ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 1 Discussion
DQ1 Overview of Global ENMT Issues and Basis of ENMT
My name is Jessica Schrader and I will be leading this topic discussion on overview of global ENMT issues and basis of ENMT.
Many of these questions you should have thought about as part of this week's readings and viewings from the PDF file made available to you under Content, Week 1. Here is your chance to share your reflections and delve deeper and learn from different perspectives by participating in the discussion of one or more of the following questions:
Have you experienced any of those global issues discussed in this week's readings and viewings? If so, which ones and in what way were they manifested in your life?
o Be as specific as you can. For example, can you describe the source of acidification of oceans versus acid rain? Why are the molecular sources of those two issues different?
· Can you name the source(s) for each of the global issues mentioned in the power point Overview of Global Environmental Issues? You should be able to discuss the basics for various pollutants (such as their source and various ways to mitigate these pollutants and their human and environmental effects at different concentrations) including the six criteria pollutants.
o Why is CO2 not a criteria pollutant?
· We reviewed how environmental impact is a combination of population growth, use of affluence, and technology use. Can you name an environmental issue and relate it to population growth, use of affluence, and technology use?
o Can you imagine what this world would be like if fossil fuels cost ten times as much as it does now?
· Do you agree that the future of environmental management is a question of ethics? Why or why not?
· What did you think about the presentation on the basis of ENMT? Do you agree that environmental management is essentially managing humans to not destroy the very ecosystems we depend upon? Explain why or why not.
· What have you learned about best practices to manage people? How has that affected your own work and personal life?
· What are the major themes that you have learned in this environmental management program? What themes do you think we should have covered that we have not? And what approaches to environmental management have you used?
Fell free to integrate as many of these questions as you wish! I will come back to comment and integrate as needed.
DQ2 How we got here and what can we learn from our past?
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Topic 2: How we got here and what can we learn from our past?
Hi again. My name is Jessica Schrader and I will lead the discussion this week on how we got to the environmental state we are in and what we can learn from the path we have taken.
We need to understand how we got where we are today if we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of our past. Please draw on what you have learned in history and what you have seen in your lifetime and what you have heard from your parents and grandparents to enrich this discussion that should have different perspectives on where we have been.
Some questions below to help us discuss this complex topic:
This week, we look at two past cases that helped to propel the creation of the EPA. What other events led to the creation of the EPA?
In general, why has U.S. environmental legislations been enacted? Would you characterize our drive for environmental legislation as reactive or proactive? How does the U.S. approach differ from the European approach to regulating chemicals?
In one of my presentations, I stated that traditionally, greater economic impact led to greater environmental impact. Why is that? Would we be able to change that – and if so, how?
How are economic, environmental, technological, political, and social trends related to national capital and ecosystem services? What are potential climate tipping elements and how do they relate to systemic risk?
Have you observed the “Jevons Paradox” or “the rebound effect” in your lifetime?
Sustainability is a complex topic and one of your readings this week chose to tie it to humanity and the environment. Do you agree with the authors’ take on sustainability in a modern context? Why is sustainability so much more complex today than it was 400 years ago?
How do you think sustainability is related to our economy, ecology, and social values? The Basis of ENMT presentation as well as the textbook “Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation” shows one possible relationship between society, ecology, and economy sustainability – where the three forms of sustainability intersect as true sustainability:
· I also presented another way to view economic, social, and environmental sustainability:
What would we need to change in order to have the second figure represent our economic relationship to our social values and ecological goods and services?
· How doe the two figures above relate to the questions I have asked about how we might reach sustainability?
Again, feel free to integrate as many of these questions as you wish. The questions are a starting point towards class discussions that should provide both breath of perspectives and depth of understanding and connections.
DQ3 Clearly articulating key terms and concepts, and critical thinking questions
One of the habits some UMGC students appear to hang onto, even up to ENMT 495, is googling to answer questions. And then cutting and pasting bits of what they find. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! First of all, this action does not usually address the actual question asked, and I am a seasoned enough teacher that I can see when this occurs. Secondly, I will be flagging such content as a form of academic dishonesty.
I really do need each of you to tell me what you are thinking so that I can see if I can clarify any confusions you have. If you are a student who can help to clarify, please DO so! You get credit in my class for all gentle clarifications. And in fact, if the mistake is mine, you get more than brownie points! I break my “no extra credit” rule when students are able to point out content error in any of my classes!
SO let’s have a vigorous, intellectual discussion as this is the capstone course and you should be showing off what you have learned!
Here are some key terms to connect as well as critical thinking questions to address:
How is the biosphere related to biogeochemical cycles? Provide a specific example to support your connection.
How are ecosystem services related to environmental management? Again, provide a specific example to support your connection.
Provide one example of an international environmental treaty success. You should have learned about this one in ENMT 301 if not in other classes as well.
What are some facts that we know now in science and some of their consequences?
Given what you have reviewed about ecosystems this week, how would you define waste from an ecosystems perspective?
Explain how ecosystem destruction is related to national security.
As always, add to the present discussion with connections and synthesis, and do not post in isolation to what your classmates have discussed.
DQ4 Some quantitative analysis
Part of the ENMT degree requires analytical thinking using basic algebra. Below are some problems to assess your ability to use basic algebra when applicable, and helpful towards getting you to use quantitative analysis as part of critical thinking.
· Using a simple analysis first order analysis of environmental impact, please explain that would occur to our environmental impact if we could use technology to reduce our impact by 20% but the population increases by 30% and the world GDP increases by 10%.
· A cubic meter of air sample was sampled at 1.0 atm and 20 C. An ion chromatographic analysis of that sample found it to contain 8.0 micrograms of NO2. How many ppb of NO2 is in that air? Is this in violation of NAAQS?
· Public health is a central theme you should have seen in your ENMT studies. Essential to public health is potable water. Calculate the amount of chlorine needed to disinfect 50 ML water to a residual dose of 0.3 mg/L. You need to add an additional 0.4 mg/L to the water in order to reach the breakpoint for chlorine addition based upon jar tests for this particular drinking water. Explain what the breakpoint is and why you would want a residual 0.3 mg/L of chlorine in your water.
· One of the themes in ENMT is the management of natural resources for human use. If we are to work toward sustainability, we need to think of ways that humans can live comfortably with minimal waste. One of the themes you should have seen in your ENMT study is the disproportionate amount of resource use per person that rich countries have over poor countries, and discussed in much of the readings on I=PAT this week. Let’s see how we might address some of this using some actual data on what Americans use, beginning with water use: EPA data (http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/docs/ws_indoor508.pdf and http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/outdoor.html) indicates that the average American uses 30% of his/her domestic water use is for watering our lawns and gardens and 22% of our indoor water use is due to washing clothes. Of the 30% of domestic water use for outdoor water, about 50% is estimated to be wasteful water such as the water that ends up running down the sidewalk or down the hill and has no effect on the lawn upkeep. The water for washing clothes can be cut by about 30% simply by washing full loads of clothes in place of partial loads. How much would these two simple changes affect domestic water use on a percentage basis? How much freshwater use per day would a nation of about 324,000,000 people (population of U.S. in 2015) save if these two changes were the new social norm? (Please base your calculations on a domestic water use of 300 L/day for the average American.
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 Pollution Prevention and Waste Management
Between the buildup of waste in the oceans of the Earth and the continued growth of landfills, among other things, it's not unreasonable to say that humanity has done itself a gross disservice in the handling of our waste historically and today. So where do we go from here? How can we resolve this issue and make our garbage work for us, rather than working for our garbage? What will the future hold for us if we don't?
Below are some questions I hope will spark a productive discussion for this week:
Briefly summarize the seven P2 strategies from the week's readings. Place them in order from least to most important, based on how effective you feel they are in terms of minimizing waste byproducts.
The primary method of waste management is simply not producing waste to begin with. Brainstorm zero waste solutions that can provide groceries to consumers without need of packaging. Are there any such products on the market today, or green products which require you to return the packaging to be refilled? Kindly share them with the class.
From the 1960s and onward in the U.S., companies moved away from using glass containers for milk and soda in favor of paper and plastic containers. The older glass containers were collected, washed, and reused a majority of the time, often because of rebates offered when said containers were returned. What was the reason for this change in policy, and what are the ramifications of that change? Are there other products that would benefit from such a rebate program, to return containers for reuse? Is this a feasible redistribution method in today's society of exported goods and mass production, or are there other solutions to single use disposable items we should consider?
Recycling is a wonderful idea in theory, but in practice it is often confusing, and materials you think get recycled end up with regular waste in landfills. If you aren't washing, sorting, and delivering your own recycling, this is often the case. Review the recycling program in your neighborhood or workplace, you can usually find it in the trash utility website for your county. Have they released a report in recent years on the efficacy of their recycling program? What percentage of materials delivered for recycling are successfully processed? Brainstorm ways we can improve the facilities or procedures related to recycling.
