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Advice from an Environmental Consulting Firm: Winning a Review

5265582279_1a3c9a12c2_zFor oil and gas companies, winning environmental reviews can be a challenge. Getting the appropriate regulatory bodies the information they need can halt the actual construction project, which in turn wastes the company’s time and money.

These issues usually arise when companies are unaware of what is actually required to win an environmental regulatory review and can’t prepare for them properly in the early days of the project. In this post, we’ll discuss several steps you can take to make sure an environmental site assessment goes your way with the least amount of delay possible. Take a look at these points, but also bear in mind that working with professional environmental consulting firms may be worthwhile.

Things you should do to win an environmental site assessment

1. Know what the requirements are

It may sound obvious, but some oil and gas companies are unsuspecting of the environmental regulations that pertain to their project until it’s too late. Factoring in these issues in advance can help remove many of the headaches involved with environmental site assessment.

One way to do this is by building a good working relationship with the environmental agencies that oversee issues related to the project. Environmental regulations change frequently over time, so keeping up with agencies and how they work is the best way to make sure you’re always up to date on the most recent requirements. Since building good working relationships can take years, you can always consider hiring an environmental consulting firm to help you in the meantime. Working with a firm will allow you to piggyback on their expertise and relationships, helping you understand your environmental review requirements going into a project.

2. Make environmental issues an ingrained part of your project from Day 1

Oil and gas companies sometimes run into problems when unexpected environmental issues arise. Once the project is already in development, it can be hard to go back and tack on environmental compliance as an afterthought.

Instead, oil and gas companies can make sure that they win their environmental reviews by preparing for them every step of the way. This means understanding what environmental issues might be included in the project, and taking steps to make sure those requirements are being met before any work begins on the actual construction project itself. In order to accomplish this, it can be beneficial for organizations to ensure cooperation and openness between planners and engineers. Making sure that the right people are working together and communicating with one another is the best way for environmental concerns to be accounted for long before the review process begins.

3. Use the right technology

Finally, organizations must remember that environmental regulations are so complex that even when one has a complete and accurate understanding of what they are, it can still be difficult to act on them correctly. This is where technology comes into play. Using the right technology helps take the guesswork out of environmental reviews, ensuring that an organization has selected the optimal land use patterns that allow them to meet environmental requirements without sacrificing the success of the project.

Once again, working with an environmental consulting firm can be very helpful in this regard. These firms have experience using the latest technology, and know how to put it to use to support your environmental concerns.

Landpoint offers a level of service unlike other environmental consulting firms, giving you the knowledge and resources you need to ensure a successful outcome for your environmental reviews. To learn more about environmental consulting services from Landpoint, contact us today.

Image Source : Centre for Alternative Technology

An Important Checklist for Hiring Environmental Consulting Firms

environmental consulting firmEnvironmental investigations and navigating permitting regulations can be huge projects, but they do not have to lead to huge headaches, especially if you hire the right environmental consulting firm. During your search, remember that site assessments and regulatory services are often a complex process that can take anywhere from a few months to years to complete, and cheaper does not always mean better. Before you make your choice, consider this checklist to find a firm that is a perfect match for your job.

Checklist for Hiring Environmental Consulting Companies

Staff Availability and Experience

Does the firm have the staff to complete your project? Will they have qualified staff members to dedicate to your project? Ask for current resumes of the staff members who will work on your project, and request references for the project manager.

Time Estimates

Can the consulting firm confidently estimate the time required to complete the project? Will there be a tracking tool to determine each and every stage of the project?

Experience

Does the environmental consulting firms have a demonstrated history of successful projects? Does the staff assigned to your project have experience winning ecological approvals for similar projects?

What experience do they have in meeting your specific needs? Do they work with regulatory agencies? Request a list of references and similar projects completed.

Proposal Amounts

Carefully evaluate the firm’s cost proposal. Remember that cheaper is not always better, and in many cases, going with the cheapest firm will create additional unforeseen costs in the future. You get what you pay for, but the best environmental consulting firms are well worth the investment.

Subcontracting

Does the firm subcontract portions of the work? Are the subcontractor activities competitively bid? Check the experience of the subcontractors the firm works with. Environmental consulting companies that use in-house environmental teams are the easiest to work with.

Innovative Approaches

Does the firm resolve issues using a broad spectrum of technologies and resources, including wetland, plant ecology, wildlife, cultural resources and regulatory consulting services? How do they evaluate and eliminate potential risks throughout the process?

Warnings

Beware of firms who take hard-sell approaches, minimize or over-blow potential legal or technical problems, present overly optimistic timelines, have a strong bias for or against certain techniques or are not familiar with applicable regulations. These are all red flags that, if heeded, will save you from paying for expensive mistakes or investing more in the future to improve poor-quality work.

Landpoint’s environmental consulting services exceed all these criteria. Contact us today to learn more about our professional environmental services and how our team can help you navigate the regulatory process with ease.

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