About the Author

James Hillegas-Elting is an independent consulting historian specializing in 19th and 20th century environmental topics. He seeks to understand the systems humans create and maintain to refashion their environment in alignment with their values and aspirations. Such interrelated systems include physical networks and infrastructure - such as transportation, sanitation, power, and communications - as well as the enabling systems of law, finance, and administration. His consulting work on these topics has included research related to Superfund investigations and archaeological cultural resource management efforts. He holds a Master of Arts degree in history and a certificate in geographic information systems (GIS).