Meet CP&Y's Environmental Experts
Our staff of environmental scientists, historians, and planners help our clients balance the needs of projects, infrastructure, people, nature, and resources. With extensive interdisciplinary backgrounds and expertise, our team prevents projects from being delayed by unanticipated environmental issues by staying up to date on constantly evolving regulatory requirements. We partner with government agencies, municipalities, private sector companies, and leading environmental organizations to solve complex environmental challenges in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Below are a few project examples that showcase some of the environmental services CP&Y provides and the experts who make those services a reality.
Your Need: Environmental Permitting for Renewable Energy Projects
Our Expert: Kelly Johnson Saladis, AICP, Senior Project Manager, Dallas, TX
Since 2014, Kelly has managed and provided technical support for the development of several hundred commercial and community solar development projects on behalf of about a half dozen solar development companies. Environmental studies are performed to support due diligence needs and comply with Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act, Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act, Sections 7 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements.
Kelly’s due diligence experience includes wetlands and waters delineations and corresponding report preparation, habitat and species surveys, and Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. She is highly capable of managing multiple projects at varying stages concurrently, as well as subconsultants responsible for cultural resource surveys and soil and groundwater testing. Kelly’s permitting experience includes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jurisdictional Determinations (approved and preliminary), successful authorization under USACE Nationwide Permits (NWP), 12, 14, and 51 and floodplain development permits.
Bringing over 20 years of experience to our team, Kelly earned her bachelor’s in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Binghamton University.
The Experience: Proven Client Satisfaction for Successful Renewable Energy Projects
Kelly’s experience providing and managing environmental services for renewable energy projects is exemplified in the success of previous projects and established working relationships with project developers and engineers. Kelly understands the importance of effective and ongoing communication, proactively identifying constraints and working closely with the client to avoid/minimize impacts where possible and prepare a comprehensive and timely permit application when impacts cannot be fully evaluated.
Key considerations on solar projects to date have included visual aesthetics, minimizing soil disturbance and impervious area, design modifications to minimize impacts to wetlands and endangered/threatened species habitat, seasonal construction restrictions, wetland mitigation, use of pollinator plantings, and considerations associated with minimizing impacts to the landfill cap at closed landfill sites.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Kelly Saladis over many years and on dozens of solar projects in the State of New York with varying degrees of environmental permitting complexities. I was always impressed by her extensive understanding of environmental issues and her incredible ability to problem-solve those issues. Her extensive skills and knowledge allowed us to overcome substantial development hurdles that lead to the successful and sound construction of many solar projects. In addition to her extensive environmental permitting knowledge, Kelly is an incredibly kind and supportive person who is an absolute dream to work with."
- Emilie Flanagan, Carson-Power
“When Borrego Solar expanded into the New York market Kelly became the go-to consultant for all environmental permitting. She was involved with initial site evaluation all the way through to permitting and project completion. I was always amazed by her ability to provide a status update of any project without looking it up.”
- Steve Long, Borrego Solar
Your Need: Community Impact Assessment and Environmental Justice Analysis
Our Expert: Leigh Raderschadt, AICP, Environmental Planner, Portland, OR
Leigh has written socioeconomic analysis reports, indirect impacts analysis reports, historic resource survey reports, and prepared several Community Impact Assessment technical reports. She is adept at conducting research and preparing analyses for both social justice and cultural resource components of projects. Prior to joining CP&Y, Leigh worked for the South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office and Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society. She earned her master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning with a specialization in Historic Preservation at the University of Texas at Austin.
The Experience: Gilcrease Expressway Extension Environmental Justice and Project Level Toll Analysis, Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), Tulsa, OK
As part of an Environmental Assessment re-evaluation, CP&Y documented land use and identified Environmental Justice populations in the proposed project area. As the Planner for this project, Leigh gathered and analyzed census and land use data, coordinated with multiple permitting and regulatory agencies, and conducted site visits to assess the impacts a new toll facility.
Leigh helped create the Public Involvement Plan, which included walking door-to-door to speak with residents and businesses in the study area about the project and informing them of the public meeting, holding a meeting for local clergy and non-profits and setting up an additional neighborhood meeting for residents unable to travel to attend the public meeting. Leigh completed an Environmental Justice Analysis and a Project Level Toll Analysis, which used data from the Indian Nations Council of Governments to determine the effects the facility would have on Environmental Justice populations in the region.
As Architectural Historian, Leigh also assisted with the Cultural Resources Survey documenting approximately 100 resources. She helped create a database to streamline the production of the individual Historic Preservation Identification Form to expedite the photo form processes.
