Leann Taagepera Email & Phone Number

California, United States

California, United States

Santa Cruz, California, Us

I specialize in CEQA, NEPA, Section 106 Cultural and Historical, and Tribal Cultural Resource Impact Analyses.

As a sole proprietor, I ran my own successful small l business providing CEQA/NEPA-related services, including cultural and historical resource planning and impact evaluation. In addition, I provided contract planning services and cultural/historical resource documentation.Selected Experience:City of South San Francisco - Completed an archaeological sensitivity report for a development project.BCDC - Completed the cultural resources section of a CEQA-equivalent document for a maintenance project along San Francisco Bay. A cultural and historical records search at the NWIC at SSU was completed. Currently completing tribal outreach for revised project description of environmental document (2020-2024).East Bay Regional Park District - Prepared an Admin Draft Program EIR for the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve project - an amendment to the Land Use Plan to add nearly 5,000 acres of land to the Preserve.US Army Corps of Engineers Projects -Cultural Resource sections were completed for a DMMP and EA and a BCR for US ACE dredging projects in northern CA.Cultural Resource, Noise, and Aesthetics sections were prepared for a dredging project in San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, and the Delta. Prepared the Cultural Resources section for the Redwood City Harbor Deepening project EIR/EIS.Contract Planning -Completed in-house contract planning for the Cities of Martinez and Towns of Ross and San Anselmo.City of Richmond - LTEP prepared an IS/MND for a 7-Eleven Project.An MND Addendum was prepared for a tank facility.Two memos with technical reports were prepared to support CEQA Exemptions for a charter school and a medical facility. Completed an IS/MND for a warehouse in an industrial area.EBRPD - Completed an EIR for the EBRPD and the City of Newark for a project involving the demolition of historic resources.

Reston, Virginia, Us

City of Menlo Park - Prepared the Cultural Resources and Tribal Cultural Resources sections of an EIR for the Parkline Project (2024)Delta Diablo Sanitation District - Prepared the Historical Setting Section of an Archaeological Resource Technical Memorandum for the Secondary Process Improvements Project (2024)Delta Diablo Sanitation District - Along with another archaeologist, conducted an intensive archaeological survey of unpaved and undeveloped portions of the Area of Potential Effect. The survey was conducted by walking transects 10 to 15 meters apart to identify any archaeological materials that may occur on the ground surface. (2024)City of San Bruno - Currently preparing the Cultural Resources and Tribal Cultural Resources sections of an EIR for the Tanforan Planned Development project. (2023-2024)State Department of Water Resources - Preparing the Tribal Cultural Resources section of an EIR. (2023-2024).City of San Rafael - Along with another cultural resource professional, conducted update of an architectural history field survey. (Fall 2023)

Sacramento, California, Us

While in the M.A. in Cultural Resources Management program at Sonoma State University, interned with the District Archaeologist, Diablo Range, California State Parks. Completed in-the-field training, a Heritage Resources Monitoring Report for a Native American site, and research, field work, and detailed Site Record for the site of a former airport.

As a Graduate Student intern during the Covid university campus closure, prepared a Site Specific Study of a Native American archaeological site located in a state park in Sonoma County, California. A Site Record was prepared as well as a detailed report including the geological and ecological setting, records and literature review methods and results, description of pedestrian survey completed by staff, and recommendations.

Appointed by the Mayor of Benicia as a citizen on the City's Historic Preservation Review Commission. Benicia is a Certified Local Government. Extensively involved in the review of city's updated Historic Resources Survey.

Rocklin, Ca, Us

Project Manager and technical writer for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) environmental impact documentation. Responsible for preparing CEQA/NEPA environmental documents and proposals, as well as marketing and business development. Projects included: IS/MNDs for stream bank stabilization and flood control projects in southern California; soils remediation and munitions IS/MND at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar for the Department of Toxic Substances Control; cumulative impacts analysis for water supply improvements; and third-party IS/MND review and development of a technical memorandum for a San Francisco housing project.

Ms. Taagepera worked as the sole-proprietor of her own firm. She is a Project Manager and technical writer for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) environmental impact documentation.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Us

Project Manager and technical writer for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) environmental impact documentation. Head of Cultural Resources group and supervisor of one architectural historian. She prepared cultural resources sections of EIRs and goals and policies for Cultural Resources Elements of General Plans. She contributed to historic building surveys and conducted tribal consultation under SB 18. She worked on a variety of environmental documents including those for General Plan updates, residential, school district, roadway improvement, industrial, and other projects.

