Exam 3

Front 1

Thehydrologic compartment that contains the greatest amount of fresh water is________________________.

Back 1

Ice and snow

Front 2

Withdrawalis the total amount of water _______________.

Back 2

Taken from a water body such as rivers, lakes, or aquifers.

Front 3

Ingeneral, water use is dominated by ________________.

Back 3

Agricultural use.

Front 4

Principalproblems that have resulted from the construction of large dams include______________________________.

Back 4

All of these are correct.

Front 5

Theactivity that uses the greatest share of U.S. household water is______________________.

Back 5

Flushing the toilet.

Front 6

Factories,sewage treatment plants, and oil wells are __________ sources of waterpollution.

Back 6

Point.

Front 7

_________sources of water pollution are relatively easy to monitor and regulate while_____________ sources of water pollution are difficult to monitor and clean up.

Back 7

Point; nonpoint.

Front 8

Themain reason that surface water pollution has largely decreased in the UnitedStates since 1950 is ______________.

Back 8

The Clean Water Act.

Front 9

Usingliving organisms to clean contaminated water is an example of_______________________________.

Back 9

Bioremediation.

Front 10

A(n)______________ is all the land drained by a particular river.

Back 10

Watershed.

Front 11

TheClean Water Act classes pollution as either a Point source, or Nonpointsource. Point sources ________________.

Back 11

Discharge pollution from specific locations, such as drain pipes, ditches, or sewer outfalls.

Front 12

________________is the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by aquatic microorganisms.urces.

Back 12

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).

Front 13

Oligotrophicrivers and lakes ____________.

Back 13

Contain clear water with low biological productivity.

Front 14

_________________________is (are) considered the largest U.S. source of water pollution.

Back 14

Silt and sediment.

Front 15

________________requires a permit for any industry, municipality, or other entity dumpingwastes in surface waters through an established National Pollution DischargeElimination System (NPDES).

Back 15

The 1972 Clean Water Act.

Front 16

Fossil fuels currently supply about ____ percentof all world commercial energy supplies.

Back 16

87%

Front 17

For much of the past decade political battleshave been going on over oil and gas drilling in ________________________.

Back 17

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Front 18

_____________________ can easily be moved acrossland in pipelines, but must be transported in special refrigerated ships tomove across oceans.

Back 18

Natural Gas

Front 19

The most likely disaster in a nuclear powerplant is that _________________?

Back 19

Cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating.

Front 20

Transportation consumes about ______ percent ofall energy used in the US each year.

Back 20

28%

Front 21

The US Department of Energy had plans to deposithigh-level nuclear waste at _________________ for long term storage.

Back 21

Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

Front 22

A glass greenhouse on the south side of abuilding is an example of ________________________________.

Back 22

Passive solar absorption.

Front 23

One of the most difficult problems associatedwith nuclear power is ________?

Back 23

The disposal of wastes produced during mining, fuel production, and reactor operation.

Front 24

Most of our energy waste in North Americaresults from ________________.

Back 24

Technological inefficiency.

Front 25

Most useful oil deposits are usually found____________________.

Back 25

Saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge.

Front 26

Natural gas produces __________the CO2as an equivalent amount of coal.

Back 26

1/2.

Front 27

The remaining known oil reserves are expected to last ____________ atcurrent consumption rates of 30.7 billion bbl/yr.

Back 27

41 years.

Front 28

The three countrieswith the highest known oil reserves are: _____?

Back 28

Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Canada.

Front 29

_______________has the greatest potentialof all other renewable energy resources.

Back 29

Solar.

Front 30

The World Energy Council projects that renewable energy could provide about ______ of world cumulative energy consumption in 2030.

Back 30

60%.

Front 31

Themajor disadvantage of incinerating waste is _________?

Back 31

Both it costs more than landfilling and it produces significant air pollution are correct.

Front 32

Themain method for disposing of municipal wastes in the United States is___________ while _________ is the main method in Japan.

Back 32

Landfilling; recycling.

Front 33

Hazardouswaste is anything that ____________________.

Back 33

Is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive, or explosive.

Front 34

Inthe U.S. about 2/3rds of a ton of waste is generated for each person (includingchildren). Compared to the U.S., Japan and Europe generate about 1/2 thatamount. One of the factors that probably does not contribute to this differenceisfamily: __________?

Back 34

That people in the United States have a higher standard of living than Japan and Europe.

Front 35

Usinga refillable beverage container (returnable bottles) would be an example of__________ materials.

Back 35

Reusing.

Front 36

Recycling, in terms of solid waste management, means ________?

Back 36

Melting or shredding to make new products.

Front 37

Themost often overlooked of the "three Rs" is ___________.

Back 37

Reduce.

Front 38

Inrecent decades, unregulated open dumps have ____________ in developingcountries.