Your Need: Biological Assessment
Our Expert: Melissa Cross, Biologist, Corpus Christi, TX
Melissa has over five years of experience in the environmental field. She has experience collecting remote biological data, with an emphasis on wildlife and habitat assessment in Texas forests and the Intermountain West cold desert regions. She has prepared wetland delineation reports, biological evaluations/assessments, and helped clients maintain regulatory compliance with federal agencies.
Melissa has also prepared documentation for various projects including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, hazardous materials technical reports, habitat assessments, jurisdictional determinations, wetland delineations, and USACE Permits. Melissa’s experience is broad and includes state agencies such as the ODOT, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Texas A&M Forest Service. Other clients include various municipalities, county governments, and the private sector.
Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Forest Wildlife Management and a master’s in Forest Economics, both from Stephen F. Austin State University.
The Experience: SL 360 at Westlake Drive Biological Assessment, TxDOT Austin, TX
CP&Y provided environmental services for the segment of the State Loop 360 that intersects with Westlake Drive. Our biological commitments on this project included habitat protections for the Golden-cheeked Warbler. These endangered birds are Texas natives and are found nowhere else in the world. Other commitments included: vegetation removal occurring outside of the Golden-cheeked Warbler breeding and nesting season; no new woodland canopy gaps greater than 16 feet created and no trees larger than 12 inches removed; and no temporary staging areas or vegetation removal within the Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat.
Melissa served as the lead field investigator and also prepared biological documents for the project. The project included Waters of the US delineation and associated impact calculations and a biological review that focused on sensitive ecosystems and threatened and endangered species. Documents produced included a Surface Waters Analysis Form, and Tier I with associated documentation, and a biological evaluation for impacts to the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler.
Your Need: NEPA Documentation, Section 404/10 Permits & Biological Diversity
Our Expert: Josh Geyer, PWS, Senior Environmental Planner, Houston, TX
Josh brings over 10 years of experience as an environmental planner, with an emphasis in waters, wetlands and biological assessments. He has experience working on and preparing various National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) documents including Categorical Exclusions and Environmental Assessments. He has also prepared Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, habitat assessments, jurisdictional determinations, wetland delineations, USACE Section 404/10 Permits, Permittee Responsible Mitigation designs/plans and wetland mitigation banking agreements for a wide range of projects. His client experience includes TxDOT, Harris County, other various municipalities, and expansion projects within the private sector.
Josh has completed 40-Hour Basic Wetland Delineation Course from the Wetland Training Institute, 40-Hour Traffic Noise Model 2.5 Training, Federal Environmental Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Environmental Review and Compliance for Natural Gas Facilities and additional environmental seminars. He is a graduate of Unity College, receiving his bachelor's in Environmental Science.
The Experience: FM 1495 Bridge Replacement, TxDOT Houston District, Freeport, TX
This project consisted of replacing the FM 1495 bridge structure at the Old Brazos River in Freeport, Brazoria County for TxDOT Houston District. CP&Y provided NEPA documentation, presence/absence surveys for bottlenose dolphins, and environmental permitting services necessary for project approval and construction, which included coordination with the USACE, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), TCEQ, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas General Land Office (GLO), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The project has been environmentally cleared under NEPA. The permitting consists of an USACE NWP 14 requiring wetland mitigation credits and a USCG Bridge Permit. CP&Y conducted an extensive navigational study of the Old Brazos River and received approval from the USCG to reduce the vertical clearance of the proposed bridge. In addition to NEPA documentation and permitting, our team conducted a three-day presence/absence survey for bottlenose dolphins which resulted in a total of 10 sightings and confirmed that three separate individuals utilize the waterway.
The project team collaborated to develop acceptable bridge demolition/construction techniques and construction Best Management Practices, resulting in a determination that the proposed project would have no adverse effect on bottlenose dolphins.
Your Need: 404 Permitting and Biological Diversity
Our Expert: Amy Esguerra, Senior Biologist, San Antonio, TX
Amy has more than 15 years of experience and specializes in environmental permitting and biological diversity services for waters and wetlands. She is an expert in wetland delineations for the USACE permitting requirements, pre-construction notifications, and individual permits.
Amy is also highly knowledgeable in preparing other specialized documentation, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, habitat assessments, jurisdictional determinations, Texas Water Development Board Environmental Information Documents, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) NEPA documentation for CDBG funded projects.
Amy earned her bachelor’s in Rangeland Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University and her master’s in Applied Geography Resource and Environmental Studies from Texas State University.
