Horizon has extensive experience in preparing the full range of CEQA compliance documents, including Categorical Exemptions, Addenda, Initial Studies, Negative Declarations and Mitigated Negative Declarations, Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), Program EIRs, Subsequent EIRs, as well as tiered documents and combined CEQA/NEPA documents.

We support all phases of the CEQA process, including initial project planning; public notice preparation, distribution, and filing; conducting public outreach including public meetings and hearings; and developing findings of fact, resolutions, staff reports, Notices of Determination, and other decision documents. We collect, catalogue, and respond to public comments, and coordinate with responsible and trustee agencies. We carefully assemble the Administrative Record to document the decision-making process and support the lead agency in the event of a legal challenge. We regularly provide CEQA analysis and compliance to support court-ordered actions, local planning processes, and on-the-ground facilities.

We pride ourselves on the accuracy and precision of our technical documents. Yet, each of our documents are written for clarity and for the general public to understand the text.

We coordinate closely with our clients to map out CEQA pathways that are efficient, manage risk, and allow for successful project implementation.

For contentious or controversial projects we work with our clients’ legal counsel and have strong working relationships with law firms specializing in CEQA.  We develop briefs to respond to potential legal challenges. Our broad-based experience in the legal aspects of CEQA compliance ensures that our documents are developed to address the procedural and substantive requirements of CEQA from project initiation.

We maintain a comprehensive and current understanding of emerging topics, court decisions, and updates to CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines, including issues such as tribal cultural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic/transportation analysis, and others.

Our permitting experience is founded on a rigorous scientific understanding of affected resources, expertise with environmental regulations, and a successful history of working with regulatory agency staff. Our comprehensive and complete permit applications are designed to minimize follow-up data requests and serve as the basis for successful permit negotiations.

We have developed regulatory programs for State and public agencies, and specialize in obtaining permits for water resources and flood management projects, including capital improvement, maintenance, and operational projects and programs. Our approach to developing programmatic permits for routine maintenance activities saves our clients time and resources, and provides them with the assurance of meeting internal schedules and regulatory milestones.

We provide support for the following permits and agencies:

• Clean Water Act Section 404 and Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers): Nationwide Permits, Regional General Permits, Individual Permits
• Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification (Regional Water Quality Control Boards [RWQCBs])
• Clean Water Act Section 402 (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) and Waste Discharge Requirements (RWQCBs)
• Endangered Species Act Section 7 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service): Biological Assessments, Biological Opinions
• National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 (State Historic Preservation Office): archeological evaluations, assessments of built environmental features, Native American consultation
• Fish and Game Code Section 1602 (California Department of Fish and Wildlife [CDFW]): Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreements
• Fish and Game Code Section 2081 (CDFW): California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permits
• Other regulations and agencies, including:
  • Central Valley Flood Protection Board
  • California Coastal Commission – Local Coastal Programs, Coastal Development Permits, Consistency Determinations
  • Bay Conservation and Development Commission
  • State Lands Commission

Horizon provides NEPA compliance support, adhering to both the procedural and substantive requirements. Our staff stay current on relevant updates to guidelines and case law to ensure all NEPA requirements are met for project deliverables.

Our team regularly completes all phases of NEPA compliance, including developing project descriptions and alternatives, noticing and scoping, technical analysis and preparation of draft documents, noticing and circulation of documents for public review, public hearings/meetings, responses to comments, and preparation of decision documents such as the finding of no significant impact and the record of decision. For projects that are seeking Clean Water Act permits with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we often prepare Section 404(b)(1) Alternatives Analysis reports to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their review and use during permit development.

Because legal challenges to NEPA analyses are always possible, our team identifies key issues and strategies to consider during document preparation. We are very familiar with common approaches used to contest NEPA documents and therefore bring focus and attention to controversial issues to ensure the highest level of compliance.

Horizon has expertise in environmental review for energy facility siting and permitting. From traditional gas-fired generation facilities to the full range of renewable energy generators including solar photovoltaic and wind energy, Horizon is familiar with undertaking comprehensive environmental analysis. We are skilled at evaluating environmental resources and are well versed in regulatory agency requirements for appropriately siting, constructing, operating, decommissioning, and re-powering energy generation facilities in California. Horizon also has expertise in evaluating energy transmission and distribution line projects. Our staff has supported the California Public Utilities Commission, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and local permitting agencies in meeting their CEQA and NEPA obligations for energy facilities. We have managed EIRs and EISs for some of California’s largest and most controversial renewable energy projects, which has included providing public outreach, public information workshops, and expert testimony.

Horizon offers a depth of experience preparing environmental documents for regional and local transportation projects. Our staff has a thorough understanding of the Caltrans Standard Environmental Reference, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) NEPA Regulations (23 CFR 771), and other transportation-specific requirements, including Air Quality Conformity and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. Additionally, we have direct experience with Caltrans-specific processes related to interagency coordination and consultation, including:

• The Programmatic Agreement among FHWA, the State Office of Historic Preservation, the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and Caltrans
• The NEPA/404 Memorandum of Understanding among FHWA, Caltrans, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service Integration
• The Lake and Streambed Alteration Notification Process Improvement Partnership Agreement between Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Consistent with our broader environmental compliance services, Horizon is known for producing clearly written reports and legally defensible environmental documents for transportation projects, and for our understanding of regulatory processes that affect such projects.