Environmental Resources is a technical section in the Geotechnical Engineering Support Branch, Engineering Division, that is responsible for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for the Civil Works, Operation and Maintenance, Environmental Cleanup, Planning Assistance to States and Interagency and International Services programs. The section provides expertise in NEPA coordination, biological and ecological sciences, chemistry, archeological and cultural resources, Alaska Native tribal coordination, public involvement, writing and editing, and document preparation for publication. The Environmental Resources Section:
- Prepares NEPA compliance documents for all programs to include environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) analyses and records of environmental consideration.
- Performs mitigation planning.
- Performs a wide variety of field work throughout Alaska, primarily in coastal environments. Some of the more common tasks include winter waterfowl and marine mammal surveys, marine algae colonization surveys, biological sampling for contaminants, marine near-shore fish sampling and wildlife monitoring.
- Conducts public meetings as part of the NEPA public review process.
- Conducts archaeological surveys, coordinates with the State Historic Preservation Officer under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, monitors ongoing construction to ensure cultural resources are not adversely impacted, prepares memoranda of understanding among stakeholders of a project where cultural resources are impacted, and prepares archaeological survey and cultural resources reports.
- Conducts government-to-government coordination between Alaska Native tribes and the Alaska District through the tribal liaison coordinator.