Natural And Cultural Services

Environmental Impact Assessments
Linear Routing and Project Siting studies
Threatened and Endangered Species Studies
Natural Resources Management Plans
Wetlands Delineation and Planning
Constructed Wetlands and Mitigation Design
CWA Section 404/401 Analyses

Cultural Resources Services Offered:

Tribal Consultation
Traditional Cultural Properties (TCP) studies
Archaeological field surveys
Archaeological monitoring
Archaeological testing and data recovery

Integrative Services Offered:

Environmental Impact Assessments
Linear Routing and Project Siting Studies
NEPA Compliance

Zia understands the need of integrating sensitive environmental resources into decision-making processes. Zia is very experienced in considering the impacts of proposed infrastructure actions on cultural and biological resources and presenting reasonable alternatives to such actions when necessary. Zia can help public and private land owners, planners, developers, stewards, farmers and foresters defend the right to develop and achieve the highest economic and environmental value of their land. Key team members include court-certified expert witnesses for issues concerning cultural resources and threatened and endangered species.

The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requires that a federal agency and its agents assess an undertaking's effect on wilderness areas and preserves, threatened or endangered species, critical habitats, flood plains, natural resources, wetlands and human health. Section 106 of the act requires that an undertaking's potential adverse effect on sites, districts, structures and landscapes of historical or cultural significance be taken into consideration. In addition, these regulations require particular attention be issued to the undertaking's effects on Native American religious sites. Zia is experienced with the inspections and reporting required for NEPA and Section 106 Regulations. Zia provides archaeology, biological evaluations and the mapping sciences that support such cultural and natural resources studies. Zia currently hold permits or is competent to conduct cultural and natural resources investigations throughout the United States.

Archaeological field studies include routine (Class I) to intensive systematic pedestrian (Class III) archaeological surveys. Zia attempts to relocate previously recorded archaeological or architecturally significant properties in the project area and evaluate these properties as necessary. We evaluate the significance of historic and prehistoric resources encountered pursuant to provisions of 36 CFR Sections 106 and 800 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Zia conducts and supervises investigations involving the survey, testing and excavation of sensitive archaeological sites across the United States.

Biological field studies include pedestrian surveys and the identification of unique habitats, fauna, and flora for the purpose of determining if proposed actions would impact critical habitat or plant and wildlife species protected by the Endangered Species Act or state regulations. This work focuses on the occurrence, and potential for occurrence, of any listed species based upon information provided to Zia by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the applicable State departments. The location of identified existing or potential wetland areas, as well as jurisdictional water crossings, are also identified during field surveys, and flagged per US Corps of Engineers guidelines.