Project Specifications

Client: Bureau of Land Management

Location: San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties

Services: Planning & Public Policy, Geospatial Sciences & Data Analysis

This project completed a plan consolidation effort that began in 2016 for the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. The consolidation included all amendments to the CDCA Plan of 1980 as Amended (sans project-specific amendments) through the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area amendment of 2020. The Aspen Team supported the BLM with preparing and finalizing the following deliverables:

• The reader version of the consolidated CDCA Plan- A consolidated version that has been made easy to read and follow due to heavy writer/editor work of deleted, added, and moot plan elements.

• The red-line version of the consolidated CDCA Plan- A consolidated version that is strictly a red-line document. The red-line version serves as the legal version of the CDCA Plan as Amended.

• The consolidated project file (i.e., administrative record).

Detailed services provided:

• Incorporated an annotated history of the CDCA Plan and its amendments throughout the consolidated CDCA Plan elements.

• Created 37 new or revised figures utilizing updated ArcGIS data that were included in the consolidated CDCA Plan.

• Conducted a thorough review of the CDCA Plan elements to correct errors and finesse the language to ensure that the consolidated document is readable.

• Managed and organized the Administrative Record for the CDCA Plan consolidation containing 9,334 files.

Project Specifications

Client: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

Location: City of Los Angeles

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Planning & Public Policy, Air Quality & Climate Services, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Compliance & Construction Monitoring

In our continuous commitment to supporting key energy and water infrastructure projects, Aspen is proud to have been awarded five on-call contracts since 2003 by the largest municipal utility in the U.S., the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Our partnership with LADWP encompasses a comprehensive suite of environmental planning and compliance services tailored to meet the unique challenges and requirements of the city's vast utility infrastructure.

As part of our current Environmental Assessment and Air Quality Services contract, Aspen brings its extensive expertise to bear in guiding the LADWP through the intricate pathways of both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), California ESA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, etc. Our role includes the execution of specialized technical studies, the preparation of critical environmental documentation, and oversight of compliance monitoring during both the pre-construction and construction phases. Our efforts are designed not only to facilitate compliance but also to champion sustainable development practices across projects.

Aspen has also played a pivotal role in the Barren Ridge Renewable Transmission Project (BRRTP). This key system of electric infrastructure, spanning approximately 75 miles from Barren Ridge Switching Station to Rinaldi Substation and 12 miles from Castaic Power Plant to the proposed Haskell Switching Station, is a testament to LADWP's commitment to reinforcing renewable energy transmission capabilities across Los Angeles and Kern Counties.

Aspen's contributions to LADWP projects have been both diverse and impactful, including but not limited to:

• Biological and Environmental Assessments: Conducting pre-construction surveys to identify habitats of special-status species, such as the Desert Tortoise, Mojave Ground Squirrel, American Badger, and Burrowing Owl alongside inventorying rare plant occurrences, including Joshua Trees.

• Compliance Monitoring: Oversight of construction and provision of comprehensive biological and cultural resources compliance monitoring throughout project development.

• Air Quality and Noise Monitoring: Implementing studies to establish baselines and monitoring construction impacts in urban environments.

• Cultural and Historic Preservation: Carrying out cultural and historic resources surveys, documenting archaeological and historic structure findings, and preparing associated technical studies, including across the federal lands of the US Forest Service and BLM.

• Urban Ecology: Conducting tree surveys, appraisals, and compiling tree study reports.

• Regulatory Compliance: Preparing NEPA clearance documents for activities on National Forest System lands and aligning project requirements with federal, State, and local mandates.

• Training and Support: Offering specialized training modules for LADWP staff on CEQA and technical analysis, including unique training on visual and scenery management for federal land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, and Jurisdictional Delineation field and classroom training.

Through our three most recent contracts since 2014, Aspen has been instrumental in providing LADWP with unparalleled professional services. Our collaboration extends from conducting specialized studies and technical reports to ensuring meticulous CEQA and NEPA documentation and compliance monitoring. This ongoing partnership underscores Aspen's commitment to supporting the largest municipal utility in the United States, ensuring that environmental stewardship remains at the forefront of LADWP's operational excellence.

