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, 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, 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 Arts (MA), Wright State University, 2022, International and Comparative Politics

Climate change, or global warming at the time, made a significant public outcry in the 1970s. Two major international treaties, the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, were created from the spark of international demand for action. Why is it that after such a movement, the global community still fails to cooperate on climate change action? What makes a state comply with its international environmental treaty commitments, like the Kyoto Protocol? This thesis' research findings indicate that neither public opinion, elite framing of climate change as a threat, nor a state's capacity impact a state's compliance path. Further research shows evidence of the influence of economic development but was only evident in the case of Australia. These findings indicate that the compliance schools that dominate the literature and the Copenhagen school have less significant empirical validity. Research on state capacity, governmental structure, and through speech coding provides the emergence of one potential foundation that could shed further light on this research question. That is the area of political ideology and affiliation. Arguably, climate change is one of our most serious global issues, even with the increased intensity of erratic and intense weather patterns. Based on this research, it is believed far more by the scientific community than the average citizen and politician. It is more paramount now than ever to help understand what truly makes a state comply with global commitments on climate action. The time is ticking away.

Committee: Vaughn Shannon Ph.D. (Advisor); Enamul Choudury Ph.D. (Committee Member); Liam Anderson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Australian Literature; Canadian Studies; Comparative Literature; Environmental Law; International Relations; Political Science; Psychology

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

This paper details my experiences and activities at Environmental Quality Management, Inc. (EQ) in Cincinnati, Ohio, from August 2007 through February 2008. During the first six months at EQ, I provided technical and field support to several types of environmental projects including National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit applications, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, and others. I worked primarily in EQ's Environmental Compliance and Permitting discipline. The purpose of this report is to summarize the projects and documents I contributed to and the training I received during my internship at EQ.

Committee: Jean Lutz PhD (Committee Chair); David E. Russell PhD (Committee Member); Michele Simmons PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Science

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2009, Antioch New England: Environmental Studies

Recent national media coverage of hospital mismanagement of hazardous materialsand waste has brought the practices of all hospitals into public scrutiny. Many people are amazed to learn that there is no national training or accreditation program for environmental management in hospitals. Hospitals are held to the same standards for hazardous materials management as are corporations in the industrial sector. Rural hospitals are particularly challenged because they have few resources. Overall, small hospitals need much improvement, but there are also examples of where individuals have done exemplary innovative work in improving environmental management. In this study I investigated the challenge rural hospitals face to improving environmental management practices by inquiring into how environmental managers in small rural hospitals in New Hampshire learned to do their job and maintain their skills. I used the constant comparison coding method from grounded theory to generate key categories and concepts that could explain the personal and systematic challenges these individuals face. Using these concepts, I developed a learning process model that demonstrates how the managers initially learned how to do their work and how they went to on to maintain their skills. In cases where individuals excelled and developed innovative practices in their organizations, I inquired into the factors that contributed to their success. The purpose of the project was to document systematic challenges and obstacles that the managers need to overcome in their work. These can be used to promote recommendations that would enhance the environmental management practices of rural hospitals nationwide. One key obstacle is that hospital management emphasizes income generation over expense shedding and environmental managers have no billing capacity. Consequently, even though improved practices can save costs, the capital needed for these changes is difficult for the managers to secure. Anothe (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Thomas Webler (Committee Chair); Dr. Steven Guerriero (Committee Member); Dr. Barbara Sattler (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education

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