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

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2018, Weatherhead School of Management

Industries in developing economies are facing ever increasing pressure to become greener and socially responsible. However, the prevailing regime of environmental policy drives green investment in developed economies. The case might be different, we conjectured, in tropical developing economies where environmental policy usually takes the form of traditional command-and-control. Moreover, studies on exploratory mixed method on green investment and organizational performance nexus are rare in developing economies. This gap in studies stays in the theme's state-of-the-art. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty upper echelon executives representing five Nigerian firms. Quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaire from 324 pulp and paper companies in Nigeria. The hypothesized relationships of this model were validated by structural equation modelling. The findings show that green investment is driven by factors uncommon to developed countries including raw materials scarcity, firm size and ownership structure among others. Contrary to the existing literatures and conventional empirical evidences, the study indicates a positive relationship between green investment and organizational performance of industrial firms, and, these firms surprisingly, are investing in them to a degree uncommon in most developing countries. The study provides some valuable managerial insights into the relationship between the nexus of green policies and firm performance in Sub Saharan Africa. Key words: green investment, environmental benign technologies, environmental regulations, organizational performance, pulp and paper industry, developing economies, Nigeria

Committee: Philip A. Cola, Ph.D. (Advisor); Kalle Lyytinen, Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Management

Master of Science, University of Akron, 2015, Geology

The sediment in Rex Lake, a kettle lake in Northeast Ohio, preserves a record of modern sedimentation processes and past anthropogenic impacts to the lake and its watershed. Rex Lake is connected to a series of kettle lakes and human-made reservoirs that forms the Portage Lakes System, a popular recreational area. Rex Lake is affected by sediment focusing processes and has a wave base of 2 m. Sands and gravels having high dry bulk density and low organic content are present in water less than 2 m deep. Organic mud and calcareous mud are present in water depths greater than 2 m. The acoustic properties of the lakefloor were used to remotely determine differences between sands/gravels and muds. Because of differences in matrix lithology and pore geometry of the organic muds and calcareous muds, this study shows that caution must be exercised when using acoustics to remotely sense lakefloor sediment grain size. The upper 4 m of mud, from the middle of the lake, was cored and measured for physical properties, sedimentology and trace metal content. Four time periods having distinct sediment characteristics were identified and related to changing anthropogenic activities. The Pre-settlement Period characterizes organic mud below 135 cm core depth, having low sediment density, magnetic, and trace metal content. This sediment is inferred to have accumulated while the watershed was forested prior to Euro-American settlement of the area in 1805. In the Settlement Period, between 135 and 70 cm core depth, organic content decreases, magnetic content and sediment density increase slightly, and trace metal content remains low. These sediment changes are inferred to reflect increased erosion as the watershed was deforested for agricultural activities. In the Recreation Period, between 70 and 20 cm core depth, organic content decreases to its minimum value whereas the trace metal, magnetic content, and sediment density increase greatly. During this period increa (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Peck Dr. (Advisor); David Steer Dr. (Committee Member); James McManus Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Geology; Geology; Geophysics; History

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2014, Agricultural, Environmental and Developmental Economics

We examine questions of land use by analyzing the underlying land market and uncovering intended and unintended outcomes of regulations. Understanding land use patterns is a fundamental component for examining the linkages between urbanization and environmental outcomes. Different types of land use are largely determined by the interactions between proximity to urban area, land prices, and public policies. In the first essay, we explore how a specific set of smart growth land use regulations impact land use patterns. Land developer's responses to regulations can be varied and unanticipated. We develop and test a model of developer behavior in response to spatially and temporarily varying development moratoria that occur as a result of the Smart Growth initiative in Maryland. We utilize a rich dataset with a nonlinear moratoria policy variable that varies temporally and spatially which enables us to identify the anticipatory decisions by developers in the time periods leading up to a moratoria. Additionally, we are able to identify a heterogeneous spatial spillover effect that results from developers choosing to build houses in the outskirts of the county when moratoria occur, while substituting away from locations that fall within designated growth areas. A localized land price index is constructed to control for temporal variation in spatially correlated unobservables. From this model we are able to offer an additional explanation for the urban sprawl observed in this region, as an outcome of development behavior responses to moratoria in overcrowded schools. In our second essay, we explore the environmental tradeoffs of land use regulations. Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates the “waters of the United States” to minimize degradation of wetlands. In 1985 the definition of the US waters under Section 404 was expanded in an effort to specifically reduce environmental damage caused by new residential developments. This study analyzes a suburban (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Elena Irwin Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Economics

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2012, Environmental Studies (Arts and Sciences)

With the rate of urbanization continuing to increase, there is growing interest among cities to adopt sustainable waste management strategies. It is estimated that 97 percent of food waste in the U.S. is buried in landfills and accounts for the majority of solid waste generated. Composting is a relatively new practice that is effective at diverting food waste from landfills, but it receives little attention. This study examines the public, private, and government institutions that play a role in the creation of composting programs. In-depth interviews and field observations were used in the cities of Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Edinburgh, Scotland to examine the challenges and barriers to composting program implementation. Government mandates and collaboration among organizations is imperative for implementing composting programs and shaping positive environmental behaviors. Public education, funding, infrastructure, and government regulations are all essential for the successful adoption of urban composting programs.

Committee: Geoffrey Buckley PhD (Advisor); Michele Morrone PhD (Committee Member); Bernhard Debatin PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Environmental Education; Environmental Management; Environmental Studies; Sustainability; Urban Planning