AEP Inland Empire Chapter - Member Profiles

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Anne L. Viricel Michael Brandman Associates Employment The newest AEP member from MBA, Anne joined the firm on July 2nd.  Anne comes to MBA by way of Norcal Waste Systems, Inc. where she was Reporting and Analysis Manager for three years, focusing on improving operating efficiencies through statistical quantification.  She was also very active in business development and marketing pursuits, writing numerous successful proposals and co-developing a detailed five-year strategic marketing plan currently in use.  Prior to joining the Norcal organization, Anne was employed by the City of Upland for ten years, first in  the  Finance  Division,  then  as an  infrastructure maintenance project manager in the Public Works Department. Education Anne obtained her Bachelors of Science in Business Management in 1997 and her Masters of Arts in Organizational Management, 1999.  She is currently completing a Doctorate of Public Administration at the University of La Verne with graduation planned for May, 2002 (but this date may be extended to add four new Information Technology courses).  Her dissertation title is: “Neighborhood Politicization: The Role and Representativeness of Citizen Advisory Committees in Shaping the Administrative Process”. (Does this sound like a familiar issue?) Interests Anne’s love of statistics has led her to several associate professorships with local universities.  She regularly teaches and guest lectures at the University of La Verne and at Keller Graduate School.  This fall, she will also be instructing Research Methods and Practicum courses at the University of Redlands Business School. She recently completed a particularly interesting analysis for Cal State Long Beach testing a number of genetic precursors to attention deficit disorder in high school students.  Prior to that, she performed a statistical analysis of installation visit reports for the U.S. Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service.  Her work led to the reporting procedures recently adopted by Congress and earned her a formal commendation. Community Involvement Anne serves on the City of Rancho Cucamonga Library Foundation Board of Directors and is very involved in community literacy and reading advocacy programs. She is an active volunteer in environmental causes and has donated time to the West End Water Awareness Committee and Rancho Cucamonga’s Used Oil Recycling and Stormwater Programs.  She has also co-directed a number of San Bernardino County “Make a Difference Day” events for the past three years. Personal Anne is the mother of a 20-year old daughter, Nicole’, who majors in Broadcast Communications at Cal State Fullerton and teaches dance.  Nicole’ also serves in a Psychological Operations Unit of the US Army Reserve.
Richard Haller Richard Haller, P.E., a Senior Project Manager at the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA), is IEC-AEP’s newest member.  Rich has over 17 years of experience as a designer, water resources engineer, and project manager, and has worked in the local area for ten years. He graduated in 1983 from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with  B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering, having completed a master’s thesis on structural upgrade of “through truss bridges”. After graduation, Rich served as an officer in the US Air Force and was stationed in Germany and at Norton Air Force Base, California.  Since leaving the service in 1989, he has worked for Kamber Engineering in Gaithersburg, Maryland and Camp Dresser & McKee in Ontario, California.  Notable projects include design and construction management of the $20,000,000 Glendale superfund project completed in 1999. Rich is currently serving as the Southern California Integrated Watershed Program (Proposition 13) program manager for SAWPA. Rich has numerous other activities and is an avid volunteer. He served as the President of the local branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is currently the Los Angeles Section Secretary. Rich is a member of the Air Force Reserves, Chairman of the City of Highland’s Planning Commission and Design Review Board, and a member of the local YMCA Programs Committee. He resides in Highland with his wife Beverly and 14-month old son Hayden.
PLANNING AND CONSERVATION ON THE AGUA CALIENTE INDIAN RESERVATION The name “Cahuilla” is derived from the concept of “master” or “powerful ones,” a people whose physical power has a counterpart of deep inner strength.  Cahuilla Indians believe nature in all its forms – human, animal, even inanimate objects – is connected into a single harmonious whole, where man is not master of the universe but part of its cooperative design.  They feel protective toward the earth, taking care not to waste or destroy its plants, animals or other resources. It was the Agua Caliente who discovered, centuries ago, the hidden medicinal wonders of the area that has come to be known as Palm Springs.  They treasured the healing hot springs or “Agua Caliente” for which the Tribe is named, and learned to use the land’s natural cornucopia of food, building materials and medicinal resources. Complex communities were developed in Palm, Murray, Andreas, Tahquitz and Chino Canyons where the plant resources provided food and materials for manufacture of many things including houses, clothing, weapons and materials for weaving intricate baskets. The Agua Caliente fashioned a network of trailways that created a natural connection between the mountains and the desert.  This connected them with other cultures  from the Pacific Ocean to Arizona and from Mexico to the Central Valley of California. There was little contact between Europeans and the Cahuilla until 1819.  The Romero survey expedition passed through Cahuilla territory in 1823,  naming the area “Agua Caliente”.  It became a routine watering stop for desert  travelers.  The springs were, in fact, so identifiable with the area, that the Kauisik and Panik lineages of the Cahuilla Indians became known to many as the Agua Caliente. The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation was officially established by the U.S. Government in 1876.  To induce rail development in the West in the early 1860s, the federal government awarded odd-numbered square mile sections of land to the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Even-numbered sections, totaling 32,000 acres, were given to the Agua Caliente.  That accounts for the checkerboard pattern of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.  In 1887, a Scottish rancher named Welwood Murray leased the mineral springs and built a bathouse above the waters. The bathhouse eventually became the famous Spa Hotel on what is now Palm Springs’ central intersection, Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way.  Crops in the Agua Caliente area were irrigated by water from nearby streams.  Remnants of these rock-lined irrigation ditches from Tahquitz, Andreas and Chino Creeks are still visible in areas untouched by developments.  Old letters on file in the Bureau of Indian Affairs office, written in the mid-1880’s tell of elderly Indians remembrance of their parents working on these ditches when they were very young. It took decades for some of the land to be officially “allotted”, allowing the individual Agua Caliente, who now owned portions of the reservation, to develop the land.  Federal allotment of Agua Caliente reservation lands covered a period of over 70 years, from the General Allotment Act in 1887 to the finalization of allotments in 1959.  There were two decades of litigation between Agua Caliente Tribal members and the U.S. Government to establish this new form of private ownership. Agua Caliente boasts the first all-female Tribal Council in the United States history, from 1954 to 1959.  From the beginning, the Council fought to change federal government policies and regulations that impacted the Tribe.  They traveled to Washington, D.C. and lobbied the U.S. Congress for legislation to preserve sections of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation as Tribal Reserve property.  Congress passed the Equalization Act in 1959, requiring the Bureau of Indian Affairs to equalize individual allotments, but leaving 2.050 acres as Tribal reserves, to be retained by the Tribe as a whole. During the late 50’s a developer negotiated to build a hotel adjacent to the existing Agua Caliente spa.  To accomplish that, he needed long-term financing, which could happen only with a long-term lease, forbidden at that time by federal regulations dictating uses of Indian trust lands.  Again, the Tribes’ women leaders went to Washington, D.C., and successfully lobbied Congress for legislation to allow long-term lease agreements on Indian reservation land.  This law also became a major development asset to the City of Palm Springs. A series of Supreme Court tests have found in favor of Tribal sovereign authority over Indian Land.  While there are gray areas surrounding this authority, it has been essentially established that federally recognized Indian tribes have the ability to regulate land use within their reservations as their inherent right and particularly when it materially affects the economic health, safety and welfare of the Tribe (Montana v. United States).  Land use regulation is provided for through Land Use Agreements with the County and three local municipalities.  The Land Use Agreements allow the appropriate jurisdiction to apply Land Use regulations and zoning to allotted Trust land of the reservation with ultimate authority resting with the Tribal Council through an appeal process.  The Tribe is currently aggressively monitoring all aspects of land use and environmental issues which may affect the reservation, particularly Trust Lands of the reservation. The Tribe employs a full-time Planning Director and has formed an Indian Planning Commission, which is made up of both Tribal Members and community members, who meet on a regular basis to lend their expertise for sound planning.  The Agua Caliente practice their inherent sovereign rights diligently and thoroughly.  Today there are 28 Tribal Ordinances, most of which pertain to Land Use Management and Conservation.  The most recently adopted Ordinance is the Tribal Environmental Policy Act (TEPA) which was enacted to establish policies and procedures for environmental review of projects within the reservation.  The TEPA is modeled after NEPA and provides for, among other things, public review and comment on Tribal projects. The new Agua Caliente Casino, now under construction, was the first project implemented under this Ordinance. Currently, the Agua Caliente Tribe is developing programs to further its land management responsibilities and exercise its sovereign authority.  In October of 1999 the Tribe and the Bureau of Land Management entered into a Cooperative Agreement to manage adjoining lands and exchange property to consolidate each agencies’ land base.  This agreement includes the preservation and protection of natural and cultural resources, trail development, security and protection of property and water rights.  Indian Tribes benefit from certain inherent rights and from long-standing federal policy for Tribal self-determination and government-to-government relationships.  As part of the Tribe’s continuing duties and responsibilities as a Sovereign nation, it also has exercised its authority to take the lead in habitat conservation within the Reservation.  Indian lands are not federal public lands or part of the public domain, but are lands retained by tribes for tribal use.  While tribes must comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), tribes manage their lands in accordance with tribal goals and objectives.  It is for this reason the Agua Caliente Tribal Council has initiated the preparation of their own Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan.  This Plan is being developed in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.  The purpose of this Plan will be to allow the Tribe to authorize incidental take incooperation with the Service. Additional conservation related Tribal programs in preparation include a Fire Management Masterplan and a Trail Maintenance and Development program.  Various programs which are underway or are completed include Hazardous Materials Survey and Monitoring, Solid Waste Recycling, Water Quality Assessment and Tamarisk Eradication. The Agua Caliente’s concerns and commitment to the Palm Springs area is not only financial and charitable, but also ecological.  Arguably, Native Americans were the first environmentalists.  Love, respect and careful management of the land is the common denominator between all tribes.  This reverence has been passed from generation to generation for thousands of years.  For the betterment of all Coachella Valley residents, the Tribe has become the keeper of the canyons.  In their capable and caring hands, the natural beauty of Andrea, Chino, Murray, Palm and Tahquitz Canyons will be protected and preserved for years to come. For more information, please call (760) 325-3400 or visit our Web Site at  www.aguacaliente.org.
Mike Story Senior Planner, City of Rialto What is your background and education? I have a B.A. degree in Political Science/Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. As part of my major, I completed a number of classes in urban planning. After playing with the idea of a career in school teaching or recreation administration, I was hired as an Assistant Planner for the City of Duarte (at the time, it paid better than any job in teaching or recreation). In a small city of 14,000, you get first-hand experience in a number of areas like CEQA review, code enforcement, building and safety, current and advanced planning, redevelopment and economic development. After 4 years of working in a developed (where I also lived and was raised from a child) community, I then became Associate Planner for the City of Fontana. With this position, I was overseeing the current planning division in one of the fastest growing cities in the Inland Empire. What a radical change from a bedroom community like Duarte. But my 1 year of experience in Fontana and 4 years in Duarte really prepared me for my present position of Senior Planner with the City of Rialto. Rialto is a growth-oriented community with a small town atmosphere. I have been with Rialto for 15 years. I also live in Rialto and enjoy my experiences and the professional growth that I have obtained. What are the general duties of your position? In the City of Rialto, I am given the opportunity (or since there are only 3 planners for a city of 85,000, I inherit a lot of duties) to work on a variety of planning issues. Most of my time is spent working on current planning projects and environmental reviews for current and advanced planning. I also perform the environmental reviews for CDBG-funded projects for NEPA compliance as well as review of EIRs, Negative Declarations, or other environmental documents from other jurisdictions or special districts within our sphere of influence. The Planning Division of the Development Services Department in the City of Rialto is a place where each person is committed to working hard to get the job done in a timely and professional manner, even though there aren’t many of us (Rod, Donn, Trudy and Liz all make my job a lot easier.) Tell us about some of your more interesting and controversial projects? I have worked on a number of Specific Plans (Gateway Commercial, Agua Mansa Industrial Corridor, Rialto Airport Area, Central Area and El Rancho Verde Country Club) and Environmental Impact Reports (Sewer Plant Expansion, Sewer Master Plan, Mid-Valley Landfill and General Plan Update).  However, the most interesting and controversial have come from specific developments while dealing with issues such as endangered species and traffic. The two most recent have been with the Angelus Block and Swift Transportation developments in dealing with the Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly, the USFWS, cumulative effects on traffic and other CEQA and NEPA reviews. In both of these projects, what also was interesting (but not controversial) was the help from experienced consultants (Michael Brandman Associates) who help the City of Rialto prepare extensive documents such as the Habitat Conservation Plan and Mitigated Negative Declaration which made my job easier and provided a defendable document. What project did you enjoy working on or consider significant? Even though the project didn’t materialize, the Lytle Creek Specific Plan is one that I enjoyed working on because of the variety of environmental issues (biological, seismic, sewer, drainage, traffic, etc.) that needed to be addressed. At the same time, the Specific Plan provided a master -planned community that incorporated residential, commercial, and industrial uses that were of a quality that would benefit Rialto for years to come. Hopefully some day we will see that Specific Plan (if all the environmental issues can be mitigated) move from just a document on the shelf to a new community that will address the environmental concerns in a responsible way, while at the same time providing a positive development in Rialto. Why did you join AEP? I joined AEP to be able to network with other environmental professionals and planners who may he going through similar issues that Rialto is going through and to see what help they could be to me and how I can help them. I also joined to stay updated on the constant changes and court decisions that affect CEQA and thus affect development in Rialto.
