Betzy Colón

Senior Associate

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Areas of Expertise: Environmental and social safeguarding, environmental compliance, audits and inspections, environmental management systems, human health and ecological risk assessments, remediation under CERCLA and RCRA, environmental permitting, spill prevention and response

Education/Certifications: Master of Science degree in Soil and Water Sciences and Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology, University of Florida; bilingual in English and Spanish, basic French

Betzy is a senior environmental and social safeguards specialist with nearly 20 years of experience managing multi-sector investment projects, with a focus on project planning, safeguards implementation, strategic monitoring, and regulatory compliance. She further has ten years of international experience in environmental compliance, environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) oversight, audit protocols, and stakeholder engagement across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Betzy has technical expertise in environmental management systems (EMS), environmental compliance audits and inspections, human health and ecological risk assessments, site investigations and remediation under CERCLA and RCRA, environmental permitting, and spill prevention and response. She is skilled at executing effective environmental training programs, facilitating cross-functional coordination, and leading the development of knowledge products and guidance tools.

Betzy most recently worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), serving in several key environmental roles, including Senior Environmental Compliance Officer and Regional Environmental Advisor for the Latin America and Caribbean Bureau. Prior to joining USAID, she served in a variety of environmental positions, including Senior Environmental Consultant, Environmental Scientist, and Field Geologist. Highlights of her career include the following:

• Conducted environmental and social safeguard oversight and mitigation planning for USAID infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and other sector investment projects.
• Developed capacity-building programs and provided technical training to staff, project implementers, and government counterparts on environmental compliance and safeguard integration.
• Directed and performed environmental compliance reviews and inspections, including review of permits and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) plans, to evaluate compliance with federal and host country regulations, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-equivalent processes, industry best practices, and ISO-aligned EMS.
• Managed stakeholder engagement processes to investigate and resolve non-compliance issues and community grievances through research, interviews, field visits, and corrective action planning.
• Provided EMS and sustainability program support to the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, including compliance auditing according to ISO 14001.
• Leveraged data analytical tools such as Microsoft SharePoint and Google Workspace to optimize compliance tracking, enhance knowledge management, and streamline communication of environmental compliance requirements.
• Facilitated the development of technical documents, standard operating procedures, and outreach materials relevant to USAID’s environmental policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Led the development of complex human health and ecological risk assessments for the U.S. Forest Service Pesticide Use Program to help forest managers make informed decisions regarding the use of pesticides on forest lands.
• Served as Deputy Program Manager on a $20M Department of Defense environmental remediation contract, managing compliance for 60+ sites under CERCLA and RCRA frameworks.
• Authored Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans for the Maryland Transit Authority and conducted periodic field visits and training.
• Performed subsurface investigations at underground and aboveground storage tank sites to assess potential contamination from leaks and releases, including screening soil samples and collecting groundwater samples to assess water quality.
• Supervised environmental permitting and Phase I and II assessment activities for multiple sites throughout Florida and Puerto Rico.

Betzy has her M.S. in Soil and Water Sciences and her B.A. in Geology from the University of Florida. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has basic French language capabilities.