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Environmental Policy
United States Environmental Policies
50
Geography
Undergraduate 4
12/12/2011

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Cards

Term
Air Pollutant Types
Definition
Sulfur Oxides
Nitrogen Oxides
Carbon Monoxide
Particulates
Hydrocarbons
Oxidants (ozone)
Acid deposition
Synthetic compounds
radioactive substances
heat
primary vs secondary
natural vs human-made
Term
Stratospheric Ozone
Definition
located 10-30 miles above the Earth's surface
Protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation
Term
Ground Level Ozone
Definition
Created as a result of a chemical reaction between NOx and VOC
Harmful to human health and causes serious damage to plant life
Term
Ambient Standards
Definition
Regulates amount of the pollutant in the surroundnig
Term
Technology Standards
Definition
Polluters must use certain technology or practice
(BACT, RACT, MACT)
Term
Emission Standards
Definition
Regulates the level of emissions allowed
Term
BACT
Definition
Best Available Control Technology
Term
RACT
Definition
Reasonably Available Control Technology
Term
MACT
Definition
Maximum Achievable Control Technology
Term
NAAQS
Definition
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Empowers the EPA administrator to set allowable pollution levels for specific pollutants
Term
Primary NAAQS
Definition
Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, Oxygen(3) and Lead
Term
Alternative Policies to CAA
Definition
Less polluting fuels; Battery-powered electric cars; Hybrid cars; Regulatory stick vs. consumer carrot; Emissions tax; Stiff inspections for polluting cars; Stricter standards in nonattainment areas
Term
Contributors to water Pollution
Definition
Oxygen-demanding wasters; Plant nutrients; sediments; Toxic minerals and inorganic compounds; synthetic Organic Compounds (POPs); Radioactive wastes; Thermal discharges
Term
Point Sources vs Nonpoint Sources
Definition
Point - water pollution emanating from a specific source
Nonpoint - water pollution generated by spatially dispersed sources such as agriculture
Term
Pollution Concentration
Definition
amount of contaminants in water at a single moment
Term
Pollution Load
Definition
measured by adding up the total pollution discharge into a waterway over an extended period of time (annual)
Term
Leachate
Definition
water that has percolated through waste and become contaminated with pollutants
Term
Bioaccumulation
Definition
refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism
Term
CWA
Definition
Clean Water Act of 1972
A.K.A. Federal water Pollution Control Act
Easy to enforce!!!
Term
NPDES
Definition
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
requires a permit for every discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters
Term
SDWA
Definition
Safe Drinking Water Act
To provide for identification, monitoring, and control of contamination in finished water
Term
FDA
Definition
Food and Drug Administration
Term
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Definition
The act, described by proponents as an attempt to combat growing energy problems, changed US energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production of various types
Term
Components of MSW
Definition
Municipal Solid Waste
any solid, emi-solid, liquid or contained gaseous materials discarded from industrial, commercial, mining, or agricultural operations, and from community activities
Term
Hazardous Waste
Definition
waste having the characteristics of ignitability, reactivity, toxicity, and/or corrosivity
Term
Methods of Waste Disposal
Definition
Land; Deep well injection; Waterways and storm drains; Incineration; Recycling; Composting; Ocean dumping; Exportation
Term
TSCA
Definition
Toxic Substances Control Act
EPA has authority to ban chemicals
Term
TRI
Definition
Toxic Release Inventory under EPCRA
Term
RCRA
Definition
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
generation, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste
Term
CERCLA/Superfund
Definition
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
the focus is on disposal of waste
Term
PRPs
Definition
Potentially Responsible Party
Term
NPL
Definition
National Priorities List
Term
Land Use Planning
Definition
Trivial; Utopian; Imperative; Intentional
Term
"Right of Property Ownership"
Definition
Do people have the right to do whatever they please on land the own?
Term
Land Use Zoning
Definition
Designation by type and density( zoning): residential; commercial; industrial; special-use
Term
Eminent Domain
Definition
"taking"
State or local government expropriates private property for public use without an owner's consent
Term
Smart Growth
Definition
a set of planning guidelines to prevent urban sprawl
Term
Soil Erosion
Definition
movement of soil, either by wind or by water, off of land and into lakes, rivers, streams, or oceans
Term
Farmland Conversion
Definition
agricultural land converted to non-agricultural uses
SEE CITY MARKET MODEL
Term
Desertification
Definition
process of degrading productive land
Term
BLM
Definition
Bureau of Land Management (DOI)
oversees the leftovers; "catch-all"; least valuable; oversees most land
Term
USFS
Definition
U.S. Forest Service (DOA)
looks at forest as agricultural land for timber
Term
NPS
Definition
National Park Service(DOI)
oversees land set aside as national parks or conserved/preserved lands
Term
USFWS
Definition
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI)
not responsible for land but rather species on the land
Term
FLMPA
Definition
Federal Land Managment and Policy Act of 1976
declares land remains in public ownership; BLM manages using land planning
Term
Modes of Land Management
Definition
Multiple use; recreation; Fee Demonstration Project; Commercial Recreation Permits and Concessions; Fire Management; Roadless Areas
Term
Fire Management Types
Definition
Prescribed Burns; Prescribed Natural Fires; Fire Suppression
Term
Wilderness Act of 1964
Definition
Undeveloped land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation
Term
ESA 1973
Definition
Endangered Species Act
Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species and Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Term
Ecosystems Management
Definition
"big picture" management that focuses on the combination of the interrekated parts of an ecosystem and manages the system holistically (rather than in individual pieces like ESA)
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