Cole Lindsey - Senior Environmental Scientist

Professional Summary

Cole Lindsey has 5 years of experience in ecological surveys and reviews, as well as field sampling and data collection. His field work experience has included: vegetation analysis, bat handling/acoustics, excel data entry, waterfowl activity budgets, plant identification, mammal identification, bird identification, fish identification, GIS (ESRI ArcMap), SAS, small mammal collections, radio-telemetry, boat electrofishing, backpack electrofishing, implanting floy and elastomer tags, detecting pit-tags, Fyke netting, gill netting, population sampling, population estimating, levaging fish, fish food habits studies, and GPS navigation.

Cole's work for EAS involves research and monitoring of selected wildlife populations (avian species, mammals, fish, amphibians, macroinvertebrates) as part of the Public Safety and Resource Protection (PSRP) program at the Hanford Site. Cole's responsibilities include surveying and documenting wildlife distributions, area-use patterns, and relative abundances on and near the Hanford Site, along with quantifying and monitoring biologically important metrics, such as histology, body conditions, growth and survival, reproduction, densities, demographics, and species richness. The PSRP program at Hanford is being directed for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the Mission Support Alliance.

Areas of Specialization

  • Wildlife and plant surveys and sampling
  • Ecological Compliance (site surveys, management, and monitoring)
  • Endangered Species Act consultations (informal and formal)
  • Sample equipment decontamination processes
  • Developing systematic approaches for rapid sample collection events
  • Quality Assurance/Quality Control methods for environmental sampling events
  • Field sample collections of soil, water, and biota
  • Job Hazard Analyses reviews
  • Leadership and supervision of subcontractors and employees
  • Client/Customer relations

Relevant Work Experience

Cole has supervised and performed a number of complex environmental sampling projects including; preparation of all field and lab sampling equipment and developing processes for rapid collection, tracking, storing, and shipping of samples. He coordinated and supervised the collection of more than 1000 environmental samples of small mammals, fish, vegetation, soil, and water, using the highest quality assurance and quality control guidelines. Cole has excellent interpersonal skills when supervising team members, coordinating with other agencies, and communicating with EAS clients.

Cole's work for EAS has included a project for Washington Closure Hanford, DOE's River Corridor Contractor, for ecological resource clearances, plans, strategies, reviews and support to project activities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and DOE-Richland Operations Office (DOE-RL) guidance for the protection of natural resources on the Hanford Site. Cole conducted ecological resource reviews of project activities, reviewed planning documents, conducted site walk-downs, conducted revegetation monitoring and reporting, conducted ecological investigations, provided guidance for mitigation of project impacts to natural resources of concern, and prepared correspondence and provided consultation with DOE-RL, regulators, and natural resource agencies.

Cole has also participated in collecting, processing, and shipping soil and biota samples in support of the Comprehensive Monitoring Program for the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility, Oregon. He performed sample collections, including handling small mammals, field logbook record keeping, copy and scanning records, performing data QA checks, and summary report preparations.

Education/Training

  • B.S., Biology, Eastern Washington University, 2007
  • First Aid/CPR
  • 40-hr Hazardous Waste Training
  • Radiological Worker II

Professional Affiliations

  • The Wildlife Society