Jesus Olmos Assistant Environmental Analyst Chambers Group, Inc. What is your background and education? I have a B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Design and a Minor in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Irvine. I interned with Chambers Group and was hired as an Assistant Environmental Analyst. I have become, I guess by association, the one the new interns go to “learn the ropes.” I enjoy assisting those with questions about environmental issues as I learn more and more about this dynamic field.  I was born and raised in Southern California and lived in several counties including Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange. Coming from a family of seven, it was and continues to be a life full of surprises. Environmental issues have always been of interest to me, which led to my continued interest and studies at UCI. I currently live in Riverside County and work at the Inland Empire Office of Chambers Group in Redlands. I’m happy doing what I am doing and working in the environmental field where important issues affecting both the natural and human environments are fundamental to the work I do.  What are the general duties of your position? As an intern I did it all. Now, after learning the ropes myself, I assist the Environmental Resources Department with different projects and associated tasks. As a member of the department I do research and data collection, report writing (EIRs, EISs, Initial Studies, etc.), and my favorite, fieldwork. It’s always nice to get out of the office once in a while and participate in the environment we try to protect. I have had the opportunity to work in the desert and enjoy the warm sun and views of desert plants and wildlife (gotta love those Joshua Trees). Any project that requires time out of the office is always fun. I also enjoy working in the office - I work with great and interesting people that always make me laugh. Tell us about some of your more interesting/controversial projects? The environmental documentation for the proposed expansion of Fort Irwin comes to mind, as it has kept me busy for a long time. This project involves the preparation of a Supplemental Revised Environmental Impact Statement which includes additional alternatives analyses for the expansion of Fort Irwin.  The environmental documentation will consider potential impacts of military training in areas around existing Fort Irwin boundaries.  The project includes the analysis of environmental impacts in the following disciplines: geology; soils; water, biological, cultural, and paleontological resources; air quality; noise; land use; utilities; soils and hazardous waste.  These are just some of the issues that have been raised with this huge project. It is interesting to work on this project because of all that is involved and all the twist and turns it has taken throughout the years. Since so many different people are involved, it is interesting to see how everything relates to everything else. I have the chance to play and participate on the project that is Fort Irwin.  Another interesting project I am working on is for a fiber optic communications cable.  This project entails a full range of environmental permitting services in support of a nationwide fiber optic network installation project.   The new fiber optic network will cross 40 states and serve 50 U.S. cities, with a total of 15,000 miles of fiber optic network.  Approximately 75 percent of the buried fiber optic cable system will be located within railroad rights-of-way, with the rest to be located within highway rights-of-way and limited areas of private land.  Chambers Group’s responsibilities include environmental documentation and permitting, including: wetlands delineations; biological and cultural resource surveys; Section 404 permits; and streambed alteration agreements.  Regulatory coordination responsibilities include: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as other local, state, and federal agencies.  What project did you enjoy working on or consider significant? I enjoyed working on the fiber optic communications cable and continue to enjoy working on this project. This is one of the projects that led me out of the office and into the outdoors. This project has been interesting to work on because in this technology age, the significance of telecommunications is key. With the growth of the Internet and practically everyone on e-mail in this dot.com world, I feel that this project will significantly affect the way information and ideas are exchanged. The Internet Super-Highway has changed the way people study, work, and live and I believe that as technology advances, the way people live their lives will continue to change. Why did you join AEP?  I joined the Association of Environmental Professionals to become part of an association where I could learn more about the environmental field and interact with other professionals in the business. AEP creates a forum where people can interact and keep up-to-date on changing environmental issues. I look forward to future AEP programs and to taking more classes on CEQA and NEPA offered by AEP.
Deborah Woldruff Associate Planner, City of San Bernardino June 2000 Why did you join AEP? I joined AEP in 1993 because my friend Lynn Calvert-Hayes needed a warm body to run for the Treasurer’s position on the Board. Once I joined and got involved with the Chapter, I was hooked on AEP’s role in California. It was apparent that AEP could act as a catalyst for legislative change, and provide guidance in the way environmental legislation is interpreted and implemented. For me, AEP is a tremendous resource because its focus is on CEQA and other pertinent environmental laws that affect the way I do my job.  What is your educational background? I have a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado and an M.A. in Management from the University of Redlands. What is your professional background? I’ve worked as a planner for about 14 years, mostly in the public sector. My first planning job was for a private consulting firm in Colorado Springs that did Department of Defense contracts for military bases. The documents that they produced were pretty canned and it was almost a relief to be laid off! For a short period after that, I worked for the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments doing transportation and airport systems planning. In early 1989, I moved to California when I accepted an Assistant Planner position with the City of Banning. Later that same year, I accepted an Associate Planner position with the City of San Bernardino and I’ve been here ever since. What project are you currently working on? Right now, I’m just finishing up on the first phase of the Santa Fe Depot Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse Project. I’ve been with the City for 10 years and this is the most exciting and satisfying project that I’ve ever done. The City has a wonderful 1918 Santa Fe Depot in the Spanish Revival architectural style. The first time I saw the depot, it literally took my breath away. It is an amazing and imposing structure. I can’t say enough about it! To finally see something happen with the Depot is great. For the last decade or so, the depot has been deteriorating at an alarming rate. AMTRAK occupies the main lobby area, but the remainder of the 65,000 square foot building is vacant and boarded-up. The City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Associated Governments, and the City’s Economic Development Agency are all joint owners of the depot, depot site, Metrolink platforms, and associated parking areas. SANBAG identified and secured ISTEA funding, and the City obtained TEA-21 and other funding sources for the rehabilitation project. We estimate that the rehabilitation will cost anywhere from $10 to $15 million dollars. So far, we have secured about $11 million. Phase I of the project involved developing the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse alternatives and plans, and completing the environmental documents. To accomplish this, the City hired a consultant team headed by the firm, Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, Inc. Our consultants did a wonderful job and the conceptual plans and environmental documents were completed in April. The project is scheduled for review before the California Transportation Commission in June. The California Historic Resources Commission will review our nomination to place the Depot on the National Register of Historic Places. Phase II will involve preparing final, engineered plans, and Phase III will begin construction of the rehabilitation project. Our Public Works Division will be the lead for these two phases. I guess the next big thing for me will be to turn up at the ribbon cutting ceremony in about 2 years! What was the most memorable project you have ever worked on? See above! How long have you belonged to AEP and what programs have you enjoyed the most? As I mentioned, I’ve been a member of AEP since 1993. I served on the Chapter Board for 2 years as Treasurer and 2 years as Director. I also served on the State Board for 2 years as Southern Regional Director. During my tenures as Chapter Director and SR Director, I was the CEQA Workshop Chair at the state level. Because of my previous involvement, I’d have to say that the CEQA Workshops are my favorite program. After that, my favorite program is the Statewide Conference. Both of these programs provide opportunities to environmental practitioners to share information and ideas about how to interpret and implement environmental legislation. What programs would you like to see in the future? I would love to see an environmental certification program. I know it has been discussed at length in the past, but I still think that it is an important and key element that is missing from our respective environmental professions. I’ve been a bit out of touch for the last 2 years while I completed my master’s degree, and there may be new AEP programs that I just don’t know about. But I look forward to finding out!   