Our CEQA/NEPA practice includes preparing EIRs and Negative Declarations as a prime consultant and also acting as a subconsultant to planning consulting firms in our technical areas (geology, hydrology, public health, air, and noise). Our clients are generally repeat clients, both when we act as a prime consultant and when we act as a subconsultant. In the last ten years, our firm has focused on EIRs for projects which propose management of natural resources. Most of these projects have been located in agricultural settings. Specifically, we have been involved in CEQA review of aggregate mining projects (Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, Placer, San Joaquin, and Alameda counties), aggregate resource management plans (Yolo County), and large dairy development in the Southern San Joaquin Valley (Kings and Kern counties). For these types of projects, we have applied our technical expertise in the evaluation of principal potential impacts related to agricultural resources, hydrology and water quality, geologic hazards, land use conflicts, and public health and safety.

In addition to the natural resource projects, BASELINE has been involved in CEQA review of residential and resort projects which included vineyard development as a component of the projects. In the course of those analyses, we have developed specific performance standards for erosion control, agricultural chemical use, and land use setbacks. We have worked on these types of projects in Alameda, San Joaquin, Sonoma, and Napa counties.

Our interest in management of potential impacts to and from vineyard operations is reflected in a self-funded survey to California public agencies concerning statewide public agency policies and regulations for land use conflicts associated with vineyard operations. The survey presented a questionnaire of multiple-choice and short-answer responses which focused on a range of potential land use conflicts and the public agency response to identified conflicts. The survey was sent to 29 city planning agencies within the 28 California counties that had more than 1,000 acres of wine grapes under cultivation. The results of the survey were published in the Environmental Monitor in the fall of 2002. This article is available if you check the News section on this website.