What is Sustainability? And, what occurs if not practiced?

1. What is Sustainability? And, what occurs if not practiced? Brent Cambers PG, LRS AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc. Insert picture(s) here

2. Introduction • AMEC plc. • International Project Management and Engineering Firm • 23,000 employees, 340 offices around the globe • AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc. • 5,200 employees, 150 offices across the globe, >90 in NA • Services: • Environmental • Water Resources • Geotechnical • Program Management • Engineering • Brief Bio • East Carolina University, BS Geology • Since 1984, have worked in the environmental restoration for several firms across the mid- Atlantic SE • Currently VP of Operations and Group Manager for AMEC • Unique perspective- 26 year career cleaning up the legacy/mess from unsustainable activities

3. What is Sustainability • Definitions of environmental sustainability on the Web: • Sustainability is the capacity to endure. In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_sustainability • Ensuring that the overall productivity of accumulated human and physical capital resulting from development actions more than compensates for the direct or indirect loss or degradation of the environment. (making sure that human activity is worth the cumulative environmental degradation)web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTOED/EXTENVIRONMENT/0,,contentMDK:21813865~menuPK:5189977~pagePK:64829573~piPK:64829550~theSitePK:4681890,00.html • The assessment that a projects outputs can be produced without permanent and unacceptable change in the natural environment on which it and other economic activities depend, over the life of the project.www.adb.org/documents/guidelines/Eco_Analysis/glossary.asp • A movement towards redesigning the ways society's needs and wants are met so that they can be accommodated within the long-term carrying capacity of the environment.www.med.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage____32084.aspx • Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.www.throughthewoods.us/gogreen_glossary.html • Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. www.fao.org/ag/wfe2005/glossary_en.htm • Practices to ensure that the natural resource capital remains intact; i.e., that the source and sink functions of the environment should not be degraded. ...sustainablelanduse.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/some-terminology-definitions-sustainability-land-use-impact-assessment/

4. Understanding Sustainability- The History

5. Understanding Sustainability- The History

6. Example of Non-Sustainable Industrial Activity Former Pristine Trout River at a former Zinc mine. Landfill to the left and tailings deposit at the top, both adjacent to the river Ten years after mine closure, photo of acid drainage discharges to the river. River down stream is highly impaired. Close up of the discharge to the right

7. Example of Non-Sustainable Industrial Activity • Things to consider: • No regard to environmental protection when developed • By the time of closure, cost to remediate the site were extreme • Mining company became bankrupt leaving the legacy to the tax payer • Take away message: • The things we do or do not do today will have consequences for years if not decades to come • The cost to address today may be cheaper than the cost to remedy in the y ears to come Waste chemical disposal site. Affectionately known as “Tin Can Curve”

8. AMEC and Sustainability • AMEC selected by Dow Jones as one of the top sustainable firms for the fifth consecutive year • AMEC sustainability projects/initiatives other than compliance and restoration • Green House Gas Initiatives • Ground source heat pump • Energy audits and consulting • Alternative power/fuels consulting • LEED certification

9. QUESTIONS?