Environmental Coordinator | Modoc National Forest

 

The Modoc National Forest is conducting outreach for candidates interested in being considered for a permanent Social/Biological Scientist (Environmental Coordinator) position, with a duty station of Alturas, California. This notification is being circulated to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity, and to determine interest in the position.

For more information on this position, contact Gary Kedish at (530) 233-8830, or gkedish@fs.fed.us

MAJOR DUTIES
Plans, directs, and advises Forest personnel on compliance efforts regarding National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), regulations of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the Forest Plan, and Forest Service Policy. 

Serves as the subject matter expert, the incumbent provides Forest Line Officers with advice and interpretation of a broad range of environmental policies.  Provides program managers and district NEPA coordinators with technical leadership and guidance concerning the interpretation and implementation of environmental policies.  

Responsible for mediating conflicting viewpoints of Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members on preparation and processing of Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.

In coordination with the Regional Office, serves as final authority of environmental documents for compliance with NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and guides each of the subsequent appeal and/or litigation reviews. Serves as the primary technical reviewer for the development of NEPA contracts or Memorandums of Agreement and/or the subsequent NEPA documents prepared via contract, cooperating agency, or project proponent for activities on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Executes and coordinates final evaluation and review of environmental analysis documents for Forest projects and/or programs to ensure compliance with multiple environmental policy requirements. Identifies the need for and type(s) of environmental policy training for Forest personnel involved in NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and Appeals and Litigation reviews, projects, requests, and responses.

Develops training content and implements this training to ensure the technical and procedural aspects of covered environmental policies are consistently performed in project and/or program work.

Liaisons with Federal, State, and Local government officials, special interest groups, industry representatives, tribal representatives, general public, and agency stake holders to provide interpretation of requirements and applicability of NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and Appeals and Litigation.   Serves as the Forest Appeals Coordinator in the implementation of the Administrative Appeals procedures (36CFR Parts 215, 217, and 251, Part C). Advises line and staff on the administrative appeals process and how/where the issues are addressed in the appropriate environmental documents. 

Liaisons between the Regional Reviewing/Deciding Official and Forest Line Officers.   Formulates responses to appeals regarding decisions made by the Forest. Provides technical direction and review of appeal responses formulated at the District level.  Coordinates communication and submission of Forest responses with the Appeals Reviewing Officer in the Regional Office.

Interprets and disseminates changes, decisions, and directions regarding all environmental policies that would affect the Forest.   Communicates the impacts and applicability of changes, decisions, and directions to Forest Line Officers and Staff involved in projects and/or programs that are subject to NEPA, CEQ, NFMA, FOIA, and Appeals and Litigation.  

Facilitates the development of litigation reports for the Forest and liaisons documentation between the Forest and the Regional Office and Office of General Council.   

Ensures accuracy and completeness of the Administrative Record for each lawsuit.  Analyzes and considers litigation and court decisions to make appropriate recommendations to Forest Line Officers regarding Forest position in specific lawsuits. Serves as the Forest Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) coordinator, and as the principle advisor, provides interpretation and technical guidance to Forest personnel who process FOIA requests. As a subject matter expert regarding release or withholding of agency records, the incumbent ensures requirements outlined in the Act are satisfied in all requests. Interprets and disseminates changes, decisions, and directions from the Regional, National, and Federal levels to Forest personnel.
 
ABOUT THE FOREST:      
The Modoc National Forest, situated in extreme northeastern California, boasts an ecologically diverse landscape. It is a land of contrasts, with ecosystems ranging from pine and fir dominated mountains to high desert plateaus covered with sage brush and juniper. It is one of the largest national forests in California at about 1.68 million acres. Administratively it is managed from the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Alturas and two zones encompassing four ranger districts with offices in Adin, Tulelake, Alturas and Cedarville.  The climate also exhibits contrasts, with average high temperatures in July being 88 degrees and average lows in January in the teens. With the average annual precipitation being about 12 inches there is an abundance of days with clear blue skies. Elavations range from 9,892 feet at Eagle Peak atop the Warner Mountains to 4,000 feet in the valleys.

The Forest manages a variety of programs, including wildlife, vegetation, range, recreation, minerals, wilderness, special uses, heritage, watershed, fuels and fire suppression. Specialists working here include botanists, foresters, wildlife and fishery biologists, arechaeologists, range conservationists, engineers, fire and fuels managers, business management and public relations professionals. These specialists work on a variety of challenging issues including: sage steppe restoration, wildhorse territory management, the largest rangeland management program in Region 5, managing fire across the landscape, and landscape scale restoration.

The Forest is primarily situated in beautiful Modoc County. With a population of about 10,000 the County is among the most rural in California. It borders Oregon to the north and Nevada to the east. Alturas is the County Seat and location of the Forest Supervisor’s Office, and is about 3 1/4 hours (170 miles) from Reno, NV; 2 3/4 hours (145 miles) from Redding, CA; and 1 3/4 hours (98) miles from Klamath Falls, OR. All these cities offer major shopping opportunities and Reno and Redding offer airport services. There is a medical clinic in Alturas with major medical services available in Reno and Redding.

While the key to real estate is location , location, location; for many who come and stay on the Modoc the key is lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle. The Modoc lifestyle has much to offer, being more rural and remote. A slower pace offers a welcome relief from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of urban life. The nights are quiet and peaceful, and with minimal light pollution the sky is full of stars. There are ample recreational opportunities, including fishing and hunting, that are uncrowded. There is strong community support and the local community is interested and involved in Forest programs. If you are looking for a place that offers a low stress lifestyle and safe community, the Modoc is for you.

Information on the Modoc National Forest and community is available on these sites:

• Modoc National Forest website: http://fs.usda.gov/modoc/
• Modoc Record (newspaper): http://www.modocrecord.com/
• Modoc National Forest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Forest-Service-Modoc-National-Forest/624840120965582
• Modoc schools: http://www.modoccoe.k12.ca.us/
• Alturas, CA information: http://www.city-data.com/city/Alturas-California.html

Alturas Chamber of Commerce, 522 S. Main Street, Alturas, CA 96101. Telephone is 530-222-4433; and, FAX 530-222-4434, or visit their website at www.alturaschamber.org/


ABOUT THE COMMUNITY:
Alturas:
The Supervisor’s office is located is Alturas, CA, which has a population of 3000, and is the county seat of Modoc County. Alturas is a full service community with a hospital, doctors, public schools, businesses, and recreational facilities. The cost of living is reasonable. Home costs range from $100,000 to $250,000. Rentals for 2-3 bedrooms are approximately $300-$500. The public school system provides instruction for grades K-12 and offers numerous extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the Lassen College Extension Office offers a variety of night courses. Alturas also has various churches representing many denominations.