Project Examples

Consensus building/conflict resolution in public planning processes
Designed 2½ year multi-stakeholder process and facilitated more than 200 hours of in-person meetings to achieve 80 points of consensus to answer the question: “How will the users share and pay for the additional water supplies needed to support the next 4 million people coming to Arizona?” More than 75 stakeholders including cities, state and federal agencies, mining, agriculture, developers, and Native American communities gave 15,000 hours to this process. The Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board voted unanimously to proceed with implementation.
15-month citizen advisory group process for medium-sized southwestern city to recommend optimum current and future emergency response/public safety service levels, needed programs and future facilities, and at the same time being mindful of the full cost to the taxpayer. 16 recommendations were accepted by Mayor and Council and are mid way through completion.
Public participation program for a city’s Trails Master Plan. Activities included six focus groups, telephone survey, design charettes, open houses, newsletters, electronic polling, and presentations to various city boards and commissions. Construction is underway.
Facilitated a task force of key interests in three northwestern states — Idaho, Washington, and Oregon — to reach consensus on a new policy for water use by agriculture. Task force members included representatives from each state in four areas — environmental concerns, Native American interests, agricultural water users, and water law adjudicators. The resulting policy is being used in 17 western states.
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Facility siting Strategies
Stakeholder engagement program for 280 MW concentrating solar power generation facility and transmission line for Abengoa Solar, Inc. Assisted with required and desired public involvement and compliance with the State Public Utilities Commission. All major permits have been received.
Directed the public participation and site selection process for a highly controversial 13 million gallons/day wastewater reclamation facility.
Public participation advisor to Arizona Public Service for their West Valley South Power Line and Substation Siting Study. This project included three 230kV receiving stations and twelve 69kV substations, as well as associated power lines.
Directed the public outreach program for the U.S. portion of a 1,900 mile natural gas pipeline from northeastern British Columbia to Illinois. Included contact with 7,500 landowners and 49 county governments. The pipeline was sited, permitted and built in 4½ years.
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Strategic Communication
Series of in-person focus group surveys in four locations across the country on behalf of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines. The purpose was to help the industry update its standards for communications with local governments. Results have been used as part of a national effort to increase the security and safety of all pipelines.
Public Participation Manual for the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission, which works with communities within 100km of both sides of the Mexico/U.S. border to improve infrastructure, especially water and wastewater treatment facilities. This Spanish and English manual guides these communities in the application of appropriate public involvement processes.
Public information strategy for the design and reconstruction of the I-25 and I-40 interchange in Albuquerque, NM.
Directed a three-year public consultation program for the City of Calgary in an effort to design a long-range transportation plan. Activities included program strategic design; organizing and facilitating a citizen advisory committee and various public forums; conducting training programs; and integrating public comments into the planning process. The plan is being implemented.
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Community Relations in Hazardous/Radioactive Waste Projects
Since 2003 all community relations efforts on behalf of the AZ Army National Guard in the Camp Navajo Open Burn/Open Detonation Area Closure Project. Facilitating Stakeholder Advisory Group comprised of federal, state, and local agencies as well as community members.
Community relations program for the Harley-Davidson, York, PA Vehicle Operations Facility under a Facility Lead RCRA Corrective Action Program. Chlorinated solvents are primary contaminants in the soil and groundwater. Ordnance and explosives are being removed under guidance of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Designed and implemented public communications strategy for Dow Chemical to transport 100,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste through 11 states to an approved disposal facility. No incidents occurred.
Strategic advice and oversight of community relations activities for a Superfund Site in Oroville, California. Crisis Communications Team member at the Oroville site after a fire resulted in significant emissions across the community. Worked closely with EPA and the State of California to evacuate residents and evaluate health risks.
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Public Involvement and NEPA
Facilitated small group workshops at scoping meetings and two intense stakeholder workshops for the revision of the Grand Canyon Colorado River Management Plan. An EIS was completed and the Plan is operating.
2½ year program, referred to as “Plan 6 — New Waddell Dam,” for siting and evaluation of flood control and water storage alternatives in central Arizona under guidance from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Activities included a Governor-appointed advisory committee, 50-member Technical Committee; and extensive public workshops and collaborative forums. Implemented the Public Values Assessment technique to build consensus around a preferred alternative that was presented in an EIS and has been built.
Conducted assessment interviews with key stakeholders for Southern California Edison’s Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project. This project interconnects renewable wind energy to the existing electric system and extends from eastern Kern County to the City of Ontario. Some segments are under construction.
Designed and supervised implementation of public involvement program for the Benicia-Martinez Bridge Improvement Project EIS/EIR. Project included widening of Rt. 680, I-80, and I-780, re-configuring interchanges, and relocating existing toll plaza. FHWA and Caltrans were the lead agencies.
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Training
A primary developer of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Certificate Training Program. Delivered the 40-hour training program in public participation for the certificate program to more than 2000 people in four countries.
Participated extensively in the design and delivery of multiple employee training programs in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for the City of Phoenix under direction by the Corps of Engineers.
Delivered multiple training programs in basic public participation, risk communication and effective communication techniques for Solana Generation Project, Alliance Pipeline, Southern California Edison, Arizona Public Service, American Water Company, San Diego Association of Governments, Utah Transit Authority, AltaLink Management Ltd., and Salt River Project personnel who must communicate with the public on sensitive issues.
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