Exercises and Discussion Problems

1. Prepare a 2-page op ed piece discussing the effect of environmental laws on environmental quality in air, water and/or land. Is quality improving? How much does this improvement cost? Students should refer to and use quantitative data on quality versus cost. Such information may be found on government web pages, in government documents, and by several well-known authors e.g. Portney of Resources for the Future.

2. Connect to the EPA web site: www.epa.gov. Answer the following questions. Finding information on the Internet is much more efficient if you know where to look. To help, the questions are grouped according to the main menu on the EPA home page. Note that there are many ways to get to the same information though few are obvious on this web site.

ABOUT EPA - lots of general information in quick non technical summaries
1. Who was the head of EPA when it was first formed in 1970?

Now?

2. How many people does EPA currently employ and what is its current annual budget?

3. Define the term IRIS.

4. When did EPA ban the following?

DDT

PCBs

Lead in gasoline

CFCs as propellant in most aerosol cans

Herbicides containing dioxins

Dumping sewage sludge in oceans

NEWS AND EVENTS - general information, press releases, conferences, workshops etc.

5. What is the title of the EPA press release for January 28, 2000?

6. What conference sponsored by EPA will be held in Chicago in February?

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS - lots of links to just about everything including the traditional medium specific offices, and the special topic areas; includes databases of information about environmental quality in the USA

7. Name one program with a geographical focus that relates to your hometown.

8. Pick an energy star product category and summarize what the web page says about it. Include the web address. Hint: it is one of the general interest programs.

9. Name one site in your community that has been investigated as a hazardous waste contaminated site. Hint: use the envirofacts link for Superfund sites.

OFICE, LABS, REGIONS - location information both across the country, and within the EPA organizational structure

10. Which office within EPA is responsible for the air policies and regulations?

11. Which EPA regional office includes Indiana and what is the address for the office?

LAWS AND REGULATIONS - as stated
12. Name one proposed regulation regarding the Clean Air Act that was made available to the public on January 27, 2000.

DATABASES AND SOFTWARE - lots of environmental information across the country regarding self-reported info, compliance info, permits, etc., and software models
13. Name one downloadable free software product available from the EPA web site and describe what it is used for.

14. How many industrial facilities in your county have Clean Water Act - NPDES permits and what are the SIC codes?

MONEY MATTERS (jobs and grants)
15. Describe one opportunity for student employment offered by EPA.

Definitions/Terms You Should Know

NEPA
EPA
ESA
CWA
SDWA
CAA
RCRA
CERCLA
HSWA
SARA
Conservation Movement
Rachel Carson
Silent Spring
Earth Day
Love Canal
Bhopal
Monkey Wrenching
Radical Environmentalism
Source
Sink
Storm Sewer
Sanitary Sewer
Combined Sewer
Water Closet
Contagionist
Anti contagionist
NAAQs
Technology-based Standards
Compliance
Enforcement
Fishable and Swimmable
Point Source
Non Point Source
Potable
Palatable
MCL
MCLG
Superfund
NPL
NCP
RI/FS
Community Right-to-Know
TRI

Suggested Resources

Classic Literary Article
· Tarr, Joel, Chapter 5 from "The Search for the Ultimate Sink," University of Akron Press, 1996.

Resource Articles etc.
· 1999 State of Environment for your particular state.
· EPA web site (www.epa.gov)
· State environmental agency web site.
· Cascio, Joseph and Gayle Woodside, ISO 14000 Guide, McGraw Hill, New York, 1996.