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Central Region Environmental Division

Mission and Goals		Contact Information		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
Christine Cox-Kovacevich (559) 488-4150

"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 20 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 Central Region Environmental Division Chief (559) 488-4150

Kirsten Helton - Branch Chief (559) 445-6461 Quality Review, NEPA Delegation Graphic Design Services, Public Information Meetings/ Public Hearings All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Susan Schilder-Thomas - Branch Chief (559) 445-6429 Environmental Management Branch, Task Management, Budget, Supplies, Training, Student Assistant Program, Data Management, GIS All Counties in Central Region - District 5, District 6, District 9, and District 10

Margaret Lawrence - Office Chief Division Management North (209) 948-3754 - Stockton (559) 445-6469 - Fresno 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

Mary Oliva - Specialist (209) 941-1919 District 10 - Alpine, Amador, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Frank Meraz, Branch Chief (559) 445-6406 Biology-North All Counties in Central Region - District 9, and District 10

Javier Almaguer, Branch Chief (559) 445-6456 Biology-South All Counties in Central Region - District 6, District 5, and District 4 brokered work

Scott Smith - Branch Chief (559) 445-6172 Large Projects District 10 - Alpine, Amador, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Anissa Brown - (Acting) Branch Chief (209) 942-6157 Minor Projects District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Julie Myrah - Branch Chief (209) 948-7427 Maintenance Planning Service (MPS) District 10 - Alpine, Amador, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Jennifer Taylor - Office Chief Division Management South (559) 445-6455 District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties

Jeanne Binning - Branch Chief (559) 445-5793 Tom Mills - Senior Specialist (760) 872-2424 Cultural Resource Services District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

G. William "Trais" Norris - Branch Chief (559) 445-6447 Large Projects District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties District 6 - Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties

Bryan Apper - Branch Chief (559) 445-6282 Large Projects, TRIP Projects District 6 - Inyo, Kern, and Mono Counties

Kelly Hobbs - Branch Chief (559) 445-5286 Local Assistance Projects and Minor Projects District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties

Ken Romero - Branch Chief (559) 445-6307 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

Juergen Vespermann - Branch Chief (559) 445-6369 Hazardous Waste District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Jamie Lupo - Office Chief Environmental Mitigation and Community Studies, Contracts (559) 445-6109 District 6 - Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties District 10 - Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties

Janet Newland - Office Chief (805) 542-4691

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

Kelso Vidal - (Acting) Branch Chief (805) 549-3337 Minor Projects, Biology District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

Matt Fowler - Branch Chief (805) 542-4603 Large Projects District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

Patricia Moyer - Branch Chief (760) 872-2424 Local Assistance and Minor Projects District 9 - Inyo, and Mono Counties

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

Chuck Cesena - Specialist (805) 549-3622 Special Studies District 5 - Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties

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

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/