Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Experts

We guide developers and government agencies in navigating complex regulations during the planning, construction, and operation of large scale projects. Ensuring that projects adhere to relevant federal, state, and local environmental laws.

This involves integrating environmental rapid assessments from the project's inception to avoid fines and delays.

Project developers are our clients, and we focus on optimizing the process so infrastructure developers get a permitting decision, in a timely, predictable manner and a firm schedule for implementation and successful project completion.

Core Services

Transportation

• Roads:

  Building and maintaining streets, highways, and roads for personal and public transit. 

• Bridges and Tunnels: Constructing and repairing bridges, tunnels, and overpasses to connect areas and manage traffic flow. 

• Aviation:

  Developing and maintaining airports and related facilities. 

• Rail and Transit:

  Building and upgrading rail lines, stations, and public transit systems like subways and trams. 

• Marine:

  Developing ports, harbors, and canals for shipping and trade. 

Utilities

• Water:

  Projects that include dams, levees, water treatment plants, and clean water supply systems. 

• Waste Management:

  Construction and maintenance of facilities like landfills, recycling centers, and wastewater treatment plants. 

• Energy:

  Developing and upgrading power plants (nuclear, solar, wind), electrical grids, and transmission lines. 

• Gas:

  Projects related to the production and distribution of natural gas. 

Communications

• Telecommunications: Building and maintaining networks for phone service and Internet access.

• Broadband:

  Developing infrastructure for high-speed internet connectivity. Essential for rural economic survival and development. Invest in building high-speed internet networks, particularly in underserved rural and tribal areas. 

Other types

• Social:

  Facilities such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings. 

• Recreation:

  Projects that create public recreational spaces like parks, beaches, and trail system strategy. Includes identifying natural assets and challenges, and facilitating collaboration.

• Commercial and Industrial: Construction of buildings and facilities for business and industry. 

• Critical Infrastructure:

  A broad category that includes sectors like emergency services, dams, and the food and agriculture industries.

  Key components of infrastructure environmental compliance

Legal adherence:

Projects must comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations at all local, county, state and government levels as well as resource agency and bureau requirements.

Permitting and licensing:

This involves obtaining necessary permits before starting work, such as wetlands, stormwater, habitat, soils, endangered or threatened plant and animal species and archaeological and historic resources involving permits for environmental standards to be met. 

NEPA Environmental Assessments (EA) or Environmental Impact Assessments (EIS):

For projects with significant impact, an assessment or EA, EIS may be required to analyze potential effects on the environment and human health. 

Archaeological and Cultural Resources Management

Services include a wide range of archaeological and historic preservation activities, such as conducting inventories, background research, site testing, data recovery, and consultation with stakeholders to ensure compliance with federal laws like the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). 

Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping :

GIS services are a vital tool for analyzing, visualizing, and managing complex spatial data related to environmental projects. By specializing in these services we help clients in industries like architecture, engineering, and construction, energy, and government to inform decision-making, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve project outcomes

Site management:

This includes conservation measures and best management practices (BMP’s) to prevent land contamination, manage hazardous materials, control dust and air pollution, and ensure proper waste disposal. 

Resource protection:

Compliance at its core involves protecting natural resources by preventing harm to wildlife habitats and ensuring responsible use of soil, water, air, plants, animals and archeological artifacts.

Monitoring and reporting:

Projects must regularly monitor their environmental impact and report findings to regulatory bodies to ensure ongoing adherence to standards. 

Emergency response:

Plans must be in place to address unexpected environmental incidents, such as spills, to minimize damage and implement immediate solutions. 

Why environmental compliance is important?

• Avoids penalties:

  Non-compliance can result in severe consequences like fines, stop-work orders, and lawsuits. 

• Increases efficiency:

  Integrating compliance early in the planning phase helps avoid costly delays and streamlines the approval process. 

• Builds trust:

  Adhering to environmental standards demonstrates responsibility and can build greater trust with the public and stakeholders. 

• Promotes sustainability:

  Compliance efforts contribute to long-term business sustainability and can reduce a company's carbon footprint. 
  