Under our current contract awarded in August of 2022, Aspen further solidified this partnership by delivering a two-part classroom and field training module specifically designed for LADWP's Environmental Planning and Assessment Office to provide knowledge training on jurisdictional delineations. This initiative underscores our dedication to enhancing the competencies of LADWP personnel through technical knowledge transfer to help ensure the utility's projects not only meet regulatory requirements but also contribute positively to the environmental and social fabric of the City of Los Angeles’s goal for stewardship. This commitment is further exemplified in our support of the Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study (LA100), a pioneering effort led by the LADWP and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The LA100 initiative aims to steer the City of Los Angeles towards achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035 (as part of Mayor Garcetti’s pLAn), with a focus on sustainability, reliability, and affordability in the City's energy transition.

Project Specifications

Client: California Public Utilities Commission

Location: Riverside County, San Bernardino County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Planning & Public Policy, Air Quality & Climate Services, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Compliance & Construction Monitoring, Public Participation & Involvement

Aspen prepared an Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) on behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the SCE West of Devers (WOD) Upgrade Project. The project would result in removal of three sets of 220 kilovolt (kV) towers (615 individual structures), and two sets of 220 kV double-circuit towers would be con­structed to replace them, all within an existing 48-mile corridor. The project is primarily in Riverside County, but it includes a short segment in San Bernardino County. The purpose of the WOD Upgrade Project is to increase the transmission capacity for this corridor, which would carry more renewable power from the eastern Riverside County area and the Imperial Valley into southern California load centers.

The eastern starting point of the project is the Devers Substation (in North Palm Springs), through lands of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Loma Linda, Redlands, and San Bernardino. The corridor includes just over one mile on BLM-administered lands at its eastern end. In addition to the 220 kV system improvements, other project elements include upgrades of smaller subtransmission lines and improvements at local substations, and installation of telecommunication lines and equipment for the protec­tion, monitoring, and control of transmission lines and substation equipment.  Issue areas addressed in the EIR/EIS included agriculture, air quality, biological resources, climate change, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, land use and BLM realty, mineral resources, noise, paleontological resources, recreation, socioeconomics and environmental justice, transportation and traffic, utilities and public services, visual resources, water resources and hydrology, and wildland fire. The Draft EIR/IES was published in August 2015 and written comments were received from 56 different parties. The Final EIR for CEQA compliance was published by the CPUC in December 2015, including responses to comments. The BLM issued a separate Final EIS in July 2016.

Construction on the West of Devers Upgrade Project began October 2017, with the start of substation upgrades and telecommunication improvements. Establishment of laydown yards started in February 2018. Subtransmission, distribution, and remaining telecom started in April 2018. Construction of the approved transmission system upgrades began in May 2018, with completion scheduled for four years later, in 2022.  Aspen is pro­viding on-site envi­ron­mental mon­i­tor­ing during project con­struc­tion to ensure com­pli­ance with project Mitigation Measures, applicant-proposed measures, approved permit conditions, and compliance plans. Aspen reviewed Notice to Proceed (NTP) requests for construction to ensure preconstruction compliance requirements had been satisfied, including plan review, and prepared recommended NTPs for the CPUC and BLM Project Managers.  Aspen also reviews and field validates project change requests during construction and provides the CPUC Project Manager with recommended approval/denial letters, as well as prepared monitoring reports documenting construction status and compliance activities, which are posted on the CPUC’s project website.

Project Specifications

Client: San Diego Unified Port District

Location: San Diego County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Air Quality & Climate Services, Public Participation & Involvement

On behalf of the San Diego Unified Port District (District), Aspen prepared an Initial Study (IS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Mitsubishi Cement Corporation at Warehouse C: Bulk Cement Warehouse and Loading Facility Project (Project). The Project’s environmental review was tiered-off of the District’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT) Redevelopment Plan and Demolition and Initial Rail Component Final Program EIR. The Project site is located at 645 Switzer Street within the District’s TAMT, and involved two phases of improvements to Bays C-7 through C-10 of Warehouse C for the receipt, storage, and distribution of cement and cementitious materials. At maximum operation, the Project would be able to import and distribute up to 500,000 metric tons of cementitious material annually.  

Aspen was responsible for the preparation, publishing and distribution of all environmental review notices, as well as the IS, Draft EIR and Final EIR (including its Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program). In addition, Aspen was responsible for supporting District staff during all public workshops, meetings and hearings, including the preparation of their respective public hand-out materials. Key issues that were evaluated in the EIR include air quality (including a Health Risk Assessment), greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and traffic and transportation.   

