Management Plans, Studies, and Consultations.

We provide consulting services to federal, state, and local agencies, as well as to the private sector, in all aspects of wildlife science, including assessment of human-related effects on wildlife and habitat. Our staff designs and implements habitat-use studies; assesses abundance, distribution, and behavior of wildlife species; and evaluates habitat quality. Technical staff members work closely with clients to meet regulatory requirements and develop conservation strategies relative to project goals, budgets, and deadlines.

Our team has extensive experience in the following key areas identifying and assessing anthropogenic stressors that affect natural ecological processes and result in habitat degradation.

• Successful habitat restoration and conservation.
• Wetland inventories, delineations, functions and values assessments.
• Construction supervision and support, including contractor selection, vegetation and materials procurement, and post-construction maintenance and monitoring for wetland restoration.
• The ability to create multi-disciplinary teams of hydrologists, environmental scientists, geomorphologists, and hydrologic engineers to address watershed management including coupling models such as HEC or HSPF together with geographic information systems (GIS).

Evaluating water projects for their effects on habitat quality, wetland hydrology, recreation, water supply reliability, and power generation.

Archaeological, Historic and other Cultural Resources Management Plans, Studies, and Consultations

Cultural and historical resources are often critical issues during project licensing or permitting. Tetra Tech EC, Inc.'s cultural and historical resources specialists routinely interact with state historical preservation officers, local Native American tribes, historical societies, and other resource agencies (e.g., the U.S. Forest Service) to assess project impacts and develop resource management plans. We have performed resource surveys throughout North America and have included archeological and historical inventories, project facilities, rights-of-way, subsistence issues, timber sales, proposed and existing access roads, and undeveloped lands.

Economic, Technical, and Risk Analyses in Support of Environmental Services

Tetra Tech EC, Inc. is well versed in socioeconomic analyses in support of environmental impact assessment work. For simple projects, we describe existing conditions in terms of population, demographic and employment statistics, and historical trends for the primary region of impact. More complex projects, especially those resulting in construction and facility operation activities, typically include evaluating the economic base of a community, the existing work force by economic sector, the number of workers (by craft) to be employed during construction and operation phases of the project, and the secondary effects resulting from job multipliers.

Tetra Tech EC, Inc.'s staff of risk assessors, toxicologists, industrial hygienists, process engineers, statisticians, and computer modeling specialists are leaders in developing risk and hazard assessments and exposure analysis approaches. We use modeling as an important adjunct to our analyses, providing additional information on the transport and potential exposure to contaminants. Using hydrologic analyses, our technical staff also performs integrated risk and economic analyses of flood damages for reallocation alternatives.