< Return to program

NEPA

Reform: Real-World Perspectives on Streamlined Schedules, Less Expensive Processes, and More Concise Documents

Brian Boose, Jennifer Warf, Diane Cowin, Anne Baldrige, Edward Morrison, and Maria Franks

Wednesday, May 22
Calvert Ballroom
9:45 AM


About the Session

A strong case can be made that the NEPA process, specifically the EIS development process, in current practice, takes too long, costs too much, and often produces overly lengthy documentation. Many practitioners are quick to identify a litany of justified reasons why the NEPA process for many projects takes a longer time, costs more than originally anticipated, and results in longer documents than originally intended. As such, there is a critical difference between the law’s general goals and the current reality at the project-specific level

This chasm will be explored during the session and we will suggest some bridges that might be most suitable for each of the critical components: time, cost, and length of documents. We will review NEPA “success stories” and real-time measures that can and have been used to achieve efficiencies in the NEPA process. The presentations within this session will address streamlining, using real-world examples, and suggest methods that meet the multiple and competing objectives associated with the NEPA process while reducing time, cost, and document size.

About the Presenters

Brian Boose, CEP, AECOM

Brian W. Boose is an Associate Vice President at AECOM with 31 years of consulting experience in environmental impact assessment and permitting for the US Federal government. Mr. Boose leads AECOM’s US Federal IAP(Environmental Planning) practice He is a recognized subject matter expert (SME) in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, as well as possesses strong knowledge and experience in Natural Resources Management, Cultural Resources Management, and Environmental Due Diligence, for a wide array of Federal clients. Over his career, he has managed and contributed to multiple, complex environmental impact analyses (more than 25 EIS/RODs and 500 EA/FONSIs), led over 50 NEPA training courses nationally, developed NEPA compliance handbooks and tools for a variety of Federal agencies, and served as a mentor to numerous NEPA practitioners across the nation. Brian has worked in all 54 states and US territories and provided consulting services to virtually every Federal agency.

Jennifer Warf, AECOM

Biography pending

Diane Cowin, AECOM

Biography pending

Anne Baldrige, AECOM

Biography pending

Edward Morrison, National Guard Bureau

Biography pending

Maria Franks, USACE

Biography pending