Back 38

Remained the primary disposal method.

Front 39

TheNational Priority List NPL) is a list of sites that __________.

Back 39

Seriously require cleanup to prevent further environmental and health damage.

Front 40

Biologicaltreatments (Bioremediation) of hazardous waste involve ___________ hazardoussubstances.

Back 40

Using plants, bacteria, or fungi to absorb and detoxify.

Front 41

Landfillsdiffer from open dumps in that ________________.

Back 41

Landfilled waste is compacted and covered.

Front 42

CERCLAlegislation _____?

Back 42

Established the NPL.

Front 43

Recyclingaluminum is most important for _________?

Back 43

All of these are correct.

Front 44

Individual efforts to reduce the volume of the waste stream _____.

Back 44

Have enormous cumulative effects.

Front 45

Chemicalprocessing is a way of __________ hazardous waste for safe disposal.

Back 45

Neutralizing.

Front 46

Ecological economics is different from the other economic theories because it recognizes the?

Back 46

The natural environment as part of our economy, so that natural capital becomes a key consideration in economic calculations.

Front 47

Anexample of an intangible resource, or one that is difficult to place a monetaryvalue on, is?

Back 47

Satisfaction.

Front 48

When we purchase a product, the price we pay directly reflects the _____ cost of producing it. If the manufacture of the product degrades the quality of air or water, then the costs of this pollution are termed _____ costs.

Back 48

Internal; external.

Front 49

When a factory pollutes a river, the costs and losses that affect people downstream would be called?

Back 49

External costs.

Front 50

Businesses are now willing to become "green" because?

Back 50

Doing so improves their image and saves money in the end.

Front 51

Environmentalprotection has been proven to _______ the number of available jobs because_______.

Back 51

Increase; labor is usually substituted for natural resources (as in the case of recycling).

Front 52

Urbanization began to grow especially quickly after the _______?

Back 52

Industrial evolution.

Front 53

Whichwould be an example of sustainable development?

Back 53

Development of brownfields in urban areas.

Front 54

Slumsare usually dwelling places that are?

Back 54

Legal but have inadequate living conditions.

Front 55

Whichis a negative consequence of urban sprawl?

Back 55

All of these are correct.

Front 56

Theemphasis in the traditional U.S. suburban development is on ____. This isreflected by the _____.

Back 56

The automobile; prominence of streets, garages, and driveways.

Front 57

Which is not a goal of smart growth?

Back 57

All of these are goals of smart growth.

Front 58

Accordingto the principle of new urbanism, what is the ideal size of a city?

Back 58

30,000-50,000

Front 59

Takingadvantage of utilizing existing resources and infrastructure to plancommunities is described as?

Back 59

Smart growth.

Front 60

In 2000 what continent had the highestpercentage of people living in urban areas?

Back 60

North America.

Front 61

An EnvironmentalImpact Statement (EIS) is required for any significant federal action as a partof ___________.

Back 61

The National Environmental Policy Act.

Front 62

Asmore environment-oriented jobs become available, the number of prepared studentsis___________.

Back 62

Decreasing.

Front 63

Aftera problem is identified, the next step in the policy cycle is to______________________________.

Back 63

Set an agenda.

Front 64

Afteran original idea is turned into a bill, it ___________.

Back 64

Needs to be sponsored by a legislator.

Front 65

Manyecologists advocate _____________________ in which action plans are constantlymonitored, analyzed and altered to fit changing realities and understandings ofthe system.

Back 65

Adaptive management.

Front 66

Thecase of the president of a Colorado company who was sentenced to 14 years inprison for knowingly contaminating the water table is an example of a__________________.

Back 66

Criminal law case.

Front 67

Civillaw is to _______________ as criminal law is to crimes against the state orsociety.

Back 67

Interactions between individuals.

Front 68

Ratherthan directly suing a company for damages, it can be more effective to sue___________________.

Back 68

The government for not enforcing laws that would have prevented the damage.

Front 69

Statutory law is established by __________________.

Back 69

Congress.

Front 70

Environmental literacy partly consists of beingable to?

Back 70

Understand the basic principles of ecology.

Front 71

Please explain the basic structure of aquifers.

Back 71

Aquifers consist of porous layers of sand, gravel or of cracked or porous rock. Below this layer of porous material, relatively impermeable layers of rock or clay keep water from seeping out at the bottom. Instead, water seeps more or less horizontally through the porous layer. R>'9S

Front 72

The Clean Water Act defines two categories of water pollution. Please identify and explain these two broad pollution categories.

Back 72

Point Source pollution: Pollution discharged into waterways fromspecific locations are classed as Point Source pollution by the Clean waterAct. Examples include drain pipes, ditches, sewer outfalls factories, powerplants, sewage treatment plants, underground coal mines, and oil wells.

Non-point Source Pollution: Pollution resulting from runofffrom farm fields and feedlots, golf courses, lawns contain pollution from a non-specificsource. This type of pollution cannot beregulated.

Front 73

Explain the basic structure of an artesian well, or spring.

Back 73

When impermeable layers lie above an aquifer, aswell as below, pressure can develop within the water-bearing layer, producing“free-flowing” wells and springs that simply bubble water out of the ground.

Front 74

Please explain the process of“Eutrophication”.

Back 74

Eutrophication is the process where humancontribution to waterways (fertilizers, industrial chemicals, etc.) artificiallyincrease plant growth (organic material), and associated decay that acceleratesoxygen depletion, creating dead zones in the affected waters.

Front 75

Identify the two major sources of toxic organic chemicalsin water.

Back 75

(1) Improper industrial and household waste disposal

(2)Pesticide/Fertilizer runoff

Front 76

Please identify and explain two of the three typesof solar energy.

Back 76

1) Active solar systemsgenerally pump a heat-absorbing fluid medium through a relatively smallcollector.

2) Passive solar absorption usesstructures such as massive, heat-absorbing floors and walls, and often withglass-walled “sun spaces” on the south side of a building to heat buildings.

3) Photovoltaic cells capture solar energy and convert it directly toelectrical current.

Front 77

Please identify the percentage of the U.S.energy supply that is provided by nuclear power. What is the principle problem with thenuclear power plants in the United States?

Back 77

Eight percent of the energy supply is provided by nuclear powerplants. This percentage is 1% more than theworld average. The primary issue with the nation’s nuclear power plants is theirage. One-half of the U.S. plants (52)are more than 30 years old and are approaching the end of their expectedoperational life.

Front 78

Please identify the percent of the technicallyrecoverable petroleum resources the U.S. has used, and explain the principleissue with this use that was identified in class.

Back 78

The U.S. has usedabout 50% of its technically recoverable petroleum resources. At2010 rates of consumption, the remaining 50% would be enough for about 4.2years of power if we were to stop all imports.

Front 79

Pleaseexplain the process of Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking.

Back 79

To boost well output in “tight” shale formations, mining companies rely on hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”).

A mixture of water, sand, and various chemicals is pumped into the ground and rock formations at extremely high pressure. This pressurized fluid cracks sediments and releases the gas and increases extraction.

Front 80

In class, it was identified that Coal as a primary energy source may be on its way out. Please identify three reasons why this may be the case.

Back 80

1) Only 1/2 dozen new coal-fired power plants are now under construction or being planned. 2) Federal regulations are part of this decline. 3) 2012 EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and proposed limitations on carbon emissions are making coal plants more expensive to operate.

Front 81

Aspresented in class, explain solid wastes and hazardous wastes? Whatis the difference between them?

Back 81

Solid waste – Solid, semisolid, non-soluble material (including gases and liquids in containers) such as agricultural refuse, industrial waste, mining residues, that cannot be recycled or rehabilitated for further use.

A hazardous waste is any discarded material, liquid or solid, that contains substances known to be:

a) fatal to humans or lab animals in low doses.

b) toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic to humans or other life-forms

c) ignitable with a flash point less than 60°C/corrosive explosive or highly reactive

Front 82

Pleaseidentify and explain the federal law that regulates hazardous waste in theUnited States.

Back 82

TheResource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA) of 1976 - Requires rigorous testing and management of toxic andhazardous substances from generation (cradle) to disposal (grave).

Front 83

Please identify and explainthe federal law that attempts to mitigate abandoned hazardous/ toxic materialswaste sites in the U.S.

Back 83

TheComprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund Act), is aimed atrapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Is designed to fix the problems of the past.

Front 84

Please explain the “waste stream”, and identifythe major issue with our waste stream.

Back 84

The waste stream describes the steady flow of varied wastes that we all produce, from domestic garbage and yard wastes to industrial, commercial, and construction refuse.

The major issue with our waste stream is that our collecting and dumping processes mix and crush everything together, making separation for recycling an expensive and sometimes impossible task. Many of the materials in our waste stream would be valuable resources if they were not mixed with other garbage.

Front 85

Please explain thedifference between a “sanitary landfill” and an “open, unregulated dump”.

Back 85

A modern sanitary landfill is designed to“contain wastes”, and differ from open dumps in that waste is compacted andcovered daily with a layer of dirt to decrease smells and discourage bugs andrats. Open dumps do not contain wasteand have waste dumped into the ground that has no containment.

Front 86

Define Urban Sprawl,and explain how automobiles have contributed to urban sprawl.

Back 86

Urban sprawl describes the expansion of human populations away from central urban areas into low-density, non-developed areas. Areas, where cities sprawl, are often car-dependent communities since these areas do not have the infrastructure and services to support the new population.

Front 87

Explain Smart Growthand list 3 smart growth goals presented in class.

Back 87

• Smart Growth is a program that makes effective use of land resources and existing infrastructure by encouraging development that avoids costly duplication of services and inefficient land use.

• Smart growth aims to provide a mix of land uses to create a variety of affordable housing choices and opportunities. Smart growth Goals:

1. Create community positive-self image. 2. Make the downtown vital and livable. 3. Alleviate substandard housing. 4. Solve problems with air, water, toxic waste, and noise pollution. 5. Improve communication between groups. Improve community member access to the arts.

Front 88

Describe sustainable development and why it’s important.

Back 88

Sustainable development is meetingthe needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generationsto meet their own needs. It is critical because the Earth’s resources arefinite, and we must live in a manner that conserves these resources for futuregenerations.

Front 89

Please explain the following economic terms:

Classical economics, neoclassical economics, ecological economics.

Back 89

• Classical economics: assumes that natural resources are finite—that resources such as iron, gold, water, and land exist in fixed amounts.

• Neoclassical economics: developed in the nineteenth century, expanded the idea of resources to include labor, knowledge, and capital.

• Ecological economics: applies ecological ideas of system functions and recycling to the definition of resources.

Front 90

TheNational Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the cornerstone of U.S.environmental policy. NEPA does threeimportant things. Please identify thesethree important things that NEPA does:

Back 90

1) It authorizes the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ),

2) It directs federal agencies to take environmental consequences into account in decision making; and

3) It requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be published for every major federal project likely to have a significant impact on environmental quality.

Front 91

Whatis a policy? How are policies formed?

Back 91

A policy is a rule or decision abouthow to act or deal with problems. Toform policies, problems are identified and acted upon in a policy cycle thatacts to continually define and improve the public agenda.

Front 92

Please explain the following three types ofpolicies/law: common law, statute law, and tort law.

Back 92

Common Law - Lawsthat are derived from custom and judicial precedent, rather than statutes.

Statute Law - Alegislative act that declares, or commands something; a specific law, expressedin writing. Established by Congress.Tort Law - is a civil wrong that unfairly causes someoneelse to suffer loss or harm resulting in legal liability.

Front 93

Chapter 16 identifies 5 actions you can do to reduce yourimpact on the environment. Pleaseidentify 4 of these 5 actions you can take.

Back 93

Purchase less

Reduce excess packaging

Conserve energy

Save water

Avoid disposable items

Front 94

As presented in class, explain the “greenhouseeffect”.

Back 94

A common term that explains naturally occurring gases that maintain heat.

Front 95

As presented in class, please explain the theoryof global climate change.

Back 95

Attempts to explain how increasing greenhouse gases affects our climate.

Front 96

As identified in Lab #8: Habitat and Niche,please define niche breadth, and explain why it is important to measure whenassessing relationships of species occupying a specific habitat.

Back 96

Niche Breadth is the range of conditions in which an organism can be successful.

Niche Breadth is important to understand how habitat use/conditions may affect different species. Species with a broad niche breadth can live in a wide variety of habitats, while species with a narrow niche breadth require very special sets of environmental conditions to survive. Changes in habitat conditions will most severely affect species with a narrow niche breadth.

Front 97

As identified in Lab #8: Habitat and Niche,please define niche overlap, and explain why it is important when assessingrelationships of species occupying a specific habitat.

Back 97

Is the degree towhich different species play similar roles in their communities.

Niche overlap is important to understand inorder to assess the potential for species to compete for limited resources inthe specific habitat you are measuring.

Front 98

From Lab #10: Aquatic Species Diversity, please explain the following terms: lotic habitats, lentic habitats, erosional zone, depositional zone.

Back 98

Lotic Habitats: Are flowing water habitats, such as creeks, rivers and streams,

Lentic Habitats: Are standing water habitats, such as lakes, ponds pools and swamps. Erosional Zone – is an area of a stream in which the water velocity is fast enough to carry small particles in suspension, and is normally typified by riffles.

Depositional Zone – is an area of a stream in which the current is relatively slow and small particles fall out of suspension and become deposited as silt on the stream bottom.

Front 99

As presented in the Lab #12: “Flush to Finish” video, please explainwhat “INI” is, and what problems INIcauses.

Back 99

Infiltration Sources – Water thatfinds its way into the system through every crack, crevice or leaky pipe it canfind.

Inflow and Infiltration sources (INI) causesundue pressure to be put on the plant and must be reduced.

Front 100

As presented in the Lab #12: “Flush to Finish” video, please explain the “Final Treatment– UV Disinfection” process, as described in the “Flush to Finish” video.

Back 100

To meet water standards for fecal coliform, effluent is disinfected by UV treatment as the last treatment prior to release back into the natural water system