Clementi Environmental Consulting

Testimonial

2026-09-03T15:35:45Z

My husband and I were trying to build a home on property that required wetland impacts. We contacted Ms. Clementi after spending a year and considerable money with another environmental consultant, engineer and architect who did not advance my project. Ms. Clementi recognized immediately the correct strategy for acquiring approval from the county environmental agency and guided us through the process. She found an engineer who too was willing to work on a small project and worked closely with us. Ms. Clementi answered all emails and phone calls immediately and explained everything in simple terms. We discovered there is no project too small for Clementi Environmental Consulting.

Rhodesia Carty Gomez

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Testimonial

2026-09-03T15:34:23Z

Rosanne at Clementi Environmental Consulting is a true expert in her field. She is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and always easy to work with. I am continually impressed by the way she represents our projects during meetings with governmental agencies—she is prepared, professional, and communicates complex environmental matters with confidence and clarity. Beyond her expertise, Rosanne is a genuine environmentalist at heart who truly cares about achieving the best outcome for both her clients and the environment. I highly recommend her.

Becky Jenkins

Mobley Homes

The post Testimonial first appeared on Clementi Environmental Consulting.

Testimonial

2026-09-03T15:31:37Z

Becky Jenkins

Mobley Homes

The post Testimonial first appeared on Clementi Environmental Consulting.

Gopher Tortoise Recipient Sites Are Getting Full

2023-10-18T05:09:33Z

The gopher tortoise is a threatened species in Florida. If there are tortoises on your property you will need a survey to determine the approximate number of tortoises. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requires that all tortoises be relocated to an offsite location. It is best that the recipient site be an approved permitted site or the fees for relocation are much higher.

Development has definitely picked up in Florida! The increased activity seems to have caught some recipient site managers off guard. We are facing a shortage of recipient sites in central Florida.

There is no substitute for good planning. Clementi Environmental Consulting has been performing wildlife surveys for over 20 years. Let us help you with the survey, permitting and planning for the relocation of tortoises on your property. There is no substitute for good, thoughtful planning.

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Extending Corps of Engineers Permits

2023-10-17T13:31:51Z

It has come to our attention that the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is attempting to make modifications to permits when the permittee requests an extension to the expiration date.

Extending an ACOE permit could be costly in Florida. ACOE has required modification of mitigation plans as a condition of permit extensions. In order to extend a ACOE permit that includes on-site mitigation, the ACOE is pressing permittees to use mitigation banks rather than the previously approved mitigation plans.

As a result of this policy change, permittees seeking extensions may incur increased mitigation cost by purchasing mitigation bank credits. In addition, there are state and local permits for the project that will also need to be modified. There could be a positive outcome if you are able to increase the development area. We encourage any existing ACOE permit holders with expiration dates within the next 12 months to begin negotiations with ACOE as soon as possible. You might also consider completing the wetland impacts and mitigation prior to expiration of the permit. Procrastination is not your ally. Clementi Environmental Consulting (CEC) can assist you with analyzing your alternatives.

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EPA Proposes to Change Definition of Waters of the United States

2023-10-17T13:33:52Z

The United States EPA has proposed significant changes to the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOUS) in the Clean Water Act. EPA will tell you that these changes will not expand their jurisdiction or add significant cost to doing business. You be the judge. Here are some of the major proposed changes.

Tributaries defined in this proposed change will include ditches that are adjacent to traditional navigable waters (TNW). Adjacent waters to TNW is now restricted to just wetlands; it now would include all waters. Currently there was no definition of tributary. Here is the new proposed definition: “tributary” based on presence of bed and bank and “ordinary high water mark.” A concrete lined canal would quality as a tributary. The proposed rule defines “significant nexus” as “neighboring,” “floodplain,” and “riparian area”. This definition of tributary adds areas not traditionally considered as WOUS: floodplain and riparian area.

There is no definition of floodplain. Is it the mean annual floodplain; is it the 10-year floodplain; the 25-year floodplain or the 100-year floodplain? Adding riparian area opens a gigantic can of ambiguity. Riparian areas are lands that occur along watercourses and water bodies. Typical examples include flood plains and streambanks. They are distinctly different from surrounding lands because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics that are strongly influenced by the presence of water. Because of their variation across the country, riparian areas function in different ways. In spite of their differences, all riparian areas possess some similar ecological characteristics such as energy flow, nutrient cycling, water cycling, hydrologic function, and plant and animal population. These functions give riparian areas unique values relative to the surrounding landscape. Below is a diagram of the location of riparian areas. This could be attributed to upland areas adjacent to tributaries.

The new proposed rule changes do not make the definition of what is going to be regulated clearer or less ambiguous than the existing rule. The Corps of Engineers staff cannot efficiently manage the permit applications they receive now. Can you imagine the regulatory nightmare that will be created by these proposed changes.

Let Clementi Environmental Consulting help you stay ahead of these proposed changes.

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