Practices > CEQA/NEPA/TRPA
Ascent’s staff offers expertise in compliance with environmental planning laws and regulations including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) codes and policies, and other federal, state, and local regulations.
Our environmental compliance experience includes a wide range of project types: commercial, residential, and industrial developments; educational facilities; water supply, wastewater, and solid waste facilities; correctional institutions; roadway, transit, and rail infrastructure; government facilities and buildings of all types; traditional and alternative energy projects including hydropower, natural gas, solar, wind, and biofuel; land use and policy plans including general plans, specific plans, and redevelopment plans; climate action plans for GHG reduction and climate adaptation; natural resources management plans; ecosystem restoration projects; park, trail, and recreation plans; conservation plans; and more.
Among CEQA lead agencies, we have worked with cities, counties, special districts, regional agencies, and a wide variety of state agencies. In their role as NEPA lead agencies, we have assisted the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ascent staff are experienced in the preparation of environmental compliance documents for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and with the unique body of regulations that apply to the Tahoe Basin, including the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact, Thresholds, Code of Ordinances, 208 Plan, and other planning and regulatory guidance documents.
We stay abreast of the ever evolving requirements of our environmental planning practice, including published CEQA and NEPA case law, changes to the CEQA Statute and Guidelines, agency NEPA regulations, and other laws and regulations. For instance, our principals have been directly involved in CEQA legislative review and guidelines development and regularly instruct and give presentations as part of the UC Davis Extension, American Planning Association (APA), Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP), and client agencies on CEQA and NEPA practice, case law updates, and other topics.