Association of Environmental Professionals | San Diego Chapter
spring/SUMMER 2018
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD by erin murphey, aecom With our annual Membership Appreciation Event upon us (details are contained within this newsletter - think lions, tigers, and bears..), I want to start off this edition of the San Diego Chapter newsletter by thanking all of our members. Our Chapter would not be the same without you and we would not be able to hold such great events without your dedication and enthusiasm! AEP offers numerous benefits that further our careers and personal development. I want to take a minute to remind you of a few benefits that I recently rediscovered: 1. CEQA Portal: The CEQA Portal on the AEP website features recent case law decisions and summaries as well as topic papers. Click here to access case law decisions and summaries. 2. Since you are an AEP member you are automatically a National Association of Environmental Professional (NAEP) affiliate member which means discounts on NAEP events and webinars and access to NAEP publications (free!). Click here for more information about AEP's affiliation with NAEP. For those of you that are not AEP members, there are four main reasons why you should become a member. 1. For your growth and future - AEP membership is your commitment to yourself to continually grow and improve. It shows others that you care about your professional development and it helps develop networks that will benefit you your entire career. 2. For your employer - AEP membership adds value to your organization through the knowledge you gain of current best practices (CEQA is always changing!) and the network you build. This increases your and your organization's exposure in the industry - win, win! 3. For you the profession - AEP membership allows you to support CEQA and other environmental laws and allows for connections with legislators and OPR. 4. For your wallet - AEP membership is easy on your wallet and "pays for itself" when compared to being a non-member. See the breakdown on the next page for the cost savings of being an AEP member.
ENVIRONMENTOR
THE
Program
Member Price
Non-Member Price
Cost Savings
CEQA Book
Free
$20
Annual Conference
$495
$595
$100
Workshop
$200
$250-300
$50-100
Institute
Chapter Program
$25
$40
$15
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD (CONT) Annual dues are $150. At a non-member price, if you were to buy the CEQA book, attend two chapter programs, and attend the annual conference your cost savings would have paid for a membership. With a chapter program every month and the conference, 3 workshops, and the institute offered every year, there are several ways that cost savings could paid for a membership. For more information and to become a member click here. To see the local chapter programs that are coming up and the types of programs we have held in the past click here.
THE ENVIRONMENTOR, SPRING/SUMMER 2018| {{page}}
UPCOMING EVENTS
AEP Institute: California Housing Crisis August 3rd, 2018 @ Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento
This year's AEP Institute will focus on the California Housing Crisis. This one-day symposium will bring together experts in a facilitated dialogue regarding: Pre-2017 and 2017 Legislative Activity Related to Housing & Affordable Housing Barriers to Approval of Affordable Housing Projects Strategies & Case Studies for Successful Affordable Housing Projects Click here for more information and an agenda.
Renewable Energy Luncheon July 26th, 2018 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM @ Hilton Mission Valley
Join us for a luncheon discussion on Renewable Energy. Hilary Haskell and Chris Terzich from SDG&E's Environmental Project team will discuss electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and CEQA as it relates to electric utility projects. Click here to register. CLick here t
2018 AEP AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET
San Diego AEP is excited to be holding the annual Awards and Scholarship Banquet, which provides scholarships to student members who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement in the environmental field. The event is also an opportunity to recognize exceptional technical and environmental documents and celebrate the accomplishments of local agencies, firms, and professionals. Since the inception of this event, the San Diego Chapter has awarded more than $50,000 in student scholarships. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact Chris Mendiara (mendiara@llgengineers.com, 858-300-8800). If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact co-chairs Lauren Esposito (lauren.esposito@sandag.org, 619-595-5374) or Laurel Glass Lees (llees@greatecology.com, 858-750-3201). The Call for Nominations is open until August 10, 2018! Criteria and Qualification Forms are available here.
