The Cherokee National Forest is in the process of filling a permanent, full-time GS-0401-9/11 NEPA Planner position on the Unaka Ranger District. This is a full-time, permanent position with a duty station of Greeneville, Tennessee. This notice is being circulated to inform interested applicants of this opportunity.
This position is being advertised in USA Jobs and can be found at the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/ then enter the following specific announcement number and search.
15-0804-107339GA (Opens 12/15/2014 – Closes 1/5/2015)
Persons interested in this position must apply through USA Jobs in order to be considered for this position.
Major Duties
Ø Develops annual program of work for all aspects of unit NEPA accomplishment
Ø Gathers all appropriate information in order to develop current and long-range project planning
Ø Serves as contact for facilitating project planning efforts
Ø Coordinates and assimilates information to meet requirements of standards and guidelines related to management proposals
Ø Collects professional analysis and environmental data to evaluate impacts of proposals
Ø Formulates documents (e.g. decision memos, environmental assessments and environmental impact statements) and makes recommendations in order for the Responsible Official to make informed decisions on issues and affected resources
Ø Reviews and develops final documents concerning project status
Ø Gathers and evaluates subject matter documents prepared by others and includes required information and assumptions in the NEPA document
Ø Serves as the main point of contact for NEPA activities for the unit and the primary expert in the development and processing of NEPA documents
Ø Provides direction and support throughout the NEPA process
Ø Conducts field surveys and site visits to gather project specific information
About the Forest
Tennessee’s only National Forest, the Cherokee, is located in 10 eastern Tennessee counties from Chattanooga to Bristol. The Forest covers approximately 650,000 acres and lies along Tennessee’s border with North Carolina in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Cherokee is comprised of four ranger districts, two located south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and two north of the Park. The Unaka Ranger District is located north of the Park, in the northeast corner of Tennessee. The Forest lies entirely within the Southern Appalachian Mountains with elevations ranging from approximately 1200’ to over 5000’.
The Unaka District office, located in Greeneville, TN, administers approximately 175,000 acres in five counties – Cocke, Greene, Washington, Carter, and Unicoi. The climate consists of four very distinct, very mild seasons, which allow residents and visitors to take advantage of limitless outdoor recreational opportunities available. The average annual temperature is 55 degrees with 11 inches of snowfall and an average of 42 inches of rainfall.
Community Information
Greeneville, Tennessee was founded in 1783 and is the second oldest town in Tennessee. Today, it has a population of approximately 15,000. There are two hospitals in Greene County, Laughlin Memorial Hospital with 140 beds and Takoma Adventist Hospital with 115 beds. There are more than 75 doctors and 20 dentists practicing in the area. The average price of a single family 3-4 bedroom home is $149,000 and monthly rental of a 2-3 bedroom apartment averaged $450. There are a number of elementary, middle/junior high schools and senior high schools. Greeneville is located approximately 12 miles east of I-81 and within 75 miles of I-40, I-75, and I-26. The Tri-City (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol) Regional Airport serves Greeneville just 40 miles away near Bristol. In 2007, Greeneville was named one of the 50 Best Small Southern Towns in America.
For those wanting a larger metropolitan area, Johnson City (population 60,000) is 28 miles to the west of Greeneville. Johnson City is the home of Eastern Tennessee State University. There are a number of hospitals in Johnson City, including a medical center at East Tennessee State University and a Veterans Administration Hospital. There are also several private and community colleges in the area. A large number of churches encompass a wide variety of denominations and faiths. Banking needs are met by the full range of regional and national banks and federal credit unions. Forbes named Johnson City #14 in the United for Best Small Places for Business and Careers. Kiplinger named it #5 for the 10 Least Expensive Cities in the United States.
Outdoor recreation opportunities include state and local parks, golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, TVA Lakes and of course, camping, hiking, skiing, hunting, fishing and whitewater rafting. There are also a number of museums, historic sites, cinemas and live theatres in the Tri-Cities. Bristol Motor Speedway is known for its nationally-recognized NASCAR events.
Additional Information
For additional information, contact one of the following individuals:
Keith P. Kelley, Watauga District Ranger, (423) 735-1500 or email:
Leslie Morgan, Unaka District Ranger, (423) 638-4109 or email:
Laurel Reaves, Support Services Supervisor, (423) 638-4109 or email: