Leo will provide leadership for the development and successful execution of projects nationwide. He is a seasoned professional with more than 40 years of experience in the private sector and renewables and federal agency markets, managing the nation’s biological resources, imperiled species, and natural ecosystems. Leo possesses a unique set of skills and abilities with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act compliance, derived from his experience as both a private consultant and state and federal wildlife agency employee responsible for complex, controversial, and highly contentious environmental projects across the United States.

Sundance is excited to join the True Environmental family, bringing our clients the expertise of more than 300 environmental professionals to support projects nationwide, from Alaska to Guam. Sundance and our partner firms' combined experience offers a broader range of solutions to tackle our client’s most challenging environmental issues.

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Raised on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Idaho and taught to respect the land, September Myres started Sundance Consulting, Inc. in 2005 to provide solutions to environmental issues resulting from Department of Defense activities on tribal lands. She found initial success with consecutive Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program (NALEMP) contracts; and, Army Corps of Engineers contracts providing remediation, environmental consulting and records management services. However, she felt there were stereotypes related to being a Native American woman. Some clientele did not believe she could do the work required in a timely and efficient manner.

In 2008, Sundance was certified into the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program, a nine-year certification program that helps small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal marketplace. The program enabled Myres to strategically grow her company to become a competitive force in the environmental services industry.

Sundance revenues reached $11 million in 2016, a $10 million increase from 2011. During that same five-year period, Sundance opened seven satellite offices and hired 50 employees. Sundance forecasted its 2017 year-end revenue to be $14 million and plans to hire more personnel. The firm also received the Environmental Business Journal’s Small Firms Award (revenues less than $15 million) for achievements in 2016.

“A quote that continues to inspire me is from Chief Seattle: ‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’ How poignant,” Myres said. “As Sundance continues its growth, we will also continue to be a good steward of the land through our daily work practices. We will continue our responsible use, protection and restoration of our environment for the plants, the animals and the people that rely upon it. My deepest gratitude goes out to the SBA … with helping Sundance to become a successful 8(a) graduate.”

Program Manager Larisa Ford, PhD, MPA, has been appointed as Strategic Advisor on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB). GNEB is an independent federal advisory committee responsible for advising the President and Congress of the United States on good neighbor practices along the US/Mexico border, with a focus on environmental infrastructure needs.

As part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP), Sundance is supporting NREL and a coalition of community partners in Questa, New Mexico with the evaluation of the use of clean hydrogen as an alternative energy. The project aims to utilize retired mine land and water resources for beneficial use and be part of the solution to meet peak requirements, achieving jobs creation, statewide clean energy laws, and New Mexico greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Sundance is excited to continue our more than 15 years of support of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) through a 5-year National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Services Blanket Purchase Agreement. Leveraging extensive familiarity with all laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines, Sundance professionals will prepare NEPA documentation and perform a broad range of related environmental planning tasks for the BLM and, as needed, other U.S. Department of the Interior Bureaus. Tasks include work associated with public process activities to produce NEPA documents and scientific peer review of information; field surveys; hypothesis testing field research studies; analysis of data; development and testing of scientific models; gathering and synthesis of information, literature and/or cartography; preparation of land use plans and plan amendments (including protest resolution); preparation of Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and Categorical Exclusions; organization and facilitation of public meetings; and decision file creation and maintenance.

Sundance is pleased to welcome Staci Herring as Director of Strategic Development! Staci brings more than 20 years of experience in the environmental industry managing environmental investigations and remedy implementation across federal defense and civilian agencies, state and local governments and commercial clients. Her work has included complex multiple-phase, multi-media projects throughout the US across all phases of environmental investigation, remediation, and compliance. Ms. Herring is a subject matter expert for CERCLA and RCRA Remedy Reviews and Performance-Based Contracting. She also has a strong background in program and project management, technology application and client satisfaction.

Sundance is eager to continue our 14 years of support of the US Forest Service through a new 10-year Land Management Integrated Resources National Blanket Purchase Agreement. Sundance will perform a broad scope of services across the National Forests and Grasslands, including but not limited to, Project Management, Natural and Cultural Resources, National Environmental Policy Act, Communications/Tribal Liaison, and other Professional Services.