Mary E. Lanier Redevelopment Manager City of Moreno Valley April 2000 Where are you currently working? I have been an employee of the City of Moreno Valley for ten years now.  During my tenure with Moreno Valley, I have been afforded the opportunity to work in a variety of positions and in several different fields.   My current position is as Redevelopment Manager for the City, wherein I manage the City's Neighborhood Preservation Division.  The Division includes Housing, Redevelopment, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Federal Police Grants, and is supported by great staff.  Most of my work involves the urban environment including: rehabilitation of homes, infrastructure improvements, job creation, home ownership, local social services, and making neighborhoods a better place to live.  During the most intensive development period in Moreno Valley's history, I began my career with the City as an Associate Planner, working primarily on specific plan development and as project planner for the Moreno Valley Mall at Towngate.  I then worked as a Management Analyst in the Economic Development Department, managing the Community Development Block Grant Program and Police Grants, followed by several years as the Senior Management Analyst for Special Districts Administration.   What lead you to pursue an environmental career? My primary interests, since entering college were archaeology and geology.  Over the years (and several detours later), I completed my undergraduate work with a dual major in Anthropology and Geography.  As I neared graduation, I entered the working world with an internship at the City of San Bernardino, which worked into a full-time planner position.  My undergraduate work provided the basic framework for completion of many environmental reviews.  The internship and early years as a planner provided a great foundation for a future in city government. While my career has deviated somewhat from the traditional environmental career path, awareness and knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, and issues remain important.  The programs and projects that I work with must comply with CEQA and/or NEPA.   I hope to someday pursue my education and interest in archaeology.   But for now, my focus is on making the urban environment a better place for those who live and work within it.  What brought you to the Inland Empire? My parents moved to the area in the late 1950's and I was raised in a small town called "Sunnymead", now known as Moreno Valley.  Although I have lived outside the state (and country) at various times, I have primarily lived, worked, and attended school in the Inland Empire.  I enjoy a small town environment where nature is nearby and within view.  I currently live a busy and exciting life in San Jacinto with my husband and three teenage sons.   Mark Gross Associate Planner, City of Moreno Valley October 1999 Where are you currently working? In May, I was hired as an Associate Planner with the City of Moreno Valley. I am actually residing in the former position and cubicle of IEC-AEP Chapter Director, Nita Bullock (tough shoes to fill, but someone had to attempt it!). My duties primarily include current planning and the review of development projects for compliance with the City’s General Plan, Development Code, and even more importantly, to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). I am currently working with a very professional and team-oriented staff at the City and constantly learning new things. In my former position as a planner in the City of Carson I concentrated on environmental issues associated with heavy industrial areas, such as landfills and underground tanks, since that City is in the highly urbanized area of the South Bay near the Port of Los Angeles. I now have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of projects with a whole new set of environmental issues. In particular, the biological aspects of the environmental review process such as Kangaroo Rat habitats and the Quino Checkerspot Butterfly. It is great to be experiencing this diversity, while at the same time cutting my drive time by two-thirds. What lead you to pursue an environmental career? For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the natural environment. When I first entered junior college, my interests included Meteorology and Climatology (study of weather and climates). Unfortunately, due to the heavy emphasis on mathematics, chemistry and physics, I decided to forego my dream of pursuing a degree in these fields. By the time I entered California State University Long Beach to complete my undergraduate degree, I found my career calling in the field of Geography. It was a more diversified field of study that would give me the opportunity to learn about both the cultural and physical elements of the environment. It was while completing my degree in Geography and certificate in Environmental Studies that I decided to enter local government and pursued an internship with the City of Carson. In retrospect, my decision paid off. I really learned quite a bit and had some great mentors and friends there. Carson was a very diverse city, both culturally and environmentally. One of my very first assignments was to assist in Environmental Commission projects. Some of these included the review of Environmental Impact Reports, and assistance with annual Arbor Day and Environmental Awareness Campaigns. From that point forward, I was able to work on a variety of current and advance planning projects, and really gained a liking for local government planning. I enjoy working on development projects as well as the people behind the projects. What I particularly enjoy about planning is that no two projects are exactly alike. The diversity of projects and issues is endless! With my love for local planning and the environment, and my career expanding in Carson, I never looked back and decided to pursue a graduate degree in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in policy and planning at California State University Fullerton. While completing my master’s thesis, I had the opportunity to work on several case studies with a handful of local cities. One of those cities was Moreno Valley. Little did I know that one day I would be employed by that City. What brought you to the Inland Empire? My very first visit to the Inland Empire was in early 1991 while searching for a new home. In addition to lower prices, I was drawn to the large lot sizes and the feeling of open space. I purchased a home in an unincorporated area of Riverside County and made the 58 mile grind (one way) to Carson on the dreaded 91 Freeway for approximately seven years. During rainy commutes, I felt as though I was working two separate jobs in one day. It was not all bad, however, as I did my part for the environment; carpooling for a majority of those years. I was very grateful to my parents, who lived nearby, for providing room and board for me after attending those grueling late night Planning and Environmental Commission meetings. I even met my wife, Angela, there. After we were married, she carpooled with me for a while until she found a job closer to home. Her career has since located her even closer to home, now that she is the Sales and Catering Director at the Riverside Convention Center. I, on the other hand, still made that horrible commute to Carson and only saw her for about an hour each night. Although I enjoyed working for the City of Carson, I knew something had to give. My dream was always to work for a city in the Inland Empire. I had other job offers a couple of years ago with the cities of San Bernardino and Highland, but due to the economic conditions throughout the area, it just was not the right time to make that big move. A few months ago, after working ten years with the City of Carson, I decided to take the plunge and leave for the opportunity at the City of Moreno Valley. I did not know a great deal about any of the cities in the Inland Empire, however; I was very impressed by the staff that I met at Moreno Valley through the interview process. Besides, I had completed extensive research in this area while working on my master’s thesis. It was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and live a somewhat normal life. Living and working close to home has already had its endless benefits! I now see my wife for more than an hour each night. I work with a great staff at the City of Moreno Valley, and even have a chance to attend AEP meetings and receive information on relevant environmental topics that affect our local area. On the recreational side of things, one of my dreams has always been to spend more time in the local mountains. I thoroughly love the natural environment, including hiking and the four seasons. In fact, my wife and I recently purchased a cabin in the Idyllwild area. I now look forward to future years of growth and satisfaction with the City of Moreno Valley and enjoying life full-time in the Inland Empire.   