Recent Posts by Susan Jaworski

Cultural Resources 101: Part of the Federal Environmental Process

The federal environmental process includes a myriad of individual subjects but there are five big players.  These are cultural resources, biology/ecology, hazardous materials, public outreach/involvement and permitting.  Cultural resources are relevant for every single federal project that must go through the environmental process.  The field encompasses archaeology (prehistoric and historic), historic architecture and Native American…
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Introduction to Environmental Finance

What is Environmental Finance? Environmental finance is a field that on the surface is unfamiliar to most practitioners.  However, most are familiar with some of the tools or products of environmental finance such as emissions trading and land trusts for conservation.   This field essentially takes a financial look and methodology to address environmental issues.  The…
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Indoor Air Quality and Environmental Health

It is estimated that people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. (1)  As such, indoor air quality can have an immense impact on health and general quality of life.  Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provide guidance based on research for indoor air quality but it…
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Ambient Air Quality and Environmental Health

Over 6,000 people became sick and 20 individuals lost their life in 1948 when a cloud of air pollution blanketed the town of Donora, Pennsylvania for 5 days. (1) Donora only had a total population of 14,000!  That translates to over 40% of the citizens suffered in some way.  The industrial revolution brought progress and…
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Climate Change and United States Arctic Policy

The Arctic encompasses the northernmost area of the world. It is characterized by the sheer size of the region, the frozen nature of the area and is one of the last remaining places on Earth that does not have clear political claims (1). In spite of the harsh environment, the area is brimming with life…
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NEPA 101: Introduction to United States Environmental Policy

What is NEPA? The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is one of the shortest laws to exist and is less than 6 pages in length.  NEPA was passed by Congress in 1969, signed into law on January 1, 1970 by President Richard Nixon and set the stage for environmental policy for the United States (1). …
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Drought Issues Facing the United States

What is Drought? The dictionary defines drought as “a period of dry weather” or “an extended shortage (1).” Drought has always been difficult to define because it varies based on location and associated impacts to the human and natural environment (2). In all cases, drought is temporary in nature, tends to be cyclical and results…
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