Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.

Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before the start time.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024
8:30 am – 4:00 pm CST

 

Wetland Science
Presented by: Michael Macalus

  • Defining wetlands and identifying different types
    • Wetland soils and vegetation
    • Wetland hydrology
  • Environmental services provided by wetlands

Wetland History in the United States: Systematic Destruction and Degradation
Presented by: Austin Scarborough

  • The historic view of wetlands: wastelands
  • Wetland elimination in service of agriculture and development
  • Turning the corner: the Clean Water Act of 1972
  • National Food Security Act of 1985
  • State wetlands initiatives
  • Evolution of wetlands over time

Wetland Mitigation: Objectives and Processes
Presented by: Autry Akins

  • Purpose of wetland mitigation
  • Wetland mitigation mechanisms
    • Wetland restoration
    • Wetland enhancement
    • Wetland preservation
  • Mitigation options

Wetland Mitigation Banking
Presented by: Victoria K. Bruce

  • Wetland mitigation banking process
  • Service areas and sponsors
  • Regulatory compliance

State In-Lieu Fee Programs
Presented by: Chelsea Keefer

  • State In-Lieu fee program overviews
  • In-lieu fee mitigation projects
  • Funding for restoration projects
  • Mitigation by purchasing in-lieu credits

Permittee Responsible Mitigation
Presented by: Amy Daly

  • Parameters of acceptable projects
  • Draft compensation site plan
  • Submittal requirements
  • Conservation easement
  • Case studies

 

Webinar Instructions

All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)

Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled.

Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps       Hardware: 2GB RAM or more

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

Engineers
6.5 PDHS

Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours

AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.5 HSW LUs

Landscape Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours

LACES - Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
6.5 HSW PDHS

Attorneys
8.0 CLE Hours (FL), 6.5 CLE Hours (CA), 6.5 CLE Hours (VT) 6.5 CLE Hours (CT)

Floodplain Managers
6.5 ASFPM CECs

APA/AICP - American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners
6.5 CM

 

Continuing Education Credit Information

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers, 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects, and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for landscape architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300) and North Carolina (S-0130). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.

The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.

This webinar has been approved by the Florida Bar for basic-level 8.0 general CLE credits.

This approval qualifies the webinar for CLE credit in Connecticut.

HalfMoon Education is an approved Multiple Activity Provider with the State Bar of California (Provider Number 8370).

HalfMoon Education is an accredited CLE sponsor in Vermont.

This Association of State Floodplain Managers has approved this course for 6.5 CECs for floodplain managers.

HalfMoon Education is an approved CM Provider with the American Planning Association. This course is registered for CM | 6.5 for Certified Planners.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

On-Demand Credits

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format may not be eligible for the same credits as the live presentation; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:

6.5 HSW LUs (AIA)
6.5 HSW PDHs (LA CES)
6.5 ASFPM CECs

Speakers

Autry Akins, PWS

Senior Scientist/Project Manager Geosyntec Consultants

Mr. Akins has provided technical work on a variety of projects throughout the Gulf coast area performing numerous wetland delineations, threatened/endangered species surveys and monitoring, successfully obtaining many US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404/10 and Coastal Zone permits, overseeing mitigation/restoration projects, and managing projects from conception and scoping through permit issuance. He is experienced in working with industrial and energy clients throughout the Gulf Coast to navigate natural resources regulatory framework and meet their project needs. 

Victoria K. Bruce

CEO of The Mitigation Banking Group, Inc.

Ms. Bruce has over 19 years of sales and marketing experience serving Florida’s mitigation banking credit industry. Her vast background in the wetland mitigation and habitat conservation banks industry has designated her as one of Florida’s most sought-after mitigation bank sales brokers. Mrs. Bruce is passionate about partnering with mitigation bankers, environmental consultants and developers to aid in the mitigation process. She is responsible for developing and implementing strategies and forecasts that support existing relationships with industry partners and promote future growth for the industry.

Amy Daly, LEED AP

Director of Environmental Services

Ms. Daly is the Director of Environmental Services. She is a Shareholder, Principal Scientist and Director of Environmental Services for CPH Consulting, LLC, a full-service A&E firm. Ms. Daly assists clients with navigating the regulatory world to obtain approvals for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, water & wastewater treatment plant projects with state, federal and local governments. She develops and implements permitting strategies to address wetlands, threatened and endangered species, water quality and industrial discharges. Additional areas of expertise include design, permitting, implementation and monitoring of mitigation banks and traditional mitigation projects. Ms. Daly has 31 years of experience working on projects in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, New England and Puerto Rico. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Business Administration.

Chelsea Keefer

Restoration Biologist with the Stream + Wetlands Foundation

Ms. Keefer, MS has been a restoration biologist for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) since June 2020, and she has eight years of experience working in the natural resources field. She is responsible for preparing and overseeing coordination of S+W’s mitigation project submittals to the Interagency Review Team. During her time at S+W, she has been instrumental in the submission and approval of over 20 in-lieu fee (ILF), mitigation bank, and permitee responsible projects. To date, the S+W ILF program is fully in compliance with all its advance credit sales obligations. Prior to joining the S+W team, Ms. Keefer worked for a northeast Ohio environmental consulting firm where she primarily worked on mitigation projects. She also worked at two different environmental test laboratories performing soil and water analyses using sophisticated equipment. During her formal education, she conducted a rigorous research study in native species revegetation and seed ecology. Ms. Keefer published her findings as the primary author of a peer reviewed research paper that appeared in the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.

Michael Macalus

Environmental Technician at WHM Solutions LLC

Mr. Macalus is an Environmental Technician that performs multiple services for Environmental Permitting and Wetland and Watercourse Delineations. Throughout his career he has performed habitat, vegetation, and wildlife surveys throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Maine. He specializes in aquatic ecology and has a passion for the conservation and preservation of the aquatic resources that affect us every day.

Austin T. Scarborough

Associate at Young / Sommer LLC in Albany, NY

Mr. Scarborough’s practice focuses on energy, environmental, and land use law. He also represents clients in projects involving Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) remediation and litigation, brownfield redevelopment, wetlands, and the protection of endangered species. Mr. Scarborough provides counsel on matters such as environmental compliance, due diligence, and permit approval. He has also worked with solar, wind and battery storage developers to obtain the necessary permits for renewable projects in New York.

AIA Info

AIA Provider Statement:

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

Course Title: Wetlands Mitigation Law and Procedure

Delivery Method: Live Online

Course Description: This 6.5-hour course explores wetland mitigation laws, requirements, options and procedures. The course begins with an explanation of wetland science, hydrology and environmental benefits and a summation of the history of wetlands in the United States, particularly their destruction and degradation. The course then dives deep into wetland mitigation laws and rules (Clean Water Act Section 404 and EPAs 2008 Rules) and compares mitigation options, including enhancement, restoration and creation. The course then explores wetland mitigation banking processes, state in-lieu fee programs, and permitting parameters and requirements.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to identify and define wetlands by their soils and vegetation and explain the environmental services provided by wetlands.

Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to analyze the Clean Water Act Section 404 requirements and the EPA’s 2008 expansion “including more comprehensive standards for compensatory mitigation.”

Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to consider the benefits and consequences of enhancement, restoration, creation and preservation as strategies of compliance.

Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to identify the parameters of permittable projects and discuss draft compensation site plans, submittal requirements and conservation easements.

LUs: 6.5                                                                                              LU Type: LU|HSWs.

Prerequisites: Experience with site planning

Advance Preparation: None

Program Level: Intermediate

Course Expiration Date: 02/15/2027

Complaint Resolution Policy:

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.