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Organizational Background
<br />Rincon Consultants, Inc. is a multi -disciplinary environmental sciences,
<br />planning, and engineering consulting firm that provides quality
<br />professional services to government and industry, Founded in 1994,
<br />Rincon has grown to a firm of over 180 professionals located in ten
<br />California. Our professionals are experienced in urban, land use, and
<br />environmental planning; regulatory compliance; biological resource
<br />evaluation and habitat enhancement; cultural resources evaluation and
<br />planning; soil evaluation and remediation; and related studies including
<br />problem -solving services in geology, hydrology, and waste
<br />management,
<br />Qualifications to Provide
<br />Environmental Services— Housing Division
<br />Founded:1994
<br />Legal Form: California "S" Corporation
<br />Professional Staff: 190
<br />Callfornia Offices: 10 (Los Angeles,
<br />Carlsbad, Redlands, Ventura, Santa
<br />Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey,
<br />A core business area for Rincon is environmental review for housing I Oakland, Sacramento; and Fresno)
<br />projects and our firm has provided environmental consulting services for
<br />these types of projects for over 23 years, During this time, we have developed a reputation for successfully completing
<br />the environmental analysis and permitting processes for housing projects throughout California. Our philosophy on all
<br />projects is to encourage early agency and public scoping, and to develop and maintain close communication among the
<br />local lead agency, engineering consultants, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to ensure technical adequacy and
<br />timely review of required project deliverables. This approach has enabled us to identify and avoid costly and time-
<br />consuming constraints early in the environmental review process and to minimize or avoid potential conflicts with funding
<br />deadlines.
<br />Our team of highly qualified professionals includes a talented management team with extensive experience managing
<br />and preparing environmental documentation required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
<br />National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Our staff has prepared hundreds of documents under these regulations,
<br />including Initial Studies, Negative Declarations/Mitigated Negative Declarations (NDIMNDS), Environmental Impact
<br />Reports (EIRs), Categorical Exclusions and Exemptions (CE), Environmental Assessments/Findings of No Significant
<br />Effect (EAIFONSI), and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), We also have key technical experts with a high level of
<br />experience managing and executing projects In the southern California, including Orange County. Key staff members
<br />hold years of expertise in the areas of project management, historical resources assessment, archaeological resources
<br />assessment, hazards and hazardous materials, noise, air quality, greenhouse gases, and other relevant technical
<br />issues,
<br />Scope of Services
<br />Environmental Documentation
<br />CEQA
<br />CEQA documentation could include Categorical Exemptions (CEs), Initial Study -Negative Declarations (IS-NDs), or
<br />Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs).
<br />Categorical Exemptions
<br />A number of CEQA CEs may apply to housing projects in urban areas, including those found in CEQA Guidelines
<br />sections 15194, 15195,15301-15303, and 15332. For example, Class 32 CEs may be used for environmental review for
<br />urban infill development meeting certain conditions. CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 states that such a CE is
<br />appropriate when
<br />a. The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as
<br />well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations.
<br />b, The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially
<br />surrounded by urban uses,
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