Flora and Fauna Clearance Surveys

Before ground is disturbed on an industrial project, most permitting agencies want confirmation that the site has been checked for sensitive plant and animal species. Flora and fauna clearance surveys provide that confirmation, giving developers a documented, defensible record that a site was properly evaluated before construction began.

What Flora & Fauna Clearance Surveys Involve

A clearance survey is a focused, on-the-ground evaluation of a project site conducted shortly before ground-disturbing activity begins. As part of our broader environmental consulting services, our field biologists walk the project footprint to document plant and animal species present, note any habitat features of concern, and confirm whether the site is clear to proceed or whether further action is needed. Typical elements include:

• On-site plant identification and documentation of vegetation communities
• Wildlife observation and habitat evaluation across the project footprint
• Identification of sensitive or regionally significant plant species
• Confirmation of absence, or presence, of species requiring further compliance work
• A clearance report documenting findings and supporting permit submittal

Regionally Relevant Species

Clearance surveys in the Permian Basin and surrounding areas frequently document key habitat plant species that factor into both clearance findings and any follow-up reclamation or revegetation planning, including Shinnery Oak, Sand Sagebrush, Mesquite, Creosote Bush, and Fourwing Saltbush. Recognizing these species on site, and understanding their role in local habitat, is part of what makes a clearance survey useful beyond simply checking a box.

Why It Matters for Industrial Projects

Permit prerequisite. Many oil and gas, mining, and industrial permits require a clearance survey immediately before construction begins, often with a defined validity window tied to the permit timeline.

Timely confirmation close to construction. Because conditions on a site can change season to season, clearance surveys are typically conducted close to the start of ground disturbance, giving developers current, reliable documentation rather than relying on older assessment data.

Reduces construction delays. A clean, well-documented clearance survey allows construction to proceed on schedule. Surveys that turn up a concern give developers the chance to address it before equipment is mobilized, rather than after.

Supports the broader compliance record. Clearance surveys work alongside habitat assessments and species compliance work to build a complete environmental record for a project, which matters for both current permitting and any future project phases in the same area.

What We Provide

• On-site flora and fauna clearance surveys ahead of construction
• Vegetation and wildlife documentation specific to your project footprint
• Identification of regionally significant plant and habitat species
• Clearance reports formatted for permit submittal
• Coordination with our broader habitat assessment and species compliance work

Who This Serves

Oil and gas operators preparing to mobilize on a new well pad or pipeline route, mining companies clearing new project areas, and industrial developers who need current, on-site documentation before construction begins.

Get Started

If your project needs a flora and fauna clearance survey before construction, we can get boots on the ground and get you a clean, defensible report on your timeline. Contact us to discuss your project.