Bioregional Planning Associates (BPA) is a small, woman-owned, specialty-serviceconsulting firm that focuses on ecosystem-based planning, policy formulation and environmental analysis.   The principle consultants are Christina McGinnis, M.U.P. and Michael V McGinnis, Ph.D.

BPA provides clients with services for the following:

• Environmental Planning and Compliance Documentation
• Coastal and Marine Ecosystem-based Management Plans
• Watershed-based Plans
• Public Hearings, Workshop Planning, Development and Coordination
• Policy Formulation and Analysis
• Non-Profit Group Support and Strategic Planning

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANTS

Our interdisciplinary team provides practical, cost-effective, timely, and efficient services for local, state and federal government and non-government organizations in each of these areas.   BPA has extensive working knowledge of environmental legislation, including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. BPA also provides many other services, including public seminars and special workshops on pertinent topics, and other specialized analyses.

Michael McGinnis has a Ph.D. in Political Science with an emphasis in ocean and coastal policy and management.   He is currently Acting Director of the University of California, Santa Barbara's Ocean and Coastal Policy Center at the Marine Science Institute. He has successfully acquired funding from local, state and federal foundations to conduct research and policy analysis on large-scale ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration. He has published over 60 essays on ecological restoration, watershed planning and organizations, community-based planning, coastal marine ecosystem management, and conservation policy. He serves as advisor and board member to several government and non-government organizations, and has been a consultant on a number of federal and state ecosystem plans and coastal marine policy documents.

Christina McGinnis has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. She has extensive experience in every aspect of environmental review, and has managed all stages of private and public projects while ensuring applicable regulatory requirements are met in a timely manner. She has performed impact analyses for all environmental issues required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and has served as Project Manager for numerous large-scale ecosystem plans and environmental documents. Ms. McGinnis has applied various state, federal and local planning laws, codes and regulations to determine project significance and impact levels, and has working relationships with regulatory agencies. She also served as project manager for Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (comprehensive ecosystem policy planning documents) for two military bases. She was formerly the Program Manager for the Conservation group of the Tetra Tech, Inc. Santa Barbara office, where she oversaw the NEPA/CEQA and natural resources staff.

 

CONSULTING SERVICES

Please find below a detailed sampling of available services offered by Bioregional Planning Associates. This list is by no means exhaustive, so please contact us if you seek assistance with related services.

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTATION

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)
• Environmental Assessments (EAs)
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)-Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs)
• Negative Declarations (NDs)
• Land-use, Coastal and Marine Management and Planning
• Hearing Support/Preparation of Environmental Hearing Materials and Script
• Project development and description assistance
• Assessment of potential ecological and socio-economic impacts for proposed projects and alternatives

INTEGRATED COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT PLANS

• Preparation of large-scale coastal and marine ecosystem management plans
• Preparation of Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans [INRMPs] designed to enhance biological and cultural diversity and ecosystem health
• Comprehensive synthesis and analysis of scientific information
• Policy formulation and analysis
• Public outreach strategies (e.g., planning for public forums and hearing venues) that can support collaborative and community-based partnerships

WORKSHOP PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION

• Public forums, workshops and discussions on management issues and planning concerns.

POLICY FORMULATION AND ANALYSIS

• Conservation Biodiversity Policy Formulation and Analysis
• Ocean and Coastal Policy Analysis
• Restoration Policy Formulation and Planning

 

 

Documents Available for Download and Related Resources

BPA Vision Statement and Consulant Profiles (PDF)