Elizabeth A. Benson, AICP
For over 36 years, Elizabeth has worked with private industry, state and federal regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individual communities. Thirty-four of those years have been working in Alaska. Elizabeth currently operates her own consulting business, Benson Planning Associates, which offers clients extensive experience in community land use and environmental planning, research and policy analyses, strategic stakeholder consultation, regulatory analyses and permitting, and project management.
She has a solid knowledge of local, state, and federal regulatory requirements for community development, regional development, and resource development and understands Alaska issues and opportunities from the community, regulatory agency, and private sector perspectives. Elizabeth is a collaborative problem solver and works well with multi-discipline teams. She is an organized and capable manager
For over 36 years, Elizabeth has worked with private industry, state and federal regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individual communities. Thirty-four of those years have been working in Alaska. Elizabeth currently operates her own consulting business, Benson Planning Associates, which offers clients extensive experience in community land use and environmental planning, research and policy analyses, strategic stakeholder consultation, regulatory analyses and permitting, and project management.
She has a solid knowledge of local, state, and federal regulatory requirements for community development, regional development, and resource development and understands Alaska issues and opportunities from the community, regulatory agency, and private sector perspectives. Elizabeth is a collaborative problem solver and works well with multi-discipline teams. She is an organized and capable manager
Areas of Expertise
· Community plans, integrated community and regulatory stakeholder consultation plans, project permitting strategies, and pre-NEPA Environmental Evaluation Documents
· Small and large group discussion facilitation
· Training program development for multi-disciplinary groups
· Project scope, schedule, and budget management
Project Experience Highlights
Oil and Gas Projects
· Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline/ASAP Project – Project Manager, Environmental Evaluation, Permitting Strategy, Stakeholder Consultation
· North Slope Oil and Gas Projects– Project Manager, Strategic Planning, Permit Implementation. Projects included: Hilcorp Liberty Development Regulatory Strategy, Repsol Development Project, Statoil Chukchi Sea Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and Plan of Cooperation, TGS Chukchi Sea Seismic 2D Seismic Survey, Shell Exploration Program Stakeholder Engagement Support.
· NPR-A Alaska Oil and Gas Exploration Projects– Principal Consultant for Strategic Permitting and Stakeholder Outreach
· ANGDA Natural Gas Spur Line Recreation User Discussion Project
Community Planning Projects
· Anchorage 2020 – Comprehensive planning consultant to the Municipality of Anchorage on Implementation Strategy Development, Goals and Objectives
· Anchorage Commercial and Industrial Land Use Study – Project Manager and Principal Planner
· ADNR “Bullet Line” Natural Gas Pipeline Project - Project Manager
· Coastal Management Plan Amendments for the Municipality of Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Borough – Project Manager
· Coalbed Methane Development Project, Mat-Su Highway and Rail Corridor Study, and Trunk Road Reconstruction Study – Moderator and Facilitator
· Comprehensive plans for the Cities of Kenai, Crag and Bethel and Coastal Management Plan Amendment for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough – Principal Planner or Project Manager
· Transportation (airports, roads, trails) projects in rural northern and southcentral Alaska – Senior Planner/Public Involvement Coordinator and/or Project Manager
Professional Development Training and Education
· Alaska Department of Commerce and Community Economic Development – Preparation of the first update to the Alaska Planning Commission Handbook, which included conducting training workshops and development of course curriculum
· Office of the Governor, former Division of Governmental Coordination – Senior Project Review Coordinator responsible for developing the state's position regarding major development projects. Facilitated regulatory agency review and recommendations for permit approvals.
· Professional trainer for numerous planning commission development workshops throughout rural Alaska and at the local, statewide and National APA levels.
· Active in the Alaska Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) as Chapter President, Professional Development Officer, and Planning Official Development Officer.
· Graduate-level lecturer in “Planning for Northern Communities” for the School of Engineering Northern Design Course at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
· Former Planning Commissioner – Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission.
Education
B.S., Applied Geography, Oregon State University
M.S., Water Resources Geography/Planning, Oregon State University
Postgraduate work in land use law, continuing education coursework in Environmental Analyses and NEPA, Community Development, and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
Professional Affiliations
AICP – American Institute of Certified Planners
APA Member – Law Division and Indigenous Planning Division
APA Alaska Chapter, Past President, Past Professional Development Officer, and Past Planning Official Development & Training Officer
· Community plans, integrated community and regulatory stakeholder consultation plans, project permitting strategies, and pre-NEPA Environmental Evaluation Documents
· Small and large group discussion facilitation
· Training program development for multi-disciplinary groups
· Project scope, schedule, and budget management
Project Experience Highlights
Oil and Gas Projects
· Alaska Stand Alone Gas Pipeline/ASAP Project – Project Manager, Environmental Evaluation, Permitting Strategy, Stakeholder Consultation
· North Slope Oil and Gas Projects– Project Manager, Strategic Planning, Permit Implementation. Projects included: Hilcorp Liberty Development Regulatory Strategy, Repsol Development Project, Statoil Chukchi Sea Stakeholder Engagement Strategy and Plan of Cooperation, TGS Chukchi Sea Seismic 2D Seismic Survey, Shell Exploration Program Stakeholder Engagement Support.
· NPR-A Alaska Oil and Gas Exploration Projects– Principal Consultant for Strategic Permitting and Stakeholder Outreach
· ANGDA Natural Gas Spur Line Recreation User Discussion Project
Community Planning Projects
· Anchorage 2020 – Comprehensive planning consultant to the Municipality of Anchorage on Implementation Strategy Development, Goals and Objectives
· Anchorage Commercial and Industrial Land Use Study – Project Manager and Principal Planner
· ADNR “Bullet Line” Natural Gas Pipeline Project - Project Manager
· Coastal Management Plan Amendments for the Municipality of Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Borough – Project Manager
· Coalbed Methane Development Project, Mat-Su Highway and Rail Corridor Study, and Trunk Road Reconstruction Study – Moderator and Facilitator
· Comprehensive plans for the Cities of Kenai, Crag and Bethel and Coastal Management Plan Amendment for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough – Principal Planner or Project Manager
· Transportation (airports, roads, trails) projects in rural northern and southcentral Alaska – Senior Planner/Public Involvement Coordinator and/or Project Manager
Professional Development Training and Education
· Alaska Department of Commerce and Community Economic Development – Preparation of the first update to the Alaska Planning Commission Handbook, which included conducting training workshops and development of course curriculum
· Office of the Governor, former Division of Governmental Coordination – Senior Project Review Coordinator responsible for developing the state's position regarding major development projects. Facilitated regulatory agency review and recommendations for permit approvals.
· Professional trainer for numerous planning commission development workshops throughout rural Alaska and at the local, statewide and National APA levels.
· Active in the Alaska Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) as Chapter President, Professional Development Officer, and Planning Official Development Officer.
· Graduate-level lecturer in “Planning for Northern Communities” for the School of Engineering Northern Design Course at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
· Former Planning Commissioner – Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission.
Education
B.S., Applied Geography, Oregon State University
M.S., Water Resources Geography/Planning, Oregon State University
Postgraduate work in land use law, continuing education coursework in Environmental Analyses and NEPA, Community Development, and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
Professional Affiliations
AICP – American Institute of Certified Planners
APA Member – Law Division and Indigenous Planning Division
APA Alaska Chapter, Past President, Past Professional Development Officer, and Past Planning Official Development & Training Officer