Environmental Services Provided by Environmental Planning Strategies, Inc.
As an "informed facilitator," I effectively guide your own technical staff through a systematic interdisciplinary process (the "Facilitated Planning Approach") that focuses teams to develop clear and concise environmental decision packages. A self-correcting documentation and review process efficiently moves your team to a quality conclusion, substantially reducing planning and compliance costs.
As an environmental document reviewer, many agencies have benefited from my systematic approach to efficiently and effectively reviewing environmental and NEPA documents for quality of analysis, using my proven "10-Step Systematic Document Review Worksheet." The documented results of the review also directly guide your agency through re-analysis and of your planning and reformatting of your document, substantially saving time, conflict, and costs.
I present highly tailored training and workshops, focusing on practical application of the systematic interdisciplinary processes using the "Facilitated Planning Approach" and document review using the "10-Step Systematic Document Review Worksheet," that are nationally recognized for their quality and direct application to the workplace.
I diagnose problems and improve your interdisciplinary team functions, relationships, effectiveness, and morale, emphasizing work-specific and clear purpose and need, member functions, and work-focused tasks, rather than "warm and fuzzy" personality typing.
I have direct experience with most Federal agencies, as both a former employee and nationwide consultant, including:
I partnered with the NEPA Coordinator (EPF) for designing, initiating, coordinating, facilitating, and implementing all NEPA planning efforts at Ellsworth AFB. I successfully facilitated cross-functional planning teams and wrote the documents concurrently with the planning effort, using Ellsworth AFB action proponents and subject matter experts, for programmatic EAs for management of deer-aircraft hazards in the flightline, and management of the base programs for demolition, excessing, and surplus of military structures, equipment, and land (Environmental Management System; EMS). Both programmatic EAs provide the basis for site-specific and long-term management of projects and the programs. The programmatic EA for deer-aircraft hazard management was formally recognized by the Base Commander for excellence and team work. I also facilitated EAs and DOPAAs for Air Base Ground Defense Training, long-term soils management, construction and operation of an air-mix propane plant, construction of a new fire department facility, and temporary use of the base for commercial flights by the Rapid City Airport Authority. Concurrently, I facilitated and wrote the baseline information for the base Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP), using the systematic cross-functional approach, developed a practical worksheet to assist action proponents in the application of categorical exclusions, and supported administrative briefings and documents for the NEPA program.
Holloman AFB develops long range Ground Based Training Programmatic EA and Management Plan, concurrent with the baseline and analysis for the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, using “in-house” expertise, in less than one year.
I facilitated over 50 Holloman AFB action proponents and subject matter experts through the site-specific analysis of 17 existing and proposed ground-based training areas for nearly 30 different training activities. The Programmatic EA addresses each training activity in detail, identifies its requirements, identifies areas on which training should not be conducted, describes specific mitigation measures for conducting specific training on specific training areas, and evaluates the cumulative environmental effects of conducting specific training activities on specific training areas. Writing the Programmatic EA concurrently with the progress of the analysis, with concurrent reviews conducted by the action proponents and subject matter experts, the document was formatted so that Chapter 2 of the Programmatic EA can be removed in its entirety and used by all training functions on base as the management plan for all ground-based training. Concurrently, I facilitated over 38 Holloman AFB action proponents and subject matter experts through developing the baseline for the base Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and conducting the analysis of the issues and developing prioritized mitigating and program actions as the basis for the plan. The electronic version of my resultant document, prepared and reviewed by the participants concurrently with the analysis, is being incorporated directly into the electronic plan being developed by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program for distribution on the internet.
US Navy implements dynamic NEPA/EO 12114 processes using the Facilitated Planning Approach for major weapons system acquisition program.
I continuously partner with the Environmental Coordinator to develop and implement an effective NEPA/EO 12114 program for the Virginia (SSN 774) Class of new attack submarines and the entire submarine acquisition program. This involves compliance with the Department of Defense acquisition series 5000 and Navy-specific NEPA and acquisition guidance. My approach to the NEPA program emphasizes using Navy and contractor staff to collaboratively develop the NEPA strategy and prepare NEPA documents, which contributes substantially to remaining within budget. Outside expertise is sought only to supplement expertise unavailable within the program and Navy commands. I provide expert guidance and advice on implementation of NEPA and EO 12114, review and comment on draft Navy policy documents, prepare the NEPA section of the Programmatic Environmental, Safety, and Health Evaluation (PESHE), manage the program NEPA Focus Group, and facilitate the review of all NEPA/EO 12114 documents prepared for Team Submarine. I developed and regularly update a "one stop" reference document for all DoD and Navy instructions and guidance for incorporation of environmental, safety, and health issues and planning into Navy major weapons systems acquisition programs for use by program personnel and managers.
