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• NAEP EVENT- Virtual NAEP Workshop: The State of AI in Environmental Review: Federal & State Agency Perspectives

  • When
    Wednesday, September 16, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  Register

  LOCAL NWAEP SCREENINGS: WSP’s Seattle Office

  Join NWAEP/NAEP host Sam Schoevaars at WSP’s Seattle Office (1001 4th Ave, 31^st Floor, Seattle, WA 98154) to view the workshop in person. Please register by September 15^th so Sam knows how many will be attending. Please register for this event if you will be attending the in-person screenings. For more information on the webinar from NAEP, or to register through NAEP to directly stream the webinar yourself, please click below

  
  

  2026 Virtual NAEP Workshop

  The State of AI in Environmental Review:
  Federal & State Agency Perspectives 

  September 16, 2026
  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  This workshop will provide a timely overview of how federal and state agencies are advancing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in environmental planning and NEPA processes. Speakers from CEQ (invited), DOE (invited), national laboratories, federal and state agencies will highlight recent policy developments, pilot programs such as PermitAI, and emerging best practices for integrating AI into environmental reviews. The session will explore practical applications, including document analysis, data integration, and workflow efficiencies, while also addressing challenges related to transparency, data quality, and ethical considerations. Attendees will gain insight into how agencies are approaching implementation, where opportunities exist for practitioners, and what to expect in the near-term regulatory and technological landscape. The workshop will include time for moderated discussion and audience Q&A to encourage knowledge sharing across the NAEP community.

  Learning objectives: Participants will learn how federal and state agencies are using artificial intelligence, digital tools, and data-driven approaches to modernize environmental review and permitting processes. The workshop will highlight practical implementation examples, emerging policy considerations, and lessons learned from agency and practitioner perspectives. 

  
  

  View Virtual Workshop Agenda and Register Here

  This event is not presented or sponsored by NWAEP, it is shared as a courtesy to our parent national organization National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). Please check NAEP Events Page for more details on all NAEP events and registration.

  
  

  
  

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• NAEP Event - Webinar: Cutting-Edge Technologies Transforming Environmental Practice: AI, IoT, Geospatial Technology, and Digital Twins

  • When
    Wednesday, September 30, 2026
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Virtual; Jacobs' Portland Office; ESA Seattle Office

  Register

  LOCAL NWAEP SCREENINGS
  Join NWAEP/NAEP hosts Kim Wetzel at Jacobs' Portland Office (2020 SW Fourth Avenue, 3rd Floor) or Brian Durkin at ESA's Seattle Office (2801 Alaskan Way, Suite 200) to view the webinar in person. Please register by September 29th for local screenings so Kim and Brian know how many will be attending.

  Please register for this event if you will be attending either of the in-person screenings.

  For more information on the webinar from NAEP, or to register through NAEP to directly stream the webinar yourself, please click below:

  NAEP Webinar Information and Registration

  
  

  Webinar Description:

  The rapid convergence of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Internet of Things sensor networks, remote-sensing technologies, and geospatial analytics is dramatically changing the environmental sector. These emerging tools are equipping organizations with the capability to collect, analyze, and act upon environmental data at unprecedented levels of precision, speed, and insight-thereby enabling a shift from reactive monitoring toward proactive environmental stewardship.AI and ML are leading this transformation through the most advanced capabilities for pattern recognition, predictive modeling, and anomaly detection in large datasets. These tools underpin real-time environmental risk assessment, climate modeling, and optimization of natural resources. LLMs, as the newest evolution in AI, even further facilitate accessibility and communication by interpreting complex environmental data, automating technical documentation, and providing conversational interaction with geospatial and regulatory databases. Such democratization of data intelligence speeds up decision-making and reduces barriers between technical experts, policy makers, and the public.

  Meanwhile, IoT devices and remote sensing platforms-including drones and satellites-are scaling up the coverage and frequency of environmental data acquisition. IoT sensors monitor air and water quality, soil conditions, and emissions on a continuous basis, while drones and satellites provide high-resolution imagery for large-scale environmental assessment, habitat mapping, and disaster response. Linked to AI analytics, these technologies form a near-real-time feedback system to track environmental change and guide mitigation strategies.

  Geospatial Technologies and Digital Twins form the heart of this data ecosystem, represented by intelligent, 3D representations of physical environments that integrate spatial data, AI analytics, and real-time IoT inputs. Digital twins thus allow environmental professionals to simulate and visualize complex scenarios involving flood risk, urban heat islands, or infrastructure resilience. By connecting predictive analytics to spatial context, they make environmental management adaptive and evidence-based. Taken together, these technologies are driving a new paradigm of intelligent, data-driven environmental management wherein continuous sensing, spatial analytics, and AI reasoning come together to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and decision-making at every scale, from ecosystems to cities.

