Michael is the practice leader for Atkins' air quality and climate change services with over 14 years of experience in GHG emissions inventories, climate action plans, and GHG analysis. He has conducted public outreach efforts to inform local and state officials on air quality, GHG emissions, and climate change issues.

Daniel is a Senior Transportation Engineer with Fehr & Peers, and has more than eight years of experience in transportation planning and traffic engineering. He has served as project manager or project engineer on transportation impact analysis studies, environmental impact reports, street design standards studies, site access and on-site circulation studies, transportation operations analysis, and Citywide model development projects. His experience includes the application of local and regional travel demand models and CAPCOA research to estimate vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and VMT reduction for Climate Action Plans and or General Plan analysis in Mountain View, Morgan Hill, Sunnyvale, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Gilroy, Los Gatos, and San Luis Obispo County.

Cheryl Laskowski is a climate change specialist at AECOM. Dr. Laskowski has advanced degrees in climate change ecology, and energy and environmental analysis. She has extensive academic and applied experience in climate change work, including conducting primary research in air quality monitoring, preparing greenhouse gas emissions inventories, producing climate action plans, and conducting GHG and air quality analyses for a variety of CEQA and NEPA projects. She has or is managing several climate action plans, which focus on mitigation strategies and meeting the goals of AB 32; preparing synthesis reports on GHGs in rangelands for BLM; prepared CEQA GHG Thresholds for Determining Significance for the County of San Diego; and conducting CEQ/NEPA impact assessments for GHGs for EIRs and (M)NDs. Dr. Laskowski has extensive experience communicating through written work, having published in academic journals and written numerous reports; and oral presentations, having lectured university courses, presented research at international conferences, and communicated information to government officials, tribal leaders, and the public. Cheryl has worked in the academic, public, and non-profit sectors before joining AECOM.

Dave Mitchell, First Carbon Solutions -Michael Brandman Associates: Dave has more than 22 years of experience in air quality, land use, and climate change planning, including long-range planning, plan implementation, and managing large multi-disciplinary projects. Dave has served as project manager for climate action plans, greenhouse gas inventories and numerous air quality and greenhouse gas analyses for CEQA documents. Dave possesses extensive experience in air quality analysis; CEQA lead agency and commenting functions; plan development; rule development; grant and incentive programs; and land use, transportation, and air quality connections. Expertise includes climate action plans, air quality elements, emission inventory development, CEQA compliance, regulation development, state implementation plan issues, air quality impact assessments, air mitigation quantification methods, and air pollution control technology.

Craig Johnson, RLA, Education: B.S., Landscape Architecture, Ball State University, 1997, Craig is a registered landscape architect, environmental planner, and senior project manager at LSD with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in visual resources and cultural landscapes. Craig is currently providing project management for two CLIs and two National Register nominations', one for Tonto National Monument and the other for the Cross Canyon Corridor in Grand Canyon National Park. He has also completed numerous visual resource inventories and analyses, including transportation, energy, and cultural-visual resource assessment projects.

Robert Sullivan (M.L.A., Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois, Urbana, 1987) is an environmental scientist in Argonne National Laboratory's Environmental Science Division. He conducts applied research concerning the visual impacts of utility-scale energy generation. His current research focuses on visual perception of utility-scale wind, solar, and electric transmission facilities, and software development for visual impact risk analysis and visual impact simulation. He is currently developing guidance for federal agencies on evaluation of visual impact analyses, and on best management practices for reducing visual impacts of solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems. He is also part of an interdisciplinary team that conducts environmental impact assessments for national energy programs, including renewable and fossil energy development and associated energy transmission. He has prepared visual impact analyses for programmatic environmental impact statements for onshore and offshore wind energy, solar energy, electric transmission, and several federal fossil energy programs. (25 years experience)

Mark Meyer, a landscape architect, joined the National Park Service as a visual resource specialist after 30 years in the private sector. His experience includes natural resource planning, visual inventory and impact assessment as well traditional land use and site planning and landscape design. Mark is duty-stationed in Lakewood, Colorado as part of the Air Resources Division. His duties are national in scope and he is assisting park managers, regional offices and the Washington Office in the protection of shared scenic views that extend beyond the boundaries of NPS managed areas. Such views are inspirational and often integral to the experience of visiting a national park or historic trail. While much of his focus is on utility-scale renewable energy, and transmission projects within these shared viewsheds, he will also be working to develop a consistent approach to visual resources throughout the service including national trails, wild and scenic rivers and cultural landscapes.

