Other Services: [ Compliance Monitoring ] [ Phase I and II Site Assessments ] [ Wetland Services ]

Two of DESCO's biologists measure the diameter of a large Sycamore Tree while analyzing vegetation plots.

Environmental assessments (Eas) conducted prior to the commencement of development or exploration activities help to identify sensitive areas, as well as valuable resources that may need protection (i.e. endangered or threatened species, artifacts, etc.). Identifying these issues before they become problems allows all parties involved to take a pro-active approach. Addressing potential problems in advance helps to minimize impacts, and in turn reduces remediation and mitigation costs typically incurred upon project completion

DESCO’s biologists conduct several types of environmental assessments for natural resource management purposes, as well as for regulatory compliance of state and federal statutes (i.e., NEPA, ESA, CWA, CAA, MBTA, CERCLA, 404 permitting, and others):

• Threatened and Endangered Species - to identify the presence or absence of state or federally listed species and/or appropriate habitat.
• Habitat - to determine and characterize the various habitat types present in a given area.
• Vegetation - to sample, identify, characterize and map existing vegetation of a given area.
• Wildlife - to sample, identify, characterize and map existing species present in a given area.
• Fisheries – to sample, identify, characterize and map existing aquatic species of a given watershed or water body.
• Water Quality - to assess the quality of a given watershed or water body and/or to identify the presence/absence of pollutants in excess of permitted quantities.
• Soils (Wetland and Horticultural Studies) – to sample and characterize soils to determine if hydric characteristics are present in wetland areas or to determine if appropriate soil parameters are present to support specific vegetation.

Impact Assessments

In addition to natural resource assessments, DESCO also conducts impact assessments. When assessing impacts, DESCO’s scientists consider the nature and intensity of the impact to estimate recovery times, as well as remediation/mitigation efforts necessary to compensate for the impact.

Click to enlarge Aerial photo of airboat paths in a tidally influenced Marsh.

Impact assessments may be conducted prior to development or exploration activities in order to predict potential impacts associated with any given project in a natural environment. For example, one may evaluate several types of equipment to determine which will result in the least amount of impact to the environment of the project area.

Impact assessments may also be derived from the comparison of pre-and post-project evaluations. This type of impact assessment is an important resource to industry, landowners, and agencies for the following reasons:

1. It helps to insure that companies conducting activities in an area are not held liable for already existing damage, and are being given a fair assessment of impacts that may have occurred as result of their presence in the area.
2. It provide landowners with the documentation necessary to assure that any adverse impacts are mitigated or compensated for.
3. It give agencies information needed to make decisions on remediation or mitigation requirements.