Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2008, Environmental Sciences

The purpose of this report is to describe activities of my internship with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton (EMH&T) from January 2008 to June 2008. EMH&T is an engineering firm that offers services including civil engineering, land surveying, environmental management and landscape architecture. The focus of my internship in the Environmental Department was on learning skills needed to become an environmental consulting professional. My report reflects the areas with which I became most familiar, including wetland and stream delineation, permitting, planting, mitigation and monitoring, stormwater management, and ecological restoration and surveys. Some responsibilities included developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), assisting with wetland and stream investigations, creating National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) educational materials and working on NPDES annual reports for communities in Central Ohio. The purpose of this report is to summarize projects with which I was involved and training I received during my internship with EMH

Committee: Adolph Greenberg (Advisor); Sandra Woy-Hazleton (Advisor); David Prytherch (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2018, Environmental Sciences

This report summarizes my duties as an Environmental Consultant at Nova Environmental, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My main responsibilities included monitoring the air quality on construction sites where asbestos removal was taking place. If airborne, asbestos fibers can be very dangerous to human health and are known to be linked to lung diseases and cancers. Due to this, asbestos containing materials need to be removed from buildings before construction or renovations occur. Several steps need to be taken to ensure that asbestos is removed safely at a job site. When on a construction site, there are several laws and regulations in place regarding asbestos removal as well as worker safety. This internship experience and my time at the Master of Environmental Science program through the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability at Miami University are described in the report.

Committee: Sarah Dumyahn (Advisor); Robbyn Abbitt (Committee Member); Catherine Almquist (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Health; Environmental Law; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2017, Environmental Sciences

Throughout the first ten months as a full-time environmental scientist at Amec Foster Wheeler, an international consulting firm, I have been exposed to a multitude of different projects. From conducting building characterization studies to helping with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, each experience has allowed me to gain new technical and professional skills. This report provides an in-depth discussion of the regulations and methodology associated with Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, asbestos inspections and abatement oversight, and presence and absence bat surveys. At the end of each chapter, case-studies are provided to illustrate how the regulations and methodology are applied in the field. The Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES) Master of Environmental Science (M.En.) program at Miami University was invaluable in preparing me for a career as an environmental consultant, and I will continue to use the knowledge gained from the IES program to build relationships with future clients.

Committee: Sarah Dumyahn Dr. (Advisor); Jonathan Levy Dr. (Committee Member); Catherine Almquist Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Law; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2014, Environmental Sciences

Through the Master of Environmental Science program with the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES) and my time as an intern with the environmental consulting firm, Parsons Corporation, I have gained a significant amount of knowledge and experience for work within the environmental consulting field. I now have a clear understanding of the environmental laws and regulations that are relevant to the permitting process for pipeline construction projects. I am capable of conducting low-flow groundwater sampling projects. I have gained experience with wetland mitigation and wetland delineation, and I have found a niche within this industry. Through the courses offered in the IES program, I was able to gain the skills necessary to be successful in the consulting field. This program taught me the importance of stakeholder input, clear communication and teamwork, and has led me to a bright future in the consulting industry.

Committee: Vincent Hand PhD (Advisor); Jason Rech PhD (Committee Member); Richard Munson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Health; Environmental Law; Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2014, Environmental Sciences

An environmental consultant is responsible for understanding both the scientific and the regulatory aspects of every project, and ensuring that the client is in compliance with the law. For transportation projects, this involves finding a balance between the transportation needs of the public and the protection of valuable environmental assets, which can both be considered shared resources. This paper describes the relevant laws and regulations, permitting processes, field methods and reporting associated with Ohio Department of Transportation projects completed during a six-month internship at a private consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio. Three case studies are used to illustrate the application of various environmental protocols.

Committee: Suzanne Zazycki (Advisor); Thomas Crist (Committee Member); Jonathan Levy (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science; Water Resource Management

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2013, Environmental Sciences

Through an environmental science internship with EMH&T, a private consulting firm, I conducted various environmental consulting projects. The four main projects that I worked on included a Nationwide Permit application, Level II Isolated Wetland Permit application, Level II Ecological Survey Report, and a monitoring report. For each of these projects, I conducted the field work, entered and analyzed the data, as well as wrote and submitted the final document for the appropriate regulatory agency. All of these projects involved the same stream and wetland assessments; however, each one of them was regulated very differently. Therefore, although similar field methods were used for various projects, the rules and regulations and ultimately the final document behind a particular project can vary greatly. Every project had a different scenario with varied requirements and client needs. Regardless of the project, coordination and communication with clients, agencies, and within EMH&T were crucial.

