Natural and Social Sciences
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
The National Environmental Policy Act is a federal law enacted by Congress in 1969. It is the umbrella under which different types of environmental studies are conducted to determine the impacts a proposed project may have on people (the human-made environment), “bugs and bunnies” (the natural environment), and “bones and stones” (prehistoric and historic cultural resources). The NEPA process relates to many other federal, state and local environmental laws intended to protect, preserve, improve, or create natural and human environments.
Currently we have four new Environmental Assessments available for southern Nevada - Clark county area and specifically portions of I-15, Lake Mead Parkway, and US 95.
See NDOT's public meeting schedule.
Image: National Environmental Policy Act decisions are a result of a process that involves research, public involvement and coordination with other agencies.
Bios and Contact Information
Daniel Nollsch – Environmental Services Supervisor
B.A., Sociology, University of Nevada, Reno
Daniel supervises the Natural and Social Sciences section of the Environmental Services Division. He is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Coordinator for the division. As NEPA coordinator, he is a member of many project management teams that make sure NEPA requirements are fulfilled on all federally funded projects. He reviews environmental documents to make sure they meet NEPA, Federal Highway Association, state and local laws. He also ensures that all NEPA required public meetings and hearings meet or exceed the state and federal guidelines established by the Federal Highway Administration and National Environmental Policy Act. Daniel started working for the Nevada Highway Department (later, NDOT) in 1968.
Contact information:
Telephone: (775) 888-7687
Email: mnollsch@dot.state.nv.us
Chris Young, M.A., R.P.A. – Environmental Compliance Specialist
M.A., Anthropology, Washington State University
B.A., Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Chris is a Nevada native and has worked in cultural resources and environmental compliance for the last 17 years throughout the state. He has conducted environmental compliance and cultural resource work in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Chris has extensive experience working with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). He has also experience in construction management, geomorphology and paleoenvironmental investigations, and the use of high-end GPS products to map environmental features and GIS mapping and analysis. Chris rejoined NDOT in 2007 after a four year stint with the National Park Service at Western Arctic National Parklands in Kotzebue, Alaska.
Contact information:
Telephone: 775-888-7688
Email: cyoung@dot.state.nv.us