Wildlife biologists play a key role in the preservation and management of wildlife. We also conduct surveys to determine the potential for sensitive species to occur to support development. These studies are used by land managers, resource agencies, and consultants in the evaluation of impacts associated with infrastructure projects. This session focuses on how to ethically balance advocacy for the species, the client, and compliance with environmental laws. consequences that affect projects or studies when critical mistakes are made in the field, in the data analysis, or the conclusions presented in a report. We will discuss how these errors often accumulate or are compounded overtime, where they often occur, and how they should be remedied when discovered. More importantly, we will highlight methods that should be used when planning and conducting field work, how to support your conclusions, and how to prepare legally defensible documents.

Chris Huntley is a senior biologist at Aspen with over 24 years of experience working on high-profile large-scale energy infrastructure, fire management, and renewable projects across California. Chris has been a document reviewer or preparer for numerous complex CEQA/NEPA documents and other technical studies for the California Energy Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Public Utilities Commission, and numerous other land management agencies. Chris always emphasizes communication, collaboration, and ethics when working with agencies and proponents.