ceqa crossword
ACROSS 1. Most high-profile housing bill of 2018 but failed to make it out of the Senate due to intense neighborhood and local government opposition 2. The Naval Shore and Expeditionary Systems Command that plans, builds, and maintains sustainable facilities, delivers environmental, utilities and other base services, and acquires and manages expeditionary combat force systems and equipment 4. The City of San Diego has a habitat conservation plan that protects this seasonal wetland habitat 6. The proposed update to the CEQA Guidelines include Appendix G checklist questions for this topic which is currently only required to be analyzed within an EIR 7. Standard by which an agency determines whether to prepare an EIR 8. 2019 AEP Conference location DOWN 1. If the Lead Agency needs to prepare an EIR for a project and the project has statewide, regional, or area-wide significance (pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15206), the Lead Agency shall conduct at least one ________ meeting 3. The county clerk shall post a Notice of Determination within __________ hours of receipt 5. A movement that supports development of new housing in cities where rental costs have escalated to unaffordable levels
One of the elusive native San Diegans, Lisa started her career as an environmental professional in 2017. Though she is a burgeoning environmental professional, Lisa has always been passionate about the environment, and would rather be enjoying and exploring the great outdoors over just about anything. Prior to her career as an environmental professional, she managed programs and coordinated volunteers for several non-profit organizations, including: Best Buddies, Tree Musketeers, and the American Red Cross. After teaching English for two-years in South Korea, Lisa returned to the United States and completed a Master in City Planning degree from San Diego State University. Most recently, Lisa joined the team at Environmental Science Associates as a CEQA generalist. In her free time, if she’s not enjoying a walk in Mission Bay, Torrey Pines or Mission Trails, she’s at the gym working on her powerlifting goals, swinging kettlebells, or binge watching Netflix. You’ve recently taken a new position on the board. What made you want to get more involved and take a leadership position with AEP? With my background in non-profit program management, I was more than excited to share my skills in event planning with SDAEP. Being relatively new to the organization, I thought it would be a great way to keep actively involved and engaged in the network. Moreover, I wanted to pay it forward and help provide the same great opportunities that have helped me gain a foothold in the environmental field. What advice would you give a recent graduate or young professional in the environmental industry? I think my biggest piece of advice is to stay focused and be fearless. Your career is just getting started, just like with all aspects of your life, this too is a journey – where you are today does not dictate where you’ll be in 5, 10 or 50 years. Don’t be afraid to hear no – you will hear this far more often than yes stay focused on your goal. Also, be determined, seek out and take any opportunity that presents itself, you never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn. What have you enjoyed most about working in the environmental field? More than anything, my favorite part about working in the environmental field is learning something new EVERYDAY. The sheer variety of careers in the field and how our work as a collective intersects and impacts the natural and built environments is incredible and fascinating.
meet a board member: lisa maier, esa
Announcements
Thank you to all who participated in our luncheon topic poll! Special shout out to Krista Ellis from AECOM who wins a free spot at the luncheon. We look forward to seeing you all at the July Luncheon on Renewable Energy! MEMBERSHIP APPRECIATION EVENT @ the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, August 16, 2018 SAN DIEGO AEP AWARDS EVENT @ Tom Ham's Lighthouse on Thursday, September 20, 2018 SAN DIEGO AEP & APA JOINT HOLIDAY PARTY Thursday, December 6, Location TBD. We hope you all enjoyed this year's conference! While at the conference, the SD AEP Board rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of San Jacinto Peak!
The Monterey Bay – Silicon Valley Chapter will host the 2019 AEP Conference in beautiful Monterey at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. The theme of this conference is Waves of Change & Fields of Opportunity. As in the past, the 2019 conference will provide an opportunity for CEQA practitioners and technical experts to meet and discuss the hot topics of the day, with emphasis on responding effectively to change and seizing opportunities presented by that change. Click here to submit a presentation or award nomination and for sponsorship information.
