Central Region Environmental Division

Mission and Goals		Contact Information		Student Programs		NEPA Delegation

The Central Region Environmental Division serves the environmental needs of the California Central Valley, Central Coast and Eastern Sierra. It consists of a multi-disciplinary team of over 168 individuals with specialties in a wide range of areas such as, archeological resources, architectural history, biology, air, noise and water quality, hazardous materials testing, paleontology and graphic design. The Division administers Caltran's responsibilities under federal and state law in response to the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), in 1969, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in 1973. In response to the passage of a host of environmentally related laws and regulations and heightened public support for the environment, these responsibilities have grown to become a substantive and inseparable part of Caltrans' planning, development, construction, operation and maintenance efforts.

Central Region Environmental Division Chief
Carrie Bowen (559) 243-8150

"We continue to smooth the path for all of Caltrans in the work we do with resource agencies. The communication and cooperation we are developing with agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service are benefiting not only the Central Region, but every part of this state as well."

Mission and Goals Statement

The Central Region Environmental Division is a critical functional unit, which must have a clear vision to be successful. Our primary vision, which we share with all of the District Offices, is to ensure the timely delivery of environmentally sound projects.

Central Region Environmental is responsible for state highway projects in 19 counties in the Central Valley, which are engaged in planning, design, supervision and management of California's key transportation infrastructure.

The Central Region counties are broken down by District as follows:

• District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties
• District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties
• District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties
• District 10 - Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Central Region Environmental Documents for:

• District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties
• District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties
• District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties
• District 10 - Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Contact Information

Christine Cox-Kovacevich - Office Chief (559) 243-8151 District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 9 - Inyo and Mono Counties District 10 - Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Gail Miller - Branch Chief (559) 243-8274 Large Projects District 10 - Alpine, Amador, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Juergen Vespermann - Branch Chief (559) 243-8157 Large Projects Distict 6 - Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties Distict 10 - Calaveras, Mariposa, and Merced Counties

Jeanne Binning - Branch Chief (559) 243-8219 Cultural Resource Services District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Jose Ruano - Branch Chief (559) 243-8184 Graphic Design Services, Public Information Meetings/ Public Hearings All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Kelly Hobbs - Branch Chief (559) 243-8222 Local Assistance Projects and Minor Projects District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties

Bryan Apper - Branch Chief (559) 243-8156 Quality Review, NEPA Delegation All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Mary Oliva - Branch Chief (209) 941-1919 Minor Projects District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Tom Dayak - Branch Chief (760) 872-0690 Local Assistance and Minor Projects District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties

Jennifer Taylor - Office Chief (559) 243-8166 District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Opisbo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 9 - Inyo and Mono Counties

G. William "Trais" Norris - Branch Chief (559) 243-8178 Large Projects District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties District 6 - Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties

Sarah Gassner - Branch Chief (559) 243-8243 Large Projects District 6 - Kern, and Tulare Counties District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties

Gerald White - Branch Chief (559) 243-8233 Hazardous Waste District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Zachary Parker - Branch Chief (559) 243-8196 Biology All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Agnes Jenkins - Branch Chief (559) 243-82334 Environmental Engineering, Air Quality, Noise Studies District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Valerie Levulett - Branch Chief (805) 549-3669 Cultural Resources, Air, Noise, Water Quality, and Hazardous Waste District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

Chuck Cesena - Branch Chief (805) 549-3622 Minor Projects, Biology District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

Cathy Stettler - Branch Chief (Acting) (805) 542-4603 Large Projects District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

Ed Schefter - Specialist (805) 549-3653 GIS All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

David Hyatt - Branch Chief (559) 243-8312 Environmental Management Branch, Task Management, Contracts, Budget, Supplies, Training, Student Assistant Program All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Kirsten Helton - Specialist (559) 243-8224 Special Projects, Policy All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Environmental Planners

Environmental Planners are part of an interdisciplinary team, who integrate social, economic, and environmental elements of systems and project planning into statewide and interregional facilities planning and development. They develop, evaluate, and mitigate a wide variety of environmental planning and project activities.

The Environmental Planner takes an active role in transportation systems planning and project development. A major responsibility of the Environmental Planner includes the preparation of an environmental analysis of proposed projects and design alternatives, as well as identifying environmental impacts of transportation systems and corridors. Their critical responsibility is to work with the project design engineer to avoid, minimize, or mitigate project impacts. A Planner must prepare and process environmental documents for transportation systems projects in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal laws regulations and policies. The Environmental Planner must also review the environmental documents of local, state and federal agencies and prepare inventories and analyses of existing and future environmental conditions.

Typically, the Environmental Planner will:

• Prepare and process environmental documents mandated by federal and state laws and regulations and, as a team member must assess the consequences to the environment of transportation alternatives and formulate environmental mitigation measures for these alternatives.
• Perform research within area of expertise, monitor and evaluate research findings performed by out-service personnel and contract consultants.
• Participate as a departmental representative on environmental issues at public or private meetings and/or hearings and legislative hearing.

NEPA Delegation

What are NEPA and CEQA?

NEPA and CEQA goals are to assure governmental actions or activities to promote general welfare, allow people and nature to live in productive harmony and to fulfill the social, economic, and environmental requirements of present and future generations.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies pursuant to 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulation) 1500, to consider potential environmental effects of their programs by preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

NEPA's purpose is to:

• Declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and the environment
• Promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man
• Enrich the understanding of ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation
• Establish a Council on Environmental Quality

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code (PCR) Section 21000, requires local and state governments to consider the potential environmental effects of a project before a decision whether to approve a project or not.

CEQA's purpose is to:

• Disclose the potential impacts of a project to government decision makers and the public about the potential significant environmental effects of proposed activities
• Suggest methods to minimize those impacts to the environment
• Identify alternatives to the project
• Enhance Public Participation

Student Programs

The Student Assistant Program and Co-Op Program are recruitment tools for the Department addressing human resource needs by:

• Providing an opportunity to preview potential future employees
• Providing students part-time employment related to their field of study
• Providing students with career direction
• Supplementing the Department's resource needs while fulfilling the above objectives.

Student Assistants (also known as Interns) are hired from California accredited colleges and are given work assignments that will not interfere with their class schedules. Student Assistants must be enrolled in minimum of (6) semester units or (9) quarter units and attend classes during the semester/quarter while working for the Department.

For further information, Please contact: Kathy Hawkins at (559) 243-8235

Other Resource Links

Local Self Help Counties
Thomas Roads Improvement Projects (Bakersfield) Link - http://www.bakersfieldfreeways.us/TRIP.htm
Measure C (Fresno County Transportation Tax Link - http://www.measurec.com/default.asp
Measure T (Madera County Transportation Tax Link - http://www.maderactc.org/
Measure R (Tulare County Transportation Tax Link - http://www.tularecog.org/
Measure I (Kern County Transportation Tax Link - http://www.saferoadskern.org/index.php

NEPA Delegation
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/nepa_pilot/FAQs.htm

Caltrans Environmental Headquarters
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/