Rick Webb, Executive Director – Rick retired in 2014 as a Senior Scientist with the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia, where he obtained an MS degree in 1988. His professional emphasis is on scientific investigation and assessment that contributes to the preservation of ecosystem integrity in the forested mountains of the central Appalachian region. While at UVA, Rick managed watershed research and monitoring programs focused on public lands in Virginia and West Virginia. He contributed to regional assessments of air pollution impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, he developed protocols for water and soil monitoring, and he served as an expert witness concerning effects of power plant emissions in the central Appalachian region. Post retirement, Rick worked against the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline as Coordinator of the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition and as part of the team that developed ABRA’s Pipeline Compliance Surveillance Initiative. Since the defeat of the pipeline, he has worked on the development of ABRA’s Conservation Hub.
Dan Shaffer, Geospatial Consultant – Dan has spent over two decades providing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services to the construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy industries. He has provided support on projects ranging from residential storm water systems to major port development projects, E911 systems and marine planning for offshore wind farms. He received his B.A. in Geography from Virginia Tech and is a LEED-accredited professional. Dan is the principal architect and custodian of ABRA’s Conservation Hub program and ABRA’s earlier Compliance Surveillance Initiative (CSI) mapping system, which focused on the now-cancelled Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Additional duties for ABRA involve assisting with the production of ABRA Update and maintaining the coalition website and mailing list. Dan lives in Staunton, Virginia.
Andrew Young, Staff Attorney —Andrew leads ABRA’s campaign to improve public accessibility of critical environmental information and works in close collaboration with partner organizations to hold regulatory agencies accountable using all tools from FOIA requests to litigation. He holds a J.D. from George Washington University. Since joining ABRA in 2018, Andrew’s most meaningful work was supporting the grassroots coalition of folks who beat the odds and defeated the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Andrew grew up in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York and now lives in Charlottesville, VA with his wife and two dogs. He is an avid runner, mountain biker, whitewater boater, backpacker, skier, and wilderness enthusiast. Andrew is proud to be on the board of directors for the Cowpasture River Preservation Association, and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy.