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Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 

On today’s episode, we talk with Michael Smith, the Director of Environmental Process & Policy with WSP USA, about working in a National Park, Photojournalism, and Consulting.   Read his full bio below.

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Showtimes: 

2:09 Nic & Laura discuss career exploring

5:19 Interview with Michael Smith Starts

9:09 Michael talks about being a park ranger & bears

18:58 Accidental photojournalism

26:08 Env. impacts of legalizing marijuana

35:12 Michael talks about env. consulting & current projects

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This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.

Connect with Michael Smith at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsmith84

Guest Bio:

Michael Smith is a nationally-recognized leader in environmental policy and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, with more than 28 years of experience in environmental impact assessment, environmental justice analysis, project and program management, policy development, land use planning, business development, group leader, and training/education with the federal government, private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations. He is currently a Director of Environmental Policy and Process at WSP USA, an arm of one of the world's leading engineering and professional services consulting firms. His technical areas of expertise include environmental justice analysis; socioeconomic analysis; greenhouse gas emissions and climate change/climate adaptation analysis; cumulative impact analysis; and designing strategies for streamlining NEPA and related permitting processes and reviews. 

Michael has managed and provided environmental compliance review for some of the nation's largest, most complex, and highly controversial projects, including major energy, transportation, and water resources infrastructure projects, approval of genetically engineered plants, commercial space transportation operations, legalized cannabis regulatory programs, and approval of new fuel economy standards for all vehicles operated in the United States. He frequently provides training and strategic advice for NEPA compliance for public and private sector clients through the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP), and as a faculty member at the University of California Los Angeles Extension Environmental Studies and Sustainability Programs, the University of California Davis Extension Land Use and Natural Resources Program. He has also served on a White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Task Force on National Environmental Policy Act training.

 Music Credits

Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa

Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller

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