Many clients experience frustration due to government regulations’ complicated, bureaucratic nature. It is often daunting to sort through regulatory agency jurisdictions and their requirements, regardless of the project size or complexity. We have been helping companies like yours navigate the regulatory process for over 4 decades; this is an area where experience matters!
Navigating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process is complex, but you don’t have to go it alone. We’ve successfully guided over 160 projects through the complete FERC relicensing process, giving our clients a clear advantage in securing timely, cost-effective outcomes.
We know what FERC expects. Our team spent 10 years as part of FERC’s environmental contractor team, giving us unique insight into regulatory priorities and how to keep the process on track.
From identifying potential resource issues to designing focused, defensible studies, we help you gather the data and develop practical protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures. Our integrated team combines planning, biology, socioeconomics, and licensing expertise to deliver a comprehensive relicensing strategy tailored to your project’s needs.
The result? Well-prepared documents that meet FERC’s expectations, fewer surprises during review, and a smoother, more cost-efficient path to your next license.
FERC Licensing Services Include:
When your project triggers the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), you need a partner who can navigate the process efficiently and thoroughly. At Kleinschmidt, we bring deep experience preparing Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for a wide range of federal agencies and private-sector clients across the U.S.
We’ve supported projects under the oversight of the U.S. Forest Service, FERC, DOE, FHWA, USACE, NTIA, and others—helping clients meet NEPA requirements while keeping their projects on track.
Our interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and regulatory specialists collaborates with applicants, permittees, agencies, and stakeholders to evaluate environmental impacts, explore viable alternatives, and identify the least environmentally damaging practicable solution. We focus on balancing environmental responsibility with project feasibility so that you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and community support.
NEPA Services Include:
Navigating complex permitting requirements shouldn’t slow you down. Our team delivers an authentic “one‑stop shopping” experience—expertly managing site plans, submittals, and agency coordination so you don’t have to juggle multiple stakeholders.
From day one, we act as your proactive liaison, mediating and negotiating with jurisdictional agencies to ensure your project aligns with your goals and meets all regulatory obligations. Our collaborative, solutions-oriented approach lets regulators participate early in the design and implementation phases, which helps us anticipate and address concerns before they evolve into costly delays.
Backed by a strong rapport with local, regional, and federal regulators, our decades‑deep industry presence enables frank, efficient conversations that lead to decisive resolutions. This means fewer regulatory roadblocks, faster permit issuance, and a smoother path to construction for your project.
Federal/State/Provincial Permitting and Approvals Services Include:
Staying compliant with FERC regulations doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We tailor our compliance management solutions to fit your specific needs—whether you’re overseeing a single facility or a large, diverse portfolio. Our team evaluates the level of support you require, the nature of your project, and the mandates from FERC and other agencies to deliver practical, efficient options that reduce risk, avoid delays, and keep you focused on what matters most: operating and growing your hydropower assets.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting Services Include:
When water rights are at stake—particularly in sensitive ecological and cultural contexts—you need expert testimony grounded in science, credibility, and a deep understanding of the landscape. Kleinschmidt’s multidisciplinary team has provided technical support and expert witness services in major adjudicatory proceedings across the western U.S., supporting the Department of Justice, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and numerous Native American Tribes.
Our scientists and engineers take a collaborative, data-driven approach to every case. From Oregon’s Upper Klamath Basin to the Snake, Salmon, and Spokane River basins in Idaho and as far south as New Mexico’s Rio Chama, we’ve helped quantify instream flow and lake level needs for Indigenous fish species through rigorous technical analysis.
Our team includes hydrologists, hydraulic engineers, fish biologists, riparian and aquatic ecologists, statisticians, and GIS specialists—all working together to provide defensible, science-based evidence in support of tribal water rights and ecosystem resilience.
Expert Testimony Services Include:
Since 2010, Kleinschmidt has helped developers, ports, and stakeholders successfully navigate the complex permitting and compliance processes critical to advancing offshore wind projects.
From early-stage planning to formal environmental reviews, we provide strategic guidance grounded in hands-on experience. We supported the University of Maine with permitting one of the nation’s first floating demonstration projects and have prepared multiple submittals to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for Wind Energy Areas across the Outer Continental Shelf. Currently, we serve as the third-party contractor for the Sunrise Wind Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)—one of the largest commercial-scale projects in development.
Whether you’re a developer, supply chain partner, or public agency, our team helps you anticipate regulatory requirements, streamline permitting, and build trust with reviewing agencies. Our active leadership in industry groups like the Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW), American Clean Power (ACP), and NAEP’s Offshore Wind Working Group keeps us—and our clients—at the forefront of policy, innovation, and best practices.
Offshore Wind Services Include:
