Program participants are required to take a total of 8 courses: 4 required core courses; 3 elective courses; and, a capstone course. Courses are offered at USU and other locations around the country. All courses are offered in the short-course format of either 2 or 3 consecutive eight-hour days (depending on the course). Each course is worth 1 or 2 academic credits. We will attempt to schedule courses so one required course (2-credits) and one elective course (1-credit) are scheduled back-to-back in the same week. This will allow working professionals to minimize the number of trips needed to complete the certificate program.

 

Courses offered as part of the NEPA Certificate Program may be taken for university graduate credit whether or not a participant in the course is enrolled in the certificate program. Those taking the course for credit will receive a letter grade. Course attendance and test scores will determine participants’ grades. Tests for the courses will be based on information from the lectures and assigned course materials. Testing will generally consist of a take-home test the participant completes within 8 weeks of taking the course and returns to the USU Program Administrator for grading.

Required Courses - 2 credits
Elective Courses - 1 credit

 

Core Courses - 8 semester credits

 

Participants are required to take four of the following courses, preferably in the order in which they appear below. Participants must take the first three courses (NEPA 6200, 6210 and 6220), but can choose between the last two courses (NEPA 6230 Risk Communication or NEPA 6260 Cultural and Natural Resource Management) to meet the core course requirements. If a participant would like to take both courses (NEPA 6230 and 6260), one can be used toward the 3 elective course requirement. Each course will consist of 3 instructional days, with additional time required to complete reading and examination assignments. Each course will be worth 2 semester credits.

 

NEPA 6200 How to Manage the NEPA Process and Write Effective NEPA Documents     2 credits

This course is an introduction to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. Participants will learn: the various levels of NEPA documentation; how to develop a reasonable range of alternatives; how to identify potential issues; how to develop public involvement strategies; the importance of identifying other relevant environmental laws; how to develop a systematic process for quantitatively and qualitatively predicting effects; and, the skills necessary to identify the actions needed for a thorough environmental analysis.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Manage the NEPA process so the spirit and the letter of the act are fulfilled legally and efficiently.
  • Implement the CEQ regulations and agency regulations so the spirit and the letter of the directives are fulfilled.
  • Oversee contractors who conduct environmental analyses and/or write EISs/EAs.
  • Review EISs, EAs, RODs, FONSIs for compliance with NEPA, the CEQ Regulations, and the agency implementing procedures.
  • Write high-quality EAs, FONSIs, Notice of Intent, EISs, and other environmental documents using approved NEPA, CEQ, agency, and GPO guidelines.
 

NEPA 6210 Clear Writing for NEPA Specialists         2 credits

This course will help participants learn how to identify the writing and editing requirements unique to NEPA documents including making graphics, writing chapters, and reviewing documents for accuracy. Participants will also practice interdisciplinary team skills as they relate to each phase of the analysis and documentation process.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Identify those writing and editing requirements unique to NEPA documents.
  • Practice interdisciplinary team skills as they relate to each phase of the analysis and documentation process.
  • Prepare high quality, well-edited NEPA documents.
 

NEPA 6220 Reviewing NEPA Documents         2 credits

The primary focus of this course is to learn how to review the full range of NEPA documents including Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Findings of No Significant Impacts (FONSIs), and Records of Decisions (RODs). Participants will concentrate on setting review priorities, reviewing for compliance with the law, reviewing for quality and readability, and preparing review comments.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Check for appropriate environmental analysis.
  • Set clear review priorities.
  • Use the CEQ format to guide document reviews.
  • Check for issue tracking and document consistency.
  • Check for document quality and readability.
  • Apply strategies for providing effective feedback.
 

NEPA 6230 Risk Communication for NEPA Specialists         2 credits

Strategies and Implementation
In this course, the participants will learn the meaning and application of risk communication and explore the full range of response communication, including developing a communication plan and strategy, standing before an audience, and responding to comments in writing. The course is interactive and is designed to build more effective planning and communication skills.
 

Student Competencies: 

  • Understand the fundamentals of risk communication.
  • Respond effectively in a low trust, high stress environment.
  • Understand how an effective communication strategy includes both internal and external communication.
  • Write clear, easy-to-understand, audience-based documents.
  • Build a clear, simple response to questions from the public and the media.
 