US Forest Service realizes significant savings and quality planning by defining the NEPA proposal clearly and developing effective planning strategies consistent with the National Forest Management Act.
I facilitated interdisciplinary teams and line officers on the Payette, Six Rivers, Gila, Sierra, and Willamette National Forests in complex and controversial timber sale EAs. Using a simple, repeatable systematic interdisciplinary process, I coached the teams in clearly defining the purpose and need, scope, issues and alternatives, evaluating consistency with Land and Resource Management Plan, and analyzing environmental consequences. Concurrent with the analyses, I drafted the documents for team review, correction, and expansion, using a highly readable logical format, and incorporated requirements of other laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, directly into the documents. These efforts built long-term cooperative interdisciplinary team relationships based on communication with trust and respect, and resulted in agency decisions supported by both agency specialists and outside interests.
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services successfully leads regional interagency NEPA planning processes and develops strong cooperative relationships.
I facilitated representatives from APHIS Animal Damage Control, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Depts. of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife through the NEPA interdisciplinary process, and helped prepare and write the Environmental Assessment. For the first time, all agencies analyzed and defined realistic needs for regional wildlife damage management activities on Federal, state, and private lands, and developed measurable objectives for the program. The interagency interdisciplinary team, using my collaborative problem-solving processes, conducted cumulative effects analyses that indicated that the regional ADC program did not adversely affect predator populations and actually contributed positively to the regional economy. The process resulted in supportive and long-term interagency relationships, and has created a national example for current and future USDA APHIS ADC regional and project-level planning efforts. Despite opposition to the national and regional ADC wildlife damage management program from various animal rights organizations, neither this EA nor other EAs patterned on this one prepared directly by the agency received litigation due to the quality of the analysis and document. I also continue to train Wildlife Services biologists, managers, and staff in using the same systematic analysis and documentation approaches nationwide.
US Army, White Sands Missile Range, the largest Army test and training installation in the US, effectively conducts programmatic planning for its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and associated Environmental Assessment, integrating environmental protection with its military mission.
Partnering with the Base NEPA Coordinator and the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, I facilitated the planning processes and NEPA compliance for the INRMP. I began the "Informed Facilitation" approach by compiling all pertinent information from various studies, plans and NEPA documents into a baseline document for reference by myself and the team, then listed environmental problems that had been identified or inferred in these documents, including additional questions that needed to be answered. Using this document, I facilitated the Installation's team of natural resource managers through a systematic interdisciplinary process of focusing on the actual conflicts and resource management needs on this complex and diverse base. Since this was the first attempt by the Base to systematically identify conflicts and resource management needs, much baseline information was missing. Therefore, we used the approach of setting a framework of Management Goals and Management Standards within which resources would be managed, consistent with military mission, as the decisions became ripe for decisionmaking in the future. Since the plan was developed using the systematic interdisciplinary approach required by NEPA, the associated EA identified the studies and other actions that could be categorically excluded under AR 200-2 and focused the environmental impact analyses on the remaining projects, efficiently evaluating the potential for significant impacts in comparison to the existing management on the base (no action alternative). The resulting impact analysis supported a FONSI.
Colorado Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, and city and county planners, partnered with a transportation consulting firm, successfully revises complicated transportation NEPA document based on quality document review.
I reviewed a draft Environmental Assessment prepared by the consulting firm for relieving congestion on an existing highway within a rapidly-increasing population and commercial center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The detailed review consisted of compiling and re-evaluating analytic information contained in the document, refocusing the analysis on the true purpose and need, real issues in terms of cause-and-effect relationships, evaluation of alternatives, and analysis of environmental impacts, including cumulative and secondary impacts. By moving the land use and transportation congestion and safety analyses from "issues" to its true role in defining the purpose and need, the document become immediately more focused. The issues were re-evaluated to emphasize affected resources such as impacts on loss of the grassland ecosystem and related wildlife species such as pronghorn and ferruginous hawks, and loss of wetland functions, rather than topics such as "Wildlife" and "Water Quality." This also incorporated appropriate cumulative impact analyses in ways that could be analyzed effectively. I continued to work with the consulting firm and federal and state agency representatives to rewrite the document, actually conducting the analysis of impacts to grassland and riparian ecosystems and related wildlife. Subsequent agency reviews are highly favorable, and the document will provide a new template for future transportation projects in the area.
As an environmental document reviewer, many agencies have benefited from my systematic approach to efficiently and effectively reviewing environmental and NEPA documents for quality of analysis, using my proven "10-Step Systematic Document Review Worksheet." The documented results of the review also directly guide your agency through re-analysis and of your planning and reformatting of your document, substantially saving time, conflict, and costs.
I present highly tailored training and workshops, focusing on practical application of the systematic interdisciplinary processes using the "Facilitated Planning Approach" and document review using the "10-Step Systematic Document Review Worksheet," that are nationally recognized for their quality and direct application to the workplace.
I diagnose problems and improve your interdisciplinary team functions, relationships, effectiveness, and morale, emphasizing work-specific and clear purpose and need, member functions, and work-focused tasks, rather than "warm and fuzzy" personality typing.
I have direct experience with most Federal agencies, as both a former employee and nationwide consultant, including:
- all four branches of the Department of Defense (including major weapons system acquisition programs)
- USDA Forest Service, Wildlife Services and APHIS
- Federal Highway Administration and state Departments of Transportation
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- US Environmental Protection Agency (Office of Federal Activities and Regions)
- NOAA Fisheries
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Silviculture and forestry
- Wildlife management
- Range conservation and management
- Military construction
- Department of Defense major weapons system acquisition
- Wildlife damage management
- Invasive species management
- Mining
- Transportation
- Fisheries management (oceanic and inland)
Descriptions of Successful Consulting Services
Ellsworth Air Force Base implements quality cross-functional planning processes for NEPA and Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans, creating Base-wide positive relationships and effective and proactive communication.I partnered with the NEPA Coordinator (EPF) for designing, initiating, coordinating, facilitating, and implementing all NEPA planning efforts at Ellsworth AFB. I successfully facilitated cross-functional planning teams and wrote the documents concurrently with the planning effort, using Ellsworth AFB action proponents and subject matter experts, for programmatic EAs for management of deer-aircraft hazards in the flightline, and management of the base programs for demolition, excessing, and surplus of military structures, equipment, and land (Environmental Management System; EMS). Both programmatic EAs provide the basis for site-specific and long-term management of projects and the programs. The programmatic EA for deer-aircraft hazard management was formally recognized by the Base Commander for excellence and team work. I also facilitated EAs and DOPAAs for Air Base Ground Defense Training, long-term soils management, construction and operation of an air-mix propane plant, construction of a new fire department facility, and temporary use of the base for commercial flights by the Rapid City Airport Authority. Concurrently, I facilitated and wrote the baseline information for the base Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP), using the systematic cross-functional approach, developed a practical worksheet to assist action proponents in the application of categorical exclusions, and supported administrative briefings and documents for the NEPA program.
Holloman AFB develops long range Ground Based Training Programmatic EA and Management Plan, concurrent with the baseline and analysis for the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan, using “in-house” expertise, in less than one year.
I facilitated over 50 Holloman AFB action proponents and subject matter experts through the site-specific analysis of 17 existing and proposed ground-based training areas for nearly 30 different training activities. The Programmatic EA addresses each training activity in detail, identifies its requirements, identifies areas on which training should not be conducted, describes specific mitigation measures for conducting specific training on specific training areas, and evaluates the cumulative environmental effects of conducting specific training activities on specific training areas. Writing the Programmatic EA concurrently with the progress of the analysis, with concurrent reviews conducted by the action proponents and subject matter experts, the document was formatted so that Chapter 2 of the Programmatic EA can be removed in its entirety and used by all training functions on base as the management plan for all ground-based training. Concurrently, I facilitated over 38 Holloman AFB action proponents and subject matter experts through developing the baseline for the base Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and conducting the analysis of the issues and developing prioritized mitigating and program actions as the basis for the plan. The electronic version of my resultant document, prepared and reviewed by the participants concurrently with the analysis, is being incorporated directly into the electronic plan being developed by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program for distribution on the internet.
US Navy implements dynamic NEPA/EO 12114 processes using the Facilitated Planning Approach for major weapons system acquisition program.
I continuously partner with the Environmental Coordinator to develop and implement an effective NEPA/EO 12114 program for the Virginia (SSN 774) Class of new attack submarines and the entire submarine acquisition program. This involves compliance with the Department of Defense acquisition series 5000 and Navy-specific NEPA and acquisition guidance. My approach to the NEPA program emphasizes using Navy and contractor staff to collaboratively develop the NEPA strategy and prepare NEPA documents, which contributes substantially to remaining within budget. Outside expertise is sought only to supplement expertise unavailable within the program and Navy commands. I provide expert guidance and advice on implementation of NEPA and EO 12114, review and comment on draft Navy policy documents, prepare the NEPA section of the Programmatic Environmental, Safety, and Health Evaluation (PESHE), manage the program NEPA Focus Group, and facilitate the review of all NEPA/EO 12114 documents prepared for Team Submarine. I developed and regularly update a "one stop" reference document for all DoD and Navy instructions and guidance for incorporation of environmental, safety, and health issues and planning into Navy major weapons systems acquisition programs for use by program personnel and managers.
