PG&E substation expansion project, Sanger, California

Environmental Permitting Services

Get the permits your project needs without losing sight of the schedule behind them. Soar helps navigate California environmental permitting from early strategy through agency coordination, permit acquisition, and implementation⁠—so requirements are understood early, conditions are workable, and your project keeps moving.

Discuss your project → See the permits
CDFW §2081 take · §1602 streambed USACE Clean Water Act §404 · RHA §408 RWQCB Clean Water Act §401 Water Quality Certification Initial consultations are always complimentary Scroll
Storm drain discharging into a creek channel
Discharge to waters of the state: where §401 and a construction general permit meet.

A permit is more than an approval

We work the process,not just the paperwork.

Permit conditions can affect how your project is designed, when construction starts, how work is performed, and what must happen long after the permit is issued. Getting the approval matters. Understanding what comes with it matters just as much.

Soar works with regulatory agencies from early consultation through permit strategy, technical coordination, application development, agency review, and implementation⁠—helping resolve issues early and shape permit conditions your project can realistically carry into construction.

Understand the requirements early. Solve the hard issues before they become delays. Move into construction with fewer surprises.

Environmental permitting services

Multiple authorities.One permitting strategy.

Environmental permits rarely operate in isolation. Soar helps connect local, state, and federal requirements from early consultation through permit acquisition, compliance, and construction⁠—so one agency requirement doesn’t become another project surprise.

California permitting

  • CDFW §2081 Incidental Take Permits
  • CDFW §1602 Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreements
  • State & Regional Water Board §401 Water Quality Certifications
  • Construction General Permit / SWPPP
  • State environmental permits

Federal permitting

  • Endangered Species Act permitting
  • ESA §7 & §10 consultation
  • USACE Clean Water Act §404 permits
  • USACE Rivers and Harbors Act §408 permissions
  • Federal environmental compliance

Water & discharge

  • NPDES permitting
  • Waste Discharge Requirements
  • Clean Water Act compliance
  • Water Quality Certifications

Permit implementation

  • Agency coordination
  • Permit strategy
  • Permit condition coordination
  • Site-specific training
  • Compliance management
  • Construction implementation

The goal isn’t simply to collect permits. It’s to make sure the permits, conditions, and project schedule can work together.

Experience with complex California permitting

When five authoritiesland on one project.

Permitting gets complicated fast when multiple agencies, species, waterways, and regulatory requirements converge on the same job. Soar has supported state and federal permitting on the California High-Speed Rail Project, where one project can require several approvals to move forward together.

California High-Speed Rail viaduct under construction in the Central Valley
  1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceBiological Opinion
  2. National Marine Fisheries ServiceBiological Opinion
  3. CDFWIncidental Take Permit · Streambed Alteration Agreements
  4. USACEClean Water Act §404 permits
  5. SWRCBWater Quality §401 Certification

That experience matters when your project has more than one agency at the table. We understand how separate permits, conditions, mitigation commitments, and schedules have to work together⁠—not just how to obtain them one at a time.

Valued Partners

“The Soar Environmental team can be trusted to complete all your environmental studies and mitigation. The team will perform your studies, review your project and create a mitigation plan that allows you to begin construction with the confidence that all your environmental compliance and mitigation has been handled in a professional manner.”
Steve MaciasCivil Engineer, Sequoia Consulting
“We have used Soar to assist compliance with California environmental regulations and our experience was very good. Clear and helpful communication, always keeping us informed with the work activities and overall project progress.”
Michel MenezesConvergent Energy + Power
“Soar’s fees are very reasonable considering the level of service, dedication and drive one receives as a client. We will certainly look to Soar again in the future for our environmental consulting needs.”
Loren RoyCEO, M and EM Homes LLC
“The Chukchansi Indian Housing Authority did work with Soar Environmental Consulting and we were very satisfied with the work they completed for CIHA.”
Lorita SilvasPicayune Rancheria Housing Director

Permitting across California

Permits carried to issued.

All projects →
Night stormwater pollution prevention works on an active construction site California High-Speed Rail, state and federal permitting, Biological Opinions, §404 and §401View details → Caltrans highway corridor at Tulare and Mooney Caltrans corridor permitting, ADL at Tulare and Mooney, CaliforniaView details → Olivenhain Dam aerial Olivenhain Dam, water resource permitting and compliance oversightView details → Storm drain discharge to a creek channel Construction general permits and SWPPP compliance, Central ValleyView details →

One integrated team

Part of the full service line.

Permitting is one of six integrated environmental services, so one coordinated team supports your project from first survey through final permit.

Biological field surveyResourcesBiological Resources Archaeological resource surveyResourcesArchaeological Consulting CEQA and NEPA environmental planningPlanningCEQA & NEPA Soil sampling for site assessmentSubsurfaceHazardous Materials Geological servicesSubsurfaceGeological & Hydrological

Know what approvals you need. Know what comes next.

Don’t let permittingbecome the projectbottleneck.

Environmental permitting can involve multiple agencies, overlapping requirements, and conditions that affect design, schedule, and construction. The earlier those requirements are understood and coordinated, the more control you have over the path forward.

Tell us where your project stands, which agencies are involved, and what approvals may be required. Soar will help you clarify the permitting path, coordinate the moving parts, and build a practical strategy to keep your project moving toward construction.

Complete the form and let’s discuss your project.

Discuss your project →

Pasadena · Sacramento · Fresno · Bakersfield
Initial consultations are always complimentary.