UC San Diego Extension’s Environment & Sustainability programs meet the growing demand for skilled professionals who can address the challenges of sustainable development. Our programs provide cutting-edge training in areas of sustainability, environmental management, urban planning, facilities management, behavior change, sustainability science, and energy and waste management. In addition to the CEQA Practice Certificate, UC San Diego Extension's Environment & Sustainability programs offered Summer 2018 include Behavior Change Strategies for Sustainability, Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity, Resource Management, and many more. For more information visit the UC San Diego Extension website. AECOM is actively seeking a creative, highly talented Senior Air Quality Manager that can lead a group that prepares technically sound and legally defensible air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) impact analyses and mitigation strategies, including stand-alone technical reports pursuant to CEQA/NEPA, IS/MND and EIR sections, EA/EIS sections, federal Conformity Analyses, and Caltrans/FHWA technical studies. The successful candidate will be well-versed in current trends, analysis methods, and regulatory changes as they pertain to air quality and greenhouse gas analyses in order to provide adequate quality control and quality assurance review of air quality and greenhouse gas impact analyses and mitigation strategies for a variety of projects. The location of this position is flexible to San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Ontario, San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento. Click here for more information and to apply.
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With summer and nicer weather upon us be sure to snap some photographs to enter into this year's Award Program Photography Competition! Be on the lookout for how to submit your photographs in the coming months. Thank you to all photograph submissions we received last year. The collage below incorporates the 2017 photographs that were submitted.
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2017 AWARDS PROGRAM PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMISSIONS
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14
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1 Carey Fernandez; 2 James McMorran; 3 Lisa Maier; 4 Carey Fernandez; 5 Katie Laybourn; 6 Julia Norris; 7 Daniel White; 8 Carey Fernandez; 9 Alonso Cabello; 10 Eileen Maher; 11 Lisa Maier; 12 Summer Schlageter; 13 Kristin Blackson; 14 Eric Piehel
Source: National Geographic
Protected Species Update Volume 4, Issue 1 JANUARY 1 – JUNE 15, 2018 by Mark Roll, AECOM
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Withdraws Proposal to List the San Fernando Valley Spineflower (California) March 15: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) withdrew a 2016 proposed rule to list the San Fernando Valley spineflower (Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina) as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act (FESA). The species is currently known from two populations in Southern California that are 17 miles apart and total up to approximately 35–40 acres. One population is located in Ventura County within the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. The other known population is in Los Angeles County on land owned by Newhall Land Company. Subsequent to the 2016 listing proposal, the USFWS and Newhall Land Company developed a Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA) to improve the status of the species. The CCA includes a voluntary commitment by Newhall Land Company to establish new, protected occurrences within the plant’s historical range and conserve nearly 1,500 acres for the benefit of the species. The USFWS determined there is sufficient certainty that the CCA will be implemented and effective at significantly reducing threats to the species and, therefore, withdrew the previous proposal to list the species as threatened. More information on the withdrawal is here. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes Downlisting of Hawaiian Goose and Issuance of 4(d) Rule (Hawaii) April 2: The USFWS issued a proposed rule to downlist the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis; “nene”) from endangered to threatened. The nene is currently known from Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and Oahu and was originally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967. The species was subsequently automatically added to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife with passage of the FESA in 1973. The proposed rule concludes the species is no longer in danger of extinction but remains threatened by the following: habitat destruction and modification due to urbanization, agricultural activities, nonnative ungulates, and nonnative vegetation; predation by nonnative mammals; disease; human activities such as motor vehicle collisions, collisions at wind energy facilities, feeding and habituation, and recreational activities; and stochastic events such as droughts and hurricanes. The USFWS also proposed promulgation of a 4(d) rule to exempt the following actions from FESA take prohibitions: intentional hazing or use of other deterrent measures not likely to cause direct injury or mortality; lawful control of introduced predators or habitat management activities for the nene; aiding or euthanizing sick, injured, or orphaned nene, disposing of dead specimens, and salvaging a dead specimen for scientific study by authorized law enforcement officers. Public comments on the proposed rule were due June 1, 2018. The proposed rule is available here.
