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CHAPTER

losing Thoughts on theFuture of HazardousWaste EngineeringIn the 1970s the phrase hazardous waste was rarely used. The next fewdecades saw infamous chemical catastrophes in Love Canal Times Beachthe Valley of the Drums Seveso Italy and Bhopal India to name just a few.These incidents were simply the tip of the iceberg. For each of these notori-ous cases hundreds of smaller sites and facilities were being threatened bythe release of toxic contaminants. In the relatively short span of time sinceLove Canal engineers have stepped up to the challenge of protecting thehealth and environment from risks posed by hazardous wastes. The publichas demanded answers and has been willing to use public funds to deal withthese risks. Engineers have opened whole new frontiers in designing treat-ment storage and disposal facilities; have helped to ensure that hazardoussubstances are transported safely; and have found new methods for mea-suring and modeling the fate of these substances after their entry into theenvironment. Civil engineering has been at the forefront of this revolution.Environmental engineers with their particularly strong emphasis on riskassessment and management have led the way.The environmental engineers risk management roles will continueto grow in importance. We have offered several ways for the engineer toincorporate an appreciation for risks into every facet of hazardous wastemanagement. The engineering profession has progressed in its understand-ing of the physical chemical and biologic principals needed to confront thewastes that have been released and to find new ways to prevent releasesand exposures in the future. Beyond this we have incorporated the socialsciences and humanities into our approaches for managing hazardous wastesas evidenced by the success of waste exchanges and risk communications.The learning curve has been uneven. Like the rest of the civilengineering profession hazardous waste engineers have learned manylessons from September 11 2001. Many apply to engineering the risks of

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224 Engineering th e Risk s o Hazardous W a s t e shazardous wastes. We can engender trust in those who rely on us as profes-sionals. We are up to the challenge of making our environment a safer andhealthier place. How thoroughly would one approach a project if it affectedones own family and neighborhood? The answer to that question finds itsway into all plans and actions addressing hazardous wastes.Engineering is a high calling. The public has rightfully placed a greatamount of trust in the engineering profession. We as engineers have theability to place ourselves in the shoes of the people affected by our work. Ourcapacity to appreciate and even empathize with a company or communitythreatened by releases of hazardous wastes is among our greatest strengths.We have taken our public trust to heart. Credat emptor The client cantrust us.Perhaps it is appropriate to end this book with a reminder of what itmeans to be an engineer. We are a helping profession. In a sense all haz-ardous waste engineering is value engineering.l That is we must obtainthe maximum per-unit value from every step in identifying and providingremedies to hazardous wastes problems; however value is more than dollarsand cents. It is even more than credible applications of sound science. Valueis a human construct.

As we strive to solve the hazardous wastes problems let us keep in mindcanons of the civil engineer.2 First we must protect the safety health andwelfare of the public. This is the driving force behind hazardous waste engi-neering. Second we must be competent. This means we must understandthe sciences underpinning our environmental recommendations. We mustbe objective and truthful and we must fairly represent those who haveentrusted the profession to us. We must have integrity honor and dig-nity in the performance of our duties. Finally we must recognize our needfor continual growth as scientists and engineers. Environmental challengesare a certainty of modern life. They are also a certainty for the engineeringprofession. New and bold approaches are the province of hazardous wastesengineering.Ironically the call to reduce and manage the risks posed by hazardouswastes is risky to the engineer. Unlike in the laboratory managing haz-ardous wastes in the real world does not give the engineer the luxury ofcontrolling all the variables; however an engineer who is well informedwith a sound science underpinning is more likely to be successful. Therewards are a cleaner environment and improved public health. In the wordsof St. Thomas Aquinas f the primary aim of a captain were to preservehis ship he would keep it in port forever. The hazardous waste engineeringship has already left port. Let us ensure that its journey is successful.