NC Association of Environmental Professionals (NCAEP) upcoming events

Lunch & Learn 4(f) (23 Sep 2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

4(f) LUNCH & LEARN WITH DAVID GRACHEN

Sponsored by VHB

Join us at NCAEP's 4(f) Lunch & Learn for an informative presentation by David Grachen on the fundamentals of 4(f) compliance. Compliance with Section 4(f) of the 1966 USDOT Act is required when a proposed transportation project uses land from a publicly owned park, recreation area, or wildlife and waterfowl refuge or a historic site. This lunch and learn will provide attendees with an overview of the requirements of the Section 4(f) regulations included in 23 CFR § 774 and enhance attendees understanding of approaches for determining applicability, assessing use, and evaluating Section 4(f) compliance options.

David Grachen is a Senior Environmental Manager with Edwards-Pitman (EP) in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining EP in May 2021, Mr. Grachen was an Environmental Specialist with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for over 34 years. While at FHWA, he provided technical assistance to FHWA Division Offices and State DOTs to facilitate the resolution of complex environmental issues on transportation projects throughout the country. From 2005 to 2021, he served as FHWA's national subject matter expert on Section 4(f) and developed and delivered environmental training courses in every one of the 50 States. Since joining EP, he has continued to develop and deliver environmental training courses on NEPA, Section 106, and Section 4(f), and has recently provided training to state DOTs in Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas.

Presentation at ~ 11:00 am

Lunch at noon

Lunch will be provided by our generous sponsor VHB.

What: 4(f) Lunch & Learn

When: September 23, 2026, 11am - 1pm

Where: NCDOT Auditorium, 1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, 27601

Registration will close on September 16th.

Piedmont Plants 2026 (13 Oct 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Course: Natural Communities of the Piedmont: A Full Day Field Trip

Dates: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Cost: $85 non-member; $60 NCAEP member

Enrollment Cap: 15

Program Description: Spend a day exploring the diverse natural plant communities of the North Carolina Piedmont at Camp Agape, an Environmental Education Center located on 392 acres along the Cape Fear River in Harnett County, 1369 Tyler Dewar Lane, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526. Participants will meet at Camp Agape and, through guided field exploration courtesy of Greg Price (The Swamp School), visit six floodplain communities and four upland communities while learning to recognize their defining characteristics and understand their classification using Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina - 4th Approximation (2024). This program is open to anyone interested in native plants, ecology, or the natural landscapes of North Carolina.

Accessibility: This field trip is conducted outdoors and involves walking on natural trails with uneven terrain, including roots, rocks, and occasional changes in elevation. Participants should be comfortable walking on unpaved surfaces for extended periods.

What to Bring: Please come prepared for a full day outdoors. We recommend sturdy hiking shoes or boots, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle, a packed lunch, and any snacks you may want throughout the day.

Instructor: Greg Price, PWS, The Swamp School. With over three decades of environmental consulting experience in North Carolina, Greg Price has established himself as an expert in the field. His career spans two decades with key state departments, including the NC Department of Transportation, the Division of Water Quality, and the Division of Environmental Management. Additionally, he spent a decade as a private environmental consultant. Mr. Price’s extensive expertise includes preparing Clean Water Act Sections 404 and 401 Water Quality permit applications, producing and reviewing various environmental documents, and conducting detailed natural resources investigations. His work also involved ambient water quality and stormwater monitoring, as well as stream biological assessments involving benthic macroinvertebrate collection and identification. Beyond his consulting work, Greg has dedicated 20 years to academia as a part-time college instructor, teaching courses in General Biology, Environmental Science, Botany, Natural Resources Assessment, and Ecology.

Registration: Class enrollment is set at a maximum of 15 registrants. Payment can be made to the NC Association of Environmental Professionals (NCAEP) by check or credit card at https://www.ncaep.org/event-6781317. All checks will be held until we are certain that the minimum number of students is achieved for the class. Registration fees must be received by NCAEP no later than October 6, 2026. Registrants cancelling their registration two (2) weeks or more prior to the event will receive a refund of the registration fee, less a 3% administrative fee. Registrants cancelling between two (2) and one (1) week(s) prior to the event will receive a refund less a 5% administrative fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than seven (7) days prior to the event. Registrants may transfer their registration to another attendee with the same membership status (e.g., regular member, government employee member, non-member) at any time. Only one transfer per registration is permitted. Registrations after October 1 will be charged an additional $10.

Forks in the 4(f) Rd (29 Oct 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Forks in the 4(f) Road – Navigating the Regulatory Complexities of DOT NEPA and Protected Land Resources

Join us at NCAEP’s FHWA/USDOT 4(f) Dinner Meeting for an informative presentation by Seth Wilcher (FHWA) and John Jamison (NCDOT) on the fundamentals of NEPA compliance and Section 4(f) reviews. Transportation projects must avoid or minimize impacts to parks, recreation areas, wildlife refuges, and historic sites. NCDOT follows these federal requirements in its NEPA process, identifying Section 4(f) resources early and coordinating with FHWA and stakeholders to determine de minimis impacts or evaluate feasible avoidance alternatives. Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) protected lands add an additional layer of federal protection, as “Section 6(f)” prohibits conversions from outdoor recreation use without approval and replacement of equivalent recreational value and function. Seth and John will provide an overview of these issues, discuss project examples, and offer lessons learned from their experiences.

Seth has over two decades of professional experience in environmental compliance, with the first half of his career spent in consulting and the second half with FHWA. In the private sector, he prepared Section 106 and NEPA documentation for projects in every region of the country for a wide range of federal clients - from the National Park Service to the Department of Defense. In his role at FHWA's North Carolina Division office, he provides technical assistance, guidance, and coordination for NCDOT, its consultants, and other state and federal agencies during project development. Seth works to foster positive relationships with transportation partners and stakeholders to facilitate effective delivery of NCDOT's federal-aid projects.

John has more than 25 years of diverse experience as an environmental scientist, planner, and project manager in North Carolina. He is the manager of NCDOT’s Environmental Policy Unit, providing oversight of NEPA/SEPA documentation and Merger implementation as well as developing NCDOT guidance for an array of environmental processes. In his prior role as an environmental consultant for more than 15 years, he has managed numerous transportation contracts, projects, and environmental tasks. He is also a Past President of NCAEP (amongst other things).

Social Hour starting at 5:00 PM
Food at 5:30 PM
Speaker at ~6:30 PM

What: Section 4(f)/6(f) Dinner Meeting
When: October 29, 2026, 5:00 - 8:30 pm
Where: Pullen House
10801 Durant Rd., Raleigh, NC 27614

Corporate Members: Please email mailto:vp@ncaep.org for the Corporate Code for registration.

Pullen House

Parking is limited, however, parking in the Kohl's plaza (facing Durant Road) is within walking distance of Pullen House. There are sidewalks along Durant Road to facilitate access. Car-pooling is encouraged. Please contact us if you need a ride from the parking lot of Kohl's to Pullen House.

Payment in full is required by October 15, 2026. Registrants cancelling their registration two (2) weeks or more prior to the event will receive a full refund of the registration fee. Due to catering constraints, no refunds will be given for cancellations less than two (2) weeks prior to the event.