  
  

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• NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixers, (10/1) Portland & Seattle

  • When
    Thursday, October 01, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Portland (Baerlic Brewing) & Seattle (Bale Breaker)
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  NWAEP FIRST THURSDAY NETWORKING MIXERS

   Thursday, October 1, 2026

  5:30 – 7:30 PM

  Portland & Seattle

  First Thursday mixers are free and open to both NWAEP Members and non-members. NWAEP members in good standing receive one free drink ticket — so make sure your membership is up to date before you come! Also, please RSVP to let us know you are attending.

  PORTLAND
  Baerlic Brewery & Piehall

  Original Brewery & Taproom

  2239 SE 11th Ave

  
  

  SEATTLE 
  Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom
  826 NW 49th Street

  
  

  NWAEP monthly First Thursday networking events are a great opportunity for you to meet, network, and stay informed with local environmental professionals. These events also provide an opportunity to connect with the NWAEP board to contribute ideas for future events, speakers, topics, trainings, and more.
  

  
  

  
  

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• NAEP Event - Webinar:2025 NEPA Case Law Review

  • When
    Thursday, October 15, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
  • Location
    Virtual; Jacobs' Portland Office; ESA Seattle Office

  Register

  LOCAL NWAEP SCREENINGS

  Join NWAEP/NAEP hosts in one of four locations to view the webinar in person:

  • Kim Wetzel at Jacobs' Portland Office (2020 SW Fourth Avenue, 3rd Floor)
  • Brian Durkin at ESA's Seattle Office (2801 Alaskan Way, Suite 200)
  • Lindsey Amtmann  at Jacobs' Bellevue Office (1100 112th Ave NE Ste 500, Bellevue, WA 98004) 
  • Tess Amen at Jacobs' Spokane Office (999 W Riverside Ave #500, Spokane, WA 99201)
    

  
  

  Please register by October 14th for local screenings so Kim and Brian know how many will be attending.

  Webinar Description:

  The panel is based on a paper that reviews substantive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) cases issued by United States Courts of Appeals in 2025. The implications of the decisions and relevance to NEPA practitioners will be explained. This session will summarize the more detailed paper prepared for this session. The paper briefly explains, with an emphasis on the substantive NEPA findings, each opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The paper identifies statistics regarding the NEPA appellate opinions, such as twelve-year record of NEPA cases, organized by circuit, and by year. The paper also identifies the agencies involved in each case and presents statistics relevant to the agencies; the paper further identifies the prevailing ratio of federal agencies, including by agency and by document type (categorical exclusion, environmental assessment, environmental impact statement). The paper analyzes the trends in the court opinions involving NEPA for 2025, with an emphasis on substantive NEPA practice, and by grouping of the cases. Finally, each court opinion is paraphrased and organized in a manner easy to read for practitioners to find the court's ruling. Appellate opinions are grouped and analyzed by agency. Past trends include challenges to purpose and need, alternatives considered, public comment, scientific impact assessment methodologies, GHG emissions and climate change impact assessment, incomplete or unavailable information, determination of significance, segmentation, duty to supplement, connected actions, federal actions, cumulative impact assessment, mitigation, monitoring and adaptive management. Suggestions for improving the implementation of the NEPA process and to meeting current challenges are offered, looking ahead to the future with renewed emphasis on one of the world's oldest and most forward-looking environmental laws.
  

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• NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixers, (11/5) Portland & Tacoma

  • When
    Thursday, November 05, 2026
  •  
    5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Portland (Wayfinder) & Tacoma (7 Seas)
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  NWAEP FIRST THURSDAY NETWORKING MIXERS

   Thursday, November 5, 2026

  5:30 – 7:30 PM

  Portland & Tacoma

  First Thursday mixers are free and open to both NWAEP Members and non-members. NWAEP members in good standing receive one free drink ticket — so make sure your membership is up to date before you come! Also, please RSVP to let us know you are attending.

  PORTLAND

  Wayfinder
  304 SE 2nd Ave

  TACOMA
  7 Seas Brewing
  2101 Jefferson Avenue

  
  

  NWAEP monthly First Thursday networking events are a great opportunity for you to meet, network, and stay informed with local environmental professionals. These events also provide an opportunity to connect with the NWAEP board to contribute ideas for future events, speakers, topics, trainings, and more.
  

  
  

  
  

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• NWAEP/IdAEP Regional Conference

  • Start
    Wednesday, November 03, 2027
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    Thursday, November 04, 2027
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Three Rivers Conference Center

  We are thrilled to share the official details for the 2027 Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals (NWAEP) and Idaho Association of Environmental Professionals (IdAEP) Regional Conference. 

  This premier joint regional conference will take place from November 3 to 4, 2027, at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA.

  This event brings together environmental consultants, regulators, industry experts, and resource managers from across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. 

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