Project Specifications

Client: Trinity Public Utilities District

Location: Trinity County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Air Quality & Climate Services, Geospatial Sciences & Data Analysis

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and the Trinity Public Utilities District (TPUD) are initiating a right-of-way (ROW) expansion and vegetation management Project to reduce fire risk to the surrounding communities and public lands, as well as to increase electrical reliability to maintain critical services in local communities. The areas surrounding TPUD and WAPA’s systems are particularly vulnerable to fire risk due to the dense vegetation and steep terrain. The project would effectively reduce fuel loads within the ROWs of these utility systems, create a potential firebreak, and minimize the risk of a wildfire caused by power lines. Recent wildfires have indicated that the current minimum buffer clearances are not sufficient to prevent destructive wildfires. Therefore, WAPA and TPUD are proposing the following approach to reduce the risk of wildfire by integrated vegetation management.

• Expansion of the WAPA Trinity-Weaverville 60kV transmission line ROW from the current 80 feet to 130 feet.

• Expansion of the WAPA Lewiston 60kV ROW from the current 80 feet to up to 130 feet.

• Access road improvements on the WAPA Trinity-Weaverville 60kV by re-aligning roads through gentler terrain and reducing the number of tight switchbacks.

• Expansion of TPUD’s distribution line ROWs from the current 20 feet to up to 130 feet.

• Access road maintenance for the TPUD transmission and distribution system.

• Formalize a comprehensive operation and maintenance program for TPUD and WAPA.

Expanding the WAPA and TPUD transmission and distribution system will significantly reduce wildfire risk, increase the reliability of delivery power under WAPA’s contract, protect the system’s infrastructure, improve transmission access roads, and reduce safety and health risks from wildfire for the surrounding community. 

On behalf of the project, and in compliance with NEPA and CEQA requirements pertinent to cultural resources, Aspen has teamed with PAR Environmental Services to conduct a Class I cultural resources inventory, and is currently conducting a Class III pedestrian archaeological and built-environment survey of the 375-mile long project corridor.

As part of this project, Aspen’s GIS team has been managing field mapped vegetation, waters, special-status species, and cultural resource data observed along the right-of-way corridor. They also set up mobile mapping applications for field crews to efficiently collect data and sync in real-time.

Upon completion of the survey, Aspen will prepare final Class-III reports for submittal to WAPA, TPUD, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Northwest and Northeast information centers of the California Historical Resources Information System.

Project Specifications

Client: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

Location: Los Angeles County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Air Quality & Climate Services, Public Participation & Community Involvement

The USACE is in receipt of a Third-Party Permittee Section 408 Permission from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), through the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD), the non-Federal sponsor. The Third-Party Permittee is requesting permission from USACE to construct an approximately 1.2-acre multi-benefit park on property owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks in the community of Pacoima in the City of Los Angeles, California. The multi-benefit park would allow for recreational opportunities for the local community, create a habitat for wildlife, and improve the water quality in Pacoima Wash. This would include native landscaping, smart irrigation, decomposed granite path, and fencing. Stormwater management components would include new or replaced storm drains, reconstructed curbs, gutters, driveways, and sidewalks, and a stormwater network consisting of forebays, bioswales, and basins. Under current conditions, dry and wet flows into the Pacoima Wash are impacted by debris and pollutants. As such, there is a need for improvements to the vacant parcel to construct a multi-benefit space to improve the water quality of Pacoima Wash.

Aspen prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment for the MRCA, an Archaeological and Built Environment Cultural Resources Assessment Report, and tribal outreach letters.

Project Specifications

Client: Rosendin

Location: Los Angeles County

Services: Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Compliance & Environmental Construction Monitoring, Client Support

Aspen supported the Gaskell West Solar Project by providing compliance inspection services for biological, cultural, and paleontological resources. The 100 MW Gaskell Project is located in the western Antelope Valley, Kern County, and was constructed in 2022/2023. Aspen conducted a preliminary biological site assessment and prepared and implemented the Worker Environmental Awareness Training and Education Program (WEATEP). Other services Aspen provided include preconstruction biological resource surveys for desert tortoise, burrowing owl, nesting birds and raptors, and other wildlife; biological monitoring and reporting; cultural and paleontological monitoring and reporting; and work environmental awareness training.

Project Specifications

Client: Western Area Power Administration

Location: San Joaquin County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Planning & Public Policy, Air Quality & Climate, Client Support

In September 2010, Aspen was awarded a contract to provide on-call National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Environmental Services for Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Sierra Nevada Region (SNR). One of the projects under the on-call contract included the preparation of an EIS/EIR for the San Luis Trans­mis­sion Project (SLTP), a proposed 62-mile transmission line between WAPA SNR’s Tracy and San Luis Substations and an 18-mile transmission line between San Luis Substation and Dos Amigos Substation. The SLTP was proposed to provide the electricity to economically and reliably deliver federal water supplies to water customers in the Central Valley and Bay Area while benefiting from reliable grid operations in the region. The project area crosses the Delta-Mendota Canal, which is operated by Bureau of Reclamation and the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority (Authority).

Aspen engaged in a successful partnership with WAPA SNR, the Authority, and other stakeholders to move the environmental process forward. In addition, because of our strong experience with linear infrastructure projects, we were able to anticipate environmental issues that are specific to these types of projects and to address them through a comprehensive and robust environmental review process.

Aspen developed a wide range of alter­natives to avoid and minimize conflicts with habitat conservation easements, impacts to visual resources, and disruption of recreational opportunities within the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area. Seven alternatives, including the No Action/No Project Alternative, were retained for consideration in the EIS/EIR and seven were eliminated. Aspen delivered the EIR/EIS and associated technical studies on schedule and under budget. The project received agency support and had minimal opposition.

Project Specifications

Client: Palmdale Water District

Location: Los Angeles County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources, Air Quality & Climate Services, Planning & Public Policy, Compliance & Construction Monitoring, Client Support

Aspen is providing design, CEQA/NEPA, permitting, and mitigation monitoring services to Palmdale Water District (PWD) for sediment removal at Littlerock Reservoir. Located on National Forest System (NFS) lands of the Angeles National Forest (ANF), Littlerock Reservoir is a man-made feature formed by the impoundment of water by the Littlerock Dam.

The Reservoir also provides debris control and flood protection for downstream areas. PWD operates Littlerock Reservoir, which conveys water to Palmdale Lake for treatment and use as potable water to PWD customers. The Reservoir has a design water storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet. However, this capacity has been substantially reduced over time by the accumulation of sediment behind Littlerock Reservoir during seasonal inflows. Currently, the Reservoir storage capacity has been reduced to approximately 3,037 acre-feet due to sediment buildup.

The proposed project would remove approximately 1,165,000 cubic yards of sediment that has accumulated within Littlerock Reservoir to restore design water storage capacity to 1992 levels. Prior to sediment removal, to prevent disturbance upstream of Rocky Point and preserve critical habitat of arroyo toad (a federally-listed endangered species), a subterranean grade control structure would be constructed at Rocky Point. This design feature was added to the project based on Aspen’s recommendation and design. Sediment would then be removed annually by truck after Labor Day until seasonal water refill of the Reservoir suspends removal efforts (estimated between mid-November and January 31). Under the Proposed Action, annual sediment removal for approximately 7 to 12 years will be implemented to restore Reservoir design storage capacity. Sediment removal activities would occur six days per week, up to 12 hours per day, starting after Labor Day until seasonal water refill of the Reservoir suspends removal efforts (estimated between mid-November and January 31). Removed sediment would be reused as feasible and/or disposed at nearby exhausted mining quarries in the City of Palmdale. Following initial sediment removal to restore the Reservoir, an estimated 38,000 cubic yards of sediment would be removed every year to maintain design storage capacity.

Since 2004, Aspen has been assisting PWD in in designing the proposed Project and developing best management practices. Project design support has included overseeing development of Project alternatives, design of the proposed grade control structure, preparation of a sediment removal plan, and assisting PWD with preparing and selecting a construction contractor. As part of evaluating Project alternatives, Aspen considered several different sediment removal methods (including slurry line and boat dredge) and evaluated several sediment disposal methods (such as conveyer belt to adjacent side canyon for disposal). The proposed Project was developed to reduce potential environmental impacts, protect upstream habitat of the federally-listed arroyo toad, and to ensure the most efficient method for restoring the design water storage capacity of the Reservoir for PWD.