Susan Roberts Environmental Scientist/Sr. Technical Editor, P&D Consultants August 1999 This month the Profiler interviews Susan Roberts, a graduate of UC Riverside who recently returned to live in the Inland Empire. Some of you may remember Susan as the UCR AEP Chapter President a few years ago. She has accepted the secretary position on the IEC-AEP Board. Where are you currently working?? In June I was hired by P&D Environmental, in Orange, as an Environmental Scientist. My duties include peer review editing and technical support for various environmental projects. I am really pleased have joined the P&D team, but I have to admit that 91 traffic is a nightmare – thank goodness for MetroRail. What lead you to pursue an environmental career? I was old when I finally entered college in southern Texas. I grew up in what is commonly referred to as "chemical alley" a.k.a. "cancer alley". During my 20’s, I worked for Cooper Industries Risk Management and Environmental Affairs corporate office in Houston. It was here that I learned about the acronym game: RCRA, CERCLA, NPDES, etc. The engineers had a number of Superfund sites that were being cleaned up and I received the best introduction to our field: a corporate policy was to go that extra mile. I worked for a company that was a leader in responsibility. Anyway, I decided to pursue an environmental degree with the warm fuzzy idea of helping to clean up the environment. How did you get to Riverside from Texas?? After receiving an A.S., I came to San Diego to help my sister celebrate her big 3 0. I was slated to begin the environmental management program at the University of Houston, but really fell in love with southern California. Some of the materials used at the University of Houston is written by professors from UCR. It’s well-known in most other parts of the country that one of the best science programs is right here at UCR. While out here, I became very active in outdoor sports: hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving. Then, since I’m no spring chicken, I ended up having 3 knee surgeries during my attendance at UCR. Needless to say, UCR was significantly tougher than I anticipated. After graduation, I went to Seattle as follow up on a job offer. Seattle has worse traffic than the 91 and I knew if I had doubts during the summer, when there is daylight from 5am –10pm, the rainy season would be worse. So, I returned to Texas and used my Mom’s house as my home-base while I applied all over the country. Unfortunately, relocation expenses are not paid by any of the companies that had an interest in me. So, I took a job in Dallas. There are a lot of good things I could say about Dallas. Main point is that it’s a great place to visit. I decided after 3 months to move to Oregon. In Oregon, the fates got even with me for leaving such a great job in Dallas. The entire 5 months there, I interviewed with the same two companies 4 and 5 times. Although I was later told by one that they were ready to give me an offer, I had waited 5 months and became pretty disenchanted about Oregon in general. A friend gave me a 6 month job at UCR which would allow me to look for a permanent job in the southern California area, so I accepted it. That was the best move I’ve made over the last year. So here I am, back in Riverside and truly happy to gripe once again about how hot it is! Tom McGill, Ph.d Regional Manager, Ontario Office of Michael Brandman Associates June1999 What is your background and education? After growing up in the Inland Empire during the 1950s and 1960s, I left for the East Coast and an Ivy League Education. I thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years in Boston but quickly returned to the Inland Empire and married my high school sweetheart in 1971. One year later, we moved to Santa Barbara. Six years later, I had a master’s and a Ph.D. in biology and was forced to get a job. I was a gardener while I waited to be placed on a civil service roster for a federal government job. My first job was as a wildlife biologist at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center where I spent six enjoyable years running around on the 1 million-acre facility rounding up wild horses and burros. Professional growth called, and I left my wildlife job to be head of the environmental management office at China Lake. Between 1984 and 1994 I dealt with environmental issues like air quality and hazardous waste, learned the delicate art and politics of managing groundwater, and established an environmental public involvement program at the base. With nothing else to do in the evenings, I studied for and passed the California State Bar exam in 1990. The years were extremely rewarding but with children advancing to high school age, I decided to move out of the Mojave Desert and introduce them to other extra-curricular activities besides playing with tarantulas and snakes. I moved back to the Inland Empire and worked for the San Bernardino Office of Tetra Tech, but all my jobs were with the federal government, which kept me on the road. Tired of the travel, I jumped at the chance to open an Ontario Office for Michael Brandman Associates (MBA). Michael Brandman and I have known each other since my early days at China Lake when he prepared the EIR that allowed me to begin my career chasing wild horses and burros. Although it hasn’t been a year yet, I can safely say that coming to work for MBA was one of the smartest career decisions I’ve made – next to giving up my cushy government job. Living and working in the Inland Empire affords me the chance to work with many of the people with whom I grew up. What are the general duties of your position? As Regional Manager and Head of the MBA’s Ontario Office, it is my job to develop our Inland Empire client base. MBA offers environmental consulting services ranging from CEQA/NEPA documentation, biological assessments and endangered species surveys, historic and archaeological/paleontology resources surveys to construction monitoring and site restoration/revegetation. Tell us about some of your more interesting/controversial projects? The roundup and adoption of 10,000 burros and 4,000 horses involved sixteen hour days with a bunch of cowboys, herding the burros and horses with a helicopter - often at 6 feet off the ground, and working on the backside of burros trying to get them loaded into a trailer (You don’t get on the backside of a wild horse. I did once and paid the price). Participating in groundwater management in a desert environmental was also very educational. I quickly learned what Mark Twain meant when he said "whiskey’s for drinking and water’s for fighting over". My major task was managing two geologists with conflicting theories on the amount of groundwater under the valley. With both geologists prone to espouse upon the righteousness of their theory over the other, I learned a lot about diplomacy. My transition into the civilian world has lead to work that is just as interesting, just not as hazardous to your health. Analyzing the Glen Helen Specific Plan in an EIR will require balancing several competing uses (from the Blockbuster Pavilion to a bomb disposal facility) with the conservation of four to five endangered species and a very extensive wetlands system. The San Andreas Fault and 80-mph Santa Ana winds are Mother Nature’s addition to the mix. What project did you enjoy working on or consider significant? After removing most of the burros and reducing China Lake’s horse herd down to a manageable size, I worked with the Society of Bighorn Sheep and the CDFG to reintroduce bighorn sheep on the base. This program culminated six years of effort of restoring the Navy’s ranges to their natural condition. I have also always enjoyed working with Native American concerns. Money from casino gambling on reservations is now affording many tribes the opportunity to set up their own environmental programs. Because each tribe is its own sovereign nation, they are not subject to state or federal environmental regulations. However, environmental resources can hold special significance for a tribe. MBA is providing habitat assessment and conservation planning services to the Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla Indians. It will be a challenge to balance the conservation and management of sensitive plant and animal species on tribal lands with other uses of the land, as well as dovetailing their program with plans on adjoining lands. Why did you join AEP? Joining the AEP has provided a forum for tracking chances in the industry such as the recent updates to the CEQA quidelines, workshop opportunities, an unusually large professional network, and other opportunities to continue my professional growth. Diane Jenkins Senior Planner - City of Riverside May 1999   What is your background and education? I am a native Californian raised here in the Inland Empire. I began my professional career by spending ten years in retail. After working my last Christmas Eve until all hours of the evening I decided I