Rick Benas
Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science Degree in Land Management-Forestry 1968; Bachelor Degree in Environmental Studies 1972; Bachelor of Landscape Architecture 1973. All degrees earned at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University
Career: Formerly a Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board Certified (Nationally Certified) Landscape Architect registered and licensed to practice in New York State. Two years as County Forester (Chenango County N.Y.). Twenty-five years as Associate Environmental Analyst and Expert Witness for The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Three years as Associate Principal Saratoga Associates, Principal Emeritus Saratoga Associates.
Career Highlights: Testified as expert State sponsored witness in all energy related and other adversarial environmental trials before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Public Service, New York State Energy Planning Board, Federal Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and The Federal Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (1977-2001).
Between 1975-76 created abstract and realistic art judged by a panel of critics at the Orange County Council of the Arts to be of sufficient quality to allow its inclusion in a two-person art show in September and October of 1976.
Author of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Program Policy “Assessing and Mitigating Visual Impact” (DEP-00-2) and an article in Landscape Architecture Magazine (May/June 1983) concerning Coal Conversion.
Current member American Mensa Limited