Protected Species Update (continued)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Guidance Regarding Interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Nationwide) April 11: The USFWS issued guidance to clarify what constitutes prohibited take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The guidance follows a legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office in December 2017, which found the MBTA does not prohibit take that is incidental to otherwise lawful actions. Consistent with the previous legal opinion, the guidance indicates the USFWS will interpret the MBTA’s take prohibitions as applying only to actions that intentionally result in take of a migratory bird, their eggs, or their nest. In other words, taking of a migratory birds resulting from an otherwise lawful activity, the purpose of which is not to take birds, eggs, or nests, is not prohibited by the act. The guidance is available here. California Fish and Game Commission Lists Tricolored Blackbird as Threatened (California) April 19: The California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) voted to list the tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The species is nearly endemic to California, occurring throughout much of the lowlands west of the Sierra Nevada and extending west across the Central Valley to the coast from Sonoma County south to Santa Barbara County. The decision to list the species under the CESA was prompted by a petition filed by Center for Biological Diversity in August 2015. In December 2015, the CFGC designated the species as a candidate for listing under the CESA and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) subsequently recommended listing the species as threatened in their February 2018 status review for the species. CDFW’s status review is available here. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Guidance for Section 10(a)(1)(B) Incidental Take Permits (Nationwide) April 26: The USFWS issued guidance to clarify when a section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit (ITP) should be sought by non-federal entities for projects that modify the habitat of a federally listed species. The USFWS issued this guidance to help ensure “correct and consistent interpretations” of the applicable provisions of the FESA. The guidance first notes that the decision to seek an ITP is voluntary and agency staff should not use “mandatory language” (e.g., a permit is “required”) in communications with a potential applicant. The guidance further states that “habitat modification, in and of itself, does not necessarily constitute take.” Rather, the guidance clarifies that the following questions should be asked to determine if habitat modification triggers a potential need for an ITP: (1) Is the modification of habitat significant?; (2) If so, does that modification also significantly impair an essential behavior pattern of a listed species?; and (3) Is the significant habitat modification of habitat, with a significant impairment of an essential behavior pattern, likely to result in the actual killing or injury of wildlife? The guidance includes a questionnaire and flow chart to assist applicants in deciding whether they should voluntarily seek an ITP. The guidance is available here.
Source: National Audubon Society
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Final Rule to Delist the Lesser Long-Nosed Bat (Arizona) May 1: The USFWS issued a final rule removing the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This migratory species breeds in portions of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (Arizona) and was listed as endangered under the FESA in 1988. The species feeds on nectar, pollen, and fruit and roosts primarily in caves, mines, and large crevices. The USFWS notes in the final rule that since completion of the species recovery plan, there have been steadily increasing conservation efforts and better monitoring methods have resulted in an increase in the number of known roosts throughout its range and more accurate population estimates. The current population is estimated at over 200,000 individuals range-wide, approximately 200 times more than estimated in 1988. A Species Status Assessment summarizing the status of the species is available here. The final rule is available here. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Final Rule Delisting the Hidden Lake Bluecurls (California) June 1: The USFWS removed the Hidden Lake bluecurls (Trichostema austromontanum ssp. compactum) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. This annual in the mint family (Lamiaceae) is currently found only on the margins of Hidden Lake, a small montane vernal pool in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, California, owned and managed by Mount San Jacinto State Park. Prior to its listing under the FESA in 1998, the species was threatened by unregulated recreational use of Hidden Lake. In their January 2017 proposal to delist the species, the USFWS noted management efforts undertaken by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) to minimize trampling, including designating Hidden Lake and its associated watershed area as a preserve area and limiting public access to the lake. The USFWS assumes the management actions being undertaken by CDPR will remain in place for at least the next few decades. The final rule is available here.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
SDAEPBoard@califaep.org President Corinne Lytle Bonine Chambers Group clytle-bonine@chambersgroupinc.com Co-Vice Presidents of Programs Chelsea Ohanesian AECOM chelsea.ohanesian@aecom.com Lisa Maier ESA LMaier@esassoc.com Vice President of Membership Thomas Strand Chambers Group tstrand@chambersgroupinc.com Treasurer Han Le hanle.729@gmail.com Secretary Kassandra Nearn County of San Diego Kassandra.Nearn@sdcounty.ca.gov Student Membership and Outreach Director Katie Laybourn Harris & Associates katie.laybourn@weareharris.com Chapter Director Julia Norris Aarcher jnorris@aarcherinc.com Newsletter Editor Erin Murphey AECOM erin.murphey@aecom.com
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Contact the Newsletter Editor at: sdaepnews@gmail.com
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