Introduction

In the 1970s “environment” became the password, and “silent spring” and “love canal” became the battle cry. It was thought that new protective legislation and money would solve the problem. Unfortunately, there were few scientists available with the proper training to implement the remedial programs financed by Federal and State funding. There resulted an explosion of environmental studies at universities similar to a new program in Alabama at the University of Alabama, the Environmental Institute for Waste Management Studies (EIWMS), which brought together a “think tank” of senior scientists from over the USA with experience in water resources to address the major problems facing local, State and Federal governments. These institutes and programs at universities became a part of the engineering and/or geology departments under the title of environmental studies.