Compensatory Mitigation
Environmental permits often require project mitigation. When environmental compliance and project outcomes are at odds, Integral transforms regulatory requirements into strategic advantages that reduce and accelerate timelines. We strive to create mitigation options that are agency compliant in order to streamline project permitting, and to attain the best outcomes for natural systems.
Featured Projects
Creating Mitigation Solutions Where Opportunities Were Limited
Housing Development Success Through Strategic Species Management and Compliance
A pre-remedial wetland depression did not have to be retained as a vernal pool in habitat mitigation plans
Technical Leaders
Paula C. Gill, PWS Principal, Permitting and Planning
Valary K. Bloom Senior Consultant
Sadie McGarvey Consultant
Naomi A. Schowalter Consultant
We Know What Agencies Require to Approve Permits
Projects with adverse effects to natural resources (wetlands, waters, and protected species or their habitat) often require complex compensatory mitigation which is critical to attaining project permits to meet delivery schedules. Integral’s Regulatory Specialists include former Federal and State regulators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and S.F. Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Our regulatory professionals have collectively reviewed and approved hundreds of mitigation plans, served on agency technical advisory and review teams, and completed advanced agency training. We deliver comprehensive mitigation solutions for projects ranging from complex transportation infrastructure to private development projects. From delivering permittee-responsible mitigation sites, Conservation and Mitigation Banks solutions, to being on the forefront of Mitigation Credit Agreement establishment, we have the experience for a variety of projects.
Habitat & Species Assessments
We conduct comprehensive habitat evaluations and species surveys that meet agency requirements and provide the scientific foundation for successful mitigation planning and regulatory approval. Our assessments combine field expertise with regulatory knowledge to accurately characterize baseline conditions and support defensible compensation ratios.
- Accurate baseline documentation prevents under-mitigation penalties or costly over-mitigation
- Species-specific protocols meet agency standards the first time, avoiding expensive re-surveys and delays
- Strategic site identification reveals opportunities for favorable compensation ratios, reducing mitigation costs
Partner Identification
We identify and evaluate potential mitigation partners including conservation banks, in-lieu fee programs, and restoration practitioners to match your project needs with viable compensation pathways. Our former agency staff leverage established relationships to navigate partner selection strategically.
- Risk reduction through vetting partner track records avoids mitigation failures and compliance violations
Restoration Design
We design permittee-responsible mitigation sites and advise on conservation bank development with restoration plans that balance ecological success criteria with practical implementation constraints. Our designs integrate agency standards with site-specific conditions to create constructable projects.
- Regulatory approval certainty through designs incorporating agency criteria reduces revision cycles and delays
- Implementation feasibility designed and scaled to site constraints prevents mitigation failure and re-work costs
- Adaptive management frameworks provide compliance flexibility while protecting projects from performance penalties
FAQs
Timeline varies based on project complexity, agency jurisdiction, and mitigation type. Our former regulatory staff experience helps us anticipate agency requirements and streamline approvals, often reducing review times through proactive coordination and comprehensive initial submissions.