Sundance is honored to have September Myres, CEO and Owner/Founder, recognized as one of this year’s top 200 most inspiring women in business. Read about September and other female founders building the companies of tomorrow here: https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2023.

Sundance is proud to help empower Native American youth to advance their education in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) to become the next generation of leaders in our communities. Each year, the Sundance Native American STEM Scholarship Fund awards up to three scholarships to students of Native American or Alaska Native descent. This year, the Scholarship Committee awarded a scholarship to Elizabeth Mae Orlovich who will attend Boise State University in the fall to study Biology, with a long-term goal of combining her passion for the arts and sciences to become an Anaplastologist specialized in creating prosthetics that help improve people's lives. Congratulations, Elizabeth, and best wishes with all of your future endeavors!

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has featured Sundance in the 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 magazine as one of “10 Native Stem Enterprises to Watch.” AISES is a national non-profit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers.

Read about Sundance and other Top 10 Native Enterprises at: https://read.nxtbook.com/aises/winds_of_change/fall_2022/.

Sundance is excited to provide technical liaison support to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for applicants and grantees of the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) and other associated NFWF grant programs. Sundance is working in partnership with NFWF, the US Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Forest Service, US Department of Defense, and Native Americans in Philanthropy. The ATBC helps to support nationwide ecosystem restoration projects in an effort to heighten conservation efforts, reconnect wildlife, improve communities, and expand access to the outdoors, particularly in underserved communities.

To learn more about the ATBC, visit: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/america-beautiful-challenge?activeTab=tab-1..

For more information on the 2023 Request for Proposals process, visit: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/america-beautiful-challenge/america-beautiful-challenge-2023-request-proposals.

Sundance, with joint venture partner, CTI and Associates, Inc. (CTI), was awarded a 5-year, $50M Environmental Remediation Services IDIQ Contract in support of the Formerly Used Defense Site Program and other environmental programs for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) South Pacific Division (SPD). The work is to be performed at Military Munitions Response Program and Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste sites, primarily located within the geographic boundaries of USACE SPD, projects assigned to SPD, and their partners/customers, including, but not limited to, the Albuquerque District area of responsibility. The scope of work will include a full range of environmental support activities, including response services, remedial action activities, health and safety, and innovative technology/methodology, and will ensure accordance with CERCLA/RCRA and other related federal programs, in addition to state and local regulations. Sundance and CTI have been supporting the USACE Albuquerque District separately since 2012 and as a JV since 2016.

In 2014, the Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility site was listed as the highest priority contamination site for the Air Force by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment and Security. Since 2016, Sundance has provided support to the USACE Albuquerque District and Kirtland Air Force Base Installation Restoration Program for work at the Bulk Fuels Facility site.

Under our latest contract award, Sundance is developing the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation Report and Risk Assessment. Work includes completing site characterization and risk assessment services for a jet fuel leak that has caused soil, soil vapor, and groundwater contamination from the ground surface to more than 500 feet below ground surface. Sundance will assess impacts to human health and the environment and will evaluate final corrective actions for the site in accordance with the Kirtland Air Force Base New Mexico Environment Department RCRA Permit.

As a Native American-Owned Small Business, Sundance is proud to help empower Native American youth to advance their education in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) to become the next generation of leaders in our communities. Each year, the Sundance Native American STEM Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to students of Native American or Alaska Native descent. This year, the Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to Jeanette Driever at the University of New Mexico, Taylor Yazzie at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and Jalisa Whitehorse at Idaho State University. Thank you to all of our applicants, and congratulations to our STEM scholarship winners for 2022!

Sundance is proud to have been selected to support the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) pilot initiative.

The Communities LEAP seeks to help communities access the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy and clean energy manufacturing and aims to facilitate sustained community-wide economic empowerment through clean energy initiatives and improved local environmental conditions leading the way for other benefits to emerge primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work.

Sundance looks forward to supporting DOE in their efforts to provide technical assistance services to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts, or direct economic impacts because of a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels.

The work will involve providing stakeholder engagement, analysis, planning activities, and technical support services to assist communities in developing a robust plan (e.g., strategic plan or roadmap, business plan, implementation plan) that can be used to guide community efforts (e.g., policy, program or project implementation, financing schemes, funding opportunities, etc.).

Sundance is contracted with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to develop the first Cropland Management Plan (CMP) for the Western Navajo Agency’s 1.4-million-acre Land Management District 3 (LMD3). LMD3 has eight community irrigation systems serving about 210 farm plots totaling 620 acres. In addition, five large farm areas of approximately 5,000 acres are also proposed for commercial production along the Little Colorado River south of Cameron, Arizona. The CMP is needed to address BIA’s current long-standing permitting system, which has degenerated to where fewer than half of existing farm plots can be used, with low overall productivity from inadequate water sources.

Sundance prepared a plan focused on irrigation associations and development of additional water sources to restore the historic productivity of the farm plots. This process involves forming Farmer Water System Associations, which are issued land-use permits, entrusting association leadership to issue sub-permits by which they can keep all acres in production, while fallowing areas as needed. The second stage establishes a non-governmental organization to facilitate water sourcing, greenhouse maintenance, and farmer education and assistance. The third stage establishes a food hub for produce value-adding and marketing.

Sundance’s CMP and accompanying Environmental Assessment will provide the planning and policy framework to allow the farmer associations to apply for funding from federal sources, including the recent Navajo Thaw Program, designed to plan and fund recovery for this area.

Sundance was honored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a featured Success Story in the rollout of the new SBA Ascent online digital learning platform (https://ascent.sba.gov/) focused on educating women-owned small businesses (WOSB) about venturing into government contracting to help expand their businesses. Ascent provides resources to compete and succeed in the federal marketplace. Sundance's CEO and Owner, September Myres, was recognized in the rollout of this new SBA platform as a featured successful WOSB owner. To read the feature articles on Sundance, go to: https://www.sba.gov/search?q=sundance.

Sundance is proud to be recognized among the 10 Best Idaho-based Natural Resource Companies by www.BestStartup.us. Businesses are selected for this recognition for their approach to innovating the Natural Resources industry, with exceptional performance in one or more of the following areas: innovation, growth, management, and/or societal impact.

Sundance salutes Dr. Doug Cox for his contributions to the Remediation Industry as a PFAS Expert. Dr. Cox's most recent publication is now available online through REMEDIATION--The Journal of Environmental Cleanup Costs, Technologies, and Technique. Learn more about this publication at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rem.21706 or by contacting Dr. Cox at dcox@sundance-inc.net.

Sundance-EA Alliance, LLC, a joint venture between managing partner Sundance Consulting, Inc., and EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, was awarded a five-year, $22.5M Environmental Compliance & Conservation Services IDIQ contract in support of the US Army Environmental Command at installations nationwide, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The work to be performed is for a full range of environmental support activities, including evaluations, investigations, surveying, sampling, training, plan reviews and development, and permit reviews to ensure the supported components, tenant commands and facilities, and contractor operations demonstrate and maintain compliance with all applicable federal, US territory, and local statutes, and with Department of Defense and Army policies, permits, instructions, and guidance. Environmental compliance programs include National Environmental Policy Act; stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater; petroleum, oils, and lubricants; hazardous material and waste; solid and medical waste; storage tanks; lead-based paint; pest management; pollution prevention; asbestos management; air quality and emissions; and Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act; as well as geographic information system support and various environmental training.

Sundance-EA Associates II, a joint venture between Sundance Consulting, Inc. (as managing partner), and EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC, has been awarded a five-year, $30M Environmental Compliance Services IDIQ Contract at Joint Region Marianas, Guam. The work to be performed is for a full range of environmental support activities for naval installation environmental compliance programs to ensure the supported components, tenant commands and facilities, and contractor operations demonstrate and maintain compliance with all applicable federal, US territory, and local statutes, and with Department of Defense and Navy policies, permits, instructions, and guidance. Environmental compliance programs include clean air, safe drinking water, clean water, hazardous waste, pollution prevention, solid waste management, pesticide compliance, Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, ozone-depleting substances management, storage tank management, environmental quality assessment, environmental sampling and analysis, and overall environmental compliance oversight.

Mark Rigatti, President, stated, “We are proud to be awarded this contract to continue our support to the Navy’s mission and by maintaining good environmental stewardship for the warfighters in Guam.”