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Environment Courses

National Highway Institute

Course Title: Functional Assessment of Wetlands

Course Number: 142018

Sponsoring Organization: National Highway Institute

Course Description: This course provides an introduction to assessing wetlands impacts and mitigation planning based on Hydro geomorphic principles of wetlands analysis. A brief overview of recent changes in wetland regulation is included. The course is comprised of both classroom and field exercises. The classroom and field are used to demonstrate the wetlands assessment and analysis techniques presented in the course, including wetland regulations, wetland ecology, and mitigation planning.

Course objectives include:

• Recognizing requirements and basic principles for regulatory compliance, wetlands impact assessment and mitigation under NEPA and Section 404, Clean Water Act, including the 404 b (1) guidelines
• Identifying different wetland types, becoming familiar with common definitions, delineations requirements, and wetlands classification, including the USFWA and HGM classifications
• Describing the common ecology functions of wetlands
• Identifying the essentials of functional assessment of wetlands and characteristics of a wetland associated with various functions
• Interpreting field observations of wetland conditions relative to functions and societal values;
• Reviewing Wetlands Assessments for NEPA compliance and 404 permit applications; performing a wetlands assessment based on Hydro geomorphic principles
• Performing (for biologists) Wetlands Assessment for NEPA compliance, 404 permit applications, and mitigation projects; recognizing the Hydro geomorphic Functional (HGM) Assessment methodology
• Demonstrating (for biologists) functional assessments of wetlands for alternatives analysis and selection for impact assessment according to principles of HGM, EPW, and WET
• Applying (for biologists) HGM, WET, EPW methods to planning and development of wetland mitigation projects; and identifying principles, approaches and policies for compensatory mitigation, including wetland banking and in lieu fee plans. (CEUs: 2.4)

Target Audience: State DOT personnel who have professional/technical responsibilities relating to managing wetlands and impacts in a transportation environment. Other Federal, State, local government and industry personnel with related responsibilities may be permitted to attend on a space available basis.

Attendance Restrictions: Participants need at least one of the following:

• Experience in the highway project development process
• Experience in highway project planning and design
• Experience in natural resources regulation and management
• Experience in ecological assessment and mitigation design

A basic understanding of Federal regulations concerning wetlands will be helpful.

Course Length: 4 Days

Course Fee: $345

Contact Information:
Lynn Cadarr
National Highway Institute
4600 North Fair
Fax Drive, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: (703) 235-0528
Fax: (703) 235-0593
E-mail: lynn.cadarr@fhwa.dot.gov
Website: www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

Keywords: Environment

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Course Title: Rights-of-Way Habitat Management

Course Number: TEC7179

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Course Description: Developed by Fish and Wildlife Service biologists managing utility corridors with input from utility industry representatives and the Edison Electric Institute, this course provides an overview of the various methods, costs, and impacts of vegetation control and habitat enhancement on utility corridors. The course includes case study presentations from Federal land managers and industry representatives on actual partnerships to manage right- of-way habitats in meeting both utility and local conservation objectives. (College credit: 1 semester hour)

Target Audience: Federal, State, and private conservation/refuge land managers, biologists, and others involved with the management of habitats bisected by utility corridors

Attendance Restrictions: None

Course Length: 2 days/16 hours

Course Fee: $300 ($380 with computer lab)

Contact Information:
Glenn Gravatt
Registrar, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Conservation Training Center
Route 1, Box 166
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Phone: (304) 876-7456
(304) 876-7200
Fax: (304) 876-7202
E-mail: robert_hiller@fws.gov
nctc_registrar@fws.gov
Website: www.training.fws.gov

Keywords: Environment