Federal Permitting Expert Eric Beightel Joins ESA

 Drawing on Recent Experience at the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, Beightel Will Advise Firm's Clients on Environmental Policy and the Evolving Regulatory Landscape

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Science Associates (ESA), a leading environmental consulting, engineering, and planning firm, is pleased to announce that Eric Beightel, outgoing Presidentially appointed Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council), has joined the organization as Federal Strategy Director.

A seasoned practitioner with a career spanning 25 years in federal, state, and private sector positions, Beightel is a nationally recognized expert on environmental policy, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the federal permitting process. He has played a leading role in driving the national effort to streamline the environmental permitting process for major infrastructure projects. At the Permitting Council, Beightel was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of more than $75 billion in large-scale infrastructure projects, supporting federal agencies and project sponsors through expedited federal environmental review and permitting that advanced dozens of critical projects to completion, realizing their economic and environmental benefits for the nation.

"Eric joins ESA at a pivotal moment," said President and CEO, Leslie Moulton-Post. "As the federal and state governments accelerate efforts to move critical infrastructure investments forward, they are also working to modernize and streamline the environmental regulatory process to deliver these projects and effective environmental protections at the scale and speed required."

Prior to his work at the Permitting Council, Beightel served under other federal administrations as a Senior Environmental Policy Advisor at the Department of Transportation and as a subject matter expert to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition to his public sector positions, he also has held national infrastructure and environmental policy and strategy roles with national and global consulting firms, bringing hands-on experience with project implementation and delivery for complex infrastructure projects.

In his new role at ESA, Beightel will serve as a strategic advisor to ESA's clients on the full range of regulatory challenges, helping them understand the ever-evolving environment of federal policies, processes, and funding requirements. He joins an extensive network of senior regulatory specialists and environmental subject matter experts across ESA, helping the firm to amplify and accelerate its ability to navigate the federal environmental regulatory process efficiently with a focus on project delivery.

"I am so excited to join ESA and work with experts across environmental disciplines to create actionable advice for clients to position their projects for success in this dynamic regulatory and policy environment," says Beightel. "I was drawn to ESA because of the focus on working on the right projects and staying true to the guiding principles to work for the betterment of our communities—I can't wait to get to work."

Beightel holds a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas.

About Environmental Science Associates
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a prominent environmental services firm, leading the industry in planning and design, environmental science, regulatory compliance, and restoration. ESA works to improve the sustainability and resilience of communities and the natural environment, providing responsive client service and tackling complex environmental challenges. A 100% employee-owned firm, growing thoughtfully and deliberately, ESA invests in its employee-owners across offices in California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

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SOURCE Environmental Science Associates