Amara Vogt

Experience

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  Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions

  Jun 2015 - Sept 2015

  Internship

  • Created Excel database identifying selected bylaws and regulations for 351 cities/towns in Massachusetts to create a comprehensive document to be utilized on MACCs website.• Researched background of natural gas pipeline installation and documented potential environmental consequences for future teaching documents.• Participated in the Fundamentals Certificate Training Program via webinars and classes. • Attended the 2015 MACC Fall Conference and the Annual MACC Environmental Conference in 2016.• Supported the scheduling and resulting registrations of MACC training courses. Show less

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  VHB

  Nov 2015 - Dec 2016

  Environmental Planner

  • Member of lead team assessing environmental resources for a national energy pipeline project in North Dakota. Performed impact analyses as well as determined necessary permits. Scored project alternatives based on environmental and community impacts.• Field work experience included endangered species identification and location, wetland delineation, plant identification, and review of historic resources (Sections 106, 107 and National Historic Preservation Act). Prepared Requests for Determination, Notifications of Intent, Environmental Notification Forms, and Environmental Data Reports.• Consulted for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act/National Environmental Policy Act (MEPA/NEPA) group. Prepared Early Environmental Coordination Checklists, Categorical Exclusion checklists, and locus maps for projects. Familiarity with MEPA/NEPA permits necessary for project development. Show less

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  Massachusetts Department of Transportation

  Feb 2016 - Sept 2016

  Consultant

  • Worked as a VHB representative in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act/ National Environmental Policy Act (MEPA/ NEPA) group.• Part of the team that composed new language and policies for improving the Programmatic Agreement and Categorical Exclusion checklist. • Prepared Early Environmental Coordination Checklists, Categorical Exclusion checklists and locus maps for projects. Familiarity with MEPA/NEPA permits necessary for project development.

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  Food & Water Watch

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2018

  Internship

  • Headed stakeholder outreach in the development of the Water-For-All Chicago City Ordinance with the creation of a community contacts database. • Canvassed and petitioned for the national OFF Act (H.R. 3671) to gain state senator co-sponsors. Gained skills in phone banking and political background research.

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  DePaul University

  Sept 2018 - Nov 2019

  Graduate Research Assistant

  • Literature review on national municipalities with similar water issues and their policy solutions. • Studied and reported on various methods used by community gardeners in Chicago to successfully irrigate their gardens without direct, on-site municipal water access.• Sampling gardens from across various geographies in Chicago by interviewing gardeners and completing on-site observations of water sources.

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  Michigan Department of Transportation

  Nov 2019 - now

  Transportation Planner

  • Lead Federal Grants Coordinator for submissions of discretionary federal transportation grants; with a focus on grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). • Project manager for central office grant consultant contracto Responsibilities include advising and conceptualizing methods to improve MDOT grant policies and practices; keeping grant team on schedule and successfully meeting deadlines; and coordinating communications between project managers, regional engineers, and consultants. • Liaison between MDOT and MI Gubernatorial, Congressional leadership to maintain a chain of communication to ensure state goals meet federal requirements. • Creator of statewide grant tracking tool utilized by Department and State Leadership.• Proficient in writing Requests for Proposals and experience evaluating and scoring proposal submissions.• Project experience with federal legislation and programs involving road use charging (RUC), electric vehicles and charging stations, environmental justice regulations (Justice40 federal guidelines), and environmental sustainability. Show less