Consultants

John Hecht, PE

President

With 29 years in the petroleum and environmental consulting fields, John’s recent focus has been on land use planning and new facility development projects. He has extensive experience and knowledge of the mining industry, including community and public agency relations for planning and permitting of mining and industrial operations. John’s extensive knowledge of the technical and political aspects associated with the permitting of these industries makes him a key player in oversight of these complex projects.

Education:
Professional Degree, Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines
B.S. Electrical Engineering, Valparaiso University

Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Registered Environmental Assessor

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Rob Dal Farra, PE, REA

Vice President

Rob has 29 years of experience covering numerous areas in the environmental consulting field, most recently focused on air quality and GHG emissions, NPDES permitting, water quality issues and environmental compliance, management and auditing.

Education:
BASc Chemical Engineering, University of Windsor

Registrations:
Professional Chemical Engineer
Registered Environmental Assessor

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Joe King, PE, REA, CPESC, QSD

Vice President

With over 20 years of environmental and safety compliance experience, Joe is well versed in these areas and applying them to a wide variety of industries. His specialties include air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and worker safety. In addition to extensive experience as a consultant, he has also worked on the industry side as the EH&S Manager for a high tech R&D and manufacturing firm.

Education:
Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of California, Los Angeles
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Registered Environmental Assessor
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control
Qualified SWPPP Developer
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner

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Maya Rohr

Project Manager

Maya is a mechanical engineer with over 28 years of experience in the air quality, hazardous waste/materials, CEQA/NEPA and the management/coordination of overall project approval, compliance and permitting requirements. She specializes in multimedia environmental compliance issues for mining, oil & gas, TSDFs, railroads and other general industrial facilities. Her compliance and permitting experience includes meeting the needs for large complex military facilities, international hazardous waste treatment projects, highly controversial projects as well as a large range of industrial facilities. She works closely with legal counsel and has given numerous presentations at public hearings/meetings. She is actively involved in agency/industrial task forces to develop and/or revise environmental regulations.

Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, San Diego
B.S. Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A. Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara

Affiliations:
California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA)
Industrial Environmental Association (IEA)
Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)
Women in Mining (WIM)
Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA)

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Sandy Smith

Land Use Consultant

In his role as Land Use Consultant, Sandy Smith is responsible for providing strategic analysis and counseling, comprehensive land use planning and project planning and entitlement, and public hearing strategy development and representation- at the local and state levels. In addition, Sandy has years of experience as a facilitator and mediator- specializing in collaborative community problem solving, neighborhood design and land use dispute resolution.

Education:
Masters in Public Policy and Administration, California Lutheran University
Clear Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, University of California, Santa Barbara
B.S. Psychology, California State University, Sonoma

Affiliations:

Ventura County Civic Alliance
Ventura County Economic Development Association
Compact for a Sustainable Ventura County
HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Easier)

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Scott D. Cohen, PE, CIH

Project Manager

Scott’s areas of experience include environmental health and safety (EHS), compliance and land use planning / environmental review for industrial and municipal clientele. Technical air quality, greenhouse gases, noise, fugitive dust, health risk assessment, mining, construction, CEQA/NEPA, and industrial hygiene are some of the technical services that Scott can offer.

Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

Registrations:
Professional Mechanical Engineer
Certified Industrial Hygienist

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Jane Farkas

Project Manager

Jane is a land use planner specializing in permitting large industrial mining/aggregate-related projects throughout California. CEQA/NEPA, reclamation plans, US Army Corps of Engineers (UACOE), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and related permitting is often required. Jane has taken projects from the conceptual project planning phase through the building permit issuance phase, the culmination of years of work, coordination of exhaustive studies, and public outreach and meetings.

Education:
B.A. Urban Studies and Planning, California State University, Northridge

Affiliations:
California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)
American Planning Association (APA)
Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP)
Women in Mining (WIM)

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Doug Mason

Project Manager

Doug is a geologist and land use planning specialist focusing on permitting and technical support for heavy industrial activities including; mining, various aggregate/construction materials related industries, and oil & gas exploration and production. During Doug’s 15 years of professional experience he has worked with local, regional and federal governmental agencies to obtain various permits including Section 404 and 401 permits from the UACOE and RWQCB, Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements from the Department of Fish and Game, and complex industrial building permits from local building and safety permitting authorities. He also prepares surface mining and reclamation plans and financial assurance calculations and annual reports as required by the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (SMARA).

Education:
B.S. Geology, Southern Utah University

Affiliations:
California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA)

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Heather O'Connell, PE, QSD

Project Manager

Heather O'Connell is a registered Civil Engineer.

Education:
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Texas El Paso

Registrations:
Professional Civil Engineer
Qualified SWPPP Developer
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner

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Mike Biedebach, REA, CAC

Project Manager

An environmental consultant for 17 years, Mike’s areas of expertise include environmental site assessment (Phase I, II, III), asbestos inspections, facility closure plans, stormwater, water quality permitting and reporting, and related services.

Education:
B.A. Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara

Registrations:
Registered Environmental Assessor
CalOSHA Certified Asbestos Consultant

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Garrett Zuleger, PE

Engineer II

Garrett is a professional chemical engineer who has been working in the environmental field since 2005. He specializes in technical projects related to air quality analysis, air permitting, health risk assessment, climate change/greenhouse gasses, noise impact assessment, indoor air exposure assessment, and noise exposure assessment. Garrett also has experience with various compliance issues relating to air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, indoor air quality, indoor noise, and safety.

Education:
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles

Registrations:
Professional Chemical Engineer

Affiliations:
Air and Waste Management Association
Western States Petroleum Association
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Hazard Communication Standard Revised
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