Ms. Taagepera worked as the sole-proprietor of her own firm for over 5 1/2 years, working on CEQA/NEPA projects, including those in the City of Richmond and other Bay Area cities.

CEQA/NEPA Project Manager.Ms. Taagepera provided Project Coordination and Management. She managed environmental studies, including environmental impact reports (EIRs), initial studies, and negative declarations, and served as project manager and analyst in preparation of environmental documentation and proposals for a variety of projects. Ms. Taagepera provided third-party review of CEQA/NEPA, NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA documents for the Federal Transit Administration for the Orange County Transportation Authority CenterLine light rail project, the Phoenix light rail project, and for an extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit light rail system to the Oakland International Airport.

Through planning firm, Ms. Taagepera acted as in-house staff processing CEQA Negative Declarations (NDs) and Categorical Exemptions and NEPA Categorical Exclusions for roadway, commercial, and office building projects. She consulted with the state Office of Historic Preservation for effects on historic buildings; managed consultants’ preparation of Negative Declarations, reviewed consultant’s CEQA/NEPA document for a roadway improvement project. Advised City staff regarding CEQA/NEPA compliance, hired and negotiated scope and budget of consultant for the preparation of an EIR. Ms. Taagepera provided and coordinated City’s comments on the Orange County CenterLine light rail EIR/EIS.

Ms. Taagepera assisted in third-party management of environmental consultant, including review of Screencheck Environmental Impact Report (EIR); assisted in management and preparation of an Initial Study/Addendum for changes to a large residential project; provided review of EIR for a Specific Plan residential project in the Coastal Zone and recommendation regarding further environmental documentation required for proposed changes to the project.

Ms. Taagepera was Project Manager and assistant to Manager of Environmental Compliance on complex CEQA/NEPA, Section 4(f) of the DOT Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and mitigation measure compliance projects for light rail and subway projects. She was the Environmental Specialist in charge of the Universal City Station (while under construction) of the Red Line subway and the Pasadena Blue Line light rail follow-on CEQA documentation. Ms. Taagepera reviewed two draft Subsequent EIR/EISs and assisted in managing of consultant for the Mid-City extension of the Red Line, and reviewed EIR/EA for the improvement of a large boulevard. She also worked with construction contractors to ensure compliance with contract specifications regarding noise, dust, and archaeological/ paleontological resources and oversaw archaeological field monitors. Ms. Taagepera was manager of quarterly Mitigation Measure Status Report to the Federal Transit Administration and supervised consultants, both in and out of house.

Ms. Taagepera was Project Manager of three Initial Studies/Negative Declarations for CSU Long Beach. She was also Assistant Project Manager on EIRs for industrial and roadway projects, Assistant Project Manager on EA for a gaming facility on Native American land; liaison between client, agency, public, and firm. Ms. Taagepera was author of Public Services and Utilities, Cultural Resources, CEQA-required sections of environmental documents, and editing and writing of EIR technical sections. She provided land use mapping and field reconnaissance for noise impact analyses; provided coordination/consultation with permitting agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Game, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and State Office of Historic Preservation; and acted as in-house Environmental Specialist for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Ms. Taagepera was Assistant Project Manager on EIR/EIS transportation projects. She conducted land use compatibility, public policy consistency, safety and security, and socioeconomic analyses, and provided traffic impact sections. Ms. Taagepera was principal author of project descriptions within environmental documents and was a technical writer/editor.

Ms. Taagepera was Assistant Project Manager on EIR projects, liaison between agencies and firm. She conducted land use compatibility, public policy consistency and visual impact analyses; provided permitting assistance for client, with local agency for permits such as Conditional Use Permits, Grading Permits, and Coastal Development Permits, prepared Mitigation monitoring plans, analysis of alternative project sites and sizes for EIRs; and was a technical writer/editor.

Ms. Taagepera was Project Manager of discretionary and ministerial development and land use permits. She was also author of staff reports presented at public hearings which provided recommendations to the Planning Commission as to the approvability of projects, conditions of approval, comprehensive plan and zoning regulation consistency, and mitigation monitoring. Ms. Taagepera researched property histories and coordinated with other agencies, and divisions within County government, and informally presented projects to the County Architectural Review Board, Subdivision Committee, community citizen planning groups, and potential applicants regarding projects.

M.A., Cultural Resources Management

Murp, Land Use And Law Specialization

B.A., Environmental Studies/Planning Emphasis