needed to change professions. At the time, I was working on my MBA with an emphasis on International Finance at UCR. So when I was offered a job placing orders on the stock and commodity exchanges for Prudential Bache (later for Merrill Lynch) I jumped at the chance. Here was a business where you not only get a half day off on Christmas Eve you even get Good Friday off. The hours (5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) gave me the time I needed to write my thesis entitled "A Review and an Evaluation of Hypothesis Advanced to Explain the October 19, 1987 Stock Market Crash." I graduated with my MBA from UCR in June of 1989. Although I had taken one or two classes concerning Planning, I had not really considered it as a Profession. Ideally I was looking for a job in International Finance. However, these jobs are mostly located in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. My family life at the time did not leave these locations as options in my job search. When scouring the Sunday paper for a job I became intrigued by the job description (the money was good too) for an Assistant Planner with the City of Riverside. I thought the job would be a stepping stone job until I could find something related to finance. However, the profession suited me perfectly. There are not too many people who can honestly say that they love their job, but I can. This September I will have worked for the City ten years. What are the general duties of your position? I am a Senior Planner on the South Community Team. Our team consists of a Principal Planner, Craig Aaron, two Senior Planners, John Swiecki and myself, an Associate Planner, Denice Thomas and an Assistant Planner, Joel Belding. The five of us process all of the case work for projects located south and east of the 91 Freeway. We will work a project from its inception through to Design Review, where the project is then turned over to the Department's Plan Check Division for processing of the building permit. Our reviews can include Specific Plan Amendments, Conditional Use Permits, grading, CEQA reviews, and any other reviews that may be required.  Tell us about some of your more interesting/ controversial projects. The City is very busy with a variety of projects. Currently in my area I have four Specific Plans, Sycamore Highlands, Hunter Business Park, University Avenue and the Riverside Auto Center. The Hunter Business Park Specific Plan is located easterly of the 91 Freeway in the northern part of the City. This Specific Plan is predominately a manufacturing park area for light industrial uses. In the last year we have processed 10 to 15 new or expanded plot plans to facilitate the development of industrial buildings. The University Avenue Specific Plan includes the Avenue between the 91 Freeway and UCR. This area is predominately a commercial area that has recently experienced some renovation both public and private. The proposed expansion of the University Village Center, as well as the addition of a new privately owned student housing project, should help to bring even greater interest to this area. Lastly, the Riverside Auto Center Specific Plan is located southerly of the 91 Freeway generally between Adams and Jefferson Streets. This area is predominately new and used car dealerships and has been recently expanded to include some additional land southerly of the railroad tracks. The Sycamore Highlands Specific Plan located westerly of the intersection of the Sycamore Canyon Boulevard and Fair Isle Drive is booming with single family and multi-family residential development. Some cases I have recently worked on include: Expansion of University Village Center Gran Marc Student Housing project (across from University Village) The renovation of the Thrifty Drug to a Rite Aid Store in the old Town Square Shopping Center (This project started as the typical Rite Aid Store renovation but was converted into a store reminiscent of the original design of the center while still updated to encourage future renovation of the center.) Expansion of the Bourns Facility for UCR's CE CERT Program UCR Technology Park Specific Plan Amendment expanding the Riverside Auto Center What project did you enjoy working on or consider significant? The project I enjoyed the most and received the most satisfaction from taking part in was the development of the Grading 101. Michael Brandman Associates Environmental Planning and Resources Management Services May 1999 Michael Brandman Associates (MBA) is a professional services consulting firm located in Tustin, Los Angeles, and Ontario, California MBA’s staff of professionals specializes in environmental planning, natural resources management, construction mitigation monitoring and native landscape planting, installation and maintenance. Since 1982, the firm has served government, transportation and water agencies, developers, engineers, architects, industrial and financial clients, attorneys and the military. Environmental Planning MBA’s Environmental Planning group offers the following services: CEQA/NEPA documentation; permit processing; property site assessment; mitigation monitoring programs; legislative and policy analysis; due diligence assessments; expert witness and constraints analysis testimony. Natural Resources Management Natural Resource Management includes: biological assessments; special status species surveys; habitat characterizations, mapping, and impact analysis; habitat conservation plans; resource management plans; mitigation plans and restoration; construction monitoring. Cultural Resources Management Cultural Resources Management includes: archaeologic surveys, testing, and salvage; paleontologic surveys and salvage; and construction monitoring. Restoration, Planting and Maintenance Restoration, Planting and Maintenance includes revegetation, restoration, and enhancement plans; park and open space planning;urban forestry design and planning; native landscape design, planting, maintenance, and success monitoring; conceptual construction, and presentation drawings; soil amendment and preparation specifications; and plant material specifications. Regulatory Compliance Regulatory Compliance Expertise in: wetlands delineations/permitting; COE permits; FWS consultation; CDFG agreements; RWQCB water quality certification; and special area management plans. For information on MBA and its services call Tom McGill, in MBA’s Ontario office, at (909) 937-7131. Carrie Hyke AICP Project Manager - NORCAL/San Bernardino, Inc. January 1999 What Are the General Duties of Your Position? The County of San Bernardino Waste System Division contracts with NORCAL to perform operations, maintenance, planning, engineering and permitting of the County-owned solid waste landfills and transfer stations. In my position as project manager with NORCAL, my duties are wide-ranging, from the planning stage through implementation of a project. It all begins with identifying the County’s needs and planning the overall project, developing scopes of work, forecasting project budgets and schedules, through permitting, administering RFPs, contracts, and overseeing construction. Public outreach and education efforts are critical parts of both planning and implementation, so I do presentations for a variety of groups. What is Your Background and Education? I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Housing from Iowa State University. I am also a member of APA and have gained my AICP certification. For the past three years, I have been with NORCAL as a project manager. I was previously employed by the County of San Bernardino as a planner in the Solid Waste Management and Planning departments for over seven years. I regularly go to seminars on CEQA, CESA/FESA , and management. What is one project that you have been involved with that you enjoyed working on or that you consider significant? My main responsibility is to manage the expansion of the County’s Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill, located in the City of Rialto. The expansion includes 266 acres of new disposal area that will provide 40 million tons of capacity for the County’s residents. The landfill expansion is necessary to accommodate the County’s growing population and development. My current projects include obtaining permits from cities and regulatory agencies, monitoring and implementing mitigation measures, and constructing capital improvements. Excavation of the first expansion area is in progress and construction of a double liner system will follow. Improvements to local traffic flow and a new entrance facility are in the works, as is development of processing plants to process aggregate material excavated from the expansion areas. Other Past Projects You Have Enjoyed Working On? I was the project manager for the County’s Integrated Waste Management Plan. The County and NORCAL are implementing the long range plans for regionalizing the disposal system. We are closing a number of landfills and building transfer stations and expanding the regional landfills. It’s rewarding to work on a plan and then participate in its implementation. Why Did You Join AEP? I joined AEP to gain perspective on environmental issues, and to educate myself about the various fields that our members represent. I consider the membership to be a resource pool that I can tap into when I need assistance on a project. Other