Committee: Thomas Crist Dr. (Advisor); Suzanne Zazycki Ms. (Committee Member); David Gorchov Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2005, Environmental Sciences

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES) at Miami University has offered a Master of Environmental Science since 1969. I have completed the class work needed for a Masters Degree concentrating in ‘Resource Analysis'. The program required a practicum, internship or thesis to complete the degree. As do most IES students, I chose the internship option so that I could gain valuable hands-on experience in environmental consulting. I have always been interested in consulting work because it represented a bridge between environmentalists and developers who often entertain opposite goals. Here I could use my botanical and environmental background to ensure that developers and government entities develop the landscape within the framework of Ohio's laws. In addition, I could work with engineers at EMH&T, Inc. to minimize the effects of development upon the environment under the current laws. I completed the internship with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton and Tilton (EMH&T) Inc. in Columbus, Ohio.

Committee: Jerry Green (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Sciences

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2011, Environmental Sciences

This paper reports an environmental consulting internship performed at Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure. The internship consisted primarily of consulting for a large retail commercial client. This report covers three separate projects for the client assigned during the internship. These were: the Environmental Permit Review project, the Spill Control and Countermeasure Plan project, and the United States Department of Transportation Employee Training project. Each project is described in detail, illustrating project overview, specific duties, and personal reflection of lessons learned. Also discussed is the role that the education and experience provided by Miami University's Institute of Environmental Science played in succeeding during the internship period and obtaining a permanent employment position.

Committee: Mark Boardman Ph.D (Committee Chair); R. Hays Cummins Ph.D (Advisor); John Maingi Ph.D (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Law; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2009, Environmental Sciences

The environmental job market is a dynamic and rapidly changing place. Different opportunities are appearing every day and individuals often have the choice to work in a variety of different work environments. This paper considers two broad sectors of the environmental job market and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of working in each based on real-world work experiences. Two six-month internships were undertaken with the goal of evaluating and comparing the work environment of public (i.e. government) environmental employment with private (i.e. consulting) environmental employment. The first experience was at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Resource Assessment Service, Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment division, in Annapolis, MD from August, 2007 until February, 2008. The second experience was with Ecology and Environment, Inc., an environmental consulting firm in Lancaster, NY, from March, 2008 until August, 2008.

Committee: Sandra Woy-Hazleton Dr. (Advisor); Adolph Greenberg Dr. (Committee Member); R. Hays Cummins Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2008, Environmental Sciences

Emerald Environmental Inc (Emerald) is a privately held environmental consulting firm specializing in industrial hygiene, environmental, and waste management. Sustainability for Educators and the Environment (SEE) is a non-profit organization that provides environmental education to northeast Ohio schools and practical application of sustainability principles. This report details an internship with Emerald and SEE, between May 2006 and November 2007. During this internship I had many duties ranging from day-to-day office tasks and major program development. Some major tasks included grant writing, hiring and supervising interns, and developing Emerald's environmental management department. My goal for this internship was to experience different sectors of the environmental career field to determine what best suited my experience and attitude.

Committee: W. Michele Simmons PhD (Committee Chair); Adolph Greenberg PhD (Committee Member); Thomas Klak PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2013, Environmental Sciences

The complexity of environmental regulation has created a need for experts in the environmental field to help those who are subject to environmental laws meet ever more rigorous standards and maintain compliance. Private environmental consultants are professionals who must be knowledgeable about environmental science and familiar with the regulatory process in order to bridge the gap between regulation and reality. This report discusses the role of an environmental consultant conducting work related to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for both private and public clients. Other topics discussed are the subjectivity inherent in assessment of natural resources and the need for experience, the existence of ethical dilemmas, and the appropriateness of advocacy in the environmental consulting field. Several case studies are included that describe specific projects completed during the internship.

Committee: David Prytherch Ph.D. (Advisor); Bill Renwick Ph.D. (Committee Member); Sandra Woy-Hazelton Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Management; Environmental Science