Speakers

Michael Bontje

Michael Bontje B. Laing Associates
Mr. Bontje has been a practicing wetlands and mitigation scientist for more than 38 years. For NYCEDC, he has been involved in marine habitat assessment, and in permitting and mitigation for the New York Yankees Minor league baseball stadium in Staten Island and the Bush Terminal inter-pier solid waste fill in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. For other clients, Mr. Bontje has been involved in impact assessment, mitigation, restoration construction and permitting in New York City and throughout Long Island. Mr. Bontje is not only familiar with planning and permitting of freshwater and tidal systems, but has also been involved in their construction and monitoring. He has delineated or reviewed projects in both freshwater and tidal situations. Successfully completed mitigation sites range from a 0.25 acre tidal wetland site in Staten Island; an 8.0 acre freshwater site in Rockland County, New York; and a 3.2 acre freshwater site in Waterbury, Connecticut; to a 158 acre tidal wetland site in Bergen County, New Jersey. He is known for both creative and cost effective problem solving. Mr. Bontje is certified by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) as a wetland delineator (#WDCP94MD031301333). He is also a certified professional in soil erosion and sediment control (CPESC #5347) and a certified professional in storm water quality (CPSWQ #0578).

Danna Cuneo

Danna Cuneo, Wetland Scientist, B. Laing Associates
 Ms. Cuneo has been a practicing wetland scientist for fifteen years.  She has attended numerous training courses and worked for B. Laing Associates, Inc. for this entire period.  She has delineated well over 150 freshwater and tidal wetland projects.  This includes having participated in the modeling, mitigation design, permitting, construction and monitoring of wetland mitigation systems.  In addition, she has analyzed numerous air quality projects from a quantitative and qualitative view point.   Ms. Cuneo is  a Project Manger in her own right but can also provide the first level of back up to Mr. Bontje in fulfilling your proposed project.  She is also a Certified Professional in Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC #8145). Ms. Cuneo’s resume can be released upon request. 

Greg Fleischer

Greg FleischerCapital Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Mr. Fleischer is the founder and principal of Capital Environmental Consultants, Inc. He is an environmental scientist and professional wetland scientist with more than 15 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. Mr. Fleischer has conducted wetland and ecological investigations at properties throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and the Lower and Mid-Hudson Valley. His areas of expertise include all aspects of federal, state, and local wetland analysis including freshwater and tidal delineation, specializing in comprehensive determinations for routine, atypical, and problem wetlands. Mr. Fleischer has extensive experience developing solutions and providing strategic advice for a wide range of clients and projects. He holds a BS degree in Biology from SUNY New Paltz and an MS degree in Environmental Science from Pace University.

Devin McDougall

Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.

Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.
Mr. McDougall is an attorney with Sive, Paget and Riesel, a boutique environmental law firm in New York City. He has extensive experience advising clients on federal and state wetlands issues, both in New York City and upstate, and has lectured widely on these topics. He has worked on guiding clients through permitting and enforcement processes and also represented clients in litigation over federal and state wetlands permits and environmental impact review involving wetlands. He holds a J.D. degree from Columbia Law School and B.A. and M.A. degrees from McGill University.