Enviromental Assessment, Enviroment Technology and Hazardous waste

Environmental Technology

Question 1 – 500 words

1. Write an essay consisting of at least 500 words addressing ALL of the following topics (a. through h.):

a. Describe the history of solid waste disposal in the United States.

b. Our textbook has definitions of refuse, garbage, rubbish, and trash. Search references other than our textbook. Do other references agree with our textbook's definitions of those terms? If not, how do the other sources define those terms? Are the other sources in agreement with each other?

c. Why are transfer stations necessary? Are they more likely to be used when a landfill is nearby or far away?

d. What are the advantages and disadvantages of incineration?

e. Describe the pyrolysis process as used in solid waste processing.

f. Describe construction of a landfill including features that distinguish landfills from dumps.

g. Name a city in the world with extremely poor solid waste management.

h. For a city of your choice anywhere in the world with a population of at least 100,000 people, describe solid waste collection (number and type of trucks), population served, number of transfer stations, number of landfills, size of the landfill(s), and proximity of the landfills relative to the city. On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate the city that you selected with regards to being progressive about solid waste management? A score of zero would be a city that does not even have dumps; people just throw their waste into the streets with no waste collection. A score of ten would be a very advanced city with excellent collection, reuse, recycling, and nearly zero waste going to landfills. A score of seven would be a city in a developed country with regular waste collection and landfills satisfying RCRA Subtitle D criteria or equivalent.

  Question 2 – 500 Words

1. Write an essay consisting of at least 500 words addressing ALL of the following topics (a. through g.):

a. What distinguishes a hazardous waste from a solid waste?

b. Describe household hazardous waste. How should it be disposed of?

c. Explain the use of manifests for tracking hazardous waste.

d. What are the characteristics of a surface impoundment for liquid hazardous waste?

e. Our textbook on page 332 indicates that in 2006 there were about 1,240 sites on the National Priority List (NPL). How many sites are currently on the NPL?

f. Explain three hazardous waste site remediation technologies.

g. Describe a Superfund site of your choice.

Question 3 – 500 words

1. Write an essay consisting of at least 500 words addressing ALL of the following topics (a. through k.):

a. What are the primary three gases comprising the atmosphere?

b. Explain how temperature varies with altitude.

c. Describe the environmental lapse rate.

d. Why are sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead of such importance that they are criteria pollutants under the NAAQS?

e. What is the range of particle size for fly ash?

f. Explain the greenhouse effect.

g. Describe carbon capture and sequestration. Do you think it is viable?

h. Discuss the operation of a high volume sampler. Why does it need an air pump?

i. If the concentration of carbon monoxide is 2.9% at a location along the highway at 70oC, what is the concentration in ppm?

j. Describe three air pollution control strategies listed on page 374 of our textbook.

k. Explain the operation of a wet scrubber.

Question 4 – 500 words

1. Write an essay consisting of at least 500 words addressing ALL of the following topics (a. through f.):

a. What is the difference between wavelength and frequency?

b. If sound travels through steel at 5000 m/s and the sound frequency being transmitted is 400 Hz, what is the wavelength (meters) of the sound?

c. Describe the concept of decibels and what they represent.

d. Search the Internet for a hand-held sound level meter. Briefly present its specifications and cost.

e. List four noise control techniques.

f. Describe methods for reducing transportation noise.