While I dont get to do much field work anymore, my job has me on the front lines as an environmental engineer. I realize that I cant pursue my outdoor interests fly fishing and bird hunting without clean streams and good habitat. As such I always think about the impacts a project is going to have on the environment.
Usually the work includes developing Storm Water Erosion and Sedimentation Plans, Pollution Abatement Scrubbers, and other projects that PREVENT POLLUTION. My fishing friends say because I work for corporate America I use my environmental skills for the "Dark Side". My reply is would you rather have the accountants make the decisions? LOL
On the flip side, I am working on a remediation project CLEANING UP pollution at an historic soil contamination site. The site repaired locomotives in the late 1800 early 1900's. ie all the oils ,degreasers, and other chemicals were dumped in the "Back 40". Soil and ground water are contaminated and nearby homes may be impacted by vapors from contaminated groundwater infiltrating a 100+ year old deteriorated sanitary system that transverses the area.
The job has me interact with geologists, hydrologists, foresters, chemists, hygenists, gov't officials, civil engineers, politicians, corporate executives, sportsmen's groups, community groups, citizens and a host of other interested parties. Believe me, they all have an agenda.
The job forces me to see the reality of situations, and while the goal of all of the players is a clean environment, the how and the "how much" are the difficult questions. Its easy to point the finger and say "you pay for it" but when the "you" is a long defunct business and the cost needs to be shared, it amazing to see how peoples view change.
