Propel Solutions, a Mentor Protégé JV arrangement of Lynker and Axiom Consultants, is recruiting for the position of an ESA and NEPA Biologist. The successful candidate may be employed by either Lynker or Axiom. The NEPA Biologist is to support a contract with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) West Coast Region (WCR) California Coastal Office (CCO). This is a full-time position, and work may be completed remotely or onside at the NMFS office in Arcata, California. The position is anticipated to begin on September 13, 2024. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award.

The WCR CCO is signatory to the Shasta Safe Harbor Agreement (Shasta SHA), along with 14 landowners in the Shasta Valley within Siskiyou County California. The Shasta SHA is authorized by 14 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10 Enhancement of Survival Permits (ESPs) and a supporting ESA Section 7 consultation. The Shasta SHA is intended to promote the recovery of ESA-listed threatened Southern Oregon Northern California (SONNC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) on non-federal lands. In 2020, NMFS complied with NEPA by issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Following the issuance of the EA, Friends of Shasta River successfully challenged NMFS's NEPA analysis and the court required NMFS to issue an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ESPs supporting the Shasta SHA. As such, all of the ESPs require NEPA review and approval by NMFS for continued implementation of restoration of coho salmon habitat on non-federal lands in the Shasta Valley. The NMFS review and determination processes require completion of several effects evaluation and determination documents consistent with ESA and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The documents provide comprehensive scientific evaluations of listed fish effects associated with proposed restoration activities and routine land-use activities.

NMFS lacks sufficient capacity to perform scientific writing and analyses required to complete ESA and NEPA effects evaluation and determination documents for the many hatchery genetic management plans (HGMPs) submitted by the State of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the tribes. Therefore, NMFS seeks support to help draft sections of ESA and NEPA documents and review and edit sections produced by others so that the sections meet regulatory requirements. The selected candidate will work with NMFS staff to perform scientific evaluations and writing to complete draft and final versions of NEPA EIS required for the ESPs under the Shasta SHA. The selected candidate will also assist revising draft versions of the documents prior to their finalization based on internal NMFS review, and review by the general public, Tribes and state agencies.

Tasks

• Draft and complete NEPA and determination documents for the Shasta SHA
• Edit draft versions of NEPA sections reviewed by NMFS staff and prepare them for review within the West Coast Region, the co-managers, and the general public.
• Respond to comments on the NEPA documents provided via internal review, by the co-managers, and/or by the general public.

Deliverables

EIS and ESA documents preparation

• Using the EIS and ESA document formats and approaches supplied by NMFS, and as guided by the Project Leader, compile information, provide analyses, draft materials for review, and perform revisions to the EISs and ESA documents.
  • Provide drafts EISs or final EISs, and front and end materials including lists of acronyms, glossary, summary, tables of contents/tables/figures/appendices, references, and index, to NMFS Project Leader and/or staff for review and revision.
  • Write NMFS documents that are organized logically, flow smoothly, are free of errors, are concise, support a central point, and are delivered within the required timeframes. Contractor will also revise versions of NEPA documents that address internal, co-manager, and the general public concern in a timely manner.

Document review, QA/QC, word processing, and production

• Using NMFS NEPA style guides, provide technical and QA/QC reviews of EIS documents, provide word processing of draft and revised documents following NMFS internal review, and compile finished EIS documents for NMFS clearance.
  • Reviewed and formatted documents submitted to NMFS for final editing/revision/approval.
• Each document shall have a unique time frame and be due in a timely manner.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree plus five (5) years of relevant experience.

• Experience working with NEPA.
• Experience preparing EISs.
• Knowledge of salmon and steelhead life history and the ESA.

The selected candidate for this position will work up to 40 hours per week. Travel is anticipated for this role for several day trips for technical collaboration and check-ins.

We request that you include a cover letter with your application.