National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPA is the national law for protection of the environment. It was enacted to ensure that information regarding the environmental impacts of federal actions is available to public officials and citizens before federal decisions are made. The NEPA process requires federal agencies to work together with state, local and tribal governments; public and private organizations; and the public. The NEPA process applies to NDOT actions using federal funds or requiring a federal approval. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) are the NEPA documents most likely used to document the environmental impacts of larger transportation projects. 

NDOT has the authority from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to approve certain projects using a Categorical Exclusion.

Mary Taitano
Environmental Services Manager

Mary Taitano supervises the Social Sciences Section of the Environmental Services Division. She is NDOT's NEPA manager. As NEPA manager, she is a member of many project management teams that ensure NEPA requirements are fulfilled on all federally funded projects. She reviews environmental documents to make sure they comply with NEPA, FHWA, state and local laws. She also ensures that all NEPA required public meetings and hearings meet or exceed state and federal guidelines.

Community Impacts

Community Impact Analysis focuses on what effects transportation projects might have on:

• Communities and neighborhoods
• Types of land uses
• Social service facilities
• Park and recreation facilities 
• Commuting and travel patterns
• Business access and development
• Local and regional economies and many other areas of interest or concern to people

In particular, public participation throughout the NEPA process raises concerns about the effects a project would have on noise levels, air and water quality, open space, property and other "quality of life" issues. Information on NDOT meetings and hearings can be found here.

Mike Cook
Environmental Scientist III

Biology

From the desert tortoise in Southern Nevada to the endemic Steamboat buckwheat plant in Northern Nevada, NDOT biologists work to minimize and mitigate the impacts of transportation projects on Nevada’s ecosystems. Tasks performed by NDOT biologists include:

• Overseeing the construction of deer and desert tortoise fencing
• Conducting vegetation and wildlife surveys
• Serving as departmental subject matter experts and providing guidance to reduce wildlife-vehicle conflicts
• Ensuring project compliance with environmental laws
• Performing wetland delineations
• Implementing noxious weed control measures

NDOT biologists ensure that NDOT projects follow federal and state regulations concerning aquatic areas, vegetation and wildlife. The Biology Section consults with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service under Section 7 and Section 10 guidelines of the Endangered Species Act.

Karin West
Biology Program Manager

Wildlife Crossing Program

Nova Simpson
Wildlife Crossing Program Manager

Southern Nevada

Kristi Holcomb
Southern Nevada Biological Supervisor

Glen Church
Environmental Scientist III

Ryan Hampshire
Environmental Scientist III  

Northern Nevada

Jozo Vujeva
Northern Nevada Biological Supervisor

Sabra Gilbert-Young
Environmental Scientist III

Chris Young, RPA
Chief, Environmental Services Program

Chris Young started his tenure with the Nevada Department of Transportation in 2001 as an archaeologist. In 2009, he became a NEPA coordinator and eventually NDOT's NEPA manager. He has managed all aspects of the program since 2019. He began his career working for the Desert Research Institute as an undergraduate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before working for the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and received a master’s degree in anthropology from Washington State University, Pullman.