What is environmental planning?
It starts before a project is fixed. In transportation, FHWA's Planning and Environment Linkages weigh environmental, community and economic goals early and carry that work into environmental review[4].
For a project, planning becomes environmental review: under NEPA a categorical exclusion, an EA or an EIS[2]; under CEQA an initial study, then a negative declaration or an EIR[3]. Both are forms of environmental impact assessment.
What environmental planners do day to day
On one project: the Park Service's rehabilitation of 42 miles of Mojave National Preserve roads, designed by FHWA. In March 2025, FWS asked for a U-shaped bend at every end of the desert tortoise fence; the design changed and FWS concurred March 27. The EA was out for comment April 9 to May 8, the California SHPO concurred May 13, and the FONSI was signed July 18[6].
The recurring tasks:
- Drafting NEPA and CEQA documents, such as an EA within 75 pages and one year[7]
- Consulting agencies with jurisdiction or special expertise before an EIS[1]
- ESA section 7 and Section 106 consultation[8][9]
- Coordinating environmental permits and the consultations other laws require[10]
- Public comment: an EIS notice of intent; 30 to 60 days on a draft EIR[7][11]
- Mitigation follow-up: CEQA's reporting or monitoring program[12]
Where environmental planners work
On federal projects, a lead agency supervises the document; a project sponsor may prepare it under independent agency review[7]. So planners work as agency reviewers and as consultants who draft.
Where ePlan fits in environmental planning
ePlan handles the drafting: it researches precedent and drafts scoping letters, categorical exclusion decision memos, EAs and CEQA documents, marking every fact it can't confirm. Consultations, permits and decisions stay with your team. See NEPA software.