Native American Consultation Letters and Log Coding

Challenge 

The Native American consultation letters and associated consultation logs took approximately 2 hours to compile and email out for each project. In D4 Local Assistance we have 20-30 projects per year that require these tasks.  

Solution   

Dan Rivas, Associate Environmental Planner in Local Assistance, developed a coding program for D4 Local Assistance which automatically formatted and compiled the letters and creates the accompanying consultation log spreadsheet, reducing a 2hr task to a 5 minute task. This innovative idea has since saved time and money simplifying a task that previously was more complicated and less accurate to complete.  

Result

• Time saving (approximately 4hrs every month)

• Accuracy: as an automated system that takes data directly from generic spreadsheets there is less potential for error

• Improved stakeholder consultation. Consultation can happen earlier with more time allowed

• Organization: The consultation and consultation logs are organized together

Project Contact(s):  

Kelli J. Alahan - Kelli.Alahan@dot.ca.gov  

Thomas Holstein - Thomas.Holstein@dot.ca.gov