Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. completes protected species investigations
July 1, 2006
ERA's Environmental Scientists recently completed investigations of three Federally protected species
WARRENVILLE, Ill. - Engineering Resource Associates' Environmental Scientists recently completed investigations of three Federally protected species: the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid, the Indiana Bat and the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly. As part of a routine request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ERA was notified of the potential existence and impact to these protected species due to development activities.
In many cases, the outcome of these investigations are critical to our clients since permits can and often are held up until the issue is resolved and agency consultation is successfully terminated. The Corps of Engineer (COE) typically require that issues regarding protected species be adequately addressed before permits become valid; hence the need for agency resolution. Adding to the potential difficulty, there is often only a certain time of the year that these investigations can be conducted. For example, the Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid can only be observed during a two week period from late June to mid-July when the plant is in flower. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that if an investigation could not be performed during that period, the COE permit could be held up until studies are completed. Knowing that this would be a significant set-back to our client’s development project, ERA re-prioritized and fast-tracked the project on short notice to meet the client’s needs.
ERA staff is well-qualified to investigate for these and other protected wildlife species and will maintain the necessary communications with reviewing agencies until issues are resolved and permits are issued.
Engineering Resource Associates, Inc. (ERA) is a full-service consulting engineering, environmental science and surveying firm serving Midwestern clients since 1990. With offices in Warrenville, Geneva and Chicago, ERA offers broad experience on a wide variety of projects for public and private sector clients. For more information about ERA, call (630) 393-3060 or visit us online at www.eraconsultants.com.
