Environmental and Resources Flashcards
Effluent Standards
Sets restrictions on discharge of pollutants into the environment. EPA has >50 pollutants
Point Source
Discharged directly onto the site
Non-Point Source
Contaminated run-off not traceable to one site
Aquifer
Permeable rock with economically viable quantities of water for wells or springs
Estuary
Where freshwater meets saltwater
Lagoon
Shallow body of water alongside th ecoast
Marsh
Can be fresh or salty, wetland without peat
Reservoir
Can be man-made or natural, storage and control of water
Swamp
Fresh water area with spongy, muddy water
Watershed
Connects the region to surface water
Wetlands
Saturated with surface groundwater to the extent that it can support vegetation
Clean Water Act
- Requires discharge of pollutors to a body of water to get a permit to pollute
Clean Air Act
1970, with revisions in 1977 and 1990. Cut off Federal funding for Metropolitan Areas in non-attainment for criteria pollutants. These include: Ozone, NO2, SO2, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, and Lead
Prevention of Significant Deterioration
(PSD) Relates to air quality and requirements. A project will not be allowed if it releases emissions over a PSD increment
Capillary Fringe
Subsurface layer where groundwater seeps up from water table and fills pores
Percolation Test
Determines water absorption of soil to prepare buildings for septic draining into fields
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPDES - allows for permits to discharge some point source pollutants
Water Resources Reform and Development Act
WRRDA - Provides new financing for water and wastewater (in conjunction with Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act WIFIA)
Prior Appropriation
“First in time, first in right” regarding water use, common in the West and frequently means water rights are “use it or lose it”
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
1948 - First major law to address water pollution. Established basic structure for regulating pollutant discharges into waters of USA and became Clean Water Act in 1972 through amendments.
Endangered Species Act
1973 - Establishes framework to conserve and protect endangered species and their habitats
“One Water”
Term for managing all water resources including drinking, waste, stormwater, etc.
Integrated Water Resource Management
IWRM - Considers water uses and discharges associated with urban growth
Resource Conservation & Recovery Act
1976 - RCRA Gives the EPA authority to control hazardous waste including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal
Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
1984 - HSWA amendments to RCRA that focus on waste minimization and phase out waste disposal
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
1980 - CERCLA, also known as Superfund. Identify hazardous materials due to leakage, spillage, or mismanagement and clean highest priority sites
Foundation of EPA
Established by Nixon Executive Order on Dec. 2, 1970. Provides air quality, radiation, water quality, land waste cleanup, and chemical and toxic control programs
First Earth Day
April 22, 1970
Section 404
Army Corps wetland permit program, limited in some places by Migratory Bird rule and Tulloch Rule
Tulloch Rule
Limits 404 program by allowing dredging fallback to end up in wetlands without regulation
“No Further Action Letter”
Notifies owner of hazardous waste site that cleanup is complete
“Swampbuster” programs
Provision of 1985 Food Security Act that killed many urban wetlands through development
Percent of Energy from Renewables
19.8%. 8.4% is wind, 7.3% is hydro, 2.3% is solar, 1.4% is biomass
Percent of Energy from Nuclear
19.7%
Percent of Energy from Fossil Fuels
60.3%. 40.3% is Natural Gas, 19.3% is Coal
Smart Grid
Computerized energy grid with two-way communication between the grid and its devices
Energy Star vs. LEED
Energy Star is public certification through EPA and DOE, LEED is private
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act
1947 - FIFRA. For registering pesticides with the Federal Government. Amended in 1972 including the Food Quality Production (FQPA) Act of 1996
Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act
1978 - PURPA promotes alternate energy sources and markets for non-utility power producers to make competition in the utility industry
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1889
(Considered the oldest environmental law in the U.S.), prohibited the construction of any bridge, dam, dike, or causeway over any navigable waterway in the U.S. without Congressional approval. The Act also required Congressional approval for all wharves, piers, or jetties, and the excavation or fill of navigable waters.
The Water Pollution Control Act of 1948
Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, in cooperation with other governmental entities, prepared a comprehensive program for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries and improving the sanitary condition of surface and underground waters. Allowed the Federal Works Administrator to assist government agencies in constructing sewage treatment plants.
The Water Quality Act of 1965
Established the Water Pollution Control Administration within the Department of the Interior. This was the first time water quality was treated as an environmental concern rather than a public health concern.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
Later amended in 1990, focused efforts to reduce polluted runoff in 29 coastal states.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
Amended the Water Pollutant Act of 1948. The amendments broadened the government’s authority over water pollution and restructured the authority for water pollution under the Environmental Protection Agency. The Act changed the enforcement from water quality standards to regulate the number of pollutants being discharged from particular point sources.
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Provides protection of animal and plant species that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates as threatened or endangered. This act was later amended in 1988.
Toxic Substances Control Act of 1973
Provided EPA with responsibility for reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. Certain substances are generally excluded, including food, drugs, cosmetics, and pesticides.
Environmental Indicators
Series of metrics for the EPA’s State of the Environment Report. In categories of Air, Water, Land, Human Exposure & Health, and Ecological Condition.
Measurements for solar energy
Solar energy is measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m2) relating to electricity production and in British thermal units per square foot (Btu/ft2) which relates to heat production.
How Zoning Affects Solar Energy
Zoning controls the location of solar resources on a site, through setbacks, height and lot coverage restrictions. Most communities do not allow solar panels as an accessory structure in the front yard. Development regulations are structured to allow solar by right where appropriate and to have the appropriate development controls where needed. There may be competing interests between tree preservation and solar energy production.
Passive Solar Design
Mitigates the building’s energy needs. The goal of passive design is to maximize the amount of direct sunlight available to each building - for example, orienting streets and front lot lines along the east-west axis. In colder climates, windows facing south can capture solar energy for daytime heating.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Use photovoltaic cell technology to capture radiant energy from the sun and create electricity. Photovoltaic cells are placed on panels that are then placed on rooftops or mounted on the ground. Cells can operate at the residential to the utility scale.
How Zoning Affects Wind Energy
Wind farms need to comply with land use districts, setback requirements and height limitations. Ordinances regulating wind energy should address setbacks, tower height, visual appearance, sound, and design review for turbine design.
Energy Efficiency and Insulation
Rated in terms of thermal resistance, called R-value (the resistance to heat flow). The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation. A minimum R-value of 20 is recommended for residential use.
CAFE
Corporate Average Fuel Economy, enacted 1975 and regulates the gas average per one mile for cars
ITS
Intelligent Transportation Systems - includes active traffic management, incident management, traveler information programs, and connected vehicle systems
Ways Climate Change Affects Plant & Animal Habitats
Altered salinity of coastal marshes, droughts and wildfires affecting animal environments, increases in invasive species moving to areas that are warmer longer
LDI
Low-Impact Development regarding stormwater management. Mimics natural systems that us soils and vegetation to capture, process, and treat stormwater runoff
Green Infrastructure
Strategically planned network of green and open spaces including aquatic and terrestrial areas. Benefits include water restoration, temperature moderation, erosion control, carbon capture, pollutant control, nutrient management, and food production
Examples of Engineered Green Infrastructure
Street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, bioretention ponds
“No Regret” Principle
AKA “Precaution Principle” - taking actions to mitigate climate change by maximizing positive outcomes and minimizing negative ones (trying to make everyone win)
Amount of Groundwater in US from aquifers
40%
Regenerative Economics
In the production -> consumption step, adds a “Return” step to encourage a cycle of production
Life Cycle Assessment
Measures environmental impact of a product and its design
Percent of Food Wasted in the US Annually
40%
