Agency Coordination 

Mexican Spotted OwlGMI's professionals have extensive hands-on, working knowledge of federal, DoD, and state regulations and guidelines relative to natural resources management. This experience reflects extensive knowledge of ecosystems and analysis techniques and the ability to work within diverse regulatory environments. GMI collects and presents data with agency coordination in mind to provide regulators with the information needed for regulatory determinations and in a well organized, understandable format that also meets the client’s needs. GMI has experience providing:

  • Biological assessments
  • Biological opinions
  • Section 7 consultations
  •  Wetland jurisdictional determination consultation
Related Projects
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program for the High Plains Region and Republican River Watershed, Colorado
Indian Head Bald Eagle Biological Assessment, Maryland

GMI prepared a Biological Assessment to determine whether activities conducted at Indian Head or Dahlgren are likely to (1) adversely affect Bald Eagle or designated critical habitat; (2) jeopardize the continued existence of species that are proposed for listing; or (3) adversely modify proposed critical habitat. GMI reviewed scientific literature, consulted subject matter experts, and coordinated with installation personnel to conduct a species evaluation for analysis of effects. The factors considered in the species evaluation included proximity and distribution of the action, timing, nature of the effect, duration, disturbance frequency, disturbance intensity, and disturbance severity. The Bald Eagles response to the action included considerations for numbers of individuals/populations in the action area affected, sensitivity to change, resilience, and recovery rate. Recommended mitigation measures were provided for the effect determination.

Wetland Delineation and Jurisdictional Determination, Interwood South, Houston

GMI conducted a wetland delineation on a 10 acre parcel of land in Houston, Texas.  A report meeting the requirements of the Army Corps of Engineers was submitted to the Galveston district, which highlighted the aerial extent of the wetland, its boundaries, vegetation present, GPS equipment used for data collection, and the raw GPS output.  UACSE concurred with GMI that the wetland present was non-jurisdictional.

Biological Assessment for former Vieques Navy Training Range, Vieques, Puerto Rico

A team of biologists conducted threatened and endangered plant, avian, and sea turtle species surveys on the former Navy lands in Vieques.  Data collection consisted of pedestrian transects locating either existing T&E species or suitable habitat for the listed species. GMI provided consultation to the USFWS based on the findings and helped establish guidelines for continuation of Navy work that would least impact protected species in the area.

Essential Fish Habitat Study and Biological Assessment for the Center for Mine Warfare Excellence, Corpus Christi, Texas

GMI provided services necessary for a NEPA assessment of the use of explosive charge detonations associated with mine warfare training exercises off the Corpus Christi, TX, coastline. The assessments involved the preparation of three documents: an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Assessment, Biological Assessment (BA) for Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act consultation, and an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). GMI compiled the appropriate biological information from in-house resources, evaluated the potential impacts, and negotiated mitigation measures that would satisfy the resource agencies while being acceptable to the client. GMI assisted the Navy in modifying the project description to avoid potential impacts while not making training operations too restrictive.