NEPA and Environmental Support Services

Souder, Miller & Associates (SMA) helps public and private clients move projects from concept to completion with practical, agency-compliant National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related environmental support services. Throughout the Mountain West, SMA supports infrastructure, transportation, water, wastewater, energy, land development, tribal, municipal, state, federal, and private-sector projects with environmental documentation, resource studies, permitting support, and coordination with reviewing agencies.

Our team understands that environmental compliance is more than a procedural requirement—it is a critical part of project planning, funding, design, schedule management, and risk reduction. SMA works with project owners, agencies, developers, utilities, contractors, and other engineering consulting firms to identify environmental constraints early, develop defensible documentation, and help keep projects moving.

Agency-Compliant NEPA Documentation

SMA prepares NEPA and NEPA-related documents that are tailored to the requirements of the lead agency, funding source, project type, and affected resources. Our experience includes documentation and support for agency processes such as EPA, USDA, BLM, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state environmental review programs, and the New Mexico State Environmental Review Process.

Services may include:

  • NEPA screening and environmental review support
  • Categorical Exclusion documentation
  • Environmental Assessments
  • Environmental Impact Statements
  • Purpose and need development
  • Alternatives evaluation
  • Affected environment and environmental consequences analysis
  • Mitigation planning and documentation
  • Public involvement support
  • Agency coordination and response to comments
  • Environmental commitments tracking
  • Supporting technical studies and resource reports

Whether SMA is serving as the prime consultant or supporting another design or planning team, our goal is to provide clear, complete, and review-ready documentation that aligns with agency expectations and project delivery needs.

Biological, Wetland, Cultural, and Natural Resource Support

SMA provides the technical studies and field support commonly needed to complete NEPA and related environmental reviews. These services help identify sensitive resources, evaluate potential project impacts, and support practical avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies.

Our NEPA-related technical services include:

  • Biological resource surveys and desktop studies
  • Threatened and endangered species review
  • USFWS IPaC database review and species list documentation
  • Migratory bird and critical habitat review
  • Rare plant, noxious weed, and habitat assessments
  • Wetland delineations and waters of the U.S. evaluations
  • National Wetlands Inventory, FEMA, Web Soil Survey, aerial imagery, and topographic review
  • Field reconnaissance for hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, ordinary high-water marks, drainage patterns, and site conditions
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coordination and permitting support
  • Pre-construction notice and Nationwide Permit support
  • Class III Cultural resource surveys and desktop studies (Class I)
  • SHPO and agency coordination
  • Recommendations for additional surveys, avoidance, or mitigation when warranted
  • Pre-construction Nest Survey
  • Species-specific surveys (Burrowing Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher)
  • BLM Sensitive Plant Species surveys
  • Biological or Cultural monitoring
  • Phase I, II, or III Environmental Site Assessments

SMA’s environmental professionals coordinate closely with engineers, surveyors, GIS specialists, planners, and project managers to integrate environmental findings directly into project design and delivery.

Regional Knowledge Across the Mountain West

Projects in the Mountain West often involve complex combinations of federal lands, tribal lands, rural infrastructure, sensitive habitats, water resources, cultural resources, utility corridors, transportation facilities, and fast-changing development pressures. SMA brings regional experience and local understanding to projects across New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, and surrounding areas.

Because SMA also provides engineering, environmental, geomatics, and planning services, our NEPA team can work seamlessly with design teams to identify issues early, map constraints accurately, and develop solutions that are technically sound, constructible, and responsive to agency requirements.

Support for Public, Private, and Consultant-Led Projects

SMA supports a wide range of clients, including:

  • Municipalities and counties
  • State and federal agencies
  • Tribal governments and tribal enterprises
  • Water and wastewater utilities
  • Transportation agencies
  • Energy and renewable energy developers
  • Mining and other extractive industries
  • Commercial and industrial clients
  • Land developers
  • Architects and planners
  • Engineering consulting firms needing specialized environmental support

For other engineering and planning consultants, SMA can provide targeted NEPA and environmental task support, including technical reports, field surveys, agency coordination, GIS mapping, permitting assistance, and quality review of environmental documentation.

Practical Environmental Compliance from Planning Through Permitting

SMA’s approach is built around early issue identification, practical communication, defensible documentation, and efficient coordination. We help clients understand what level of review is likely to be required, what studies are needed, which agencies should be engaged, and how environmental findings may affect project scope, budget, schedule, and design.

From initial screening through final agency approval, SMA provides NEPA and NEPA-related services that help clients meet compliance obligations while advancing successful projects across the Mountain West.

Contact Information

Reach out for more information: NEPA@soudermiller.com