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Our
Approach
Sustain...to continue without lessening, to nourish, to
allow to flourish.
"In the context
of sustainability, ‘sustain’
does not mean that nothing ever changes. Nor does it mean utopia,
that nothing bad ever happens. Sustainability is not about maintaining
the status quo or reaching perfection. A sustainable community seeks
to maintain and improve the economic, environmental and social characteristics
of an area so its members can continue to lead healthy, productive,
enjoyable lives there."
SOURCE: Sustainable Measures, a private consulting
firm that provides research and education on community sustainability
indicators.
Client focus
Your strengths are our starting point. We start where you are right
now and build on your strengths to maximize benefits and efficiencies
while minimizing or eliminating the need for mitigation measures.
Proactive Solutions
Your project descriptions provide an opportunity to showcase your
efforts. You save money and time when you assess environmental compliance
issues before investing in detailed engineering or land use plans.
By identifying potential issues early, you satisfy multiple parties
and interests while avoiding costly surprises and delays.
SEI conducts up-front feasibility assessments to identify environmental
constraints and benefits. We advise you on ways to write project descriptions
that will avoid the pitfalls that trigger extensive environmental
review. We work with regulatory review agencies on your behalf to
ensure that your engineering design and economic analysis fully address
environmental concerns. We suggest sustainable design elements that
can generate community support and save money once your project is
operational.
Viable Options for Stakeholders
You build support for your project when you present stakeholders with
realistic options that fully address scientific facts, legal requirements,
and economic viability.
SEI wants your project to succeed now and to prosper over time. When
challenges arise, we find workable solutions that are legally defensible
and grounded in solid science. Whenever possible, we work with you
before any mitigation measures are required. If mitigation appears
necessary, we look for ways to make the outcome a win-win. We adhere
to the highest research protocols to ensure that the regulatory review
process remains meaningful and on task. We pride ourselves on producing
technical reports and community outreach materials that are accessible
to professional and lay audiences alike, and present complex information
in succinct and visually effective formats.
Sustainable Practices
You meet your long-term goals more efficiently and effectively when
you set up systems that operate on a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. Once
your plan or project is operational, SEI designs dynamic “continual
improvement” systems tailored to keep
your project on track. Some of the systems we use include:
• Integrated resource management plans
• Adaptive management for long-term monitoring projects
• Preparation of general or master environmental plans
• Sustainable environmental master plans for merging permitting
requirements into your strategic planning process
• Environmental management systems (ISO 14000) for improving
efficiency
 By
implementing systems that continually improve
your planning and management of environmental
resources, you meet your long-term goals more
efficiently and effectively.
Why consider sustainable practices?
 Sustainable
practices, fast becoming the norm, are those that add value to the
“triple bottom line”
of places, people and profit. One cannot succeed at the expense of
the other. Common sense tells us that nothing lasts without sustaining
all three.
 All
U.S. government agencies are now required to meet tiered sustainability
goals, including the development of environmental management systems
that conserve resources and protect public health. Many states, local
jurisdictions and industry leaders are adopting sustainable practices
as a practical approach to achieving long-term viability.
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