Forest Service Logo
Position Title
NEPA Planner
Agency
Forest Service
Announcement Number
22-R1SVAPR-11491210-FS-DC Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, May 16, 2022 to Monday, June 6, 2022
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge) AND you either:
• retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30 percent or more; OR 
• rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) since 1991 or later to include disability determinations from a branch of the Armed Forces at any time, as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Your answers will be used to determine your eligibility to apply to this job opportunity announcement. You will be considered under the eligibility option(s) to which you answer YES. Select YES to all eligibility options for which you want to be considered. If you respond NO to meeting the criteria for all the eligibilities, you will not be considered for the position(s) under this announcement.

NOTE: You must submit the required supporting documentation to receive consideration for EACH selected eligibility. Failure to provide the required documents will result in an ineligible rating and your application will be excluded from consideration.
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2. Are you a current Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment? (limit characters)
3. Are you a Forest Service employee who currently holds a career or career conditional appointment AND you have held or currently hold a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised? (limit characters)
4.
Are you a current USDA employee who meets the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee, in which received official notice that your job is no longer needed or that you will lose your job by Reduction-in-Force (RIF)? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
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5.
Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty?

-OR-

Are you the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired with a disability rating of 100 percent at the time of retirement or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who retired or separated from the Armed Forces and has a disability rating of 100 percent from the Department of Veterans Affairs?

-OR-

Are you the un-remarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while in active duty status?

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
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6.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a Federal agency other than USDA? If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;  AND,
• you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

 For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
 
 
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7. Are you a current or former employee of the US Forest Service who is claiming eligibility under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act and:
  • was originally hired to a time-limited position under a competitive appointment; and,
  • served one or more time-limited appointments at a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two or more years; and,
  • most recent period of qualifying service was with the US Forest Service; and,
  • performed at an acceptable level of service during each period of service; and,if you are no longer employed by the US Forest Service, have been separated for no more than two years, and whose most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance?
Note:  Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better.   Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked.  Non-pay status (such as LWOP) is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited.  Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.



 
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8. Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 12 months; OR,

Are you a Peace Corps Volunteer or AmeriCorps VISTA Alumni who completed your service within the past 36 months AND you are requesting an extension of your non-competitive appointment eligibility due to your military service; study at a recognized institution of higher learning; or involvement in another activity, which the hiring agency may view warrants extension?  OR,

 Are you a current or former Peace Corps employee who completed at least 36 months of continuous service without a break in service of 3 days or more AND has been separated from the Peace Corps for less than three years?
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9.
Do you have a severe intellectual disability, severe physical disability, or psychiatric disability that qualifies you for a Schedule A Disability appointment?

For more information, review USAJOBS Individuals with Disabilities resources.
 
 
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10. Have you registered for reemployment consideration AND meet one of the below: 

• Are you a current or former competitive service USDA employee who will be or was separated by Reduction-In-Force (RIF) and received a rating of satisfactory or above as your last annual performance rating? 
OR 
• Are you a former USDA competitive service employee who separated due to a compensable injury or disability?
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11.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has not held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
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12.
Are you a former Federal career or career-conditional employee AND  

• has reinstatement eligibility; AND 
• has held a position on a permanent basis in the competitive service with the same or higher promotion potential of the position being advertised?
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13.
Are you:

• a veteran whose latest discharge was under honorable conditions AND you served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (Note: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility); OR,
• eligible for veterans' preference?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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14.
Are you a veteran who separated from active duty under honorable conditions AND you:

• recently separated (within the past 3 years); OR,
• are a disabled veteran; OR,
• served on active duty during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; OR,
• received an Armed Forces Service Medal (includes the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal)for participation in a military operation?

Note: If you are currently on active duty you may be considered under the two provisions above provided you submit  a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. 

 For more information, review USAJOBS Veterans resources.
 
 
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Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this NEPA Planner GS-0401-9/11 position with the USDA Forest Service. Your application and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are qualified for this position. (limit characters)
This section will be used to determine if you possess the education and/or experience needed to qualify for this position. Transcripts are required to verify education. (limit characters)
1. From the statements below, select the response that best describes your education and/or experience as it pertains to meeting the basic requirements for the 0401 series. Please select only one response.
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2. Select the one statement that best describes your education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a NEPA Planner at the GS-09 grade level. Please select only one response.
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3. Select the one statement that best describes your education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a NEPA Planner at the GS-11 grade level. Please select only one response.
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For each of the following tasks, choose the statement from the list below that best describe your experience and/or training. Please select only one letter for each item. (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
4. Lead interdisciplinary teams carrying out routine environmental studies and evaluations to determine the consequences of various actions or events, i.e., forest planning project, on the environment.
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5. Participate in public relations events involving speaking engagements and field trips.
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6. Advise unit staff officers of the different levels of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation based on information provided by the interdisciplinary teams.
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7. Participate in developing the unit program of work for all aspects or portions of the unit planning program.
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8. Conduct routine environmental studies and evaluations linking a variety of resources, such as social economics, land, air, water, timber, recreation, wildlife, fisheries, and/or special management areas.
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9. Responsible for developing the environmental analysis reports concerning resources activity.
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10. Coordinate with natural resource specialists to obtain, compile and analyze information used in formulating specific components of program and project plans.
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11. Develop, monitor, and maintain planning documents and action plan for all aspects of the program of work.
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12. Monitor targets and update documents and plans.
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13. Instruct project staff on the plan standards and guidelines related to the unit natural resource management proposal.
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14. Ensure NEPA documents are in conformance with applicable law, regulation, and policy.
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15. Analyze environmental data to measure and evaluate the effects of management proposals on natural, social, or economic resources.
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16. Conduct environmental studies and evaluations concerning a variety of resources, such as social economic, land, air, water, timber, recreation, wildlife, fisheries, and/or additional special areas.
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17. Support Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists in identifying spatial information, assessing, interpreting, and applying GIS data to the NEPA process.
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18. Evaluate comments received from other federal, state, public agencies, tribes, etc. to determine how best to respond to their concerns in accordance with environmental laws, regulations and policies.
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19. Review permits, contracts, or work plans to ensure that the design criteria or mitigation specified in the NEPA decision have been incorporated into the implementing tool.
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20. Document findings on needed actions.
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21. Gather subject matter documents and include the required information in the NEPA source document.
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22. Document environmental impacts on social, economic, environmental and other resources.
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23. Write reports of scientific or technical data to support natural resource planning and/or project management.
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24. Write environmental analyses, assessments, and environmental impact statements.
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25. Assist others in the development and processing of NEPA documents.
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
26. Have you read the "Required Documents" section of the vacancy announcement and understand that failure to submit all required, legible documents prior to the closing date of the announcement may result in loss of consideration?
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27. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Submitting false information or attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for terminating you after you have been hired. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.
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