Advanced NEPA Training “Spark” Discussion

1/7/11

Summary:

There is pent-up demand for in-house NEPA training after the successful “Introduction to NEPA”, a level 100 course bestowing a “NEPA Learner’s Permit” with completion of:

  • 2 online modules;
  • a 2-day instructor-led class; and
  • take-home assessment (online).

Three groups are forming to tackle the first set of advanced training. The intent is to pull together the best of the parts & pieces that are out there in existing training and turn them into “One-Day Wonders” (or less) that can be put on easily to meet local unit needs.

Group M: Managing NEPA Teams, including the Decision Maker and Leadership components, targeted for IDT Leaders with perhaps a component for Line Officers and Leadership Teams. Idea is a “hybrid” of concepts from high performing teams, meetings management, and managing your line officer. Pending confirmation from their supervisors, Jill Dufour, Debbie Anderson, Sharon Randall & Matt Judd are the initial volunteers to work on this.

Group C: Curriculum for a series of 200-Level (intermediate) NEPA Courses, identifying target audience and skill level, with work pulling together the parts & pieces for specific classes to begin after that. Pending confirmation from their supervisors, Jan Flatten offered to lead this effort, with Susan Bruin, Peg Sorensen, Tasha Lo Porto and Adam Shaw to help.

Group H: Human Dimension, Public Involvement, Collaboration: Ashley Goldhor-Wilcock has a team working on a toolbox with Chris Miller and Pat Reed, among others. Will get coordinated with these efforts.

Next Call for Everyone will be in early February. Be sure to “doodle” your availability:

Ideas Captured:

Group M:

IDT leaders need training and skills, and there are many new line officers out there who need NEPA training as well. Consider:

  • R6 has a course they’ve been using for Leadership Teams – 1 hour
  • MBS adapted to ½ day training for leadership teams, Rhey Solomon has a full-day course
  • Rhey is also working on a 2-day IDT Mgt. course for the Okanogan-Wenatchee for the Spring 2011
  • NEPA for Line Officers
  • Hybrid idea: part training from:
  • high performing teams
  • project & meetings management
  • managing leaders
  • Usual situation is “here’s the team you’ve got, how to make it work”

Group C:

“Intermediate” level NEPA training, as there is a gap from the current Introduction to NEPA to existing advanced courses like the 3-day Cumulative Effects training (Shipley). Many ideas on priorities, so develop curriculum first, identifying target audience and skill level, then decide which courses to pull together. Consider:

  • More in-depth on NEPA Process:
  • Proposal development, purpose & need, problem framing
  • Developing Issues, Alternatives, Mitigation Measures
  • Records Management (especially when prepared by contractors … )
  • Effects Analysis for Resource Specialists – legal & agency requirements, how to analyze and document to support required findings
  • NEPA training specific to program areas like Range, Fire, Special Uses

Outsourcing & Contracting NEPA training is on the back-burner for now, but there are still needs.

Participants:

  1. Dave Loomis
  2. Rita Skinner
  3. Peg Sorensen
  4. Josh Wilson
  5. Jill Dufour
  6. Debbie Anderson
  7. Jan Flatten
  8. Curt Spalding
  9. Tasha Lo Porto
  10. Jim Bennett
  11. Jim McDonald
  12. Josh Milligan
  13. Sharon Randall
  14. Dave Sire
  15. Adam Shaw
  16. Bob Dow
  17. Chris Miller
  18. Matt Judd
  19. Carol DeMuth
  20. David Seesholtz
  21. Betsy Rickards, note taker