US Forest Service realizes significant savings and quality planning by defining the NEPA proposal clearly and developing effective planning strategies consistent with the National Forest Management Act.
I facilitated interdisciplinary teams and line officers on the Payette, Six Rivers, Gila, Sierra, and Willamette National Forests in complex and controversial timber sale EAs. Using a simple, repeatable systematic interdisciplinary process, I coached the teams in clearly defining the purpose and need, scope, issues and alternatives, evaluating consistency with Land and Resource Management Plan, and analyzing environmental consequences. Concurrent with the analyses, I drafted the documents for team review, correction, and expansion, using a highly readable logical format, and incorporated requirements of other laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, directly into the documents. These efforts built long-term cooperative interdisciplinary team relationships based on communication with trust and respect, and resulted in agency decisions supported by both agency specialists and outside interests.
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services successfully leads regional interagency NEPA planning processes and develops strong cooperative relationships.
I facilitated representatives from APHIS Animal Damage Control, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Depts. of Agriculture and Fish and Wildlife through the NEPA interdisciplinary process, and helped prepare and write the Environmental Assessment. For the first time, all agencies analyzed and defined realistic needs for regional wildlife damage management activities on Federal, state, and private lands, and developed measurable objectives for the program. The interagency interdisciplinary team, using my collaborative problem-solving processes, conducted cumulative effects analyses that indicated that the regional ADC program did not adversely affect predator populations and actually contributed positively to the regional economy. The process resulted in supportive and long-term interagency relationships, and has created a national example for current and future USDA APHIS ADC regional and project-level planning efforts. Despite opposition to the national and regional ADC wildlife damage management program from various animal rights organizations, neither this EA nor other EAs patterned on this one prepared directly by the agency received litigation due to the quality of the analysis and document. I also continue to train Wildlife Services biologists, managers, and staff in using the same systematic analysis and documentation approaches nationwide.
US Army, White Sands Missile Range, the largest Army test and training installation in the US, effectively conducts programmatic planning for its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and associated Environmental Assessment, integrating environmental protection with its military mission.
Partnering with the Base NEPA Coordinator and the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, I facilitated the planning processes and NEPA compliance for the INRMP. I began the "Informed Facilitation" approach by compiling all pertinent information from various studies, plans and NEPA documents into a baseline document for reference by myself and the team, then listed environmental problems that had been identified or inferred in these documents, including additional questions that needed to be answered. Using this document, I facilitated the Installation's team of natural resource managers through a systematic interdisciplinary process of focusing on the actual conflicts and resource management needs on this complex and diverse base. Since this was the first attempt by the Base to systematically identify conflicts and resource management needs, much baseline information was missing. Therefore, we used the approach of setting a framework of Management Goals and Management Standards within which resources would be managed, consistent with military mission, as the decisions became ripe for decisionmaking in the future. Since the plan was developed using the systematic interdisciplinary approach required by NEPA, the associated EA identified the studies and other actions that could be categorically excluded under AR 200-2 and focused the environmental impact analyses on the remaining projects, efficiently evaluating the potential for significant impacts in comparison to the existing management on the base (no action alternative). The resulting impact analysis supported a FONSI.
Colorado Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, and city and county planners, partnered with a transportation consulting firm, successfully revises complicated transportation NEPA document based on quality document review.
I reviewed a draft Environmental Assessment prepared by the consulting firm for relieving congestion on an existing highway within a rapidly-increasing population and commercial center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The detailed review consisted of compiling and re-evaluating analytic information contained in the document, refocusing the analysis on the true purpose and need, real issues in terms of cause-and-effect relationships, evaluation of alternatives, and analysis of environmental impacts, including cumulative and secondary impacts. By moving the land use and transportation congestion and safety analyses from "issues" to its true role in defining the purpose and need, the document become immediately more focused. The issues were re-evaluated to emphasize affected resources such as impacts on loss of the grassland ecosystem and related wildlife species such as pronghorn and ferruginous hawks, and loss of wetland functions, rather than topics such as "Wildlife" and "Water Quality." This also incorporated appropriate cumulative impact analyses in ways that could be analyzed effectively. I continued to work with the consulting firm and federal and state agency representatives to rewrite the document, actually conducting the analysis of impacts to grassland and riparian ecosystems and related wildlife. Subsequent agency reviews are highly favorable, and the document will provide a new template for future transportation projects in the area.