NEPA 6260 Cultural and Natural Resource Management         2 credits

The purpose of this course is to help students learn how to manage cultural and natural resources on public lands. It addresses the pertinent laws and associated executive orders and regulations pertaining to the preservation of these resources. In addition, it will look at how to integrate cultural and natural resources funding requirements into an environmental budget.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Manage the natural and cultural resources of your agency.
  • Understand the pertinent laws, and associated executive orders and regulations.
  • Integrate natural and cultural resources funding requirements with an environmental budget.
  • Request assistance of contractors, non-profit organizations, or other government agencies on cultural and natural resource issues.
 

Elective Courses - 3 semester credits

 

Participants are required to take three courses from the following list. Each of these courses consists of 2 instructional days, with additional time required to complete reading and examination assignments. Each course will be worth 1 semester credit.

 

NEPA 6270 Environmental Compliance Overview         1 credit

This course is designed to help participants understand why environmental compliance is not only desirable and necessary, but also a personal responsibility. It will identify key laws and regulations, with associated penalties that affect environmental compliance. The course also looks at the anticipated future of environmental programs.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Understand why environmental compliance is desirable, necessary, and a personal responsibility.
  • Identify key laws and regulations, with associated penalties, that affect environmental compliance.
  • Understand how key compliance issues are related to everyday activities.
  • Understand how a rigorous environmental compliance program can ensure awareness and long-term compliance.
 

NEPA 6280 Interdisciplinary Team Building         1 credit

The objectives of this course are to have participants: learn the general principals of interdisciplinary team (IDT) building; understand how information flows and how this can impact the success of a team; understand the importance of effective communication; and, facilitate an overall team approach to achieve credibility, manage change, and increase performance. Participants in the course will work as a team to apply principles learned to scenarios of day-to-day actions.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Choose or appoint an IDT leader and IDT members to satisfy legal requirements and the need for cooperative and constructive team members.
  • Develop jointly with the IDT a scoping document.
  • Negotiate, to the degree appropriate, the details of the scoping document with the responsible official.
  • Conduct IDT meetings.
  • Use sound review techniques.
  • Provide timely updates.
  • Record team meetings.
  • Arrange for feedback on the NEPA analysis process, documentation, and the IDT process.
 

NEPA 6300 Effective Environmental Contracting         1 credit

Participants in this course will develop an understanding of tools and techniques for efficient and effective management of contracts and contractors. Those working with environmental contractors will be able to design and write better statements of work (SOW), and establish and manage timelines and budgets.
 

Student Competencies: 

  • Understand the differences between a specification and a statement of work.
  • Apply the various methods of specifying.
  • Know the parts of the contract and how they fit together. Be familiar with the regulations that govern contracting.
  • Plan a SOW or Specification.
  • Draft and revise SOWs and specifications.
 

NEPA 6310 NEPA Writing for Technical Specialists         1 credit

This course is designed to teach participants how to use a “document management process” to become more efficient writers of NEPA documents. In this course, participants will learn: how and when to use various types of graphics; how to produce a working first draft of a NEPA document and conduct peer and managerial review sessions; the various levels of document revisions and how to select which level is appropriate; and, how to adapt their writing to different formats.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Analyze a writing situation.
  • Plan a document; Write effectively.
  • Manage the review process.
  • Edit their work and the work of others.
  • Write in a variety of media, including online.
 

NEPA 6320 Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Documentation         1 credit

This course has three main objectives: 1) to assist participants in developing a scoping and public involvement strategy that leads to a sound cumulative impact analysis; 2) to assess various impact methodologies as to their strengths and weaknesses in supporting the disclosure of impacts, especially cumulative impacts; and, 3) to teach participants how to record cumulative impact information in ways that support clear, legally sufficient EAs and EISs.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Understand the working definition of “cumulative impacts.”
  • Understand compliance requirements of full NEPA disclosure.
  • Develop a scoping and public involvement strategy for determining cumulative impacts.
  • Choose correct methodologies for determining impacts of specific resources.
  • Know how to place cumulative information into the various chapters of a NEPA document.
 

