AEP Central Chapter Events

Renewable Energy – Environmental Issues and Local Jurisdiction Initiatives (Wednesday, May 22, 2013)

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

With the State of California mandate that 33 percent of electricity be generated from renewables by 2020, new applications for solar development are arriving in planning departments in record number throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Kern County’s natural resources, streamlined county process, and commitment of the Board of Supervisors to both environmental protection and growth in the energy sector, has resulted in Kern County as a center of renewable energy production in California. Kern County’s Planning and Community Development Director, Lorelei H. Oviatt will discuss Kern County’s unique practices and policies that have facilitated large scale renewable energy projects while ensuring environmental compatibility.

Al Solis, AICP will discuss the challenges faced in solar land acquisitions and permitting. He will also discuss environmental challenges in solar development, such as protecting endangered species, as well as the sensitive issue of developing solar facilities on agriculture land.

Speakers: Lorelei H. Oviatt, AICP, Director – Kern County Planning and Community Development and Al Solis, AICP, Principal Sol Development Group

A South of the Border Dinner Buffet will be served.

Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Time: 5:30 PM – Networking, 6:00-7:30 PM - Program and Dinner

Location: Padre Hotel in Bakersfield

Cost: Free for members, $25 for non-members, $5 for student non-members.

1 AICP-CM pending

Directions: http://binged.it/X94aFz

Streamlining Environmental Compliance and Permitting - How to Expedite Environmental Permitting (Thursday, June 27, 2013)

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Environmental compliance for projects in California can require months to years for environmental review followed by months and potentially years of permitting. Additionally, mitigation requirements by regulatory agencies can cause design changes with significant schedule and cost implications. By integrating the permitting process with the environmental reviews required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), project proponents can optimize the benefits of the public review process and minimize the time, cost, and surprises that may arise during permitting. Serge Stanich, Director, Regulatory Compliance at FirstCarbon Solutions will provide an overview of the permitting process and provide proven strategies for quickly securing environmental permits for your projects.

Join us for a permit streamlining event in Fresno. The discussion will include ways to streamline CEQA with permits from agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Fish and Wildlife, etc.

Location: Old Spaghetti Factory, Fresno

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2013 from 11:30 - 1:00 PM

Cost: Free for members, $20 for non-members, $5 for student non-members

Serge Stanich, Director, Regulatory Compliance at FirstCarbon Solutions, has been securing environmental permits for public infrastructure and private development projects for over 18 years in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Assisting public and private clients in developing strategies for compliance with environmental regulations and managing environmental resources such as natural communities, wetlands and water quality, threatened and endangered species and cultural resources, Serge has secured dozens of permit packages for various complex and controversial projects including flood control, fiber optic installation, residential and commercial development, vineyards, aggregate, and transportation projects. Overseeing FirstCarbon Solutions Regulatory Compliance practice area, Serge coordinates permits throughout California and works with district and regional staff of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service as well as offices of the Coastal Commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. If you have a controversial project with an aggressive schedule and limited funding that may be litigated, Serge will assist in getting it successfully permitted and constructed.

1 AICP-CM pending Event Number: #e.23870

Contact Kristine Johnson at kristinej@fresnofloodcontrol.org or 559-456-3292 with any questions.

Directions:

http://binged.it/ucAghM

Photography Workshop for Point and Shoot Cameras (Thursday, August 15, 2013)

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Join us for a photography workshop dedicated to point and shoot cameras. This workshop is perfect for people who take photos for environmental documents. We'll meet at the classroom at Scout Island for an introduction to photography and then move outdoors to take some pictures. Be sure to bring your camera.

Date: Thursday August 15, 2013

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Location: Scout Island (Directions)

Speaker: Kelly Petersen, Commercial Photographer

Cost: Members - Free, Non-Members - $25, Student Non-Members $5

Eastern Slope Conference (Thursday, September 26, 2013)

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Join us for a CEQA/NEPA conference in Mammoth, CA. The Central Chapter will offer a half day CEQA Basics Workshop, a half day Advanced CEQA Workshop and a half day NEPA Workshop. We'll also have two Mobile Workshops offered Saturday morning. The first option is a photography class to help professionals learn to frame up the best photos with a basic point and shoot camera. The other option is a fly fishing workshop.

We'd also like to invite you to meet up on Thursday evening for a mixer and on Friday evening for dinner. These meals are not included in the cost of workshop.

The workshop fees include the CEQA Workshops, the NEPA Workshop, the Mobile Workshop options, Continental Breakfast on Friday and Saturday and the Keynote Luncheon on Friday.

Schedule

Thursday, Sept 26, 2013

1:00 - 5:00 pm Advanced CEQA Workshop

6:30 - 8:00 pm Optional Mixer

Friday, Sept 27, 2013

7:00 - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast

8:00 - 12:00 am NEPA Workshop

12:00 - 1:30 pm Keynote Luncheon

1:30 - 5:00 pm CEQA Basics Workshop

6:00 - 7:30 pm Optional Dinner at Novato's

Saturday, Sept 28, 2013

7:00 - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast

8:00 - 11:00 am Mobile Workshop

Cost

Members - $50

Non-Members - $75

Students - $30

Conference + Membership - $190

Hotel

The Conference will be held in the Westin Monache Resort in Mammoth Lakes, CA. The hotel has rooms reserved for us at $169 per night.

Speakers

Speakers have not been confirmed. More details will be available soon.

11 AICP-CM pending

Sponsorships and Exhibitor Booths are available for this event. For more details click here or contact Kristine Johnson at kristinej@fresnofloodcontrol.org or 559.456.3292.