Environmental Section
Environmental Review Requirements
The State Water Board is required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when funding a project. The Environmental Section includes the Clean Water Environmental Review Unit, the Drinking Water Environmental Review Unit, and the Special Project Review Unit.
The State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs (including the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds) receive an annual capitalization grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Due to the federal nexus with the USEPA, all projects pursuing SRF financing must comply with requirements of CEQA and the federal authorities and environmental statutes (referred to as the federal cross-cutters).
The Special Project Review Unit conducts environmental review for the issuance of drinking water supply permits by the Division of Drinking Water.
The Environmental Section in the Division of Financial Assistance fulfills the State Water Board’s responsibility to comply with CEQA and federal environmental laws by reviewing the environmental documents provided by the applicant/permittee and developing the State Water Board’s environmental findings.
Environmental Review Resources
Environmental Section Contacts
- Ahmad Kashkoli, Environmental Section Chief, at (916) 341-5855, or Ahmad.Kashkoli@waterboards.ca.gov
- Wendy Pierce, Senior Environmental Planner (Cultural Resources), at (916) 449-5178, or Wendy.Pierce@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Carol Atkins, Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist), at (916) 341-5460, or Carol.Atkins@waterboards.ca.gov
Clean Water SRF Unit
- Brian Cary, Senior Environmental Scientist, at (916) 449-5624, or Brian.Cary@waterboards.ca.gov
- Cedric Irving, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 341-6983, or Cedric.Irving@waterboards.ca.gov
- Carina Grove, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 327-9401, or Carina.Grove@waterboards.ca.gov
- Sahil Pathak, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 319-0220, or Sahil.Pathak@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Caitlyn Oswalt, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 319-8574, or Caitlyn.Oswalt@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Tessa Lenz, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 341-5686, or Tessa.Lenz@waterboards.ca.gov
- Will Norton, Scientific Aide (Cultural Resources), at (916) 341-5739, or Will.Norton@Waterboards.ca.gov
Drinking Water SRF Unit
- Bridget Binning, Senior Environmental Scientist, at (916) 449-5641, or at Bridget.Binning@waterboards.ca.gov
- Gabriel Edwards, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 449-5990, or at Gabriel.Edwards@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Michelle Dewey, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 324-6894, or at Michelle.Dewey@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Nancy Ritter, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 449-5651, or at Nancy.Ritter@Waterboards.ca.gov
Special Project Review Unit
- Sara Paiva-Lowry, Senior Environmental Scientist, at (916) 323-0626, or Sara.Paiva-Lowry@Waterboards.ca.gov
- Kevin Marti, Cultural Resources Officer (Associate State Archaeologist) at (916) 341-5167 or email at Kevin.Marti@waterboards.ca.gov
- Johanna Marty, Cultural Resources Officer (Associate State Archaeologist) at (916) 449-5603 or email at Johanna.Marty@waterboards.ca.gov
- Susan Stewart, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 322-6042, or Susan.Stewart@waterboards.ca.gov
- Lori Schmitz, Environmental Scientist, at (916) 449-5285, or Lori.Schmitz@waterboards.ca.gov
- Nikolas Storm, Scientific Aide, at (916) 322-0355, or Nikolas.Storm@Waterboards.ca.gov
