Sam Shattles English 1101 October 11, 2013 Dr.

Thurman

Engineering Good Stewards

In the 1600s, there was roughly 220 million acres of wetlands in the lower forty-eight states. Since this time, almost half of the states wetlands have been destroyed and something needs to be done. The United States makes good efforts to protect its waters and wetlands from pollution and invasion of the general population. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 prohibits the building of any obstruction to the water ways of the United States, unless they are approved by chief of engineers and authorized by the secretary of war. The Clean Water Act of 1977 regulates the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States. Working for the Army Corps of Engineers, Rudolph Villarreal teaches the proper rules and regulations of these acts and helps protect the environment to keep people and habitats safe. Villarreal is a senior project manager for the Regulatory Division of the Army Corp of Engineers. As a senior project manager, he evaluates applications for construction projects that are affected by the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbor Act. He started his job as a senior project manager at age forty and has been working it for thirteen years. Villarreal attended University of Texas where he received a masters degree in biology and environmental science. While in college, Villarreal took a desert biology class that required him to camp in the

desert and knew from then on that he wanted to work outdoors and study the environment. Other than reviewing applications, Villarreal increases the awareness protecting the environment, specifically wetlands and waterways, through public outreach programs. Villarreal helps make the importance of protecting the environment clearer by talking with other engineers about the steps and process for completing an application. The more the engineers know about the process and regulations for approving an application the better they can justify whether or not a project will harm the environment or cause no harm. Having this knowledge allows for the building of new major roadways or new shopping centers without causing any damage to the wetlands or waters making the project a sustainable development. I have to maintain integrity to up hold process and regulations, says Villarreal. Making sure that he keeps an honest and unbiased outlook on each project is essential for cooperation and a complete understanding of a project. Educating the public about the environment and the rules and regulations that are in place to protect it is crucial for the safety of people and the animals that live in the environment. For example, if someone wants to construct a new building on a wetland they would need to know what the regulations are and what the limits might be. Villarreal explains, I am often times the first person people get to talk to, so it is important that I implement the three Fs when explaining the law Fair, Firm, and Friendly. Villarreal has to be fair in respecting the other persons goals. He has to be firm in upholding the laws and rules. He has to be friendly so that the person doesnt over react and cause any harm to him or the environment. Villarreal works as a lawyer and a police officer when it comes to this. Not only

does he have to enforce the laws and regulations but he also has to interpret them in a respectable way to the violator so that the violation doesnt happen again because it could become a threat to environment and the safety of the people. Reaching out to kids is a huge part in protecting the environment, as well. They hold the future of the environment in their hands and they have the most time to think about how their interactions can change it for good or for worse. Kids are the future stewards of the environment, says Villarreal. He explained how fascinating it is to see kids eager to learn about the environment and get outdoors. Villarreal talks at different schools and provides young people proper exposure to the environment and the important role we play in it. Villarreal has been a judge for kids quiz, a quiz that challenges 5 th graders knowledge of the environment and encourages them to learn more, and he has given talks to kids on Earth Day about the environment. I am a scientist, a lawyer, and a police officer, says Villarreal. He is also a teacher. Villarreal gives not only to the community but to the environment as well. He teaches proper procedures to his fellow worker and he teaches them to have integrity about the procedures. Villarreal informs the public of rules and regulation that protect the environment and protect the safety of people. Most of all Villarreal reaches out to children teaching them the importance of knowing the environment and the role they will play in the future.

Works Cited

Villarreal, Rudolph. Personal interview. 08 Oct. 2013