Food waste is a global issue, but it is particularly problematic in the United States, where an estimated 30-40% of the food supply ends up in the garbage. Why is that? What can we do to minimize food waste at every level of distribution, from production to transportation, processing, retail, all the way to in our homes (and restaurants)?
Nuclear Waste is an impending issue that the U.S. has been sweeping under the rug for well over 50 years now. One of every three Americans lives within 50 miles of high level nuclear waste, because we've been storing that waste in temporary holding areas indefinitely, because we do not have a permanent storage facility to hold high-level nuclear waste. Is constructing a permanent facility the best option for solving America's nuclear waste problem, why or why not? If not, propose a better solution.
Describe the differences in waste management between the current standard, and the standard achieved by humans in a sustainable society. How will humans in the future treat what is currently called waste? What would they think and feel about how our society operates today?
Think about your life, at work or in your home. What are some steps you can take to move toward a zero waste lifestyle? Understand that it cannot happen overnight, or perhaps even completely, but every step you can take in the right direction benefits yourself and society at large. Is zero waste a reasonable goal you can set for yourself? Why or why not?
Summarize some of the economic, political, social, and ecological challenges humanity will have to overcome in order to create a zero waste society.
Imagine you are a secondary school student from the 28th century writing an assignment about the climate crisis of the 21st century. What are some technologies, governmental policies, and lifestyle changes in the 28th century that solved 21st century waste problems?
Alternatively, write your own question regarding Pollution Prevention or Waste Management and answer that, I'm not here to stifle intellectual discourse. I look forward to reading your responses!
DQ2 Environment and Economics
Good morning, my name is Josefine Velazquez this week my discussion topic will be on Environment and Economics. Environmental economics is a study of economics of ecology and environmental issues. If puts a huge focus on monetary value of ecosystems and the coast and benefits of environmental policies. Now that we know what it is how do we start to re-think money in sense that maybe everyone not just a select few “tax money” front the load of saving the environment. I agree with Hagens when he mentioned that we should not only listen to business men but ecologists as well.
A quote from Dr. Nate Hagens, a speaker at Earth Week video "A Guide to Being Human in the 21st Century." Said "Energy is what powers modern society money is a claim on energy."
How do you feel about this quote in regards to how the nation or even the world values and measures on money over the other two pillars of sustainability?
Eliminating pollution entirely is unlikely to happen or even desirable how can economics help us to think about the disadvantages and advantages for better environmental plans?
How would you advise government to put a price tag or monitory value on something that comes naturally like water, air, and sun?
Resources
Hagens, N. (2016). Earth-week speaker series at UW-Stevens Point 2016. "A Guide to Being Human in the 21st Century" [YouTube]. Earth-week speaker series at UW-Stevens Point 2016. "A Guide to Being Human in the 21st Century" - YouTube
DQ3 Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Urban Development
My name is Ronald Hicks and will be leading this topic discussion on sustainable urban development. This week explored the concepts of and management of industrial ecology, eco-industrial parks, and urban planning. These topics will be discussed through participation in the following questions:
Eco-industrial Parks (EIPs) are designed to function as an ecological system, in which raw materials are reduced and industrial waste can be recycled. Summarize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of these parks, then select an example EIP from the reading and identify the economic, environmental, and social benefits specific to the example. Identify how these factors have shifted over time for your selection.
After watching Sustainable City | Fully Charged, describe the water management techniques in the Sustainable City in Dubai. What are the economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of this system?
How does China's Circular Economy Initiative integrate economic development and environmental objectives? Do you believe a completely "Circular" economy is possible? Why or why not?
This week's resources have shown the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable development. In what ways do these initiatives increase social equity as well? Have you seen or experienced these effects in your personal life?
How did the Swedish city of Malmö change residents’ attitudes towards sustainable changes? Do you believe their initiatives were effective? Can you provide suggestions or other approaches from your studies and experiences on encouraging behavioral change?
The leading sustainable cities tested innovative ideas to tackle transportation, energy, waste, and many other urban issues. Using your own city or hometown, identify an environmental issue that has seen innovation in the last decade. Alternatively, identify a prominent issue you feel should be addressed and discuss the barriers (political, geographic, cultural, etc) associated with doing so.
The joint report from Cities Alliance and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) defines 'brown' and 'green' agendas. What is the difference between the two and what is their relationship to the issues presented in this graph?
Chart, diagramDescription automatically generated with medium confidence
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 Risk Assessment and Risk Management
Hello, my name is Bailey Bomar and I will be leading this week's discussion on risk assessment and management. This week explored the history and evolution of the EPA's risk assessment process as well as the basics of risk assessment and risk management.
There are many varying definitions of risk. Describe the difference between the EPA's definition of risk and the definition given in the video, "Introductions to Risk Management", including a delineation of "negative risks" and "positive risks". Are positive risks possible in environmental management?
There are several statutory requirements that have influenced varying approaches to risk assessment. List some of the statutes that discuss risk assessment, and discuss the common factors of these statutes that shape the EPA's risk assessment principles.
Multiple National Research Council reports, including the 1983 publication of the Red Book, have shaped the guidelines for risk assessment. What are some of the NRC recommendations that have been integrated into the EPA's risk assessment principles?
Briefly describe the role that policy plays in the risk-assessment process regarding choices and uncertainties. What role does time play in risk assessment?
The 1983 National Research Council report discussed the need for conceptual distinction of risk assessment and risk management. Describe the difference between risk assessment and risk management, and including their goals and processes. Why are these continual processes?
Regardless of if a risk is to human health or the environment, there are 3 factors that a risk is dependent upon. What are these 3 factors? Briefly describe how human health risk assessments and ecological risk assessments differ?
Summarize the difference between qualitative and quantitative analysis of a risk, and provide a detailed example of each.
DQ2 Environmental Technologies
This Erin Fortuni and I will be leading this discussion. In the Week 3 learning resources the four environmental technologies categories were described and placed in order according to their dominance in the pollution management scene.
Identify the four technologies and their order of dominance. Does the current order of emphasis seem appropriate for the state of our environment?
Do you believe we are focused enough on the right areas to mitigate climate change in a timely manner? Please reason why this order is appropriate or devise a new order of emphasis for the environmental technologies categories. Provide support to your argument for reorganization/allocation of emphasis, for example; remediation is placed before monitoring but monitoring deserves more allocations because too little oversight will lead to more remediation necessary.
Finally, please investigate one specific environmental technology in one of the categories, and summarize its use, effectiveness, and any other notable characteristics, example technologies includes- life cycle analysis as an avoidance technology, space based sensors to predict harmful algal blooms as well as ice cover.
In responses to other students, please propose why you agree or disagree with your fellow student's initial post regarding their ideas for the prioritization of for environmental technologies categories. Also, do some quick research or speak from experience in order to add to the information on the specific environmental technology that was presented in the post. Happy Week 3!
DQ3 Multimedia Analysis
My name is Tetee Maximore. The discussions on this topic provide a general idea of Multimedia analysis. Many of these questions need to be pondered as part of the week three reading and resources provided.
This is an opportunity to share your thoughts, dig deeper, and learn from different perspectives by participating in discussions on one or more of the following questions:
Multimedia management integrates a wide array of environmental requirements and decision processes. Can you need the ecological processes mentioned in this week's reading? Discuss the condition of the processes to be part of the multimedia analysis.
What are Multimedia compliance inspections, and how is it related to EPA's compliance inspections. How does the team of inspectors carry out inspections? What is evidence for appropriate enforcement actions conducted?
Environmental pollution management requires cost-effective development and application of various technologies. List and discuss the four categories of Environmental technology activities and explain the different Government regulation's effects on each category.
As an environmental management student, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a multimedia approach In designing and implementing a pollution prevention program?
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 Science, Externalities and Uncertainty Perception
Science, Scientific Skepticism, Scientific Consensus; Trends and Variations
How has scientific skepticism helped and hindered scientific progress?
Should we wait for scientific consensus (and how much agreement does there need to be before it is considered "consensus") before we start tackling problems we can predict from the knowledge we have now?
Choose one of the major scientific theories we use in environmental management and discuss whether it still faces skepticism and whether there are valid points to these criticisms.
Is skepticism such as climate change denial usually related to a misunderstanding of trends and variations? Please give your own example.
Externalities and Pigouvian taxes/subsidies
How should we measure success in the economy if not by GDP? Is there any way to tie GDP to ecology to create a successful economy that does not come at the expense of ecology? Or should it be the other way around: ecology should be successful even at the expense of economy?
Can you think of any positive externalities that arise out of the things we buy/do in our daily lives? Are there still costs to the individual associated with these positive externalities? How can we encourage society to capitalize on positive externalities?
What are some examples of Pigouvian taxes/subsidies we currently have? Do they work as intended?
Uncertainty Perception
Has environmental science suffered in public opinion because of uncertainty perception? How so and how should we remedy this?
DQ2 Environmental Justice and Feedback Loops
This is Alex and I will be covering various Environmental topics throughout pages 3 and 4 of the article.
Feedback Loops:
Explain the difference between a negative and positive feedback cycle. Provide an example of either one and describe how this cycle impacts are current climate crisis. Do the actions described increase or decrease our goal of a carbon-neutral world?
Explain how human activities such as burning fossil fuels have contributed to a feedback cycle. Explain which cycle you believe it has contributed to and why.
Provide an example whose actions would result in a negative feedback loop and how would this impact the planet. Would the contribution of said actions move us toward a sustainable future?
Environmental justice:
Explain what environmental justice is. Why did the term come about and who would benefit the most (think about race issues and social/ economic structures), and why?
Provide an example of a local or state program or action that could be considered environmental justice. Why do you believe this program or action is part of the environmental justice movement as well as a brief description of why is it important when dealing with and discussing economic and racial discrepancies?
Pick one of the 3 environmental justice cases and briefly explain what the issue was, who was involved, and how the issue was resolved or handled? Do you believe the actions that were taken in this case were appropriate? If so, why and if you do not agree explain what would you do differently.
As humans, if our economical and ecological activities existed within the boundaries of biogeochemical cycles, would the issue of environmental injustice still be a part of our lives? Explain why or why not.
Conservation Efforts in Ecuador:
Do you agree with Ecuador's structural plan on how to conserve large portions of their rainforest? What problems, if any, would this method create?
When considering the protection of future ecosystems, we must take into consideration moral, legal, and ethical obligations. Based on this, how do you believe we should go about protecting large swaths of ecosystems whose resources could provide an economic boost for those countries whose economical status would benefit the most?
Do you believe that developing nations should have aided Ecuador's plan for protecting its rainforest? Do these countries and companies have a moral obligation to developing nations? If so, why?
How do you propose we should go about creating programs that would ensure that endangered ecosystems are protected for future generations while thinking about the economical hardships that this could pose in developing nations?
DQ3 Carbon Fee
This topic will be discussing the Carbon fee and will be led by Jessica Schrader. Please answer one of the following questions below and please make sure that you don't repeat any information and only are adding new information to the discussion.
What are the pros and cons of a carbon fee? Does one outweigh the other?
What would the country look like if a carbon fee was enacted immediately? Where do you think you would see the first impacts of it?
How does this relate to an activity that you do in your day to day life? Does this information change your beliefs on this activity? What can you change about this activity to make it more eco-friendly?
Describe how the following terminology can affect how groups of people view laws on carbon.
Carbon fee
Carbon tax
Carbon credit
Is there a difference between these three terms? If so please describe them.
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 Air Quality Management
This topic will be discussing air quality management and it will be led by Jason Wheeler.
This week we read about a variety of technologies used to treat polluted air before it is emitted into the environment. Describe some of these technologies including the pros/cons and what pollutants they work best for. What industries benefit from these different technologies?
This week we covered the intersectionality between air pollution and how it can impact the quality of the water. Let’s discuss how this process happens, the major atmospheric pollutants impacting water quality, and ways to combat atmospheric pollution spreading to other medians.
DQ2 Soil Management
Hello, I’m Dan, and I will be leading the discussion on soil management, practices, and technologies. Please use the following questions as a starting point for this topic’s discussions.
Describe the current production model of our system of agriculture. What are some advantages and disadvantages to this system? Discuss some alternative practices or alterations to our current system and how they might make the system better.
DQ3 Surface Water
Hello everyone, I am Thais De Charentenay and I will be leading this week's discussion on surface water quality, management, and technology. This topic will be discussing water quality and management. This week explored water management and water treatment technologies. Please answer one of the following questions below, sharing new thoughts or adding onto others posts.
Explain why the U.S. has had such difficulty cleaning up its waterways?
What causes dead zones? Provide 2 specific locations on Earth where dead zones are found? Have those places been remediated? Why or why not? Describe what happens to fish if they cannot "escape" a dead zone.
