The preparation of environmental studies, including Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires the consideration of cultural resources and an assessment of the effects of various project alternatives on these resources. New South Associates has developed a specialized practice in supporting environmental engineering firms and federal agencies in the development of EAs and EISs through the use of cultural resource personnel with experience in both NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Our cultural resource specialists gather existing inventory data on historic properties (including buildings, structures, districts, monuments, and landscapes), archaeological sites, Native American sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, and sites and artifacts associated with Native American graves that are associated with a given project area or areas. Additionally, our specialists consult with agency/installation cultural resource managers to identify any on-going projects that may have encountered as yet unrecorded resources. We also prepare State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Tribal consultation letters for the agency to submit, requesting the input of the SHPO and the Tribes on the proposed undertakings. Finally, we participate in public meetings, providing knowledgeable staff capable of speaking about the cultural resources associated with a particular project. Our staff is well versed at evaluating the potential effects of a variety of alternatives on the full range of cultural resources that may exist for a project and has provided the cultural resource elements of EAs and EISs from across the continental United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico.
With multiple specialists who have experience preparing the cultural resource elements of EAs and EISs, we have the ability to meet challenging schedules, as well as the capability to work on block assignments where a number of EAs are required concurrently in response to a program initiative.