The Experience: San Felipe Footbridge, City of Del Rio, TX
This project consisted of improvements to two pedestrian bridges, bank retaining wall repairs, and repairs to sidewalks along an approximately 0.65-mile section of San Felipe Creek, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat for the endangered Devils River Minnow. CP&Y provided environmental permitting services, including all agency coordination for project approval and construction.
As the Environmental Project Manager, Amy managed the preparation of a USACE NWP 3 Pre-construction Notification (PCN) for impacts that would occur to the creek as a result of the project. Per NWP General Condition 18 regarding impacts to endangered species, a Biological Assessment was also prepared to conduct Section 7 Consultation with the USFWS. After extensive coordination with the USFWS to reach an agreement on feasible best management practices (BMPs) and conservation measures, the USFWS issued a Biological Opinion and USACE issued approval for NWP 3. Amy was also responsible for managing a cultural resources subconsultant who prepared a desktop report to obtain approval from the Texas Historical Commission.
CP&Y will provide environmental oversight during construction to ensure that the measures outlined by the NWP and Biological Opinion are followed by the selected contractor. CP&Y will also provide post construction reporting requirements to complete agency coordination and permit close-out. Amy will be managing these environmental services.
Your Need: Cultural Resources Identification, Documentation & Preservation
Our Expert: Victoria Raines, Senior Architectural Historian, Oklahoma City, OK
Tori has over 15 years of experience working as a Section 106 archaeological and architectural historian consultant. Before joining the CP&Y team she worked at ODOT where she served as a reviewer for consultant project reports along with conducting surveys and preparing reports as Project Manager for Built Environment Resources. Tori’s technical expertise includes historic building surveys and documentation, property type identification and assessment to determine National Register eligibility, assessment of effect for Section 106 and NEPA compliance, National Register and HABS/HAER documentation, building condition assessments, rehabilitation and master plans, developing programmatic agreements and mitigation plans, and all components of the Section 106 consultation process.
Tori meets the criteria for professional qualifications for an Architectural Historian as defined by the Secretary of the Interior. She holds a Masters in Historic Preservation and a Masters in Regional and City Planning.
The Experience: SH-33 Historic Noble Avenue Viaduct Replacement, ODOT, Guthrie, OK
Located in the City of Guthrie’s Historic Downtown District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original Noble Avenue Viaduct was a unique double-decker bridge and the only remaining one of its kind within the state of Oklahoma. The historic bridge was deemed to be in unsafe structural condition and faced periodic flood events that stressed the structure and impacted emergency response crews’ access across the community. Repair was determined impossible since the eroding concrete could not be re-poured and moving the bridge to avoid flooding was also not feasible due to the concrete construction of the bridge.
Despite the need to demolish and completely replace the Historic Noble Avenue Viaduct Bridge, the structure and surrounding historic district is preserved in an interactive GIS layer CP&Y shared with the City of Guthrie. It is also immortalized in the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation that CP&Y submitted to the Library of Congress. A team of CP&Y’s Engineers, graphic designers and Tori also custom-designed a commemorative kiosk sign that was erected near the newly constructed bridge for educational purposes.
“This type of mitigation can feel as rewarding as preserving the actual resource,” explained Tori, “because we get to share the history of the bridge widely with folks now and in the future for years to come. Some of our historical documents ended up in the Library of Congress, and that stuff isn’t going anywhere.”
Your Need: Noise Analysis & Public Involvement
Our Expert: Darren Dodson, Senior Environmental Planner, Austin, TX
With 22 years of experience in the environmental field, Darren is skilled in conducting traffic noise modeling, ambient noise measurements (pre-construction and during construction), noise barrier constructability analyses, FTA noise impact assessments, and coordinating and conducting traffic noise workshops for affected property owners. Darren also manages the public involvement process for infrastructure projects, including public meetings, public hearings, and meetings with stakeholders and affected property owners. He has managed the development of public involvement materials, presentations, website and social media content, and MetroQuest surveys and content.
The Experience: TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division On-Call Noise Analyses, 2017 and 2019 Contracts, Various Counties, TX
Darren managed over 30 noise analyses over the span of these work authorizations. Duties he managed included: coordinating with project engineers on data needs; ambient noise measurement fieldwork and noise validation modeling; existing/predicted noise modeling and barrier analyses; and report preparation for FHWA-funded projects.
Reach Out!
For more information about our environmental services, please contact CP&Y’s Senior Environmental Manager, Kelly Johnson Saladis, ACIP, by phone at 214.276.5420 or by email at ksaladis@cpyi.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!