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About Us

For nearly 30 years, Mr. Montijo has worked on projects throughout the United States and in Latin America, beginning with his work on numerous private and local government projects in the early nineties that included natural resources inventories and preparing technical reports. Over the next 20 years, he took this experience and applied it to Department of Defense projects throughout the United States, with occasional projects in the Caribbean and Europe. Currently, he focuses on projects in Southern California and Mexico, where his work includes projects for energy transmission and generation clients (including Southern California Edison, NextEra, and others), oil and gas industries (e.g., Total, Chevron, Shell and Maxon Consulting), Department of Defense Clients and state and local governments. He has worked for San Bernardino County Special Districts, City of Ventura, SB Flood Control District and the City of Rialto.

Mr. Montijo is experienced in conducting environmental studies that require spatial analyses including species modeling and advanced GIS techniques. He has substantial experience conducting arid land surveys and habitat restoration. He works with clients and regulators, including personnel from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Biological Studies

General and Specialized Studies

I am prepared to assist you in collecting and presenting the data required to evaluate your project. I am experienced in many habitats of the Southwestern United States and can conduct defensible studies that address many different species. I employ advanced data collection techniques and use novel approaches to analyze, confront, and solve your project challenges completely and efficiently.

Reporting

Careful Project Review in an Environmental Context

Since 1990, I have provided my clients with a wide range of natural resources support services tailored to their specific needs, including:
Conservation Plan Resource Documentation
Natural Resources GIS Support
NEPA and CEQA Studies and Sections
Proponent Environmental Assessments
Rare Plant and Vegetation Mapping
Habitat Restoration Plans

Permitting and Compliance

Expert Permit Preparation and Compliance Execution

I strive to maintain excellent working relationships with regulatory agency staff. Carefully listening to and synthesizing agency and project proponent feedback are keys to successful preparation of permits and execution of their conditions. My experience includes:
Endangered Species Monitoring and Conservation
Endangered Species Permitting and Compliance
Federal Clean Water Act Permitting and Compliance
Migratory Bird Treaty Act Compliance
Conservation Easements

Service

Exceeding Expectations

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Project Highlights

Recent Environmental Projects

Field efforts are underway to verify mapped vegetation types within a protected area in Los Angeles County. The preliminary effort employed four-band aerial image-based vegetation classification to arrive at the generic vegetation types shown on the map.

Vegetation Mapping, Glendora, California

Field collected data of purported small mammal use were uploaded to GIS. The data were then used to develop a hot-spot map that shows concentrations of this federally-listed species to aid project planners in avoiding plans that affect sensitive areas.

Protected Wildlife Habitat Use, Riverside, California

This project restores federally-listed thread-leaved brodiaea on a 3-acre area in the San Gabriel Foothills. It follows a comprehensive plan developed in conjunction with state ecologists. The work involves planting and seeding of select species and removal/control of invasive species.

Thread-leaved Brodiaea Restoration, Los Angeles County, California

Recent Presentations and Publications

Mitigation Liability for Impacts to Natural Resources from Wind Energy Projects in Mexico

Presented at AWEA 2016

Wind Energy and other types of development projects often result in negative effects on native flora and fauna. Nevertheless, comparable to permitting processes in the United States, mechanisms exist to reduce impacts on ecosystems caused by construction and operation of development projects in Mexico. Alteration (removal) of native vegetation (also referred to as a (Cambio de Uso de Suelo), requires a special study (Estudio Tecnico Justificativo or, ETJ) that provides justification for this conversion. The ETJ outlines proposed land uses and associated impacts and provides assurances that biodiversity is not compromised directly or indirectly by the action in review. The details of the requirements are outlined in Articles 117 and 118 of the Ley General de Desarollo Forestal Sustentable (General Law of Sustainable Forest Development).

Mexico's Environmental Statutory and Regulatory Framework

June 2016

This presentation is an overview of environmental regulation in Mexico. It discusses the environmental review process, timelines, and possible outcomes. The presentation discusses Mexico's General Law on Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection of 1988 (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente), which sets forth the right to a healthy environment (Article 4), promotes sustainable development of economic activities (Article 25), and empowers Mexico’s Congress to issue legislation establishing concurrent authority of the federal, state, and municipal governments, within their respective jurisdictions, to protect, preserve and restore environmental equilibrium (Article 73).

Navigating Mexico's Environmental Review Process in the Context of Recent Energy Reform

February 2015

Comparable to U.S. policy, energy developers operating in Mexico must undertake environmental assessment, permitting, and mitigation as part of project permitting. Recent landmark energy reforms end the Mexican government’s 75-year energy monopoly and open the way for foreign investment. Foreign and domestic energy developers can now participate in Mexico’s energy market and U.S.-based companies poised to capitalize on available contracting opportunities must consider compliance with a suite of applicable environmental policies and their associated costs.