Aspen kicked off the environmental review process with scoping in 2013, and provided an Administrative Draft EIS/EIR to PWD. Subsequently, Aspen published the Draft EIS/EIR in May 2016, the Final EIS/EIR was published in May 2017, and the Record of Decision was issued in June 2017. During this process, Aspen supported PWD and the U.S. Forest Service in conducting extensive public outreach based on our Forest-approved Public Involvement Plan, including two separate scoping meetings, one Draft EIS/EIR public meeting, all meeting materials and handouts, and several public/agency informational site visits to the Reservoir to discuss the Project and public/agency concerns, and support to the ANF: during the ROD Objection Period, preparation of a full administrative record, and preparation of 508-compliant documents.

Aspen prepared the environmental analyses and agency decision documents under CEQA and NEPA. The Final EIS/EIR analyzed 12 key environmental resource areas. Key environmental considerations of the Project included biological resources, recreation, air quality, and transportation/traffic. The Project requires closure of the Reservoir to the public during annual construction and sediment removal, between Labor Day to when seasonal water refill of the Reservoir suspends construction activities (estimated between mid-November and January). The EIS/EIR required specific analysis and mitigation to evaluate potential impacts to public recreation and fulfill the requirements of the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Water Resources. Additionally, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board found fish within the Reservoir to be contaminated with Mercury, and are currently designated unsafe for consumption by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. As part of this Project, Aspen biologists will oversee the removal of all invasive fish species and will assess the need for additional fish removals annually.

Aspen obtained all necessary permits to cover actions of the Project, including a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) 404 Regional General Permit, and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) 401 Permit, and recently obtained permit amendments due to some construction variances. Currently, Aspen is overseeing the mitigation monitoring and enforcement program prepared for the Project, which incorporates mitigation measures and standard project commitments (SPC) developed during the CEQA/NEPA process to proactively protect sensitive resources at the Reservoir and reduce or avoid environmental impacts associated with proposed activities. This includes conducting worker training and oversight of mitigation and permit compliance requirements throughout annual construction and sediment removal. The Grade Control Structure component of the project is currently under construction.

Project Specifications

Client: Santa Barbara County

Location: Santa Barbara County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Public Participation & Involvement, Planning & Public Policy

Strauss Wind, LLC, an affiliate of BayWa r.e. Wind, LLC, proposes to construct and operate a 102 megawatt (MW) wind energy project, the Strauss Wind Energy Project (SWEP), south of the City of Lompoc. The Project site is the location of the previously proposed Lompoc Wind Energy Project, which was approved by the County in 2009, but never constructed. Aspen prepared the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the LWEP and it was certified by the County in February 2009.

The Project's Wind Site is located on 2,970 acres, consisting of 11 properties, and the Project's transmission line corridor would be located on 11 properties, starting at the Wind Site and running east and northeast to the City of Lompoc. The major components of the project include:

• 30 wind turbine generators (WTGs) up to 492 feet tall;

• a new 7.3-mile, 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line to interconnect with the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) electric grid;

• an approximate 1-acre substation;

• an approximate 1.4-acre switchyard;

• an approximate 0.4-acre operations and maintenance building;

• widening of existing onsite roads and construction of new roads; and

• reconductor (replacing wires and poles) for 0.8 miles along PG&E's existing Manville 115-kV power line from the proposed switchyard to PG&E's Cabrillo substation in the City of Lompoc; and upgrades to the Cabrillo substation.

The SWEP's facilities, including all wind turbine generators (WTGs), the power line, and most access roads would be located in the Inland Area of the County and subject to the Santa Barbara County Land Use and Development Code (LUDC). Some grading of access roads would extend into the Coastal Zone and be subject to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance.

Aspen prepared a Supplemental EIR for this project, including response to comments and a Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program. Aspen also assisted in the public review process by attending the public review meeting for the Supplemental EIR and the board hearing for approval of the project.

Project Specifications

Client: San Luis Obispo County

Location: San Luis Obispo County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Air Quality & Climate Services, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Public Participation & Involvement, Client Support, Planning & Public Policy

Under contract with the County of San Luis Obispo, Planning and Building Department (County), Aspen is assisting the County with application review, environmental review, and support with multi-agency coordination for the decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP), a nuclear energy power plant off the coast of San Luis Obispo County. PG&E proposes to decommission (withdraw from service and make inoperative) and dismantle (break apart, decontaminate, and remove) much of the existing DCPP.

