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Mitigation Banking Services Go Coast-to-Coast With New Firm; Westervelt Ecological Services to Have Regional Offices in Alabama, California

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

Gulf States Paper Corporation, a leader in sustainable forest management and conservation practices, has announced the formation of Westervelt Ecological Services, L.L.C., which will provide mitigation banking services on a nationwide scale.

"Mitigation and conservation banking have become important tools in implementing the national policy of 'no net loss' of wetlands and endangered species recovery. This ensures that high quality mitigation is available for essential public and private projects that could have an effect on wetlands, streams and species habitat," says Alicia Cramer, vice president of Gulf States and president of the newly formed Westervelt Ecological Services.

With offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Sacramento, Calif., Westervelt Ecological Services will initially offer mitigation banking services in the active California and Southeastern U.S. markets and expects to provide services throughout the United States in the near future, Cramer says.

Managing the mitigation banking activities on a day-to-day basis will be Craig Denisoff, Greg DeYoung and Greg Sutter, who will serve as vice presidents of the firm, Cramer adds. "These three individuals are among the most experienced and respected mitigation banking specialists in the country and they bring an extraordinary level of knowledge and professionalism to the business.

"The three business group leaders have some 65 years of combined experience in the environmental field, including more than 35 years of collective experience in the wetland and endangered species mitigation banking field," Cramer noted. "Denisoff currently serves as President of the National Mitigation Banking Association, the leading industry trade association for habitat banking, while Sutter is a past President of the Society for Ecological Restoration, California Chapter."

Wetland mitigation is the replacement of wetland functions through the creation or restoration of wetlands and is frequently required as part of a permit for major projects under state and federal laws, such as the Clean Water Act.

Mitigation "banks" are new wetland areas that have been restored, established or enhanced in advance of potential losses. Wetlands established in a mitigation bank provide "credits" which can be sold to permit applicants within a geographic service area.

"Mitigation banking makes being environmentally responsible easier for residential and commercial developers, school systems, transportation agencies, public works groups, flood control agencies and others who may from time to time be involved in a project that impacts streams or wetlands," Denisoff said. "It takes the positive environmental approach of providing an incentive to do the right thing up front and streamlines the process."

Benefits for users of mitigation banks include reduced paperwork and permit processing times, the availability of resources and expertise that otherwise may not be on hand, and the assurance of being able to compensate for project impacts in the area. Public permitting agencies also benefit through more efficient use of their resources in review and compliance monitoring.

"This means that many crucial public works projects such as highways, schools, airports, public infrastructure projects and the like can be completed more efficiently, on time, and with less cost - which is a tremendous benefit to the public," says DeYoung. "Plus, mitigation banking ensures that these vital projects that enhance people's lives do not reduce the overall inventory of wetland areas."

"In fact," adds Sutter, "mitigation banks are a form of long-term stewardship to the environment that is an outgrowth of the development process. Mitigation banks create credits that are used at some future time. Because mitigation banks create the credits and hold them until needed, it has a beneficial effect on the overall environment - like earning interest on the money you keep in the bank."

Although entering the mitigation banking business with plans to operate on a national scale is a "big step," according to Cramer, "it's a natural fit with our heritage. We've been guardians of the environment since our earliest days as a company. Today, we own or manage land in several states and foreign countries. We understand the importance of environmental stewardship alongside growth and development."

The company has mitigation banks in the permitting process or planning stages in several major U.S. markets. Information on current and planned mitigation banks and available credits can be obtained online at www.westerveltecologicalservices.com or by contacting: Alicia Cramer Westervelt Ecological Services, L.L.C. P.O. Box 48999 Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Phone: 205/562-0000 email: acramer@gulf-states.com or Craig Denisoff Westervelt Ecological Services, L.L.C. 600 North Market Blvd., Suite 3 Sacramento, CA 95834 Phone: 888-937-0555 cdenisoff@westerveltecologicalservices.com

Westervelt Ecological Services will join a number of other natural-resource-based companies under the Westervelt banner, including the international Westervelt Sporting Lodge Network, Westervelt Realty and Westervelt Wildlife Services.

Now in its fourth generation of ownership by the Westervelt-Warner family, the Gulf States family of companies has a tradition of excellence in products and services that extends more than 120 years. Gulf States' forest lands are certified under the nationally recognized Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the company is a leader in stewardship of its forests and watershed holdings.

For additional information on Gulf States, please visit www.gulf-states.com.

Source: Business Wire

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