David Keys, CEP, is the NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Region, National Environmental Policy Act Coordinator where he is responsible for compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations throughout the NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Region. He is a Certified Environmental Professional in environmental documentation and earned his Master of Arts degree in environmental studies from the University of Illinois and his Bachelor of Science degree in forest management from Southern Illinois University. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg Campus, where he teaches NEPA implementation. He earned the NEPA certificate from the Duke Environmental Leadership Program. He is a general member of the National Association of Environmental Professionals where he is the current chair of the Oceans Track and current vice chair of the Peak Oil Committee. He is a professional member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Larry Canter is Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma (August, 2000), during the 1990s he was the Sun Company Chair of Ground Water Hydrology, George Lynn Cross Research Professor, and Director, Environmental and Ground Water Institute. He is now engaged in teaching EIA-related short courses and consulting on the preparation and review of impact studies and the development of EIA policies, procedures, methods, and tools. In 2008, he was Co-Chair of the International Association of Impact Assessment's (IAIA's) Special Topic Meeting on Assessing and Managing Cumulative Environmental Effects. In 2009, he received the prestigious Rose-Hulman Award from IAIA. He received his Ph.D. in environmental health engineering from the University of Texas, M.S. in sanitary engineering from the University of Illinois, and B.E. in civil engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Robert Senner leads environmental programs and teams to support engineering design, construction planning, and regulatory permitting for natural resource, energy, and infrastructure projects. He has managed, prepared, or contributed to over 60 NEPA documents and is a specialist in indirect and cumulative effects assessment, mitigation strategies for adaptive management, and sustainability design and metrics. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Yale University, conducted postgraduate research at the University of St. Andrews and Caltech, and received his Ph.D. in public policy from The University of Texas at Austin. He is currently a senior project manager and technical practice leader with CH2M HILL in Seattle

Ron Deverman is Associate Vice-President for HNTB, a national engineering, architecture and planning firm, managing environmental impact assessment projects for transportation infrastructure improvements such as transit, passenger and freight rail, roadways, and bridges. Ron has 28-years experience in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with special expertise in community impact assessment, cumulative effects analysis, and federal environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act. His education includes a BS in civil/environmental engineering from the University of Illinois in Urbana, an MA in literature and creative writing from the University of Illinois in Springfield, and post-graduate studies in NEPA and related environmental studies. Ron is the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). He has also chaired NAEP's national NEPA Symposium, NEPA Working Group, Transportation Working Group (co-founder), and 27th Annual Conference (Dearborn, Michigan).

Timothy Lavallee, P.E. Mr. Lavallee is the founder and president of LPES, Inc.; a Virginia based engineering and planning small business enterprise specializing in air quality, noise, and transportation planning. Mr. Lavallee has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental field, and has managed or been directly involved in several hundred projects for the DoD (all branches), MDA, NASA, USACE, FERC, DOE, GSA, and USCG. These efforts primarily include preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA). Mr. Lavallee is proficient with virtually all USEPA air dispersion models, and all standard noise prediction models. In addition, he has extensive experience assessing the effects of noise and shock on humans, threatened and endangered species, and marine mammals. Mr. Lavallee previously worked for Lockheed Martin at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Langley Research Center in flight test support and environmental noise reduction. Mr. Lavallee has numerous professional and technical publications in the areas of air quality and acoustics.