The Proposed Project considered in the EIR includes three sites: (1) the DCPP site; (2) the Pismo Beach Railyard; and (3) the Santa Maria Valley Railyard Facility at Betteravia Industrial Park and would occur in two phases: (1) Phase 1: Pre-planning and Decommissioning Project Activities (2024 – 2031), and (2) Phase 2: Completion of Soil Remediation, Final Status Surveys (FSS), and Final Site Restoration (2032 – 2039). The structure of the EIR was paramount in providing clear and complete analysis of the impacts of each phase at each individual site while considering the whole of the action. These impacts included aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, and noise, to name a few. Summary tables were developed to provide the breakdown of impacts, allowing the public to more accurately and quickly digest information to understand what the key impacts are and where they are happening.

This project is highly controversial and required extensive coordination with resource agencies, Native American groups (AB 52 consultation), and the surrounding residential communities. Aspen has been providing extensive AB 52 support and, during the scoping period, conducted five virtual meetings.

Project Specifications

Client: San Bernardino County

Location: San Bernardino County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources

Aspen prepared the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and technical reports (Biological Resources Technical Report and Wetland Delineation) for the Elder Creek project. Aspen also prepared permit applications for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Lake or Streambed Alteration, Incidental Take Permit for San Bernardino kangaroo rat), Regional Water Quality Control Board (Section 401 Water Quality Certification), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act).

Aspen wrote a draft Biological Assessment to support Section 7 consultation between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential take of San Bernardino kangaroo rat. Aspen also prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment on behalf of the County for the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers to support compliance with Section 404 (b)(1) guidelines of the Clean Water Act. Lastly, Aspen prepared a Long-Term Management Plan and Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan in support of the Section 401 WQC and Section 404 Individual Permit. By the completion of the contract (June 30, 2021), all regulatory permits had been obtained and the project began construction in the Fall of 2021.

Project Specifications

Client: Brookfield Power US Asset Management LLC

Location: Riverside County

Services: Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Environmental Review and Permitting, Air Quality & Climate, Construction Monitoring

Aspen conducted the permitting for the 30-MW wind repower project on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Resource Area of Riverside County, including US Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Incidental Take Permit (ITP) and Streambed Alteration Agreement, Regional Water Quality Control Boards Waste Discharge Requirements, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determination of no jurisdiction. Aspen also prepared the Environmental Assessment for BLM, IS/MND for CDFW, and associated technical reports, including biological resources, cultural resources, and air quality.

For decommissioning of the 460 legacy turbines, Aspen prepared the ITP Amendment and associated CEQA Addendum, prepared the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and conducted required inspections and reporting, and conducted cultural monitoring. For construction of the new turbines, Aspen completed preparation and processing of all preconstruction compliance requirements and is currently providing environmental compliance oversight

Project Specifications

Client: County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning

Location: Los Angeles County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources, Public Participation & Involvement, Client Support, Geospatial Sciences & Data Analysis, Planning & Public Policy

Under contract with the County of Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning, Aspen supported the County with the preparation of a biological assessment, noise technical study, and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the County’s update to the Santa Monica Mountains North Area Plan (NAP) and Community Standards District (CSD). The Santa Monica Mountains North Area includes 33 square miles of unincorporated Los Angeles County lands from the 101 freeway corridor south to the Coastal Zone boundary. The North Area includes a mix of land uses – urbanized areas, rural residential, ranches, vineyards, and open space as well as California State Park lands and portions of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area administered by the National Park Service. The NAP and CSD will serve as the basis for streamlining and facilitating future development in the Santa Monica Mountains North Area.

Aspen prepared a detailed biological assessment documenting plants and wildlife in the North Area and presented a tiered habitat ranking system and sensitivity indicators to assist with identifying protection levels for sensitive species. The County used the Information from the biological assessment to develop resource protection policies in the NAP and development standards in the CSD for the protection of biological and recreational resources. Aspen participated in three community meetings with the County held at the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District to address the approach to managing sensitive resources in the North Area and to provide preliminary findings of the biological assessment. In addition, Aspen prepared a noise technical study; the County used this study to develop noise thresholds for the CSD. The report was prepared in coordination with the County of Los Angeles Public Health Department. The study included previous noise measurements collected by County Public Health at/near event venues as well as multiple afternoon/evening noise measurements collected by Aspen.

