FHWA Resource Center
Environment Team
Caption: Cover of the 2008 FHWA Environment Technical Services Team’s Directory of Team Services and State Information. The logos of the FHWA and the FHWA Resource Center appear. Three artistic photos depicting roads in rural settings appear as a background image.
Dear Environmental Colleague:
The roles and responsibilities of environmental disciplines within the transportation industry continue to change. Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship continues to be an important strategic objective as FHWA is going through the process of developing and rolling out its updated Strategic Plan. . Across the country, transportation industries continue to add environmental knowledge and expertise to design, construction, maintenance and operations units to provide assurance that projects and programs are delivered on time and within budget. Also, trends towards incorporating strategic and program level environmental analysis and information are becoming apparent. Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of sound asset management practice, and is essential to the efficient use of tax dollars and human resources.
Who We Are
The FHWA Resource Center’s Environment Technical Service Team (TST) is comprised of a substantial team of subject matter experts representing diverse natural and social science and engineering disciplines and experiences. The scientists and engineers are located in five Resource Center locations around the country, but cut across geographic boundaries to deliver services. The Environment TST is committed to enhancing FHWA’s performance by providing high-level technical assistance and quality workshops and seminars to our customers and partners.
What We Can Do
The RC Environment TST actively promotes the effective integration of the environmental disciplines into all of FHWA’s business practices. But, we are more than just a multidisciplinary team – we seek to find new solutions that are born out of the interaction of people with different perspectives and experiences. This is probably the most important contribution the Environment TST makes to Keeping America Moving..
It has been shown that an Interdisciplinary Approach optimizes the probability of success. Interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving goes much further than multidisciplinary approaches. Interdisciplinary approaches encourage subject matter experts to learn from, educate, and develop synergy with other disciplines. In fact, peer reviewed literature suggests that teams and organizations which integrate the widest range of inter-related skills to problem solving tend to have better chances of success than teams comprised of individuals representing a narrower range of expertise.
The entire Environment TST is dedicated to this interdisciplinary approach. As a team comprised of a wide variety of skill sets and professional backgrounds, we have the breadth and depth of knowledge – that is our strength and the advantage we can provide to you. The RC Environmental Team actively promotes the effective integration of the environmental disciplines into all of FHWA’s business practices.
Bringing the Environment TST to assist with a program or project need is enlisting a trusted partner. Call us and tell us about the goal you are trying to achieve. We’ll discuss potential solutions, including just-in-time, custom training; peer reviews; technical and research forums; interdisciplinary problem-solving; developing noteworthy practices; development and delivery of workshops; and conference presentations.
The Environment TST is comprised of subject matter experts on environmental analysis techniques, compliance with environmental laws, regulations, guidance, and executive orders, and records-keeping and documentation. Some recently delivered subjects include:
Organizational Performance
Issue-specific Conflict Resolution
Integrated Processes
Multiple Agency & Interdisciplinary Teams
Program Audits and EMS
Construction and the Environment
Linking Planning with Project Development
Geographic Information Systems
Statutes and Regulatory Compliance
National Environmental Policy Act
Clean Water Act
National Historic Preservation Act
Coastal Barriers, and Coastal Zone
Endangered Species Act
Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966
Assessing Induced Growth
Indirect and Cumulative Effects
Natural Sciences and Engineering
Wetlands, streams, lakes, and coasts
Water Quality, Storm water
Habitat and Road crossings for biota
Noise Impacts to fish & wildlife
Invasive Species
Soil Erosion & Sediment Control
Climate Change
Migratory Birds
Ecosystem and Watersheds
Social Sciences and Public Involvement
Community Integrity and Cohesion
Cultural Resources
Environmental Justice
Native American Consultation
Noise Impacts
Aesthetics
Socio-Economics
Context Sensitive Solutions
The Environment Team publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Environmental Quarterly, and keeps its website populated with examples of current projects and best practices from our work with our customers. Please check out our website at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/environment.
This brochure is divided into two parts. The first part provides contact information on the Environment TST members, and descriptions of many of our service offerings. The second part is a state directory with background information on division environmental contacts and their respective state partners. This directory can be used for information sharing and mentoring among the field offices on similar environmental program successes or issues.
I hope you will use the information provided here to help you in your day-to-day activities and as you develop your office work plan for next year. Please feel free to contact me or any of my staff to discuss how we can meet your needs and in accomplishing our FHWA mission.
