The Natural & Social Science program helps to protect the quality of life for humans and animals. Water quality, wildlife habitat, and communities can be affected by transportation projects. Biologists predict short-term and long-term impacts and work to mitigate or minimize project effects.

Biology

From the desert tortoise in Southern Nevada to the endemic Steamboat buckwheat plant in Northern Nevada, NDOT biologists work to minimize and mitigate the impacts of transportation projects on Nevada’s ecosystems. Tasks performed by NDOT biologists include:

• Overseeing the construction of deer and desert tortoise fencing
• Conducting vegetation and wildlife surveys
• Serving as departmental subject matter experts and providing guidance to reduce wildlife-vehicle conflicts
• Ensuring project compliance with environmental laws
• Performing wetland delineations
• Implementing noxious weed control measures

NDOT biologists ensure that NDOT projects follow federal and state regulations concerning aquatic areas, vegetation, and wildlife. The Biology Section consults with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service under Section 7 and Section 10 guidelines of the Endangered Species Act.

Karin West
Environmental Engineering Manager

Southern Nevada

Kristi Holcomb
Senior Wildlife Biologist

Glen Church
Environmental Scientist III

Ryan Hampshire
Environmental Scientist III  

Northern Nevada

Nova Simpson
Biological Supervisor for Northern Nevada

Sabra Gilbert-Young
Environmental Scientist III

Community Impact & Environmental Justice

Community Impact Analysis and Environmental Justice are closely related. They focus on what effects transportation projects might have on:

• Communities and neighborhoods
• Types of land uses
• Social service facilities
• Park and recreation facilities
• Commuting and travel patterns
• Business access and development
• Local and regional economies and many other areas of interest or concern to people.

In particular, public participation throughout the NEPA process raises concerns about the effects a project would have on noise levels, air and water quality, open space, property, and other “quality of life” issues. Information on NDOT meetings and hearings can be found here. 

In addition to the above, environmental justice requires focus on whether or not a project would have adverse and disproportionate impacts to minority or low-income neighborhoods and communities.

Sean Casler
Environmental Scientist III

Mary Taitano
Environmental Services Manager

Mary Taitano supervises the Social Sciences section of the Environmental Services Division. She is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) manager for the Department. As NEPA manager, she is a member of many project management teams that ensure NEPA requirements are fulfilled on all federally funded projects. She reviews environmental documents to make sure they comply with NEPA, Federal Highway Administration, state, and local laws. She also ensures that all NEPA required public meetings and hearings meet or exceed state and federal guidelines.

Chris Young, RPA
Chief, Environmental Services Program

Chris Young started his tenure with the Nevada Department of Transportation in 2001 as an archaeologist. In 2009, he became a NEPA coordinator and eventually NDOT's NEPA manager. He has managed all aspects of the program since 2019. He began his career working for the Desert Research Institute as an undergraduate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before working for the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. He has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and received a master’s degree in anthropology from Washington State University, Pullman.