Aspen supported the County with the conduct of a scoping meeting for the project EIR, which was held at the Los Angeles County Field Office in Calabasas. The scoping process was documented in a scoping summary and included in the EIR as an appendix; during scoping, 89 comment letters were received and 25 members of the public provided oral comments during the scoping meeting. A summary of the scoping comments was provided to the technical authors for consideration in preparing the EIR technical sections. (County prepared summary, Aspen prepared the scoping appendix for the EIR.)

Aspen prepared a Draft EIR that evaluated the impacts of implementing the updated policies in NAP and updated development standards in the CSD. The EIR evaluated 14 environmental issue areas. Wildfire was a key issue in the evaluation because of the destruction caused by the 2018 Woolsey fire. Other key issues included noise and traffic from event venues, protection of wildlife resources and trees, management of equestrian uses, and controlled growth. The NAP and CSD included updated policies and standards to address the concerns identified by North Area residents and resource agencies. Aspen supported the County with the public meeting before the Regional Planning Commission; Aspen presented the findings of the EIR and responded to comments from the commission. During the Draft EIR comment period, 87 written comment letters were received from agencies and the public as well as oral comments received during the public meeting. Aspen prepared a Final EIR that included the response to comments, changes to the Draft EIR, and the mitigation and monitoring plan (response document). Aspen supported the County at the decision hearings before the Regional Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. The County Board certified the EIR and approved the NAP-CSD.

Project Specifications

Client: San Bernardino County

Location: San Bernardino County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Biological Resources

Aspen assisted the County with the preparation of CEQA (MND) documents for two bridge replacements at Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch, located on the San Bernardino County maintained National Trails Highway (NTH), known as California U.S. Highway 66/National Trails Highway, and traditionally known as Route 66. The condition of CA Highway 66/NTH bridges is of critical concern to the entire eastern and central portion of the High Desert. The projects were funded in part through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Local Assistance support. All project documents were prepared to meet Caltrans formatting and content requirements, and were reviewed and approved by Caltrans.

In addition to the MNDs, Aspen prepared technical reports in compliance with Caltrans formatting and content requirements, including an Initial Site Assessment (ISA), Location Hydrologic Study (LHS), Summary Encroachment Report, Water Quality Assessment (WQA), Natural Environment Study (NES), and a Jurisdictional Delineation (JD) for each bridge.  Final MNDs were prepared in April 2016 and approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on April 19, 2016. Aspen also assisted the County with biological resources permitting. At Caltrans request, Aspen prepared Biological Assessments (BA) to support USFWS consultation for potential impacts to the threatened desert tortoise. The USFWS concurred with the conclusion that the projects may affect, but are unlikely to adversely affect, desert tortoise. In addition, Aspen prepared the notifications to CDFW for the projects’ LSAA. The final LSAAs were executed by CDFW and the County in April 2016.

Aspen recently prepared a CEQA Addendum to address rebuilding of the bridges due to failure from the original design. Aspen also updated the cultural resources technical report and biological resources technical report for both bridges.

Project Specifications

Client: California Coastal Conservancy

Location: Ventura County

Services: Cultural Resources, Biological Resources

Aspen managed the preparation of the Ormond Beach Wetlands Restoration Feasibility Plan for the California State Coastal Conservancy. Ormond Beach is located along the southern coast of Ventura County, California, adjacent to the City of Oxnard. Development of the plan involved a technical team of ten environmental consulting firms and coastal habitat restoration experts. The team completed over 15 resource/issue-specific and interdisciplinary tasks, including: characterization of existing conditions and infrastructure; establishment of short- and long-term restoration goals and recommendations; identification of potential land management partners and funding sources; examination of potential soil and water contamination issues associated with the project site; identification of regulatory requirements and processes; identification and development of six restoration alternatives; and establishment of evaluation criteria and metrics for comparison of alternatives.

