• Due Diligence
• Dock and Boardwalk Permitting
• Ecological Assessment
• Environmental Permitting
• Expert Witness
• Protected Species Surveys and Mitigation
• Seagrass Delineation
• Wetland Delineation
• Wetland Permitting and Mitigation

In today’s regulatory environment, nearly all development projects require some sort of environmental permitting. The most common is the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) issued by the Regional Water Management District (WMD) or Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The ERP reviews wetland and wetland dependent protected species concerns, as well as the surface water management system proposed for a project.

In those projects where wetland impacts are required, it will also be necessary to obtain a Dredge and Fill Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). Simpler projects may qualify for a Non-noticed Nationwide Permit, while more complex projects will require an Individual Permit from the ACOE. EAP can assist with obtaining these permits, including any mitigation design required.

If your project involves protected species, it may be necessary to obtain approval from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) and/or USFWS prior to construction. EAP will provide the appropriate information to the reviewing agency to obtain these permits.

Other regulatory approvals, which may be required in order to construct your project, include authorization to utilize sovereign submerged land, coastal construction permits, or local Water and Navigation Authority permits. EAP has nearly twenty years of experience assisting clients with obtaining these types of approvals.

The presence of protected species on a site does not preclude development, but may affect the extent and configuration of the development and the type of permitting required. The overall impact of protected species on proposed development can vary depending on the species involved, the adopted management plans for the species, and the extent of the species on the site.

The first step in assessing the impact of the protected species on the development is to conduct a protected species survey to determine the population and its distribution on the site. Once a protected species has been documented on a property, it is important to assess the potential impact the project may have on the species. Many species have restricted habitat requirements, and can be accommodated only in well-designed preserves.

Others, most frequently the Gopher Tortoise, can be removed from the property through the permitting process. EAP can design Preserve and Management Plans for the maintenance of protected species in on-site preserves, or assist in the removal of the protected species from the site through the permitting process.