Mark Oliver is a CH2M HILL principal project manager with more than 25 years of experience in California water resources planning projects. His project assignments have included coordinating engineering and environmental documentation for controversial water resources management programs with heated public debate and intense media coverage. As a manager of major, high-profile environmental document projects, Mark typically directs the impact analysis, as well as public and agency coordination aspects of these projects. These activities include impact assessment and approach development, leading public scoping meetings on behalf of lead agencies to identify public and agency concerns, making public presentations, and responding to public and agency comments. He specializes in developing regional solutions involving numerous federal, state, and local interests as well as assisting project proponents in developing projects that account for and anticipate environmental and political concerns and issues.

Owen L. Schmidt, BA, MA, JD, is an environmental consultant and NEPA trainer living in Portland, Oregon. He has more than 32 years of service with the Federal Government, last serving as Senior Counsel with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel in Portland, Oregon, where he advised the Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other USDA agencies in Washington and Oregon. He was also a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Oregon. Before joining USDA in 1991, he was an attorney for the Bonneville Power Administration, where he joined the legal staff after several years as an Environmental Specialist. Mr. Schmidt received his J.D. from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College (1977), and a B.A. (1969) and M.A. (1973) in biology from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. Mr. Schmidt is a frequent author and lecturer on the National Environmental Policy Act. His book, 'NEPA Models and Case Lists' is now in the fourth edition. He served as a Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's Book Publication Committee for the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources and as a Vice President for the Ninth Circuit, The Federal Bar Association. He was the Editor of Oregon Birds, a quarterly journal of Oregon Field Ornithologists, for 14 years (1985-99), and is a long-time member of the Oregon Bird Records Committee

Brady R. McShane, Partner, Real Estate & Land Use Mr. McShane's practice focuses on land use, government, and real estate development matters, where he advises clients on the numerous regulatory, environmental, political and technical issues involved in developing property in California. For the last 11 years, he has represented developers, corporations, individuals, institutions and nonprofit organizations in all aspects of the land use and entitlement process, including the development of residential master-planned communities, condominiums, mixed-use, hotels, shopping centers, big box retail stores, specialty retail stores, performing arts centers, sports stadiums and self-storage facilities. He regularly appears in hearings before legislative bodies, agencies, boards and commissions.

Sean Matsler, Senior Land Use Attorney, Real Estate & Land Use, Mr. Matsler's practice focuses on land use with an emphasis on securing entitlements for controversial residential, commercial, and institutional real estate development projects. He advises clients on compliance with local planning and zoning regulations, the California Coastal Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act, guiding them through the entitlement process from site selection to project approval. Mr. Matsler understands the litigation risk associated with California Environmental Quality Act compliance, having represented clients on both sides of such litigation. He has also appeared before both state and local administrative bodies to secure approvals on behalf of clients. Over the course of nine years of practice, his clients have included residential, commercial, and mixed use developers, as well as churches, temples, schools, banks, REITs, and individual property owners.

Devon Muto is a senior manager with ICF International, leading ICF’s environmental planning in southern California. He has extensive experience with planning, policy, permitting, and environmental analysis projects. Prior to joining ICF, Mr. Muto was chief of the County of San Diego’s Advanced Planning Division, where he completed the county’s general plan update and associated environmental impact report (EIR). He was responsible for various San Diego County projects, such as its Climate Action Plan, Energy Upgrade California, Wind Energy Ordinance and Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Boutique Wineries Ordinance EIR, and Ramona and Alpine Town Center Plans. In addition, he provided oversight to San Diego County's Multiple Species Conservation Program and Energy Program. Mr. Muto has also worked as a land use and environmental planning consultant. He currently serves as the administrative vice president of the Association of Environmental Professionals.

Sydney B. Coatsworth is a Principal with Ascent Environmental, with 26 years of experience in CEQA and NEPA Practice, geomorphology, water resources. Her practice spans the gamut, including projects related to water resources, wastewater treatment, floodplain management, affordable housing, urban development, natural resources management, and environmental policy and regulation. She is an expert and educator in environmental compliance pursuant to CEQA, NEPA, and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) laws and regulations. Sydney specializes in managing large-scale and complex environmental compliance projects and has overseen the preparation of hundreds of environmental documents.

