PROVIDING GEOLOGIC EXPERTISE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES FACING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Tens of thousands of sites where environmentally hazardous substances have been released into the environment or where industrial or mining operations are being proposed can be found in communities across the North America. These sites are investigated by professionals under the oversight of state and local environmental protection agencies. The oversight agencies have programs to keep impacted people informed. Unfortunately, these efforts may not succeed because local citizens and elected officials lack the technical expertise to understand what is being done and why. The lack of understanding combined with investigations that can take years can lead to resentment and mistrust.

Offering geologic expertise to a community working through an environmental investigation can be both rewarding and educational. Environmental reports include a variety of basic geologic information including stratigraphy, well logs, maps of surficial and bedrock deposits, and cross sections. The reports may contain more detailed geologic material such as hydrogeologic analyses, river discharge forecasts, estimates of minable reserves, and coastal erosion projections. Communities impacted by these reports may lack the resources to hire their own consultant and welcome input from academic professionals and students. The resulting effort can provide benefits to all participants.

The community benefits from having an objective review and someone on their side. Students benefit from working with real-world data; seeing how that data is collected, analyzed, and presented by professionals; and by preparing summaries and critiques that are accurate and easily understood. Academic professionals benefit from access to data they may utilize in teaching or further research, helping local communities understand their environment, and by working with other geologists to develop solutions to environmental issues.

This talk will conclude with several examples of community outreach including an analysis of a mine proposal, a long-term consultation with a community advisory group seeking remediation of a Superfund site, and the examination of a groundwater contamination concern. Effective outreach can result in long-term professional relationships and access to additional opportunities to provide assistance.