Paleontology

We work cross-functionally between you, contractors, and regulators to make sure your project complies with the mitigation measures, permit requirements, and conditions of approval.

• Before construction: A little prevention goes a long way. We love working with you to put plans in place that’ll help you prepare for, and minimize delays.
• Worker training: We routinely prepare pre-construction Worker Environmental Awareness Program (WEAP) training and have trained thousands of workers.
• Heavy equipment sites: We have tens of thousands of hours of experience working alongside heavy equipment and construction personnel.
• Work flow: Our all-digital data collection tools, expert in-field fossil identification and significance determination, and rapid-response practices ensure that if paleontological materials are encountered, delays are minimized or eliminated altogether.
• Safety record: Our safety record is impeccable.

We know the ins and outs of the federal, state, and local regulations, and we’ll bring this knowledge to our recommendations.

We are well-versed in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Paleontological Resources Protection Act (PRPA), the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA), as well as other relevant laws and regulations. We also have a close and regular working relationship with agencies, like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National Park Service (NPS), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and others. And, our impact assessments adherence to the guidelines outlined in the PRPA and follow the specific requirements detailed in BLM Handbook H-8270-1 and Instructional Memorandum No. 2009-011.

Our GIS mapping includes a streamlined approach in order to save you time and money. For example, we use the BLM’s (Bureau of Land Management) Potential Fossil Yield Classification system and geologic maps to create efficient and top-notch map sets for project areas. This allows us to speak the language of the federal government in order to get a quicker turnaround on approvals.

When necessary, we will apply for the permits to recover these fossils if they’ll be adversely affected by your project.

We are committed to excellence; this means we take time to critically analyze the mitigation requirements for each project, and then customize plans to meet those requirements. We apply our regulatory expertise so your project stays compliant, and onschedule.

Our paleontologists are skilled in the surface collection of small fossils, as well as removing large fossils like partial skeletons. We are familiar with tight timelines and work efficiently to accommodate your construction schedules.

We are industry experts, sought out for our paleontology consulting knowledge in dinosaurs, vertebrates and invertebrates, and paleobotany.

Many of our staff have worked at major museum repositories, maintaining excellent working relationships. These repositories include the Tate Geological Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Museum of the Rockies, to mention a few.

Additionally, because of our commitment to lead the industry through innovation, our paleontologists keep us on the forefront of scientific methods and publications.

This is invaluable, because it means you get a streamlined paleontological assessment: we’ll help you focus your project efforts and costs so you know where to locate your construction efforts and where to minimize unnecessary field exploration.

We are well-positioned on two important fronts:

• We have curation agreements with the museums in all the areas we service, which allows for efficient fossil curation practices.
• We also have our own secure laboratory spaces that enable us to conduct matrix washing, microfossil picking, fossil specimen preparation and identification, and repair. We can also temporarily house paleontological collections.

We know the ins and outs of the federal, state, and local regulations, and we’ll bring this knowledge to our recommendations.