Environmental Review - Statewide Program and Contacts

The statewide program is staffed by professional planners with environmental review expertise in a variety of natural resource areas. Examples include environmental assessment of projects proposals such as fish and wildlife habitat improvements, recreational trails and campgrounds, energy transmission and production, hydropower activities, mining, and work affecting public waters.

Statewide program staff prepare Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAWs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for projects where the DNR is the responsible governmental unit (RGU) and has been designated through the Environmental Quality Board rules to prepare the documents for public review.  Staff specialists also process responses to requests for Natural Heritage Information System data reviews, for small and large project proposals.

 

Contacts:

 

Environmental review program direction.

Jill Townley
Environmental Review Unit Supervisor

651-259-5168

Environmental review planning director for DNR RGU projects, statewide issues, intra-agency coordination and inter-agency coordination. DNR's technical representative to the EQB. Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Kate Fairman

Environmental Review Operations Lead

651-259-5082

Environmental review planning director for mining projects. Coordination with federal and tribal agencies for mining projects when DNR is RGU. Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Bill Johnson
Environmental Review Mining Lead

651-259-5126

Statewide review coordinator for energy projects. Main point of contact for solar, wind, transmission and pipe lines. Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Cynthia Warzecha
Energy Projects Review

651-259-5078

Statewide review coordinator for energy projects. Main point of contact for hydropower. Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Energy Projects Review
Vacant (please contact Jill Townley, Unit Supervisor)

 

Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Scott Ek
Environmental Review Planner

651-259-5723

Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Michaela Leach
Environmental Review Planner

651-259-5723

Preparation of environmental review documents when DNR is the RGU.

Becky Horton
Environmental Review Planner

651-259-5122

Coordinates NHIS data requests and reviews environmental documents for rare features information.

Lisa Joyal
Endangered Species Environmental Review Coordinator

651-259-5109

Processes NHIS data requests to identify rare features and generates response letters to document results of data requests.

Jim Drake
NHIS Review Specialist

651-259-5091