Scout Newsletter - March 2026

EPA Repeals Greenhouse Gas Climate Rule:
What It Means for Projects and Permits

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: San Antonio VAMC Public Meeting

Last month, our team supported the public meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed relocation of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in San Antonio, Texas, marking an important milestone in the NEPA process for this project.

The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the proposed action and alternatives, ask questions, and submit formal comments. The public comment period opened on January 30, 2026, and will remain open through March 16, 2026.

Our team coordinated logistics, prepared presentation materials, and supported VA representatives during the meeting. All comments from the public meeting and throughout the comment period will be reviewed and considered as the project advances toward the Final EIS and Record of Decision.

It’s an honor to support our veterans on this critical veterans healthcare infrastructure project!

Join Scout’s Barry Snyder in San Pedro this April for the 2026 Southern California Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SoCal SETAC) Annual Meeting to explore the future of toxicology, from PFAS and pesticides to the ecological impacts of wildfires. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with the region’s leading environmental scientists and support the next generation of student researchers. Barry will be chairing a session (topic to be announced), so stay tuned for more details on the final program. See you at Cabrillo Marina!

Women’s History Month

The Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery is a fitting place to celebrate Women’s History Month. The idea for the memorial began in the 1980s when retired Air Force Brigadier General Wilma Vaught saw that women’s service was largely left out of our national military narrative. Her vision led to the establishment of the memorial at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington, ensuring that the stories of America’s servicewomen are recognized and preserved. At Scout, we celebrate women veterans, active-duty service members, and all women whose contributions shape our country each day.

Dr. Amy Gusick is an environmental archaeologist who researches human environmental dynamics, the development of maritime societies, the peopling of the Americas, and maritime cultural landscapes. Since earning her B.A. from Seton Hall University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Dr. Gusick has investigated some of the most compelling questions in archaeology: how maritime societies emerged; how the Americas were first peopled; and how coastal communities adapted to dramatic environmental shifts. Published more than 40 times, Dr. Gusick’s research spans both land and sea, combining terrestrial excavation with new underwater archaeological methods to uncover submerged landscapes and hidden chapters of human history. Her research has earned support from the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Geographic Society, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Dr. Gusick's specialized skills include archaeological resource identification, lithic analysis, ichthyological analysis, prehistoric tool use, and project management. She has extensive experience planning, managing, leading, and supporting archaeological surveys. She also has served as a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Officer. She has extensive experience coordinating and consulting with Tribes, to include supporting successful Section 106 consultations. Dr. Gusick meets the Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualification Standards in archaeology.

Since joining Scout in 2022, Dr. Gusick’s work has supported numerous Scout projects. Highlights of her support include:

• Leading cultural studies and research for projects and consultations at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center

• Cultural resources support to USGS Earthquake Early Warning station establishment and seismic research

• NEPA and CEQA analyses for various NEPA and CEQA projects

• Planning, coordinating, and safely executing field surveys

• Supporting meaningful Tribal consultations to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes

Notably, she worked with Scout’s GIS professional, Becky Diaz, to prepare a predictive model and cultural resources report to identify submerged areas within San Francisco Bay with a high likelihood of containing cultural resources. The client was very pleased with the product, stating, “I want to say how impressed I am with the CR Report and EA that you prepared. We’ve been wrapping up Tribal consultation and have received a lot of positive feedback on the CR analysis and findings. I’m especially grateful for the CR sensitivity model.”

Amy leads a group of growing cultural resources professionals at Scout. We appreciate Amy’s expertise, professionalism, and dedication. Thank you, Amy!

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