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Intro to NEPA Essentials

Tuesday, December 1, 2026
at
8:00 AM (CST)
to Thursday, December 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM (CST)

NIU Naperville Meeting and Conference Center


1120 East Diehl Road Naperville, IL 60563 United States
* Registration open until 11/26/26 at 12:00 AM (CST)
Register Now
* Registration open until 11/26/26 at 12:00 AM (CST)
28 Seats Remaining
28 Seats Remaining
Category: In Person Opportunities
Registration Note: A minimum of 18 registrants is required for this class to proceed. If the minimum is not met by November 16, the class will be canceled, and registered attendees will be notified by email and reimbursed.
This 3-day course is equivalent to NHI #142005. This class is required to meet IDOT’s Environmental Lead prequalification training requirement.
Additional event details, including the course agenda and materials, will be shared with registered attendees as the event approaches. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah.

Course Description:

Introduction to NEPA Essentials is a three-day course that builds a working understanding of the National Environmental Policy Act and how to apply its essential elements to transportation project development. Through instruction and case-study group exercises, participants follow the NEPA process end to end, from purpose and need through alternatives, impacts, mitigation, public and interagency coordination, and final documentation, gaining practical tools to streamline project delivery and support environmental stewardship. There will be a special supplemental section on NEPA Assignment delivered by IDOT, as well as an IDOT presentation on Project Development and Transportation Review for Environmental Compliance (TREC).

Key Learning Objectives:

  1. Understand core NEPA statutory and regulatory requirements
  2. Identify roles and responsibilities of agencies and project participants
  3. Develop and screen alternatives against sound evaluation criteria
  4. Distinguish CE, EA, and EIS documentation requirements
  5. Apply effective public and interagency coordination practices

Instructors:

 

Jamie Bents, AICP, CTP is Vice President and Technical Director of Environmental Planning at WSP with more than 25 years of experience in transportation planning and environmental review. A self-described "NEPA nerd," she leads NEPA and state environmental reviews for transportation projects across the country. Jamie is a National Highway Institute certified instructor and has partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation on training for more than 10 years. Her recent work includes major transportation projects in Hawaii, the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway and I-57 Access Study for IDOT, and Minnesota DOT's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.

Denise Nelson - Bio forthcoming.

Additional Instructors Joining Day 3:

Scott Pahlmann
Environmental Information & Communications Coordinator
Bureau of Design & Environment
Illinois Department of Transportation

John Sherrill
Chief, Location and Environment Section
Bureau of Design and Environment
Illinois Department of Transportation

* Registration open until 11/26/26 at 12:00 AM (CST)
Register Now
* Registration open until 11/26/26 at 12:00 AM (CST)
28 Seats Remaining
28 Seats Remaining

For More Information:

Sarah Dean (C)

Sarah Dean (C)

Director of Education & Membership, ACEC-IL

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(217)529-7430