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1Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Working as a NEPA Practitioner
Meghan A. Makoid, AICP
2Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Overview 1. Background
2. So you want to be a NEPA practitioner?
3. Networking – do it!
4. You have a job… now what?!
5. Questions
3Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Your background
Image Source: http://www.extraordinarywonders.com/2012/06/so-tell-me-about-yourself.html
4Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Image Source: http://www.cyburbia.org/content.php?r=265-post-of-the-day-what-people-think-i-do
Who am I?
5Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
My background• Transportation Planner
– 8+ years of planning experience
– Responsible for environmental planning, NEPA compliance, station area planning, & station design
• Education– MPA, specialized in transportation policy
– AICP Certified Planner
– & Recent DEL NEPA Certificate graduate
– Current Research Interest: Social Media in NEPA
• Work for local transit agency receiving Federal Funds
– Work with FTA to comply with NEPA for major, federally funded, transit projects
6Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
So you want to be a NEPA practitioner…• Public agency or private consultant?
– If public, then Federal, State or Local agency?
• To specialize or not to specialize, that is the question!
– Specialist Career Track• Technical
– Collecting Data– Analyzing Data– Making recommendations– Writing reports – Interpreting Policy
– Generalist Career Track• Management
– Managing Environmental Compliance
– Reviewing Data– Concluding recommendations– Editing reports– Implementing Policy
?
7Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
So you want to be a NEPA practitioner…
• Job Search Level– Entry-level, Associate, Planner I, Analyst
• Job Search Keywords– Planner, Transportation Planner, Environmental
Planner, Community Planner– Environmental Specialist, NEPA Specialist, SEPA/CEQA
Specialist (CA Only), Environmental Permitting Specialist, NEPA Resource Specialist, Environmental Resource Specialist
– Environmental Economist, Environmental Scientist, Project Scientist, Field Biologist, Wildlife Biologist, 401/404 Coordinator, Ecologist, Archaeologist, Storm Water Design Engineer, Research Geographer, Acoustics Engineer, Public Involvement Specialist
8Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
So you want to be a NEPA practitioner…• How can you find out about jobs?
http://www.planning.org/ http://www.naep.org
http://www.usajobs.gov
http://www.linkedin.com
9Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Networking – do it!• Online Web Groups & Bulletin Boards• Professional Affiliations / Organizations• Training Opportunities
– Conferences, webinars, certifications
• Social Media– A great way to crowd source!
• Ask questions• Learn about latest practices• Find out about training opportunities
10Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Tips & takeaways
11Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Tips for Federal, State & Local agency
practitioners– Know your agency regulations and guidance– Build relationships & partnerships– Use scoping to focus on key issues– Watch out for scope creep– Use technical memoranda, appendices &
incorporation by reference
• Additional tips, for consultants…– Know your client, your audience, your public– Manage client expectations
12Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Know your NEPA practitioner tools • Agency specific websites, BBS & list servs
– NEPAssist, ESA Webtool, other GIS-based tools– U.S. Census
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/nepassist-mapping.html
http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/esawebtool/default.aspx
ESA Webtool http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov
http://lehdmap.did.census.gov/
https://www.transportationresearch.gov/dot/fhwa/ReNepa/default.aspx
13Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Know your NEPA practitioner resources
– Practitioner resource guides
http://environment.transportation.org/center/products_programs/practitioners_handbooks.aspx
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/nepapub/nepa_documents/RedDont/G-CEQ-ConsidCumulEffects.pdf
http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/ntf/Collaboration_in_NEPA_Oct_2007.pdf
14Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Tips in documentation
– Use plain language & graphics• No planner-ease• Graphics should be simple and easy to understand
Image source: http://xkcd.com/1007/Image source: http://theplanninglab.typepad.com/theplanninglab/humor/
15Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• New NEPA public involvement tools
– Electronic materials & distribution (EPA changes)– Social media
• Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, U-Stream, Pinterest
– Try new tools, but… • Know your agency policies• Obtain buy-in from team & partners • Develop a plan for implementation• Have the technical back-up to explain• Beware of bias in presentation• Remember EJ, ADA & LEP requirements
Remember: social media is a “tool” in your practitioner toolbox
16Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
You have a job… now what?!• Examples of Social Media in NEPA:
– Woodward Avenue Detroit Light Rail Alternatives• Youtube video• Trains down the middle• http://youtu.be/egc_MwazUWo
– Honolulu High Capacity Rail Project• Honolulu on the Move: Transit 101- FEIS Edition• http://youtu.be/qrlEeVcUiy0• http://youtu.be/v_DH72ad4d4• http://youtu.be/3D-XcT1vVGc
17Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Tips from other NEPA practitioners
Quotes courtesy of: •Kim Bereis via LinkedIn, •Chris Sequeira @cjsequeira via twitter, •Brian Smart via LinkedIn, •Shana Johnson @Shana_Johnson via twitter, •Veronica O. Davis @Dizzyluv25 via twitter
18Copyright ©2012 Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Questions?
Image Source: http://simplystated.realsimple.com/2012/07/16/daily-thought-07-16-2012/