DQ4 Groundwater
Hi, I’m Stephanie and I will be leading this week’s discussion on groundwater. Please pick one of the following questions to answer and discuss:
What are some of the pollutants that threaten the groundwater in the area where you live? Discuss their source, risks to human health, and effects on the environment.
As an individual, what are some things you can do to help protect and conserve the groundwater in your community?
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 CERCLA and Remediation Technologies
Hello Class,
My name is Kleibert Diaz, and I will be leading Topic 1 of Week 6 Discussion.
I wish everybody best wishes and congrats on your upcoming graduation.
We read about CERCLA site discovery field, studies, and remediation/treatment/technologies in this week’s reading. It is crucial to understand that before any decision is made to clean a site, field samples are essential in determining the extent and type of contamination and what actions to take.
Pick one remediation/technology/treatment and describe the process of how it is applied to the site. Also, talk about a real-life scenario where the procedure was used.
What technology is most applicable for VOCs? What is a VOC? When the VOC is in the soil, how does it reach the atmosphere? Describe the answer, please.
DQ2 Superfund Sites
My name is Jessica and I will be leading Topic 2: Superfund Sites of Week 6 Discussion.
We read this week about hazardous waste site remediation and the Superfund. These questions will help us learn a little bit more about the Superfund process and its history.
In our reading this week, it was suggested we use this EPA resource to find a local Superfund site and we were asked if we knew about the site and what contaminants make it hazardous. In addition to finding a site and answering those questions, please briefly describe the site’s background, its current status, and what technologies are being used during clean up.
DQ3 Hazardous Waste
This is Scott Koleber and this week we are learning about hazardous wastes and ways to reduce the risk with to people and the environment.
What is one of the ways a product could be converted to from what would be hazardous waste into a useful non-hazardous product? Pick one and write a post about how it is converted.
In the readings this week we discussed incineration as a way to reduce hazardous wastes. What are the pros and cons of doing this?
DQ4 Transportation and Storage of Hazardous waste-cradle to grave.
My name is Martina Bokuma and I will be leading Topic 4:Transportation and Storage of Hazardous waste-cradle to grave.
We read about Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program and what it requires industries that handle toxic chemicals that pose a threat to human and environmental health should do in our week 6 learning materials. According to this program, industries are required by law to report on annual bases how much of each chemical is released into the environment or otherwise managed.
Please choose one of the following questions to answer and share your thoughts.
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 Radioactive Waste
This is Bruce and I will be leading this discussion.
Question 1 Why can low-level radioactive waste be directly disposed of while high-level waste must be stored prior to disposal? Please explain what happens during storage of radioactive wastes.
Question 2 What are some of the options available for disposal/storage of radioactive waste? Please provide detail on each of the options to include any benefits or difficulties with each option.
Question 3 Please outline mixed waste storage and disposal regulations and the agencies involved with these regulations.
Question 4 Please provide an explanation of the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test and what it is used for.
DQ2 Management Options and Remediation Technology for Radioactive and Mixed Waste
This is Jason Torres-Smith and I will be leading this discussion.
Management Options and Remediation Technology for Radioactive and Mixed Waste Question 1 What are possible management options for managing radioactive waste?
Question 2 What is the importance of managing mixed waste and how is this waste treated?
Question 3 What is a disposal option for nuclear waste?
Question 4 What is essentially the only way to "reuse" nuclear waste?
DQ3 Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management
Hello, I am Ashley and I will be leading this Radioactive and Mixed Waste Management discussion topic. This week’s discussion topic will focus on types, definition and sources of radioactive and mixed waste, consider some of the questions below.
Compare and contrast the difference between radioactive and mixed waste, what are some of the sources of these types of waste?
Define Exempted Waste (EW), give some examples that fall under this classification?
This week we learned that not all radioactive waste is the same, please define the different classification of radioactive waste.
Discuss some of the major challenges of radioactive waste management, are there possible management options?
Pick your own discussion topic, share something interesting you have learned this week regarding radioactive and mixed waste, maybe something you haven’t heard of before.
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 8 Discussion
DQ1 Exploring and sharing career resources including certifications and internships
Now that you have signed up for CareerQuest as part of this week’s work (if you have not done so prior to this class), explore what is available to you and report on one activity or resource you explored on CareerQuest or any of the other resources you saw in Week 8 content.
