Environmental Compliance SME

• Feb 2023 - Present

Supports HNTB’s Program Management Consultant Team on the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP). Provides environmental services for a wide range of transportation projects throughout the planning, engineering, and construction phases for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Office of Innovative Delivery through the MMIP Program. Conducts field audits ensuring projects maintain environmental compliance and keep related documentation in permit compliance, assists in technical reviews of consultant deliverables, and tracks the status of multiple projects to ensure contract and permit compliance. Field inspections and audits included compiling inspection reports assessing project documentation and NEPA documents, Erosion, Sedimentation & Pollution Control Plans (ESPCP), and individual project environmental commitments. Participated in agency outreach and was used to represent GDOT at multiple internal and external agency project meetings. Show less

• Dec 2022 - Jan 2023

Managed and supervised a (4) member team that included (1) GEOS System’s Statewide Administrator for the statewide GEOS electronic permitting system and (3) Environmental Specialists that regulate (26) counties of the Georgia EPD Mountain District including the NPDES Construction Stormwater Discharge Permits, the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act, Solid Waste Management Act, Georgia Water Quality Control Act, and all associated statutes’ Rules. Managed all associated databases and produced state and federal required reporting for all required programs. Managed regulatory enforcement and compliance for NPDES-permitted construction sites, erosion control complaints, solid waste dumping complaints, landfill inspections, wastewater treatment plants, and various unpermitted construction activities producing inspection reports and enforcement actions as well as providing technical assistance and expertise for (26) counties and associated municipalities. Show less

• Jun 2015 - Nov 2022

Developed and utilized an extensive working history and trusted partnership with other local, state, and federal agencies including GDOT, local Mayors, County Commissioners, LIAs, other branches/districts of GA EPD, GASWCC, GA DNR-WRD, GA DNR-CRD, GA State Parks, DNR LE, USFWS, USACE, and US EPA to provide assistance, technical expertise, enforcement partnerships, and vital trusted working relationships. These relationships aided in conflict resolution and negotiations to successfully obtained voluntary compliance and improved public relations while achieving compliance objectives with regard to the GA E & S Act of 1975, GA WQ Control Act, NPDES Stormwater Construction Permits, Solid Waste Management Act of 1990, NPDES Waste Water Permits, and all associated Rules for these state statutes. Show less

• Dec 2007 - May 2015

Assisted with sampling and data evaluation on NW GA rivers and reservoirs using electrofishing and gillnetting. Assisted with broodfish collections and fingerling stockings of walleye and striped bass. Assisted with age and growth analysis on multiple species. Developed a working relationship with local, state, and federal agencies with a goal of improving fishing opportunities on public lands. Conducted fish kill investigations. Assisted Summerville Trout Hatchery staff with facility maintenance and improvements, fish harvest, and distributions. Assisted with rearing, stocking, sampling, tagging, and data evaluation of Lake Sturgeon. Assisted the GA DNR WRD Stream Team with the surveying of stream fish communities. Provided technical assistance to private pond owners to help them meet their management goals. Coordinated the private pond fish distribution for the NW Region. Maintained 4 NW Region boat rams. Show less

• Jul 2005 - Dec 2007

Assisted in all phases of warm water fish culture, including brood collections, spawning, rearing fry, fingerling, and harvestable-sized fish, harvesting, and distribution for largemouth bass, shoal bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, and gulf striped bass. Marked hatchery-reared fish with OTC, pit tags, and external tags. Maintained hatchery equipment and hatchery grounds. Assisted with centrarchid sampling on SW Region reservoirs. Assisted with gulf striped bass population monitoring using SCUBA in 15 major cold water springs on the Flint River. Led educational tours at the hatchery and gave presentations at local civic club meetings. Coordinated the stocking of the SW Region Kids Fishing Event-sponsored ponds. Conducted fish kill investigations. Show less

• Jun 2002 - Jun 2005

Assisted with centrarchid and ictalurid sampling and data evaluation on SW Region rivers and reservoirs using electrofishing and gillnets. Analyzed sampling data. Assisted with gulf striped bass restoration efforts, including standardized sampling, broodfish collections, thermal refuge monitoring of population using SCUBA, and stocking of fingerling and phase II fish. Assisted with age and growth analysis on multiple species. Assisted with gulf striped bass thermal refuge restoration efforts. Assisted the GA DNR WRD Stream Team with the surveying of stream fish communities. Conducted fish kill investigations. Collected and processed fish contaminant samples, and coordinated with GA DNR EPD for the transfer and analysis of the samples for the annual fish consumption publication. Assisted hatchery staff with facility maintenance and improvements, fish harvest, and distributions. Assisted with the Alabama Shad monitoring and collections in the ACF Basin. Assisted USFWS with mussel surveys in the ACF Basin. Provided technical assistance to private pond owners to help them meet their management goals. Assisted with marking and monitoring hatchery-reared fish with OTC, pit tags, external tags, and radio tags. Coordinated the stocking of the SW Region Kids Fishing Event-sponsored ponds. Promoted topics of concern and provided a positive image of GA DNR WRD to local, state, and national media. Show less

• Feb 1998 - May 2002

Assisted with centrarchid and ictalurid sampling and data evaluation on SW Region rivers and reservoirs using electrofishing and gillnets. Analyzed sampling data. Assisted with gulf striped bass restoration efforts, including standardized sampling, fish larvae/egg collections, broodfish collections, thermal refuge monitoring of population using SCUBA, and stocking of fingerling and phase II fish. Assisted with age and growth analysis on multiple species. Assisted with gulf striped bass thermal refuge restoration efforts. Assisted the GA DNR WRD Stream Team with the surveying of stream fish communities. Collected and processed fish contaminant samples, and coordinated with GA DNR EPD for the transfer and analysis of the samples for the annual fish consumption publication. Assisted hatchery staff with facility maintenance and improvements, fish harvest, distributions, and kids' educational and fishing events. Assisted USFWS with mussel surveys in the ACF Basin. Provided technical assistance to private pond owners to help them meet their management goals. Assisted with marking and monitoring hatchery-reared fish with OTC, pit tags, external tags, and radio tags. Assisted with the coordination of stocking for the SW Region Kids Fishing Event-sponsored ponds. Assisted with the annual NRCS program that introduced high school students to careers in the outdoors. Promoted topics of concern and provided a positive image of GA DNR WRD to local, state, and national media. Conducted fish kill investigations. Assisted with statewide GA DNR fish hatchery spring restoration efforts to improve the water supply for hatchery operations. Worked with Auburn University and USACE staff on Lake Seminole conducting the impacts of invasive weeds on the fish populations. Supervised creel clerks. Conducted aerial fishing and creel surveys on Lake Seminole. Tracked fish movements using radio telemetry. Show less

Research Technician

• Nov 1997 - Feb 1998