Information of Interest? There are unlimited opportunities for environmental professionals of every specialty to become involved in the field of waste management. Facility siting and development involves planning, engineering, geology, biology, archaeology, paleontology and other natural resource experts. It’s an ever-changing field in terms of new technology and finding new solutions to old problems. Cheryl Tubbs Vice President of Operations Lilburn Corporation November 1998 What are the general duties of your position? My primary responsibility is to serve as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. I therefore perform financial planning, cost control, budgeting, project review, and oversee all accounting functions. Additionally, I try to make a little money for the company by occasionally working as an environmental planner! What is your background/education? My undergraduate degree is in Geography, from Cal-State San Bernardino (1977). I attended CSUSB when it was known as The Dartmouth of the West, and each geography class had about ten students (Steve Lilburn and I being two of those ten). I was fortunate to have been working for the Geography Department when a local water district called the department, looking to hire graduating students. After five years as a water resources planner with the San Bernardino Valley MWD, I relocated to San Diego county and took a position with an environmental consulting firm. After two months on the job, I was literally thrown into project management; I didn’t even know what CEQA stood for. After five years in environmental planning, I decided I really loved management, so I went back to CSUSB and received a Masters in Business Administration. For the past twelve years, I have been very fortunate to have held positions that have been perfect for an educational blend of geography and business management. I have been a Director on the Board of the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District since 1993; I am the Board’s designated director for several water association activities. My involvement with WESTCAS and ACWA provides me with my continuing education in water management. List 3 projects you are working on now and provide a brief description of each. Since joining Lilburn Corporation in 1997, the majority of my time has been spent on refining operational procedures, implementing an upgraded accounting program, developing new project management accounting procedures, improving cash flow, and overall financial management. Therefore, my recent involvement with planning and resource management projects has been minimal. I have however, been involved historically with some projects that were quite interesting from an environmental planning perspective. Describe some of the projects you have been involved in; and explain why they were noteworthy. In 1982, when the Ballistic Missile Office at Norton AFB was managing the Peacekeeper (M-X) missile deployment program, I worked for two of the engineering/environmental firms responsible for preparing the EISs. The format and quality of our documents was scrutinized by the Pentagon. The pressure was tremendous and the level of analysis was outrageous. We spent over $30 million preparing an EIS, supporting technical documents, and socioeconomic studies for the deployment of nuclear missiles in underground silos near seven cities/communities in Nebraska and Wyoming. We worked around the clock. When it came time to respond to the most frequent public comment on the DEIS, "how do you mitigate the impacts of a nuclear war ?", the Air Force’s response — "no mitigation required". In 1984, the City of Las Vegas contracted with the company I was working for to perform a fatal flaw analysis on the 250-mile route between Ontario and Las Vegas for a potential super-speed train project. The document we prepared was called an Environmental Assessment, although it was not compliant with NEPA or CEQA. As a part of the project analysis, we became involved in the politics of the project, promoted it (covertly), and learned a great deal about super-speed transportation projects internationally. Today, we are hopeful that the project may still go forward to improve a vital transportation link, recently named the "deadliest highway in the nation". Why did you join AEP? Lilburn Corporation has been a corporate sponsor of AEP for several years now. We support the organization and its educational programs and believe that it has made a difference in the way CEQA and related legislation has been implemented. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? I suppose that depends on how one defines "working"! When I am not at the office of Lilburn Corporation, I am involved with meetings, fund raisers, and community service projects of my Kiwanis Club, meetings and fund raisers of California Women for Agriculture, meetings of the SBVMWD, helping with the development of my and my husband’s newly-planted 6-acre orange grove,..... and for absolute mindless enjoyment, I play with my three spotted kids (dalmations) and indulge in wine tasting. Don Mitchell Director of Terrestrial Biology, Chambers Group, Inc. September 1998 What are the general duties of your position? I manage and market a team of wildlife biologists and botanists. I also design and manage biological studies for a variety of federal, state, municipal, and private clients. My title is definitive because Chambers Group also has a Marine Biology Division. What is your background education? What types of seminars and continuing education do you attend, if any? I have a B.S. in Biology from the University of Redlands and an M.S. in Zoology from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, where I studied a darter that inhabits the bayous of Northwestern Louisiana. I regularly attend seminars and workshops on changes in environmental regulations. I also continue to attend and/or present at meetings of the Wildlife Society, the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association, and the American Society of Mammalogists. List 3 projects you are working on now and provide a brief description of each. I am currently managing a large NEPA compliance project for a telecommunications company. To date, we have conducted biological and cultural surveys and records searches for nearly 500 cellular communications sites under this contract. We are currently operating 25 brown-headed cowbird traps in northern Orange County as partial mitigation for the construction of the Eastern Transportation Corridor. The brown-headed cowbird is a nest parasite on several native bird species, including least Bell’s vireos and California gnatcatchers. Trapping and removal programs such as this have been credited with a dramatic increase in breeding success for least Bell’s vireos in many areas. I continue to be involved in the study of the effects of prescribed burning and vegetation recovery on Stephens’ kangaroo rat (SKR) population density on the March Air Force Base SKR Preserve. We hope that this ongoing collaboration with The Center for Natural Lands Management, The Nature Conservancy, and several private consultants will yield some new insight into preserve management for SKR and other native species. What is one project that you have been involved with that you enjoyed working on or that you consider significant? Please explain why you enjoyed it or why it was significant. It’s difficult to narrow down to just one project. Certainly the small involvement I had with the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) Eastside Reservoir Project comes to mind. I believe that the net benefit to southern California from the preservation of important native lands at the Santa Rosa Plateau and the Shipley Reserve is extraordinary. Currently, our involvement in a sluicing project on the San Gabriel River for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, has allowed us to complete the first large-scale functional analysis for a wetland/riparian system using hydrogeomorphic analysis (HGM). The process ensures that mitigation for large projects in wetland/riparian systems, replace or preserve the functional value of the areas affected rather than the typical acre for acre plant community mitigation. The process relies entirely on repeatable, objective science and encompasses a wide range of factors critical to wetland function. Why did you join AEP? I joined AEP several years ago to increase my contact with other environmental professionals. The broad membership base affords opportunities to interact with regulators and potential clients as well as other biologists. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Well, my wife Jimmi and I have a small antique business in Redlands that keeps us busy. We both like to ski and I’ve been an avid skydiver since 1989. Kurt Campbell - Partner Campbell BioConsulting, Temecula California May 1998 What are the general duties of your position? My wife and I are consulting biologists and general partners, and we currently have one employee. I have three general duties: as a businessman I help manage the company; as a biologist, I perform field investigations and surveys and do office research, analysis and writing; and as a biology consultant, I work with a variety of clients, including government, business, and private landowners, and provide information and advice regarding environmental regulations that affect my clients. What is your background education? My background is as a field biologist. I attended college at Michigan State University and CSU Northridge. I have intensively studies and written about the biology of California over the last 25 years, since before college. I attend at least six conferences, seminars and courses every year. These include professional biology society annual meetings, special subject conferences (e.g. wetland regulations), and seminars and courses on environmental regulations. I attend the Inland Empire AEP CEQA course each year. I also publish occasional papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, have given several presentations at meetings, and maintain active membership in nearly 20 professional organizations. What are the current projects you are working on? California gnatcatcher monitoring, North Domenigoni Hills, Eastside Reservoir, Riverside County. We are currently monitoring a population of California gnatcatchers in the hills north of the Eastside Reservoir being constructed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This year we will conduct 84 biologist-days of field work on an extremely rugged, biologically rich site covering roughly 3,000 acres, and produce an annual report. This is our fourth year of work here, with the contract renewed annually. Biological Resources Section of the San Pasqual EIR, San Pasqual Valley, San Diego County. We are providing mapping, general evaluations, and focused surveys for several species. We are also conducting wetland delineations, impact analysis, mitigation and monitoring design, attending public hearings and responding to comments on a 2,000-acre development project. Biological Resources Section for Whispering Hills EIR, San Juan Capistrano, Orange County. On this 474-acre site we are providing similar services to that previously described, along with detailed field analysis of the site's potential function as a wildlife corridor. We will be bringing in several expert sub-contractors as well as using in-house expertise. Our direct client is Ultrasystems Environmental, Inc., of Irvine. What project did you enjoy working on or consider significant? A particularly enjoyable project last year was performing focused surveys for endangered birds including least Bell's vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher, at the Hidden Valley Wildlife Area along the Santa Ana River, for the City of Riverside. In addition to the pleasant field work, I was able to provide valuable input on the management of the wildlife area with respect to migratory birds. Why did you join AEP? The membership and publications of the Association of Environmental Professionals are excellent resources for learning about planning decisions and environmental regulations affecting my community and my clients. I particularly like the review and analysis of state issues in the Environmental Monitor, and notice of local events in the Field Report. Many of the members are also past, present and hopefully future clients, in their capacities as planners and regulatory specialists at local governments and firms in the area. Anything else you would like to discuss? We place a premium on the quality of our biology and regulatory information, and work hard to communicate with our clients. At a personal level, the hardest part of the job for me during our 7 years in business has been managing a growing business. But I think doing so responsibly and successfully has been an asset to our clients, as well as a rewarding, if difficult, personal experience. Consulting biology can also be a minefield of ethical issues, but I've found that communicating clearly and treating all parties fairly and without cynicism can resolve every problem. The Profiler is a monthly feature of the Field Report. If you know someone you would like to see featured in the Profiler, contact Claudia Pamiljans at (909) 890-1818 or e-mail your suggestions to her at lilsb@gte.net. We look forward to hearing from you. Penny Alexander Partner - Gresham, Savage, Nolan & Tilden LLP April 1998 What are the general duties of your position? I work primarily with two senior attorneys in our firm’s Mining, Natural Resources and Environmental Group, where I perform various legal analyses of environmental, permitting, and mining issues, and complete environmental document review for our mining and commercial development clients. As part of my representation of clients, I prepare permit applications, and attend local agency hearings. When reviewing NEPA and CEQA documents, I am primarily concerned with whether the document will withstand judicial scrutiny, as I also provide litigation support to our Litigation group in the event that the project approval is challenged in court. I prepare legal briefs and also present oral argument at court hearings and at trial. What is your background education? Starting college, I knew that I would eventually end up in law school. I chose Political Science/Pre-Law as my major, starting at the University of Redlands, and finishing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. (I thought about going into government work back then.) I have been at my law firm since graduation from USC’s law school in 1989. I did not start my legal career in the environmental field, but, rather, in litigation. I have been working with the Mining, Natural Resources and Environment Group since 1995, where my mentors include Jim Good, former environmental counsel for Kaiser Industries and its affiliated companies, including Kaiser Steel, and Bill Tilden, a nationally recognized mining law attorney. What are the current projects you are working on? Some of the mining projects I am currently working on include review of environmental documents for a sand and gravel operator in Kern County, a CEQA/SMARA appeal for a sand and gravel operation in Tulare County, finishing up the CEQA/NEPA and permit documents for a gold project in San Bernardino County, reviewing CEQA/NEPA documents for a gold mine in Imperial County, and working on an IBLA appeal of a BLM modification order of a permit for a Portland Cement plant in Imperial County. On the commercial development side, I am involved in the appeal of a CEQA decision for a major expansion project for a local mall and am currently reviewing an EIR for a specific plan located in western San Bernardino County. We are also involved in some fascinating water board matters, as well as a major groundwater contamination lawsuit in federal court. What is one project that you enjoyed working on or consider significant (or enjoyable)? Mining projects often present unique issues involving both state and federal laws, and the jurisdictional questions are usually intriguing. Often the laws that we deal with have little or no judicial interpretation, leaving us with the daunting, but exciting task of figuring out what they mean and how they should be applied, and then convincing the regulators that we are right. Why did you join AEP? I first learned about AEP from Patti Nahill who asked me whether I would be interested in helping out with a “CEQA 101” seminar. Although I had already met some of the people involved with AEP, for example, Chris Ormsby (City of Moreno Valley), Tom Dodson (Tom Dodson & Associates), Paul Kielhold (Lilburn Corporation) and Deborah Woldruff (City of San Bernardino), during the “CEQA 101” planning sessions, I met several other people involved with local government planning agencies and consulting services and was intrigued by their knowledge and common-sense application of the laws. I figured these were people I’d like to get to know.   Jack Easton Biologist/Project Manager - LSA Associates, Inc. March 1998 What are the general duties of your position? As a Biologist/Project Manager in the Riverside office of LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) I perform biological assessments for private and public projects; prepare wetlands delineations and process related permits; and coordinate with clients, agency personnel, and other LSA staff. I specialize in regulatory issues including CEQA as it relates to biological resources, compliance with state and federal Endangered Species Acts, and project permitting under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act. What is your background education? I attended Humboldt State University where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry with an emphasis in resource management. During the time I was in school I worked seasonal jobs in forestry including wildland fire suppression. For the past 12 years I have worked as a consultant in southern California with most of my efforts focused in the Inland Empire region. Prior to joining LSA I was President and General Manager of Tierra Madre Consultants for four years. What are the current projects you are working on? Among the current projects I am working on are a proposed 1,500-acre gold mine in Imperial County for which I completed a delineation of jurisdictional waters of the U.S. and am currently processing a Section 404 permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I am also working on several development projects many of which were planned and approved prior to the recession. For these &resurrected” projects, my role is often to update previous biological information in th