Ascent

What is a “rare” species? In the context of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this became a central question in the recent court decision, Nassiri v. City of Lafayette, et al., First District Court of Appeals, June 27, 2024. The Section 15380 definition of “Endangered, Rare or Threatened Species” has long been a part of the Guidelines. This section also mandates lead agencies to consider a species endangered, rare, or threatened if it can be shown to meet the qualifying criteria described therein, even when the species is not listed under either the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) or federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Public agencies serving as a CEQA lead or responsible agency carry the responsibility to consider a species’ qualification as endangered, rare, or threatened under CEQA based on the facts of the project. This responsibility raises important issues for the environmental practitioner. From an environmental practitioner’s perspective, this court decision is a cautionary tale about the importance of the precise wording of CEQA Guidelines definitions. When seeking to conclude if a species qualifies as “rare” under Section 15380 or not, careful analysis of the explicit provisions in Section 15380 is the key. Our article explores the issue of “what is a rare species under CEQA” and offers practice pointers. Read our full analysis on rare species under CEQA here: https://lnkd.in/efW3pR3s

There is still time to join Ascent's Christopher Mundhenk and other industry experts for the California Association of Environmental Professionals webinar on 'How to Write an EIR'! Whether you're new to EIRs or looking to refine your skills, this webinar promises valuable insights from seasoned professionals. 🗓️ Date: Thursday, August 15th ⏰ Time: Noon - 3:30pm PST Topics include: - Time and place for an EIR - Essential components - Issue area section analysis guidance - Cumulative impacts - Alternatives - Public agency perspective - Administrative record - Handling post-certification changes Bonus: Earn 3.0 AICP and 1.0 MCLE credits! Registration information is available at www.califaep.org

Ascent is expanding our Natural Resources team in Southern California! We are seeking highly motivated individuals to assist in conducting field surveys, including assessments and impact evaluations for botanical, wildlife, and aquatic resources. If you enjoy using your biological expertise to solve challenging environmental issues and thrive in both independent and team settings, we want to hear from you! Please apply for our Biologist position here: https://lnkd.in/ggqFPdye Please apply for our Sr. Biologist position here: https://lnkd.in/gEcK-tfr

A group of Ascentians took a quick, two-stop ride on the San Diego Trolley to experience the Comic Con buzz at the Convention Center. We spotted Deadpool roaming the streets and were awestruck by the Marvel Contest of Champions Ferris Wheel, adorned with characters from across the Marvel universe. For lunch, we tried the new Baja Rick's Cantina, savoring both the food and the vibrant Comic Con energy surrounding us.   We're grateful to be part of a community that offers such rich experiences right at our office doorstep!

San Diego Ascentians had an extraordinary adventure at the 50th anniversary of San Diego Pride! Our day began unexpectedly when we found ourselves joining the parade, turning a mix-up into an unforgettable experience. As volunteers guiding some of the 350,000+ attendees, we witnessed the incredible energy of one of the nation's largest Pride celebrations. One of our team members, Adriana Alba, summed it up perfectly: "It fills my heart with joy to see people being their authentic selves without fear of judgment."   This marks our second year volunteering at San Diego Pride, and we're honored to be part of this landmark event. Here's to 50 years of Pride in San Diego and to many more years of fostering equality and embracing diversity!

Ascent is thrilled to be part of the 3rd annual Environmental, Engineering, and Planning Internship and Charrette (EEPIC) program! Our intern, along with those from five partner firms (Dudek, Environmental Science Associates, Fehr & Peers, PlaceWorks, and Rincon Consultants, Inc.), is currently participating in an intensive two-week charrette in Sacramento. Last week, we had the honor of hosting the first week of the charrette at our office. This week, the program continues at Environmental Science Associates, where the interns are collaborating on an exciting project with the City of Elk Grove.   We're inspired by the fresh perspectives and enthusiasm these future leaders bring to environmental and planning challenges. After the charrette, all interns will return to their respective firms to finish their summer of learning, growth, and hands-on experience.   We can't wait to see the innovative solutions they develop for Elk Grove and the valuable insights they'll bring back to their teams!

Ascent welcomes Rid Hollands, ENV SP as a Senior Environmental Planner/Project Manager in our San Diego office. With over 13 years of experience in the environmental sector, Rid is a high-achieving and approachable sustainability professional who has managed multidisciplinary teams on a variety of environmental analysis and documentation efforts. In addition to being a skilled technical writer, he is adept in identifying environmental impacts and mitigation measures and in developing pragmatic solutions. Welcome to Ascent! Learn more about Rid at ascent.inc/rid-hollands

Marlie Long has joined Ascent’s San Diego office as member of the Environmental Practice Group. She brings over 9 years of experience leading and working on interdisciplinary consultant teams for a variety of projects—master plan communities, large flood control and water infrastructure, urban development, long-range plans such as general, master, and specific plans and housing elements, and more. Marlie specializes in the management and preparation of programmatic analyses to help clients build strong CEQA foundations to facilitate future streamlining as well as projects that combine urban planning and CEQA. Welcome to the team!   Learn more about Marlie at ascent.inc/marlie-long.

At Ascent, we're thrilled to celebrate Greta Brownlow, PhD, our Senior Environmental Director, for receiving the Outstanding Service Award from UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education.   Greta's enriching curriculum development and deep knowledge of CEQA make complex topics accessible to students. Her commitment to teaching in the Planning and Sustainability Program exemplifies our firm's dedication to advancing the profession through open knowledge sharing. This multidisciplinary program, the largest of its kind in the western U.S., equips professionals with holistic knowledge to address California's diverse planning and land use challenges.   Join us in congratulating Greta on this well-deserved recognition!

Kathy Tang has joined Ascent's San Diego office as an Environmental Planner. Kathy has an educational background in environmental studies and geography from UC Berkeley. She is excited to be working on environmental review for a variety of project types—with a focus on improving public engagement and accessibility. Welcome to Ascent, Kathy!