The Environmental Professional who happens to be employed by the government is in a peculiar position. For this situation, let us presume that the public employee has achieved an advanced level of education as a forest ecologist. The job held, however, is broadly regulatory and the employee is responsible for controlling public activities such as development, mining, and road construction wherever they may occur within the political jurisdiction. The political jurisdiction extends well beyond forest ecology and includes lakes, streams, marshes, and perhaps even the airshed, soils, and groundwaters.