Membership in the Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals (NWAEP) is open to anyone in the Northwest who is involved or interested in the environmental professions and who conducts their work in accordance with the Environmental Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. By definition, an "environmental professional" is someone who either earns their livelihood from, or has a specific skill or experience in, one or more environmental areas. Included in this broad category are environmental managers, engineers, consultants, educators, regulators, attorneys, vendors and suppliers, technicians, activists, and students, among others.
The NWAEP is an affiliate Chapter with the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP), but membership in the latter organization is not required.
The National Association of Environmental Professionals is:
- the multidisciplinary association dedicated to the advancement of the environmental professions in the U.S. and abroad.
- a forum for state-of-the-art information on environmental planning, research, and management.
- a network of professional contacts and exchange of information among colleagues in industry, government, academia, and the private sector.
- a resource for structured career development from student membership to certification as an environmental professional.
- For more information about NAEP, membership, or benefits, visit www.naep.org.
The NAEP offers:
- Professional Development
- Networking/Continuing Education
- Credentials
- Chapter Affiliation
NAEP membership includes:
- Six issues of NAEP News - Published bimonthly, this publication highlights leading-edge news and issues, spotlights Association and Chapter news, upcoming meetings, and other timely information of interest to the environmental professional.
- Four issues of The Environmental Professional - Published quarterly, this peer-reviewed journal provides an open forum for the discussion and analysis of significant environmental issues through thought-provoking discussion from an interdisciplinary perspective.
- Discounts on NAEP publications
- Discounts on NAEP Conference registration - including NAEP's annual conference and exposition
- NAEP Mastercard
- Reduced rate on other publications
Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Environmental Professionals
The objectives of Environmental Professionals are to conduct their personal and professional lives and activities in an ethical manner. Honesty, justice and courtesy form moral philosophy which, associated with a mutual interest among people, constitute the foundation of ethics. Environmental Professionals should recognize such a standard, not in passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles guiding their conduct and way of life. It is their duty to practice their profession according to this Code of Ethics.
As the keystone of professional conduct is integrity, Environmental Professionals will discharge their duties with fidelity to the public, their employers, clients, and with fairness and impartiality to all. It is their duty to interest themselves in public welfare, and to be ready to apply their special knowledge for the benefit of mankind and their environment.
Creed
The objectives of an Environmental Professional are:
- to recognize and attempt to reconcile societal and individual human needs with responsibility for physical, natural, and cultural systems.
- to promote and develop policies, plans, activities and projects that achieve complementary and mutual support between natural and man-made, and present and future components of the physical, natural and cultural environment
Ethics
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- be personally responsible for the validity of all data collected, analyses performed, or plans developed by me or under my direction. I will be responsible and ethical in my professional activities.
- encourage research, planning, design, management and review of activities in a scientifically and technically objective manner. I will incorporate the best principles of the environmental sciences for the mitigation of environmental harm and enhancement of environmental quality.
- not condone misrepresentation of work I have performed or that was performed under my direction.
- examine all of my relationships or actions which could be legitimately interpreted as a conflict of interest by clients, officials, the public or peers. In any instance where I have a financial or personal interest in the activities with which they are directly or indirectly involved, I will make a full disclosure of that interest to my employer, client, or other affected parties.
- not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation or discrimination.
- not accept fees wholly or partially contingent on the client's desired result where that desired result conflicts with my professional judgement.
Guidance for Practice as an Environmental Professional
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- encourage environmental planning to begin in the earliest stages of project conceptualization.
- recognize that total environmental management involves the consideration of all environmental factors induding: technical, economic, ecological, and sociopolitical and their relationships.
- incorporate the best principle of design and environmental planning when recommending measures to reduce environmental harm and enhance environmental quality.
- conduct my analysis, planning, design and review my activities primarily in subject areas for which I am qualified, and shall encourage and recognize the participation of other professionals in subject areas where I am less experienced. I shall utilize and participate in interdisciplinary teams wherever practical to determine impacts, define and evaluate all reasonable alternatives to proposed actions, and assess short-term versus long-term productivity with and without the project or action.
- seek common, adequate, and sound tedhnical grounds for communication with and respect for the contributions of other professionals in developing and reviewing policies, plans, activities, and projects.
- determine that the policies, plans, activities or projects in which I am involved are consistent with all governing laws, ordinances, guidelines, plans, and policies, to the best of my knowledge and ability.
- encourage public participation at the earliest feasible time in an open and productive atmosphere.
- conduct my professional activities in a manner that ensures consideration of technically and economically feasible alternatives.
Encourage Development of the Profession
As an Environmental Professional I will:
- assist in maintaining the integrity and competence of my profession.
- encourage education and research, and the development of useful technical information relating to the environmental field.
- be prohibited from lobbying in the name of the National Association of Environmental Professionals.
- advertise and present my services in a manner that avoids the use of material and methods that may bring discredit to the profession.
