Optimizing Solutions for both Client Objectives and Regulatory Compliance

Our Goal

We work to facilitate wise development that benefits developers, their clients, and the community at large. We assist in finding development options that will efficiently obtain development permits while meeting local, state, and federal regulations. Those regulations exist so governments can help provide clean air, water, and soil for the enjoyment of all their constituents.

About Mark Ray

Mr. Ray is a natural resources consultant throughout the U.S. He has managed over 550 public and private projects in 30 states over the last 33 years. He has helped develop 18 mitigation banks in 10 states. He has provided legal advisory and expert witness testimony in eight states over the last two years.  He manages biologists, ecologists, cultural resource professionals, hazardous material specialists, GPS/GIS specialists, geotechnical engineers, and construction managers.  RayEA specialties include expert witness testimony, wetland and stream permitting, targeted protected species surveys, habitat restoration, mitigation banking, and environmental impact documentation.  Mr. Ray is Rosgen Level IV Certified.

Services

Permitting Services

Optimizing Both Client Objectives and Regulatory Compliance

Wetland and Stream identification, delineation, and permitting per applicable federal and state law. Other water and air regulatory compliance related to construction, operation, and maintenance as well.

Mitigation Monitoring

Wetland, Streams, Endangered Species Conservation Banks

Monitoring to document success of voluntary or permitted ecological restoration prescriptions to assess achievement of management goals and to allow for annual credit releases. Stochastic analysis of trends toward ultimate habitat goals. Recommendations for remediation and modification to optimize credit value,habitat sustainability, and succession.

Endangered Species Surveys

Plants and Animals

Endangered Species Act compliance for projects requiring federal permits or for management planning of public or private lands. Expertise in field ID, photographic documentation, and live trapping.

Environmental Assessment

Natural and Cultural Resources

Comprehensive Environmental Assessments for National Environmental Policy Act or National Historic Preservation Act Compliance.

Stream Restoration

Rosgen Level IV Certified

Survey, Assessment, Validation, Design, Construction Management, Monitoring, and Modification.

Habitat Restoration

Habitat restoration and Wildlife Management

Habitat restoration site selection, planning, design, implementation, and maintenance for mitigation banks and other public and private restoration and management efforts.

Expert Witness Testimony

Ecological, Land Use, Land Planning

Able to render expert opinions related to actual or potential ecological impacts as private legal advisory or in courtroom settings as needed.  RayEA, LLC has provided legal advisory or expert witness testimony in eight states in the last two years.

“If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way.”
-Aristotle

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”

“To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.”

-Aldo Leopold

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” -Job 12:7-9

Testimonials

 

Kyla Rudd

Environmental Project Manager at QuikTrip, Tulsa, Oklahoma

RayEA provides QuikTrip Corporation with responsive, accurate, cost-effective wetland consulting services associated with site development projects in the Southeast. The staff at RayEA are extremely knowledgeable and client focused, and have continued to provide outstanding communication from the initial consult to delivery of the final report. RayEA performs work on behalf of QuikTrip’s best interests and has consistently shown to be a committed team player.

 

 

Katie O’Meara

Faculty at Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland

Mark’s technical abilities and environmental knowledge are greatly enriched by his collaborative spirit, great sense of humor and willingness to roll his sleeves up. I recommend Mark for complex problem-solving projects especially where great people skills are essential. He is a natural leader and works hard to bring out the best in each member of the team player.

 

 

Daniel Ramsay

Land Representative at Resource Environmental Solutions LLC, Raleigh, North Carolina

Mark is a technical expert, who goes above and beyond to provide the highest quality of work that he can. I worked closely with Mark much of the time, and he provided excellent mentoring in botany, wetland delineation, and ecological studies. I respect his integrity and his commitment to getting the job done.

 

 

 

Terence Allen, CLC

Professional Writer/Pastor, Smyrna, Georgia

Mark is a knowledgeable scientist who not only understands his area of expertise, but pursues and recommends effective solutions to meet his clients’ needs. His work ethic is excellent, and he always brings a positive, cooperative attitude to all of his projects.

 

 

 

 

David Priddy

Vice President, Sales and Marketing at ClimeCo Corporation, Boyerton, Pennsylvania

I’ve worked with Mark on developing several projects since he joined O’Brien & Gere in 2006. I find Mark to be very competent in the field of ecological services, and he works diligently to complete his projects on a timely basis with attention to quality. I am most impressed by Mark’s desire to seek innovative approaches to addressing ecological challenges that provide value to clients. During his brief tenure here, I credit Mark with significantly enhancing O’Brien & Gere’s ecological services program.

 

 

 

 

Marshal Moser, Jr.

Manager/Biologist at The Lonesome Duck, Chiloquin, Oregon

I still keep in touch with Mark. He has excellent knowledge of a wide range of subjects and problems in the field as well as familiarity with and how to meet the quagmire of rules and regulations. He has high professional standards and does excellent work, paying attention to details.

 

Contact Ray EA

Phone: (678) 378-7561