Environmental Intelligence, LLC (EI) was awarded a three-year contract for project management and biological and cultural services related to Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Hazardous Tree Removal Program and Drought Related Hazardous Tree Program (HTRP/DRHTP). The assignment responds to USDA Forest Service finding that up to 30% of native and non-native trees in SCE’s service territory have been adversely affected by current drought conditions including large-scale bark beetle infestations in most National Forest areas. The HTRP/DRHTP is driven by regulations issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that mandate utilities to eliminate public hazards associated with dead, dying, and diseased trees within utility corridors.
EI’s Principal, Mr. David Levine, states, “The need to protect utility infrastructure and public health in the face of ongoing vegetation changes in California presents an urgent and escalating challenge. EI is grateful for the opportunity to work with the National Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and SCE to provide cost-effective solutions for managing of this infrastructure sustainability program.”
EI has managed this program since 2014 and supported SCE in successfully expanding the program to all National Forests within their service area. Mr. Justin Smith, EI’s Senior Project Manager will continue to manage the program. Mr. Smith has designed and implemented a web-based information system for sharing real-time field data and GIS information between biologists, tree-cutters, foresters, and program administrators. “EI’s team is dedicated to supporting SCE and multiple Federal and State regulatory agencies to manage this 3-year contract. EI’s team includes a regional network of biologist and archaeologists linked by cutting edge data-sharing and operational systems”
EI is a mission-driven and fast growing environmental consulting firm with offices in Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, and San Diego, California. EI has projects throughout Southern California and a diverse client base in the renewable energy development, utility infrastructure, oil & gas, residential development, and public sectors. EI provides biological consulting, CEQA/NEPA compliance, construction monitoring, wetland delineations, and habitat restoration services.
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