Environmental Impact Analysis (NEPA/CEQA)

Acorn Environmental staff are experienced in preparing the following environmental compliance documents for projects ranging from the straightforward to the complex:

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

• • Categorical Exemptions
  • Environmental Overviews
  • Environmental Assessments
• Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI)
• Environmental Impact Statements
• Record of Decisions
• NEPA Associated Noticing
• Public Hearing Facilitation
• Environmental Packages for Grant Applications (USDA, SRF)

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

• Categorical Exclusions
• Initial Studies (IS) for Mitigated Negative Declarations (MND) and Negative Declarations (ND)
• Environmental Impact Reports
• Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations

Construction Support

Acorn Environmental provides support to construction projects through environmental surveys and reporting to comply with best management practices and mitigation measures. Our construction support services include:

• Pre-Construction Nesting Bird Surveys
• Pre-Construction Wildlife Clearance Surveys
• Worker Environmental Awareness Training
• Biological Monitoring
• SWPPP Preparation and Stormwater Monitoring
• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plans

Tribal Environmental Services

Acorn Environmental staff specialize in supporting Tribal Governments with their fee-to-trust and environmental compliance needs. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Fee-to-Trust Applications
• NEPA compliance documents for Fee-to-Trust Applications and Two-Part Determinations
• NEPA compliance documents for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) andIndian Health Service (IHS)
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
• Off-Reservation Environmental Impact Assessments in compliance with applicable Tribal-California State Gaming Compacts (i.e. Environmental Evaluation (EE), Tribal Environmental Impact Report (TEIR))
• CEQA compliance documents for Off-Reservation Projects

Environmental Planning

Acorn Environmental can work with clients to determine potential site constraints and policy/permitting hurdles to create a plan for regulatory compliance. These services include:

• Environmental Constraints Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance Strategy Development
• Preliminary Consultation with Lead and Responsible/Cooperating Agencies
• Project Management Support Services

Biological Services

Our biological staff have extensive experience assisting clients with project planning, regulatory compliance, and agency coordination. These services include:

• Biological Surveys
• Biological Assessments/Biological Resource Assessments
• Aquatic Resource Delineations
• Habitat and Wetland Mapping
• Arborist Surveys

Environmental Permitting

Acorn Environmental staff have prepared and successfully guided clients through the following permitting processes: 

• Federal and State Endangered Species Permitting
• Clean Water Act Section 404 Wetland Permits
• Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification
• California Fish and Game Code Sections 1601 Lake and Streambed
• National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Construction Permit
• National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Compliance