2025
Comparably’s Best Company Outlook
Market
Government
SWCA helps our clients navigate an ever-changing regulatory landscape and unravel complex jurisdictions, ensuring projects move forward and public resources are protected.
We Want to Hear From You
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Ross Pilotte
Strategic Growth Director | Policy
Scott Phillips
Senior Cultural Resources Technical Director
Overview
At its core, the role of government is to support communities by making informed, balanced decisions that reflect public needs and long-term priorities. What’s less simple, however, is balancing community needs while considering economic and environmental implications. SWCA’s government consulting services have been developed with this unique challenge in mind. We work with agencies and federal, state, and local governments, including sovereign Tribal nations, guiding our clients through issues of regulatory compliance, policy interpretation, and resource management at all levels.
Our capabilities include in-depth policy and regulatory analysis, helping our clients anticipate and adapt to shifting legislative landscapes. With a presence in Washington, D.C., SWCA brings timely insights and direct engagement with the federal legislative process, positioning our clients to make informed, forward-looking decisions.
Federal
Federal laws and regulations have an impact in nearly every area of expertise across SWCA’s variety of services. We work with clients to navigate the permitting process for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) and countless others. We have engaged and partnered with federal agencies across the board and executive departments including Defense, Interior, Homeland Security, Energy, and more.
SWCA’s government consulting services are designed to address the specific challenges faced by federal agencies and private industries impacted by federal action across jurisdictions. From environmental planning and management plans to compliance, we have experience contracting with the federal government and hold several contracting vehicles, including a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule.
- Primary NAICS: 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- DUNS: 119149730
- SAM.gov UEI: KJ64MREJDNL1
- CAGE code: 0WHS6
Relevant Services
- Climate Resilience Services
- Cultural Resource Management
- Data Analysis and Management
- Encroachment Solutions
- Environmental Compliance
- Habitat Restoration
- Historic Properties Surveys
- Identification of Land Exchange Opportunities
- Invasive Species Management and Control Plans
- Land Management Plans
- Native Plant Propagation
- Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDA)
- Natural Resources Management
- Noise Studies, Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ), and Range Air Installation Compatible Use Zones (RAICUZ)
- Paleontology
- Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Communications
- Threatened and Endangered Species Compliance
- Tribal Consultation
- Watershed Impact Assessments
- Wildland Fire Plans and Range Management
Tribal
SWCA has longstanding relations and working history with Alaskan, Hawaiian, and Tribal governments and Indigenous communities throughout the U.S. Our services are designed to address the specific challenges faced by Tribal communities and integrate cultural practices, traditions, and perspectives into environmental planning and management efforts. Learn more about how we work for and with Tribes and Indigenous groups at Indigenous Services.
Relevant Services
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) Consultations
- Cultural Resource Management
- Environmental Compliance
- Ethnographic/Ethnohistoric Overviews and Interviews
- General Archival Research
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Assistance
- Natural Resources Management
- Plans and Consulting for Tribal Historic Preservation
- Tribal Consultation
- Tribal Employment Rights Offices (TERO)
- Tribal Energy Resource Agreement (TERA)
Policy
SWCA’s policy experts are committed to developing multi-jurisdictional strategies and guiding clients through the intricacies of diverse regulatory environments. We specialize in interpreting and aligning policies to facilitate efficient project execution and providing strategic support for securing funding from federal initiatives. We conduct thorough analyses to track legislative changes, assess regulatory risks, and optimize pathways for permitting. By engaging directly with policymakers and regulatory agencies, particularly through our Washington, D.C.-based liaison, we offer proactive monitoring and advocacy, enabling informed decision making and effective policy scenario planning.
Relevant Services
- Federal and State Policy Interpretation
- Funding Strategy Support (IIJA, IRA, and other Federal Sources)
- Interconnection Between Federal, Tribal, and State Regulatory Frameworks
- Legislative and Regulatory Tracking and Analysis
- Multi-Jurisdictional Permitting Strategy Development
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Equivalent Policy Alignment Guidance
- Permitting Pathway Optimization and Regulatory Roadmapping
- Policy Scenario Planning for Infrastructure and Energy Development
- Regulatory Risk Assessments and Advisory Services
- Rulemaking Support and Comment Development
- Strategic Engagement with Policymakers and Regulatory Agencies
- Washington, D.C.-Based Policy Monitoring and Federal Liaison Services
State and Local
Facing the dual challenge of economic development and environmental quality, state and local governments must address complex issues such as land use, water resources, transportation, region-specific needs, and overall planning.
With local experts across the U.S., SWCA’s understanding of state and local laws makes it easier for us to expedite environmental processes to help leaders sustain growth while protecting environmental resources. We work to understand the needs and opportunities of communities, and develop sound environmental solutions to meet those needs.
Related Services
- Air Quality and Noise Services
- Cultural Resource Surveys and Assessment
- General Plan Updates
- Historic Preservation
- Land Use Planning
- Mitigation Banking
- Natural Resource Surveys, Assessments, and Monitoring
- Open Space Planning
- Threatened and Endangered Species Compliance
- Transportation Planning and Permitting
- Water Resources
- Water Storage and Conveyance
- Wetland Assessments, Delineation, and Mitigation
Meet the Experts
Environment and Infrastructure Vice President
Anne Cabrera
Anne has more than 18 years of experience and specializes in multi-hazard risk and resilience planning and mitigation. Her expertise includes compliance monitoring, procurement, multiagency coordination, public information, closeout processes, and audit support.
Strategic Growth Director | Policy
Ross Pilotte
Ross is a respected expert in infrastructure permitting with a decade of experience in project, program, and policy development, management, and implementation. His primary focus has been on streamlining and enhancing the transparency of permitting decisions across federal, state, tribal, and local governments while prioritizing public input and environmental resources.
Senior Cultural Resources Technical Director
Scott Phillips
Scott is a Senior Technical Director who leads Cultural Resources Management, Regulatory Affairs, and Indigenous Government Relations across SWCA. He has developed his expertise and acumen since entering the field in 1990 and has provided leadership in these areas at SWCA since 2001.
Tribal Relations Principal/Senior Tribal Liaison
Carolyn Stewart
Carolyn is an energy industry veteran with 45 years of renewable energy and consulting experience. Over the last 20 years, she has worked with hundreds of Native American communities on energy development and cultural resource preservation.
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