Gary Jakobs is a Principal with Ascent Environmental. With 28 years of experience, he has a diverse background in environmental studies for projects throughout California and the western United States. He is a CEQA and NEPA expert who develops practice methods, leads emerging trends, and helps his clients understand applicable regulations and case law. His expertise encompasses the federal and California endangered species acts and wetlands and water quality regulations. Gary’s project management experience includes multi-task, on-call environmental assignments for projects throughout California, large-scale development plans, in-fill urban development, wastewater treatment infrastructure, industrial and energy facilities, telecommunications installations, prisons, and airport expansions.

Honey Walters is a Principal at Ascent Environmental. She is an expert in air quality impact and compliance analysis, GHG analysis and reduction planning, and noise impact analysis and mitigation planning. Honey’s professional experience of over 12 years in the private and public sectors is coupled with a strong educational background in air pollution chemistry and climate change science. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Chemistry and Atmospheric Science. She has worked directly with numerous agencies including the California Air Resources Board, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, and the Attorney General’s office on the development of GHG thresholds of significance, analytical methods, and reduction strategies for California.

Gary Jakobs is a Principal with Ascent Environmental. With 28 years of experience, he has a diverse background in environmental studies for projects throughout California and the western United States. He is a CEQA and NEPA expert who develops practice methods, leads emerging trends, and helps his clients understand applicable regulations and case law. His expertise encompasses the federal and California endangered species acts and wetlands and water quality regulations. Gary’s project management experience includes multi-task, on-call environmental assignments for projects throughout California, large-scale development plans, in-fill urban development, wastewater treatment infrastructure, industrial and energy facilities, telecommunications installations, prisons, and airport expansions.

Curtis E. Alling is a Principal at Ascent Environmental. Curtis is a recognized expert in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a specialist in the climate change and natural resources issues. Trained in wildlife science and natural resources planning, his projects are very diverse, including urban, agricultural, wetland, vernal pool, valley, Delta, coastal, Coast Range, foothill, and Sierra settings. Project specialties include ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, water resources, conservation planning, hazardous materials, solid waste, flood control, community planning, regional and state park, trail, rail transit, and large-scale development projects.

Curtis E. Alling is a Principal at Ascent Environmental. Curtis is a recognized expert in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a specialist in the climate change and natural resources issues. Trained in wildlife science and natural resources planning, his projects are very diverse, including urban, agricultural, wetland, vernal pool, valley, Delta, coastal, Coast Range, foothill, and Sierra settings. Project specialties include ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, water resources, conservation planning, hazardous materials, solid waste, flood control, community planning, regional and state park, trail, rail transit, and large-scale development projects.

Amanda Olekszulin is a Principal at Ascent Environmental with 15 years of experience in CEQA and NEPA Practice, land development projects. Her career has focused on the management of complex and important projects, including brownfield redevelopments, master planned communities, prisons, water resources development, wastewater treatment plants, waterfront developments, and other public infrastructure projects. She has broad marketplace recognition for CEQA and NEPA document leadership and management accomplishments, often on controversial public and private development projects.

Gary Riley, an EPA CERCLA Project Manager will give the regulating agency perspective highlighting the pros and cons of broader NEPA consideration. Mr. Riley is a California P.E., Environmental Engineer. Before the EPA, he worked for the RWQCB. Mr. Riley currently works on two California mining sites, Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine and Lava Cap Mine.

John Lucero of E2 Consulting Engineers will provide a consultant's perspective of both broad and focused NEPA consideration, the constraints and benefits of each level of analysis, the public and regulatory agency perception , and how the NEPA review can help streamline feasibility review and guide the decision decision-making process. John is a California and Arizona PE., Environmental Engineer nad has worked on CERCLA sites in 1983.

Leslie Tice of E2 Consulting Engineers will facilitate the discussion. She is a senior NEPA and CEQA practitioner with a blended experience base. She has completed CERCLA, NEPA, and CEQA analyses and provided senior technical review for the NEPA-like environmental review on CERCLA projects.