The plan addresses six alternatives ranging between 772 and 1,759 acres of land, including constrained and unconstrained versions of a new tidal lagoon, seasonally open wetlands and ponds, and enhancement of non-tidal wetland habitats. The plan additionally addresses a “No Project” alternative. Development of the alternatives involved extensive hydrodynamic modeling and physical process analysis, cost analysis and estimates for implementation, identification of the specific types of habitat types to be created or restored, consideration of sustainability and sea level rise, and preliminary design plans.

Project Specifications

Client: Truckee Donner Public Utility District

Location: Nevada County

Services: Energy Resource Planning & Utility Analysis

Aspen is part of a two-firm team developing the first ever Integrated Resource Plan for the public utility district in Truckee, California. Aspen is providing overall leadership, support to resource contract negotiations, and developing the forecast of district electricity consumption. Truckee is a unique mountain community located on the major east-west interstate traffic route through the Sierra Nevada, known for both summer and winter recreation. As such, a large percentage of homes are occupied only part-time, and both the forest and snow load mean rooftop solar is not an option for most homeowners. Aspen used automated meter data to develop a monthly and hourly forecast of load by customer class (almost entirely residential and small commercial). The load forecast is an input to a resource model, to which Aspen also provides insight into the resources to consider and scenarios to offer for public review. Another consideration is electric vehicle (EV) load: small EV charging stations require as much as 4 MW of capacity to charge vehicles. Several charging stations exist already and Aspen is projecting how many stations the District should add to allow residents, visitors and potentially even large electric trucks interstate-bound to charge during winter when batteries are less efficient. The Aspen Team will be presenting its results in late 2023.

Project Specifications

Client: California Energy Commission

Location: Sacramento County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Client Support. Planning & Public Policy

Aspen provided technical support to the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Energy Research and Development Division’s (ERDD) Electrical Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program.  The CEC’s EPIC program invests in scientific and technological research to accelerate the transformation of the electricity sector to meet the state’s energy and climate goals. EPIC-funded research is helping to expand renewable energy, build a safe and resilient electricity system, advance electric technologies, decentralize the electric grid, improve the affordability and health of California’s communities, as well as support local economies and businesses.

For the past five years, Aspen has helped the CEC evaluate the technical and CEQA adequacy of over 900 separate proposals submitted in response to 31 competitive research and development grant offers issued by the CEC. In addition to conducting the technical reviews of the 31 grant proposals, Aspen has also provided technical editing and Americans Disability Act (ADA) compliance services to assist the ERDD’s publishing team on over 120 reports.

The following is a list of grant tops evaluated by Aspen in the 2015-2022 contract:

• Cost effectiveness of Hydro, Geothermal, and Wind Energy

• Energy Efficient Technology Demonstrations

• Renewable Generation Market

• Wind Energy Technologies

• Energy Use and Costs in the Industrial, Agricultural and Water Sectors

• Clean Energy Technology Adoption

• Enabling Solar as a Distribution Asset

• Microgrids in Support of California’s Energy and GHG Policies

• Solar as a Distribution Asset

• Modeling Tools to Evaluate Distributed Energy Resources

• Biomass-to-Energy Systems for the Forest and Food Waste Sectors

The following programs are being added to Aspen’s newly awarded EPIC contract:

• Clean Hydrogen Program

• Community Energy Resilience Investment (CERI) Program

• Carbon Removal Innovation Support Program (CRISP)

• Industrial Decarbonization and Improvement of Grid Operations (INDIGO)

• Climate Innovation Program

• Staff Workshop on Food Production Investment Program

Project Specifications

Client: Bureau of Land Management

Location: San Benito County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Planning & Public Policy

On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office (HFO), Aspen prepared a resource management plan (RMP) Amendment and associated EIS to guide management of oil and gas resources on BLM-administered mineral estate within the HFO. The EIS/RMP Amendment analyzed the effects of alternative oil and gas management approaches to update the reasonably foreseeable development scenario (RFD) and the existing 2007 Hollister RMP in order to incorporate new information about well stimulation technologies, natural resource conditions, and socioeconomic trends.

The final amended RMP identified which lands are open or closed to oil and gas leasing and which stipulations would be applied on oil and gas exploration and development activities in order to protect environmental resources. The planning area initially was proposed as the area encompassed by the HFO. The BLM may also use this process to consider amending RMPs for other field offices in California with oil and gas leasing and development (e.g., Bakersfield, Palm Springs-South Coast, Mother Lode, and Ukiah Field Offices).