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Effective July 1, 2023, the AAEES mailing address is: 

AAEES
1125 West Street, Suite 251
Annapolis, MD 21401

Important update to HWMSR specialty

Based on a three-year evaluation and a proposal by the Hazardous Waste Management and Site Remediation (HWMSR) Committee, at its July 14^th meeting the Academy Board of Trustees reaffirmed a prior Board approval updating a change in the name of the Hazardous Waste Management and Site Remediation (HWMSR) specialty to Site Remediation (SR) specialty. 

Beginning August 1, 2023, the Academy website and all applications materials will be updated to reflect this change.  New applicants will apply for the SR specialty.

What if I don’t want to change my specialty to Site Remediation? 

Anyone who currently holds the HWMSR specialty may choose to either:

1. continue to use the HWMSR designation (no change will be made to your record); or
2. switch to the SR designation (your record will be updated to reflect the SR specialty).

If you currently hold the HWMSR specialty, and wish to update to the SR designation, please email: [email protected].

What about Hazardous Waste, has the Academy created a gap in specialty certification?

The HWMSR Committee performed an evaluation and reported the results to the Board of Trustees about how to better align the specialty certification with current and future practice needs while protecting the historic value for those currently maintaining Board Certification in this specialty.

Moving forward, the Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to update the specialty to focus on Site Remediation. Of note, the Site Remediation specialty still incorporates the technical components of hazardous waste management (i.e., spill recovery, treatment, and proper disposal). Of further note, the Site Remediation specialty will no longer test for specialty knowledge of federal and state regulatory requirements (i.e., RCRA, CERCLA) associated with facility operations related to the handling, labeling, storing, disposal, etc. of hazardous wastes. These changes reflect an intentional choice to focus on “technical aspects” of a fundamental and design nature; rather than to focus on “regulatory requirements”.

Over the next several months, the Academy staff have been instructed to work with the Development and Upgrading of Examinations Committee as part of a review of existing specialties as well as identifying gaps that may require the possibility of any “new” specialty. 

For example, this review will include a mapping of areas of practice of the existing Solid Waste (SW) specialization, the renamed Site Remediation (SR) specialty, and the existing Sustainability (S) specialization to confirm no “gaps” in the coverage of the broad area of “hazardous waste”.

Any gaps in specialty practice  identified through this review – whether in the broad area of “hazardous waste” or in other areas of practice – will be brought to the attention of the Board of Trustees for possible exploration of creating “additional” or “new” specialt(ies).

If you currently hold the HWMSR specialty and wish to be a part of the working group, or if you have a broader interest participating in the review of existing (and potential new) specialties for Board Certification, please email: [email protected].

2023-2024 Commentary on the ABET Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering Programs

The "Commentary" posted here is intended for public dissemination on behalf of the Academy's Education Committee. The document is primarily intended to:

• assist AAEES/ABET program evaluators in applying the Environmental Engineering program criteria, and
• assist Environmental Engineering program administrators in preparing for ABET visits.

This document is maintained and reviewed for update annually by the Education Committee.

A second purpose of this document is to inform the Academy membership of the work that ABET and the Academy are collaborating on to maintain and update the standards that college and university environmental engineering programs must meet when seeking accreditation from ABET.

Click here to download the document, 2023-2024 Commentary on the ABET Program Criteria for Environmental Engineering Programs.

AAEES's Podcasts!

Join us as we sit down with two of our Board Certified Environmental Engineers. Anastasia Rudenko PE, BCEE, ENV SP who is an associate with GHD. Anastasia will be interviewing Isreal Hodges, Jr., BCEE who is a Lead EHS Specialist for Rivian Automotive. Almost four years ago, Isreal became a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with The Academy with a specialty in Air Pollution Control . 

Isreal’s story will inspire any young professional who is striving for a career in environmental engineering/science. During this podcast, Isreal talks about how being Board Certified with The Academy has helped his career and he emphasizes the importance of being proactive with early career networking. Isreal also discusses his favorite part of the job, overcoming career challenges and how prioritizing physical health improves all aspects of his life. Above all, Isreal reminds us to enjoy the journey and celebrate success. 

As an ambassador of environmental engineering, Isreal is an inspiration to anyone working towards becoming an environmental engineer. 

Stream or Download Now: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/sm4rLAgP3xb

Click the Spotify logo below to see more AAEES podcasts.

Ethics and DEI Statement

AAEES Ethics Statement

Preamble: 

The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) provides leadership and excellence in environmental engineering and environmental science to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of society and the sustainability of the natural and built environments. AAEES has a special role in the stewardship of the environment since it is the organization responsible for environmental engineering and environmental science board certification and the lead society overseeing ABET accreditation for Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Technology, Environmental Science, and similarly named programs.  Ethical behavior is an essential core value of AAEES, and all participants in the activities of AAEES - guests, students, members, Board Certified individuals, honorary members, retired members, staff, and all others - are expected to adhere to its ethical standards stated below:

Canon 1: Professionalism and Competency. Our members are expected to exhibit a high level of professionalism in all their activities. They will exhibit and promote integrity, competence, trust, accountability, and honesty. They will utilize scientific methods, engineering principles, and apply considered judgement, appropriate guidelines, and standards. They will conscientiously avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest but when unavoidable, they will forthwith disclose all conflicts.  As educators and mentors, AAEES members will strive to ensure that graduates from environmental programs are technically and ethically prepared to enter the profession. 

Canon 2: Public Health, Environmental Stewardship, and Sustainability. Recognizing that the natural and built environment must coexist in harmony, our members will work to: protect public health, human welfare, and the natural environment from damage; and restore ecosystem health. They will support and contribute to sustainable development practices in the built environment, considering and balancing societal, environmental, and economic impacts locally and globally.

Canon 3: Respect, Dignity, and Equity. Our members respect the dignity of each person, and actively uphold and incorporate human rights, including social and environmental equity, diversity, and inclusivity, into their activities.   

Canon 4: Advancing the Profession. Our members are committed to applying and advancing innovative practices, sharing knowledge to create appropriate solutions for society, and embracing multidisciplinary collaboration for current and future generations. 

All participants in the activities of AAEES are responsible for supporting adherence to these canons. In particular, everyone must be vigilant and when applicable raise our voices to ensure the wellbeing of society and the environment. For Board Certified individuals, violations of these ethical canons will be referred to the Certification Revolution Committee as laid out in the AAEES Policy and Procedures Manual.