1. Community Comparison: Transitional vs. Upland Temperate Deciduous Forest
The Community Comparison paper was an assignment issued to me and my peers in the Ecological Principles class offered at Stockton College and taught by Dr. Michael Geller. Split into groups, the students collected data using modern ecological techniques of random sampling and the projection of counted native (and non-native) species in the Pine Barrens within perimeters of ten yards. My ability to accomplish not only the rapid identification of shrub and tree species, but also accurately record this data, is all thanks to the great faculty at Stockton.
After the data was collected from the transitional forest area (between the wetlands and the upland) and the upland temperate deciduous forest area, the massive amount of numbers were then entered into the Microsoft Excel program to be manipulated to find trends in growth, the invasion of other non-native species, as well as the population expansion or declination over time when compared to previous Stockton data.
This assignment was one of my first assignments at Stockton, and it taught me a great deal about the environmental science field. From this assignment, I learned that collecting this data can be used to prevent development of homes or commercial buildings too close to wetlands, where doing such would permanently damage populations in that area. I learned a great deal of patience, formulas, and calculations I had never known before, as well as learned an exceptionally great deal about the NJ Pine Barrens and how ecological data may be its greatest protector.
2. The Economic Impacts of Environmental Regulation in the United States
This paper, assigned by Dr. Tait Chirenje, taught me more about the inner workings of the environmental government than I had ever before since known. It is here I learned about the Clean Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and most importantly the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). I found that these laws, among many others, are the laws that help protect the American people, enforced by the US Environmental Protection Agency so that we can live our daily lives knowing that the water we drink and the food we eat are safe.
Unfortunately, like all government-run organizations, these laws come at a price. The short-term price for maintaining these regulations are very high, and even in today's political debates, the effectiveness of the EPA and the laws they provide to help protect the people are often questioned by politicians; however, from what I've learned by my education at Stockton College, the risk associated with the absence of these laws is a far greater threat to the American people.
3. CERCLA and the Price Landfill Superfund Site
The Price Landfill is a 26-acre Superfund site located in Pleasantville, New Jersey. This assignment, issued by Dr. Tait Chirenje to myself and my peers, was to conduct a mock Phase I assessment of the site, which operated from 1969-1976 and handled industrial wastes that included (but not limited to) benzine and trichloroethylene.
The most important skill I learned from this project was not only how to conduct a proper assessment of a Superfund site (who is responsible, how is the site fairing today?), but working with a team of students who have similar interests as me but completely opposite schedules. The timeliness of our responses together, the productivity at our meetings, and the initiative each day in class is what made this project possible. I learned how to work well with others, how better to manage my time, as well as how to assess the effectiveness of CERCLA and the EPA.
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