This is my reflection to the Unit 8 Lecture, and the reading of Chapter 10 of Ethics and Public Policy, by William Bluhm and Robert Heineman. In this review I will analyze and synthesize the authors’ primary points, conclusions and discuss how the natural environment and human well-being relate to my personal experiences and evaluations.
As we delve into chapter 10, the Authors describe how Americans’ concern developed over a relatively short time period necessitating the protection of the natural environment from pollution and overuse of natural resources. In the 1960’s, industrialization in the United States had reached a point, as threats to the environment from pesticides and chemicals began to attract national attention. These concerns …show more content…
As I reflect on this case study, I can associate with both sides concerns, as I am resident of Union County, NJ, who owns a home that backs up to the Rahway River. This river is a controlled by a series of dams and flows out to Raritan bay. The pros to living on the river are: boating, fishing, swimming, ice skating and picnicking; the cons were negligible until the EPA continually imposed restrictions on riverbank and dam maintenance. To date, the only con over the past 30 years is flooding which over the years has cost billions. This flooding is caused by a lack of dredging and desilting that used to be done on regular basis by the towns or state, but the EPA now only allows the Army Corps to plan such “feasibility studies” which take decades. Over the years, I have attended several meetings along with my neighbors and discussed amongst ourselves the following issues: if you remove two dams what effect would that have on the height and depth of the river and the recreational activities? How far would you be able to boat and canoe upstream and downstream if this proposal was selected? Will existing docks be replaced/reconstructed in the same exact locations? Will retaining walls be replaced and or new aesthetically pleasing retaining walls be installed on all property river banks to ward off future erosion and fluvial flooding? What is the exact definition of permanent easement for my property? Is this just for a right of way for maintenance or will this property be consumed by the trapezoidal cut work? Will the trapezoidal cut work take place within the confines of the current riverbanks? Who will be responsible ensuring the yearly maintenance, desilting, dredging is completed from South Mountain all the way down the