  
  Each project receives the following benefits:

• A dedicated infrastructure project advisor who acts as your primary contact, problem solver, and partner through the permitting process.

• A coordinated permitting timetable that tracks all required federal environmental reviews and authorizations, reducing delays and enhancing predictability.

• Greater visibility into compliance processes for setting timetables and meeting milestones, including a coordination role in the initial development of the permitting timetable

Expert Services

National Environmental Policy Act - NEPA

Copacetic Environmental provides comprehensive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental compliance services for government and commercial clients. Their NEPA services cover a full spectrum of document preparation and project management.

We have extensive experience in managing and executing NEPA compliance requirements to produce legally defensible documents. The firm handles the preparation of various NEPA documents, including: 

• Categorical Exclusions/Exemptions

• Environmental Assessments (EAs)

• Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs)

• Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)

• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

NEPA Core Services encompass key aspects:

• Scope: 

NEPA requires federal agencies to look at how their actions might affect the environment, including the natural, physical, and human (social, cultural, economic) surroundings. 

• Purpose: 

The law's main goal is to ensure that environmental factors are given full consideration in the planning and decision-making process for federal projects. 

• Documentation: 

Depending on the potential impact, NEPA requires different levels of documentation, including an Environmental Assessment (EA) or a more detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). 

• Process: 

The NEPA process involves several steps:

• Defining the need for the action. 

• Analyzing potential environmental impacts. 

• Evaluating reasonable alternatives. 

• Providing for public participation and feedback. 

• Application: 

NEPA applies to federal activities, including the approval of permits that involve federal funds or actions, and has been applied to a wide range of projects like highways, buildings, and airports

Expert Services:

Archaeological and Cultural Resources Management

Copacetic Environmental provides comprehensive archaeological and historic preservation activities, such as conducting inventories, background research, site testing, data recovery, and consultation with stakeholders to ensure compliance with federal laws like the National Historic Preservation act (NHPA). 

Archaeological and historic preservation: 

This includes conducting inventories, background and archival research, site testing, data recovery, and preparation of various plans (e.g., research designs, monitoring plans). 

• Compliance and consulting: 

They help clients meet federal requirements under laws like NHPA Sections 106 and 110, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

• Stakeholder consultation: 

Services involve coordination and consultation with government agencies, Native American tribes, and all other interested parties. 

• Documentation and reporting: 

The company prepares technical reports, documentation for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and other necessary documents. 

• Field and lab support: 

They conduct archaeological fieldwork, provide photogrammetry, and ensure the curation of artifacts. 

• Clients: 

Copacetic Environmental serves a diverse client base, including federal agencies, state governments, commercial entities, and Native American tribes.

• Expertise: 

Staff meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and they have experience in both prehistoric and historical archaeology.

 Expert Services:

Geographic Information System (GIS) 

Copacetic Environmental leverages GIS for a wide range of applications throughout a project lifecycle: 

• Solution to identify risks: In your potential project site quickly and confidently. Discover and assess project sites in minutes.

• Site assessment and remediation: GIS is used to map contaminated sites, model pollution plumes (e.g., groundwater), and visualize erosion patterns. This information helps in designing effective cleanup and restoration strategies.

• Environmental impact assessment (EIA): By overlaying layers of spatial data—such as topography, hydrology, and wildlife habitats—GIS allows for the prediction and visualization of a project's potential environmental effects. This helps in developing mitigation strategies and communicating potential impacts to stakeholders.

• Permitting and regulatory compliance: We use GIS to collect and analyze environmental data from sensors, field reports, and existing site conditions. This helps in generating regulator-ready reports and ensures projects meet local, state, and federal regulations.

• Natural resource management: We use GIS for habitat mapping, tracking species migration, and planning ecological restoration. This is crucial for conservation efforts, especially when integrated with data from drones and remote sensing.

• Risk assessment and emergency response: GIS streamlines the process of identifying and assessing environmental hazards, such as flood zones or wildfire-prone areas. This allows for proactive planning and faster, more effective responses during disasters.

• Planning and development: GIS helps identify optimal locations for infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and land development. By visualizing various environmental factors and constraints, consultants can minimize potential impacts.