Environmental Impact Assessment Studies

Over the past two decades, the Resource Dimensions’ team has conducted over 200 compliance studies for environmental assessments (EAs) and/or impact statements (EISs) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related state and EU-based environmental regulations.

Our clients have included several Tribal governments; federal agencies as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Federal Highway Administration, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and state-based land use, natural resource, revenue and transportation departments in 22 different sates. In addition, we have worked with hundreds of local and regional governments and non-profit partners across the U.S. and abroad.

A few of our recent projects…

SR 28 Eastside Corridor Project EIS
Economic, Social and Environmental Impact Assessments
For the Washington Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, Dr. Gustanski lead the Resource Dimensions team in assessing the local economic and social/community impacts and environmental justice components of the $150M+ transportation improvement project over its 10-year cycle. This included developing and assessing community profiles for East Wenatchee and the larger Chelan-Douglas County region, conducting key-informant interviews and several community-based forums, as well as in-depth analysis of land and buildings, business/industry studies and assessment of impacts and opportunities resulting from the project.

The Resource dimensions team developed all required procedures and conducted all analyses on these three components of he EIS, and worked with the DEA-Bellevue team on other EIS components as recreation, land use, transportation engineers to conduct a detailed impacted parcels analysis along the improvement routes proposed. Resource Dimensions developed the regional I-O model, conducted analysis, and prepared various reports for the DEIS, including the Economic Impacts Discipline Report, Social-Community Impacts Discipline Report and the Environmental Justice Technical Analysis and Discipline Report.

Additionally, the Resource Dimensions team developed the supplemental plan to enhance public involvement and address needs/concerns of Title VI (minority and low-income populations) within the decision-making context, implemented plan, conducted analysis and produced required reports. The three reports produced were highly praised by the WSDOT and FHWA review teams and our community involvement process was deemed as “…one of the best ever witnessed…” by the WSDOT planning review team.

Upper Deschutes, Prineville District Reservoir Resource and Master Management Plan EIS.
For the BLM, Resource Dimensions, conducted social and economic impact assessments and prepared relevant reports on subcontract for the Prineville Reservoir Management Master plan. Miscellaneous economic and social impact analyses were conducted relative to natural resource use, amenity values, recreation, tourism and related trends for seven (7) alternative resource development scenarios proposed for the Prineville Reservoir area. Direct, indirect, and cumulative economic effects of development alternatives on communities within the three-county region were assessed. Resource areas analyzed include land ownership and use, recreation and tourism, amenity values, environmental justice, community development and fire/fuels management. (In cooperation with ESA)

Phases I & II - Lower Snake Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Study and EIS
Social Impact Assessment
For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dr. Harris, lead the social impact assessment team in developing appropriate methods and implementation of the community-based public involvement process. Using a series of community-based forums, and numerous on-site workshops and interviews, held throughout Central and Southern Idaho, Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon, data was collected, coded and content analysis was carried out to determine relevant issues and concerns. A 463-page report on the multi-year social impact assessment was prepared in coordination with the joint Feasibility Study and EIS.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Elkmont Historic District General Management Plan EA
Resource Dimensions staff conducted socioeconomic analysis of cultural, natural, and recreational resources within Elkmont Historic District. Developed research strategy, conducted interviews, site surveys, reviewed historical documents and prepared draft report to the National Park Service to supplement its assessment over the course of its General Management Plan EA.

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area EIS
Assisted in developing the public participation plan and conducting stakeholder focus groups, and conducted integrated analysis of community and social and economic linkages to riparian ecosystem buffers for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Comprehensive Management Plan EIS. The CMP provides the policy framework for coordinated efforts to protect and interpret significant water and related land resources of the corridor and for analyzing other federal, state, or local plans and individual actions in the MNRAA.