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). You will serve as Environmental Protection Specialist, leading and managing complex environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or for the National Historic Preservation Act for FRA grant programs and actions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitor 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.
- Review 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.
- Advise 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.
- Perform and manage complex 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.
- Lead 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.
Required Education & Experience:
- Experience leading the evaluation of environmental aspects of transportation infrastructure project impacts in such areas 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.
- Experience evaluating buildings, structures, districts, sites (e.g. archaeological sites), and/or objects for historic significance by applying the National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria. Experience leading routine consultations pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, including reviewing or preparing, as the primary author, Section 106 compliance documents such as National Register of Historic Places eligibility determinations, cultural resources identification reports, and assessment of effects reports. Experience with the development and/or implementation of at least one Memorandum of Agreement and/or Programmatic Agreement.
- Experience leading the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws, regulations or policy. Experience planning, analyzing impacts, coordinating and executing major components of environmental studies for federally-funded, permitted or authorized transportation projects.
- You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify