Introduction: My name is Gregg Stephens. I am a Senior Environmental Geologist for ATC Associates Inc (ATC) out of our Marietta Ga, Office. I am currently working out of my home in Lenoir City, Tennessee in hopes of launching a Knoxville office for ATC. I oversee 1 Senior Geologist, two Engineers, 5 Geologists, and three Environmental Technicians. I've been with ATC for 17 years.

Initial Interest: I first became interested in Geology when I was about 5 years old digging up rocks in our home in Alcoa Tennessee. I would always ask my Dad the name of every rock new rock I found. He told me it was a Leaverite, Leave er right where you found it. During the summers of my Junior and Senior year in High school, I worked in the coal mines of Kentucky. I saw the sulfur from the coal mining process continually being discharged into the nearby creeks. After I graduated, I decided I wanted to help protect the environment from this type of dumping into our surface waters and drinking waters. After completing Basic Training for the US Army, I started working on my Associates Degree under a scholarship from the
military.

Schooling: A four year degree is usually required for someone in my position. I have an Associates Degree in Mining Engineering (Union College, Ky) and a Bachelors of Science in Geology (Ohio State University) with a focus on Hydrogeology (Science of groundwater). I took my State Boards to
become a Professional Geologist and I am currently silenced as a Professional Geologist in 5 States in the Southeastern US.

Training: You learn the science in school, but most of the training was on the job (OJT). Safety is a big concern in this industry dealing with the different chemicals that we may encounter in the ground. All science
personnel in this industry undergo safety training. As for field training, most Geologist start out behind a drill rig logging soil or core samples and installing groundwater monitoring. As you learn the field aspects, you advance into Project Management. There are many laws and regulations that govern the environmental industry and they vary from State to State.

Salary Information: Entry level scientist start from $30,000-$35,000.
Project Manager salaries range from $35,000-$60,000. Senior
Scientist/Managers range from $65,000 to $85,000.

Typical Day: I work with two major oil companies and numerous private sector clients (dry cleaner owners). Gasoline station are a big contributor to groundwater contamination from leaking gasoline underground tanks. My typical day is working with staff level scientists in the field to assess
and remediate contaminated sites. I also work in assessing other types of contamination ranging from dry cleaning fluids to USEPA hazardous waste sites. I also help in training our staff. My latest venture is in
marketing new clients in the State of Tennessee. Each day is different and I enjoy that.

Personal Skills Needed: You must be suited to science and public relations. Many times we find contamination beneath someone's home or business. The field scientist must be able to assure these property owners that the contamination will be cleaned up as quickly as possible in accordance with
the Sate/Federal regulations while minimizing exposure to human health.

The good and the bad: I always think back to the sulfur from the coal mines running into that creek and think people are drinking the water from that creek. For the most part people today know not to litter and dump things into the ground, but years ago the thought was out of sight, out of mind. When chemicals are dumped into the ground, they DON'T DISAPPEAR. They show up in your kitchen sink or bath tub. I take a lot of pride in correcting mistakes of the past.

The bad news is that sometimes we find the contamination and the owner doesn't want to clean it up. They say it was our job to find the contamination, now its their decision whether to clean it up.

Closing: I enjoy what I do because I know that we only have one earth and I
am helping to protect it for future generations.

Gregg Stephens, P.G.