For more than 50 years, Marilyn Broek has built a career rooted in hard work, expertise and a deep commitment to protecting the environment. May 26, 2026
Office of Environmental Management
May 26, 2026
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Marilyn Broek, veteran engineer, collaborates with employees of Idaho Cleanup Project contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition to ensure precision in GPS surveying at the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — For more than 50 years, Marilyn Broek has built a career rooted in hard work, expertise and a deep commitment to protecting the environment.
As a licensed professional engineer, Broek has played a key role in shaping landscapes, advancing safety and supporting sustainability. Her work supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) reflects her dedication to both the technical and environmental aspects of engineering.
From highway design to DOE-funded initiatives, Broek has contributed her knowledge to projects that address infrastructure needs while protecting the environment. Most recently, she supported an expansion of the Idaho CERCLA Disposal Facility, an important part of the Idaho Cleanup Project’s cleanup and stewardship mission.
CERCLA stands for Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, a law enacted by Congress in 1980 that requires stringent waste acceptance criteria, ensuring protection of the public and the underlying Snake River Plain Aquifer.
A 1976 graduate of the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Broek has spent decades honing her expertise through hands-on fieldwork. In addition to DOE, her portfolio includes projects funded by the Idaho Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, municipal and private entities as well as the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Forest Service.
As a fourth-generation steward of her family farm near Twin Falls, Idaho, Broek has drawn strength and inspiration from the natural world. The mountains, forests and rivers of Idaho are her home and the foundation of her passion for preservation. She has two yurts nestled in the Sawtooth National Forest south of Stanley, Idaho, her favorite summer destination when she's not working.
Whether hiking, caring for animals or tending to her yard, Broek embodies a deep respect for the land she has devoted her career to safeguarding.
When asked about advice for young professionals entering the environmental management field, Broek emphasized the importance of perseverance and independence.
“Stick with it. Education is difficult, but it pays off in the long run. Be sure you can always take care of yourself. Pay your own bills, solve your own problems and protect our planet Earth,” she said.
-Contributor: Ryan Christensen
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