Since 1997, AARCHER has provided the wireless industry with a full range of environmental compliance, conservation & planning, and prevention & sustainability consulting services for both proposed and existing telecommunications installations. During the past 17 years, AARCHER has been selected for more than 3,500 assignments by a growing group of clients seeking help in meeting environmental management and compliance goals.
As part of its current work, AARCHER is preparing numerous Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) analyses for proposed actions nationwide. AARCHER routinely performs Phase I site assessments and field studies to provide supporting data necessary for sound environmental management and educated business decisions. Aarcher’s experience with NEPA, and in performing multimedia assessments for telecommunications sector clients nationwide, provides a solid foundation for understanding the roles of Federal agencies, state governments, local regulators, and non-government organizations (NGOs) in maintaining compliance with established regulations.
For additional information regarding these capabilities or pricing, please contact Olivia Ridenhour at (410) 897-9100 x104.
Phase I/Phase II Services
AARCHER’s Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Phase II Site Investigation Services are performed in accordance with established ATSM E1527-13 and ASTM E1903-11 guidelines. Phase I and Phase II capabilities include:
- Participation in the initial project design visit for early identification of potential
environmental concerns - Comprehensive records search and review
- Property reconnaissance by trained and experienced staff
- Site interviews with key personnel
- Accurate, concise, and timely reporting of findings
Discussion of best management practices (BMPs) and approach for addressing recognized environmental conditions (RECs) - Site specific recommendations section addressing unique project characteristics
NEPA Analysis & Documentation
AARCHER’s NEPA Consulting Services, for both proposed and existing telecommunications installations, ensure compliance with established Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines. Our experience with navigating the complex regulatory landscape has allowed us to forge strong relationships with Federal, State, and local entities. These relationships, and our focus on client/project-specific goals, have significantly reduced overall completion timeframes. NEPA capabilities include:
- Participation in the initial project design visit for early identification of potential environmental concerns
- FCC NEPA Screening Reports addressing the environmental effects of the proposed undertaking
- Environmental Assessments (EAs)
- Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
- Programmatic Assessments
- Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) Analysis
- Scoping & Public Participation
- Balloon Tests and Photo simulations to satisfy both zoning and Section 106 requirements
Cultural Resources
AARCHER performs archaeological and architectural history services for clients throughout the United States. Our compliance-based consulting approach ensures that all AARCHER cultural resources services remain centered on the goal of achieving regulatory compliance with historic preservation laws such as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and compiling the information necessary for sound planning decisions. Cultural Resources capabilities include:
- Section 106 Consultation
- Cultural resource inventory
- Archaeological surveys
- Archaeological excavation, testing, and monitoring
- Historical architectural surveys, including HABS/HAER
- National Register nominations
- Existing Condition Assessments
- Determinations of Eligibility for historic resources
- Cultural Resource Management Plans
- Tribal consultation via the FCC’s Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS)
Natural Resources
Our team of environmental scientists and natural resource permitting specialists perform site assessments, coordinate permit application procedures, ensure compliance, and consult with Federal, state, and local resource agencies. Our compliance-based consulting approach ensures that all AARCHER natural resources services are guided both by compliance requirements and practical land management practices. Natural Resources capabilities include:
- Initial project screenings to ensure natural resources compliance
- Threatened/endangered species surveys and impact determinations
- Migratory bird impact determinations
- Wetlands and floodplain review and impact determinations
- Permitting application assistance
Phase I/Phase II Advantages
- Extensive investigative, engineering and remediation experience within the wireless telecommunications industry, having worked with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, LLC, T-Mobile, Sprint and their turnkey site acquisition and construction management vendors
- Extensive experience with large project portfolio management
- Nationwide staff pool of scientists and technical experts capable of mobilizing immediately upon contract assignment to ensure that established project completion deadlines are met
- Streamlined project deliverables and milestone tracking systems
- Phase I/Phase II teams led by broadly experienced field staff, senior reviewers, and engineers knowledgeable in all regulatory areas
- Report quality control/quality assurance monitored and managed by appropriately credentialed senior staff, including technical directors, environmental engineers, compliance specialists, and environmental lawyers
- Experience providing guidance on compliance deficiency root causes and prioritization
NEPA Analysis & Documentation Advantages
- Complete understanding of NEPA regulations impacting wireless telecommunications facilities governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Possess the experience necessary to lead carriers and their turnkey vendors through the complicated regulatory compliance process
- Ability to quickly adjust to project design changes (i.e. tower height increase/decrease, location move, stealthing, etc.) triggered by local, state, of federal opposition
- In-house architectural historians and archaeologists that meet or exceed the professional qualifications published by the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) for architectural history and archaeology
- Natural resources and cultural resources expertise
- NEPA staff with experience providing NEPA implementation training for Aarcher Institute open enrollment courses and for EPA Regional Offices
- Coordinated Federal and state agencies, including USFWS, EPA, and SHPOs consultations on thousands of projects
- Extensive experience consulting with Native American tribes on a national level through the use of the FCC’s Tower Construction Notification System (TCNS)
- Large project portfolio management experience
- Nationwide staff pool of scientists and technical experts capable of mobilizing immediately upon contract assignment to ensure that established project completion deadlines are met
- Streamlined project deliverables and milestone tracking systems
- Report quality control/quality assurance monitored and managed by appropriately credentialed senior staff, including technical directors, compliance specialists, and environmental lawyers
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)(ASTM E1527-13) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Screening Assessments for wireless telecommunications facilities governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) items (1) through (8) of 47 CFR 1.1307(a)
Our team can effectively differentiate between significant and insignificant environmental concerns to customize a scope of work that meets your specific needs and risk tolerances. This ensures that unnecessary time and money is not wasted investigating issues of minimal concern or consequence. Our team uses rapid field assessment measures to obtain faster turnaround and often lower cost data and understands the importance of preserving the evidentiary value of the data collected. In discussions with regulators and in negotiations with third parties, we serve as effective and experienced advocates for our clients.
During the past 15 years, AARCHER has been selected for more than 6,500 assignments by a growing group of clients seeking help in meeting environmental management and compliance goals, including the following:
- American Tower Corporation (ATC)
- AT&T Mobility, LLC
- Bechtel
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- CellularOne
- Cingular Wireless
- Entrex Communications Services, LLC
- Ericsson
- Forest Service (FS)
- Highpoint Communications
- LCG Wireless
- Light Tower Wireless
- Midwest Tower Leasing
- Milestone Communications
- MESA Communications Group
- Mobilitie
- Mountain Union Telecom
- National Capital Park and Planning Commission (NCPPC)
- National Park Service (NPS)
- Network Building + Consulting
- NSORO
- SBC Communications
- Skylink
- Smartlink LLC
- Sprint PCS
- Texhoma Towers
- Velocitel
- Verizon Wireless
- Verizon Wireless’ Retail Store Division
- Verizon Wireless’ Build-to-Suit Tower Operator Contractors
- WHAW Radio