Position Summary:
The position is located in the Office Environment and Project Engineering Division, Office of Railroad Policy and Development (RPO), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in Washington, D.C. You will serve as Environmental Protection Specialist, performing and managing routine environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or for the National Historic Preservation Act for FRA grant programs and actions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitors developments in environmental policy, intercity passenger rail, and freight rail and supports FRA teams performing operating, financial, and policy analyses to assess strategic options for the continued provision of railroad service in the United States.
- Performs and manage environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or National Historic Preservation Act for FRA grant programs and actions. Ensure that environmental policy and compliance obligations are satisfied in the planning, developing, and implementing intercity passenger and freight rail programs. Participate on behalf of FRA on Departmental committees, initiatives, and studies related to environmental or historic preservation issues.
- Reviews and prepare comments on draft environmental documents prepared by other agencies. Represent FRA in State and local rail planning meetings, site visits, and public hearings with State and local partners, private industry partners and the public. Work individually or with higher-graded staff on projects and may serve as a team member on some projects.
- Supports activities of the Office of Railroad Policy and Development that may include: providing technical assistance to states, railroads and other entities planning rail projects or services, administering grants and loans to Amtrak and other railroads or State and local governments, and assessing the project readiness of rail applications for FRA and DOT grant programs.
- Advises grantees in the preparation of passenger (including high-speed) rail planning, service analysis, and investments. Review project documentation and provide guidance to grantees both orally and in writing.
Required Education & Experience:
- Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
- You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
- You must meet specialized experience to qualify.
- Experience in evaluating buildings, structures, districts, archaeological sites, and/or objects for historic significance by applying the National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria. Experience assisting with consultation pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA by authoring portions of Section 106 compliance documents such as eligibility determinations, cultural resources identification reports, and/or assessment of effects reports; OR Experience ensuring that NEPA and related laws are satisfied in the planning, development, and implementation of federally-funded, permitted or authorized projects. Experience leading preparation and/or oversight of Categorical Exclusions and associated environmental documents. Experience assisting in the review and analysis of impact assessments and analyses, and prepared correspondence on project-related environmental issues.
- Comprehensive Knowledge of the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related laws such as the National Historic Preservation Act; US DOT Transportation Act, Section 4(f); Title 23, Environmental regulations; Clean Air Act as amended and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice.