Dick Sanderson, R.I.P.

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Sanderson, a founding member and former Senior Vice President of Dawson & Associates whose government career included senior environmental positions at the White House and EPA.

Dick and I first met during the Reagan Administration when I was a political appointee of the Army, responsible for the Corps of Engineers, and Dick was a career public servant at EPA, one of the top officials at EPA.

During nearly 30 years with our firm, Dick was a passionate and effective client advocate. For decades, clients came to Dawson & Associates because they valued Dick's perspectives on regulatory issues involving endangered species, flood plain management and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Indeed, it would be hard to overstate his incredible knowledge of these and related federal environmental policies. Dick was one of the first EPA officials to recognize the environmental benefits sure to flow from cost-sharing and user fees as those elements necessarily produced smaller Corps of Engineers projects. He had an especially keen understanding of how NEPA revisions would impact permitting decisions.

He was an outstanding ally always true to his own responsibilities at EPA but willing to assume a broader perspective when it was the right thing to do. This is one of many examples where Dick’s foresight and deep understanding of legal and environmental matters brought about good government.

Dick came to Dawson after 42 years in federal government service that included senior positions in the White House, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency. During this time, Dick was intimately involved with drafting and implementing regulations involving flood plain management, endangered species, emergency procedures and historic preservation.

Dick retired from full-time service at Dawson in 2010. But even after that, he would frequently lend his expertise when a client needed the perspective and knowledge that only Dick could provide.

To Dick's family and especially his wonderful wife Barbara, we offer our deepest sympathies and our gratitude for Dick's help. May he rest in peace.

Robert K. Dawson

Founder