NEPA 6330 Environmental Conflict Management for NEPA Specialists         1 credit

This course is designed to train participants in environmental conflict negotiation and management. An introduction to the nature of public conflict and management styles will be taught. Specific issues relating to environmental negotiation will be discussed and appropriate approaches and techniques will be taught through hands-on training, role-plays and activities.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Understand the nature of conflicts and opportunities for negotiations
  • Understand traditional and current approaches to environmental management and policy making
  • Understand conflict management styles and situational effectiveness
  • Gain collaboration skills
  • Gain skills to enhance the decision-making process and handle potential conflict situations
 

NEPA 6350 Socio-economic Impact Analysis         1 credit

Students participating in this course will be taught how to conduct a social impact analysis (SIA) as an integral part of the NEPA process by using social science methods and tools to record, organize, and analyze data. The course will concentrate on helping students to identify scales of assessment and analysis, as well as how to use SIAs and assessments. Students will become familiar with the social environment, the varying data types and sources; as well as data collection strategies, data interpretation, and organization. Class discussions will include scoping (and the SIA’s fit), driving the proposed action to its social effects, and identifying significant social issues. Students will learn how to identify pertinent stakeholders and their positions. They will also learn to how to monitor social issues, and the importance of this monitoring. Criteria for selecting units of measure to monitor issues will also be established. The course is designed to be interactive, consisting of approximately 40% lecture and 60% hands on experience and exercises.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Identify, analyze and document social issues surrounding federal agencies’ proposed actions.
  • Inform decision-makers and the public of social effects of proposed federal agencies’ actions.
  • Incorporate SIA into the interdisciplinary process of preparing environmental documents.
 

NEPA 6360 Overview of the Endangered Species Act         1 credit

This course is designed to teach students about the requirements and procedures for complying with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, by reviewing the history of the law and the Section 7 consultation process and section 10 permit process. The course will look at the rational behind the passage of the ESA, including the importance of species diversity, and the history of lost species habitat. Students will also learn which agencies are responsible for enforcing the ESA, how they go about doing this, and the consequences to those who violate it, including potential civil and criminal penalties. In addition, the course will explore how the ESA coordination is handled with tribal governments and explain experimental populations and their designations as essential or nonessential.
 

Student Competencies:

  • Understand the ESA and its requirements and regulations.
  • Understand the implications if ESA is violated.
  • Know how to consult under section 7 of ESA, informally and formally.
  • Understand the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
  • Know how the ESA affects tribes and the Tribal Consultation requirements.
 

NEPA 6380 Managing NEPA Projects and Teams        1 credit

The course focuses on teaching students to be effective team leaders and members by understanding how to control the process of project and plan development.  Students will be introduced to various models on time management, project management, team management, and decision-making methods.  Students will also learn how to frame problems in such a way that they can more clearly identify alternative solutions and develop cause-and-effect models showing how their actions impact resources.

 

Student Competencies:

  • Use a model for managing NEPA projects.
  • Know critical quality control milestones for the NEPA process.
  • Judge the quality and adequacy of a NEPA document.
  • Know how to set resource, time, and quality parameters for NEPA analysis and documentation.
  • Know techniques for communicating with and managing people for efficient NEPA analysis.
  • Know what is important to manage and monitor for one NEPA project, or multiple projects.

 

NEPA 6390 NEPA Climate Change Analysis      1 credit

Students will be introduced to climate change in the NEPA analysis process. We will discuss the science of climate change, impacts in regard to green house gas emissions, as well as taking into account the effects of climate change on projects and the resources a project may impact.  Students learn to use various methods for analyzing impacts, and are exposed to several case studies, court decisions, and guidance on how to prepare legally adequate climate change analysis documents.

 

Student Competencies:

Understand basic climate change science and how it applys to NEPA documentation.

Understand key NEPA climate change court cases and rulings and how to prepare legally-sufficient analyses.

Ability to choose the most effective methods and analytical techniques for analyzing climate change impacts.

Recognize various mitigation strategies for addressing climate change impacts.

Create concise, legally defensible EAs and EISs that properly address climage change impacts.

 

NEPA 6370 NEPA Capstone         1 credit

After completing the course work, participants are required to complete a capstone experience before being awarded the NEPA Certificate. This experience will be individualized to each participant and will consist of a project reflecting the participant’s knowledge of NEPA, CEQ regulations, and the requirements of the Act. The actual capstone experience will be negotiated, based upon opportunities available at the time and preferences of the participant. The capstone experience will help USU to certify participants who receive the certificate have basic mastery of the material presented in the program course work. The capstone experience will be conducted under the direction of a faculty member affiliated with the program.

 

For information on the NEPA Certificate Program please contact:

 

Judy Kurtzman
Utah State University
Department of ENVS
5215 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-5215
435-797-0922
email Judy

 

NEPA Certificate Program Director: Joanna Endter-Wada

 

The NEPA Certificate Program courses may also be applied toward a Master’s of Natural Resources in Ecosystems Management, a 33-credit, nonthesis degree offered at USU through the College of Natural Resources . For more information on this degree program please go to the MNR website: Masters of Natural Resources  or contact Judy Kurtzman