Sincerely,
Don Cote
Team Leader, Environment Technical Services Team
don.cote@fhwa.dot.gov , 720-963-3210
ENVIRONMENT TECHNICAL SERVICES TEAM
Lamar Smith
(biography)
Environment Technical Service Team Leader
12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph: (720) 963-3210
Fax: (720) 963-3232
lamar.smith@dot.gov
Bob Carl
(biography)
Program Assistant
12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph: (720) 963-3211
Fax: (720) 963-3232
bob.carl@dot.gov
| Team Members | Specialty Area(s) |
K. Lynn Berry
(biography)
Community Impact Specialist
61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 17T26
Atlanta, GA 30303
Ph: (404) 562-3692
Fax: (404) 562-3700
klynn.berry@dot.gov |
Community Impact Assessment
Context Sensitive Solutions
Environmental Justice
NEPA
Public Involvement
|
Dave Gamble
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist
10 South Howard Street Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201
Ph: (410) 962-0982
Fax: (410) 962-3419
dave.gamble@dot.gov |
Section 4(f)
NEPA
Indirect and Cumulative Impacts
|
David Grachen
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist
61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 17T26
Atlanta, GA 30303
Ph: (404) 562-3668
Fax: (404) 562-3700
david.grachen@dot.gov |
NEPA and Transportation Decision-making Processes
Section 4(f)
Section 106
Tribal Consultation
Public Involvement
Environmental Streamlining and Stewardship
Environmental Commitments
|
Daniel W. Johnson
(biography)
Environmental Portection Specialist
10 South Howard Street Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201
Ph: (410) 962-0702
Fax: (410) 962-3419
danw.johnson@dot.gov |
NEPA and Transportation Decision-making Processes
Environmental Stewardship and Streamlining
Section 4(f)
Section 106
Context Sensitive Solutions
Public Involvement
Inter Agency Cooperation
Green Highways/Green Infrastructure
|
Kimberly Majerus
(biography)
Ecologist
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
Ph: (708) 283-4346
Fax: (708) 283-3501
kimberly.majerus@dot.gov |
Conservation
Integrated approaches
Forest and floodplain ecology
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Decision Support Systems
|
Kevin Moody
(biography)
Ecologist
61 Forsyth Street, SW Suite 17T26
Atlanta, GA 30303
Ph: (404) 562-3618
Fax: (404) 562-3700
kevin.moody@dot.gov |
Analytic approaches, modeling, and QA/QC
Natural Resources Management
Risk and Natural Hazards Management
Communications and Environmental Management Systems
Adapting models for dispute resolution
|
Mary Ann Rondinella
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist
12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph: (720) 963-3207
Fax: (720) 963-3232
maryann.rondinella@dot.gov |
Highway Traffic Noise
Hazardous Waste
NEPA
Indirect and Cumulative Impacts
|
Deborah Scherkoske
(biography)
Environmental Protection Specialist
10 South Howard Street Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201
Ph: (410) 962-0051
Fax: (410) 962-3655
deborah.scherkoske@dot.gov |
Section 106
Section 4(f)
NEPA/Transportation Project Development Process
Public Involvement
Integrating Land Use and Transportation Planning
Previously served as transportation project manager in the consulting environment
|
Brian Smith
(biography)
Ecologist
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
Ph: (708) 283-3553
Fax: (708) 283-3501
brian.smith@dot.gov |
Section 10/404 - Clean Water Act
NEPA
Soil Erosion/Sediment Control
Water Quality Management
Wetland Delineation
Wetland Functional Assessments
Indirect and Cumulative Impacts
|
Stephanie Stoermer
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist/Archeologist
12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph: (720) 963-3218
Fax: (720) 963-3232
Stephanie.Stoermer@dot.gov |
Federal Historic Preservation Laws
Tribal Consultation
Section 4(f)
Highway Traffic Noise
NEPA
|
Deborah Suciu-Smith
(biography)
Environmental Program Manager for Section 106 and Tribal Government Consultation
228 Walnut Street Room 508
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Ph: (443) 462-1228
Fax: (717) 221-3494
deborah.suciu.smith@dot.gov |
NHPA and Section 106 Consultation
NEPA and Transportation Decision-Making Processes
Tribal Consultation responsibilities
Section 4(f)
Historic Preservation
|
William Van Peeters
(biography)
Ecologist
201 Mission Street Suite 1700
San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph: (415) 744-0116
Fax: (415) 744-2660
william.vanpeeters@dot.gov |
Section 10/404 - Clean Water Act
Biological Assessments
Marine Biology/Toxicology
Wetland Delineation
Wetland Functional Assessment
|
Rodney Vaughn
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist
12300 West Dakota Avenue Suite 340
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph: (720) 963-3238
Fax: (720) 963-3232
rodney.vaughn@dot.gov |
Context Sensitive Solutions
Geographic Information Systems
Alternatives Development
Categorical Exclusions
Wildlife Connectivity
Mitigation
NEPA
Streamlining
|
Katiann Wong-Murillo
(biography)
Environmental Program Specialist
201 Mission Street Suite 1700
San Francisco, CA 94105
Ph: (415) 744-2612
Fax: (415) 744-2660
katiann.wong-murillo@dot.gov |
Section 4(f)
Environmental Justice
NEPA
Community Impact Assessment
|
Brian Yanchik
(biography)
Ecologist
104 Spring Meadows Drive
Summerville, SC 29485
Ph: (443) 522-9446
Fax: (410) 962-3655
brian.yanchik@dot.gov |
Section 7 - Endangered Species Act
Interagency Coordination
Biological Assessments
NEPA
Wetland Functional Assessment
|
AVAILABLE OFFERINGS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Technical Assistance and Workshops
Topic: Section 4(f), Points of contact: Dave Gamble, David Grachen, Stephanie Stoermer, Katiann Wong-Murillo, Deborah Scherkoske, Deborah Suciu-Smith
Topic: Section 7 – (Basic) Endangered Species Act, Points of contact: Kimberly Majerus, Kevin Moody, Brian Yanchik
Topic: Section 7 – Biological Assessments, Points of contact: William VanPeeters, Brian Yanchik, Kevin Moody
Topic: Section 7 – (Advanced) Interagency, Point of contact: Brian Yanchik
Topic: Section 106 – Historic Preservation, Points of contact: Stephanie Stoermer, David Grachen, Mary Ann Rondinella, Deborah Scherkoske, Deborah Suciu-Smith
Topic: Section 10/404 – Clean Water Act, Points of contact: Kimberly Majerus, Kevin Moody, Brian Smith, William VanPeeters
Topic: American Indian Best Practices, Points of contact: David Grachen, Stephanie Stoermer
Topic: Collaborative Problem Solving (Introduction), Points of contact: Mary Ann Rondinella, Katiann Wong-Murillo, Rod Vaughn
Topic: Community Impact Assessment, Points of contact: K. Lynn Berry, David Grachen, Katiann Wong- Murillo
Topic: Context Sensitive Solutions, Points of contact: K. Lynn Berry, MaryAnn Rondinella, Rod Vaughn, Deborah Scherkoske
Topic: Environmental Justice, Points of contact: K. Lynn Berry, Katiann Wong-Murillo
Topic: GIS for Environmental; Streamlining and Stewardship for Transportation (GIS4EST), Points of contact: Kimberly Majerus, Rod Vaughn
Topic: Highway Traffic Noise, Points of contact: MaryAnn Rondinella, Stephanie Stoermer
Topic: Indirect and Cumulative Impacts, Points of contact: Dave Gamble, MaryAnn Rondinella, Brian Smith, Katiann Wong-Murillo
Topic: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Points of contact: ALL TEAM MEMBERS
Topic: Public Involvement, Points of contact: K. Lynn Berry, David Grachen, Katiann Wong-Murillo, Rod Vaughn, Deborah Scherkoske
Topic: Soil Erosion / Sediment Control, Points of contact: Kevin Moody, Brian Smith
Topic: Wetland Delineation, Points of contact: Brian Smith, William VanPeeters
Topic: Wetland Functional Assessment, Points of contact: Kevin Moody, Brian Smith, William VanPeeters, Brian Yanchik
The ENV TST is working with NHI, FHWA Headquarters, numerous State DOTs, and several regulatory agencies to deploy a sequence of web-based, classroom, and field workshops in transportation-related wetland impact, permitting, indirect and cumulative impacts and mitigation issues.
We provide technical assistance on a broad range of issues including SAFETEA-LU implementation. We support FHWA Headquarters in developing new policies and guidance. We conduct technology deployment activities to a broad spectrum of transportation stakeholders. We assist Division Offices in conducting peer and process reviews; and in reviewing State DOT polices and guidance upon request. We offer Executive Briefings and Conference presentations on many environmental topics upon request. All workshops and webinars can be customized and tailored to your special needs.
Currently, the NEPA 101 web seminar can be found on the NHI website. A self-paced tutorial on Section 4(f) can be found at www.section4f.com. A blended webinar on Public Meetings and a joint effort with Headquarters on Hazardous Wastes in Highway Rights of Way are currently under development.
For additional information regarding these services and workshops, please call.
NHI (National Highway Institute)
The professionals on the Resource Center’s Environment TST also serve as instructors for many NHI Environmental Training Courses.
To learn more about scheduling an NHI course, please contact the NHI at:
4600 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: (877) 558-6873, Fax: (703) 235-0593
Or visit NHI’s website at: http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov
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