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- Scout Newsletter - January 2026
Scout Newsletter - January 2026
EPA Is Revising the Federal “Waters of the U.S.” Rule Again.
Why It Matters.
Melanie Hernandez, JD
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing another revision to the federal definition of Waters of the United States, often referred to as “WOTUS". Public comments on the proposal were due by January 5, 2026.
Scout has written about this topic before. This is a short look at what we are watching and why changes to this definition could matter for project planning, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), permitting strategy, and coordination across federal and state processes.
Project Highlight: EPAS Support for Army National Guard Facilities
Camp San Luis Obispo, original home of the Army National Guard,
uses artificial turf to camouflage a landfill.
This December, Scout teamed with Stantec (formerly Cardno) to complete a California-wide Army National Guard (ARNG) Environmental Performance Assessment System (EPAS) project. Scouts Jason Strayer, Camille Sytko, Jackson Orlando, and Kari McCollum split across the state and worked alongside Stantec partners to assess ARNG facilities for regulatory compliance. The purpose of EPAS is to aid in installation and mission sustainment through identifying deficiencies before regulators do, thereby allowing the ARNG to take preventative actions to save them money and resources in the future.
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To assess such a wide range of resources and asset types, Scout prepares by becoming familiar with local laws, regulations, and permits. They also study facility or installation-wide spill prevention, stormwater pollution prevention, hazardous waste management, and natural resource management plans. Interested in EPAS compliance readiness or environmental support for federal facilities? Contact our team to discuss tailored solutions that safeguard mission operations and maintain regulatory compliance.
This February 4th and 5th, find Scouts Melanie Hernandez and Callie Hansen at Scout’s booth at the Society of American Military Engineers Tulsa Post Industry Day 2026 connecting with federal agencies and industry leaders. Don’t miss their informative session, “The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): What’s Happened and What’s Ahead”, taking place on Wednesday, February 4, from 3:00-3:50 PM. From expert briefings to meaningful networking, this is a great opportunity to collaborate and stay ahead of industry trends. See you there!
Fast Cars and Bright Lights with Vernon and Gunner
While our work is central to what we do at Scout, the people behind it matter just as much. From time to time, we like to share stories from fellow Scouts that reflect the passions and experiences that make our team who they are. Getting to know one another beyond our day-to-day work helps strengthen our culture and reminds us why supporting our fellow team members matters.
 Vernon and Gunner pose beside an Alpine F1 Team 2025 race car displayed in the Venetian lobby, powered by a Renault engine. | Scout’s mechanical engineer, Vernon Procell, recently headed to Las Vegas with his German shepherd, Gunner, to see the 2025 Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. A lifelong motorsports enthusiast, Vernon’s passion for racing began as a young man and led him to amateur racing in the mid-1990s, competing in Formula Ford and Formula 2000 race cars. In November, Formula One machines, with their ultra-advanced 1.6L V6 turbo hybrid engines producing roughly 1,000 horsepower using sustainable fuels, drew a crowd of more than 300,000 fans from around the world to Las Vegas. Vernon and Gunner soaked up the racing thrills, enjoyed the international atmosphere, and made the most of an exciting stay in Las Vegas! |
Scout Gives Back
Scout’s unique annual Charity Donation Program allows every Scout to personally select a charity that matters to them, and Scout provides the funding. In 2025, this employee initiative supported more than 35 outstanding organizations, reflecting the diverse passions and values of our team.
This year, these causes ranged from:
• Environmental conservation
• Youth, family, and community support
• Medical and caregiver support
• Animal welfare
• Professional service and advocacy
Together, these contributions strengthen communities, honor service, and demonstrate Scout’s commitment to purpose-driven impact.
We Have A Winner!
