EMPSi employs innovative approaches to environmental and social analysis to improve outcomes for communities, land users, and vulnerable populations
Social, economic, and environmental justice concerns span all disciplines. EMPSi uses innovative approaches to document natural resource benefits and values as well as economic considerations from resource development. Our tools incorporate GIS, conceptual modeling of ecosystem services, and economic modeling of public land uses.
The core of what we do is gathering and incorporating stakeholder input to identify community, land user, and vulnerable population concerns and provide solutions for addressing inequities. Our experience spans analyzing impacts from development of a potable water system for four Pueblos in New Mexico and resolving Native claims in Alaska from the Exxon Valdez spill to incorporating concerns from rural ranching communities related to grazing use and working with local residents concerned about health impacts from adjacent oil and gas development.
Select Projects
Socioeconomic Assessment to Resolve Native Claims from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, AK
Examined Chugach socioeconomic conditions related to ANCSA, ANILCA, and the Exxon Valdez
Worked with Alaska Natives to identify impacts of land acquisitions on how they use mineral resources
Socioeconomic Assessment of Northern California Wildfires for BLM Land Use Plan, CA
Developed a report for an 8-county area with analysis of socioeconomic impacts of wildfires and COVID-19
Interviewed local governments, industries, social welfare groups, and others about socioeconomic issues
Ecosystem Services Analysis for the Ashley National Forest Plan Revision, CO/UT
Embedded as the sociologist for the entire Forest Plan revision process
Worked with Duke University using conceptual modeling tools to identify ecosystem services under alternative land management strategies
Analysis of Values for BLM and State Land Office Exchange, NM
Analyzed land uses on potential land exchange parcels to identify resource values and concerns
Examined market and non-market impacts on livestock grazing, special status species, cultural resources, and renewable energy development
Virtual Socioeconomic Workshop for BLM State-wide Land Use Plan Revision, ND
Facilitated a socioeconomic workshop with stakeholders
Used interactive tools to assess key issues/values for BLM management
Created website to get follow-up data from stakeholders after meeting
Photo: Peter Halasz
Economic Analysis for Late Successional Reserve Habitat Improvement, OR
Provided economic analysis to restore late successional forests for special status species
Used IMPLAN to build programmatic model for future site-specific analyses of forest treatment actions
Uncompahgre FIeld Office Land Use Plan Community and Economic Assessment, CO
Facilitated over 20 meetings to gather input on public land management
Modeled regional impacts from land management related to livestock grazing, recreation, and development of natural gas and coal
Social and Economic Assessment for Truckee Canal Flood Control Project, NV
Analyzed potential socioeconomic impacts of flooding and construction of canal improvements
Mapped potentially impacted minority and low-income populations for analysis of environmental justice
Public Health and SocioEconomic Assessment for O&G Master Leasing Plan, CO
Examined the socioeconomic impacts of O&G on land uses such as agriculture, tourism, and home values
Analyzed health impacts from hydraulic fracturing, including air and water quality
Public Health and SocioEconomic Analysis for RMP Amendment/EIS, NM
Analyzed O&G impacts, including hydraulic fracturing, on minority, low-income and Tribal populations
Completed socioeconomic report for Navajo Nation Chapters and communities, including public health
Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice Analysis for BLM and BIA Plans, OK/KS/TX
Conducted workshops about social and economic concerns with O&G
Held Tribal workshops for social and economic concerns
Analyzed impacts of Tribal mineral development on the Osage Nation
Environmental Justice and Socioeconomic Analysis for Pojoaque Basin Settlement, NM
Reviewed impacts of drinking water settlement on four NM Pueblos
Performed a comprehensive analysis of economic, social, and public health impacts on Tribal members of shift to a community water supply