 Jackson Orlando and Camille Snyder proudly sport their holiday sweaters. Barry Snyder’s canine companion, Sam, shows his approval with a cameo appearance. | Congratulations to Jackson Orlando for taking home first place in Scout’s annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest! Jackson’s handmade and truly unforgettable creation featured the purposeful misspelling of “Scoot Environmental”, kitschy blinking lights, and a cheesy holiday take on the image of Scout’s founders Jason Strayer, Ryan Pingree and Melanie Hernandez. The fit was a well-done spoof of the bizarre, slightly unhinged AI images we all love to laugh at. Creativity, commitment to the theme, and maximum ugliness won Jackson a well-deserved prize of a $50 gift set of Manoa Chocolates. Thank you Jackson for raising (or lowering?) the standard for ugly holiday cheer! An honorable mention went to Camille Sytko for her inspired act of sweater recycling! |
She revived the winning holiday sweater originally worn by Barry Snyder at last year’s contest. Together she and Barry convinced many of us that she had stumbled upon Barry’s sweater by pure chance at a thrift shop. When the hoax was finally revealed, the laughs were as big and bright as the colorful Santa shown on her sweater!
 | Vernon Procell – Driving Efficiency with Energy Engineering Expertise |
With more than 39 years of experience in the energy engineering and HVAC industries, Vernon Procell brings exceptional depth in the development, design, and delivery of large-scale energy conservation projects. A licensed Professional Engineer in New York, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, Vernon’s career has included leading complex analyses of HVAC systems, lighting, controls, electrical infrastructure, and water conservation measures for clients ranging from school districts and municipalities to hospitals, universities, data centers, and commercial portfolios. Vernon has led nationwide analyses of electric vehicle charging behavior, developed a predictive rate and tariff calculation engine, and negotiated utility incentive programs across multiple U.S. markets. Under his management and analysis, Vernon has delivered energy cost savings above his clients’ goals, at times more than 100% of the original estimated savings goal.
Vernon’s career reflects deep technical leadership across large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. At Scout, he has been primarily involved in helping the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) by conducting site utility studies at facilities across the US. These studies have helped the VA to assess the condition of their current infrastructure, while planning for their future energy needs. A couple of project examples include an electrification study for the VA facility in Long Beach, CA and planning new utility connections for the construction of a new VA hospital facility in San Antonio, TX. Vernon has also been a team player on facility condition assessments for Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) facilities.
Scout Is Hiring
ON-CALL CULTURAL RESOURCES FIELD TECHNICIAN
Scout is seeking an on-call Cultural Resources Field Technician who will support archaeological testing and evaluation of precontact sites in California in accordance with state and federal cultural resources regulations. This position will perform controlled subsurface testing, documentation, and field data collection under the supervision of a principal investigator or field director. Work will be performed on an as-needed basis, with schedules driven by project needs and regulatory timelines. This is an hourly position. The specific terms of employment will be determined commensurate with applicant’s experience/background.
This position also entails a broad range of cultural resource activities, primarily consisting of conducting cultural resource surveys, inputting data and preparing site forms, recording historic resources according to relevant standards and guidelines, conducting archival research, developing historic contexts, supporting Section 106 consultations, fulfilling California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, preparing National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) evaluations and nominations, and preparing professional reports of investigations. While the geographic focus of this position is the southwest, work may occur nationwide.
FACILITIES INSPECTOR
Scout is seeking Facility Condition Assessors/Inspectors. The work will likely require up to 70% of your time traveling to military installations to perform facility condition assessments across the nation for up to two weeks at a time, with breaks between trips. Candidates must have ~5 years’ experience in conducting facility condition assessments or equivalent formal trade school education/experience in plumbing, roofing, mechanical systems, exteriors, roofing, fire protection, and/or electrical systems. Familiarity with BUILDER software is desired, but not required, should candidates be willing and able to learn how to use the BUILDER software. A PE is also not required.
This is an hourly position with the potential to become full-time, depending on the candidate's wishes and Scout’s needs. Candidates can be located anywhere in the nation and can work out of their home. Scout offers competitive benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.