Make sure to read what your classmates have said so that you add to what they began. Please tell me if you have heard of CareerQuest prior to this course, and if so, where.
Alternatively, feel free to post a career resource to share!
For example, what do you think of this 3.8 minutes advise for looking for your first job in your new career?
https://www.candidcareer.com/video-job+searching+101,70b6c547ce09aa59abd5,UMGC
On the topic of certification, have you heard about any of the certifications covered under course content this week?
Do you have any of those certifications?
Please share any certifications you think would be helpful towards your career goals and explain why that certification would be helpful.Another aspect of moving into a new career is networking and internships. Of course, internships are a great way to network as well as gain experience to increase your marketability after graduation.
UMGC’s InternPLUS has focused on nontraditional ways that students can obtain experience outside of the traditional, full-time summer internships that are rather inaccessible to our nontraditional student population. As a result, UMGC has partnered with organizations to promote alternative ways to get experience such as:
Parker Dewey: https://info.parkerdewey.com/umgc
Paid micro-internships designed for students and recent grads that can often be completed from home often in a matter of hours
CatchaFire: https://www.catchafire.org/
UMGC also has career resources for military students and their families: https://careerquest.umgc.edu/hub/umgc-careerquest/resources/military
In addition, here are thee articles about how Volunteering, Staffing and Temp Agencies and Virtual Internships can be valuable ways to gain experience and some resources for how to find these opportunities.
Take a look at this interview with MDE wastewater permit head, Paul Hlavinda:
https://www.facebook.com/326156741869/videos/372397210000561/
They are looking for good interns. Would you like to intern there?
Share your experience in gaining internship or other "real-life" experience related to ENMT. Or provide your thoughts on which of these resources were most helpful to you and why.
DQ2 Practice with cover letter
As with all things in life, effective practicing will help you achieve your goal.
To help you prepare for interviewing for a position you desire, please share a job posting that is attractive to you and then share a cover letter from you for that job. You should demonstrate in that letter that you have the experience needed and know how you fit into the company/organization you are applying to.
Students should gently critique at least one other cover letter.
DQ3 Practice demonstrating applicable concepts
Now, using that same job or career description you provided under Topic 2, list the skills and knowledge that job or career requires and share how you will demonstrate those skills and knowledge in your resume and cover letter and interview.
What projects have you worked on in your ENMT program that you could bring to the interview or at least explain in the interview that you have the knowledge and skills needed for that job?
In addition to the "hard knowledge" that should be part of any rigorous program, there are also the "soft skills" that are often difficult to teach, especially online where we feel isolated. We try to see applications of soft skills through discussions forums and group work, and sometimes, the hangouts are helpful towards working on soft skills and connecting with others. Many organizations realize the importance of soft skills and hence, have begun to ask behavioral interview questions, which focus on how you handled various work situations in the past. Your response will reveal your skills, abilities, and personality. Below are two questions that might be used in behavioral interviews:
(1) Describe a stressful time in your life and what you did to manage the stress.
(2) Describe a time when you did not meet a goal at work or at school and share how you handled it.
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Case Study
Application of Environmental Management Concepts:
By this time in the course, you would have seen an overview of global ENMT issues, and examined integrative and international perspectives to environmental management. You would have also read about specific cases that demonstrate the need for an integrative approach to ENMT. As part of your authentic assessments, you will choose a case study on which to reflect and apply your knowledge of environmental management, integrating ENMT concepts, strategies, and perspectives, especially those covered in this course.
You may choose one of the following:
Events that led to the Cuyahoga River fires in 1969 up to the present
Mono Lake, from the 1940's to the present
Donora, Pennsylvania, from the 1940's to the present
ENMT495 Global Environmental
ENMT
Environmental Management/Environmental Management System Plan:
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Final Applied Project: Presentation to Stakeholders on Environmental Management Issue
(NOTE: this project is required in lieu of a proctored final exam)
Addresses Outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 4
develop and implement management plans that incorporate scientific principles and that comply with environmental laws and ethical principles in a team environment
demonstrate quantitative reasoning and analysis of information obtained through literature review, sampling, field investigation, and monitoring
apply scientific knowledge and principles, quantitative methods, technology tools, and regulatory policies to think critically and make recommendations to address complex environmental problems
communicate orally and in writing on environmental issues, principles, and practices in a clear, well-organized manner so as to effectively persuade, inform, and clarify ideas, information, plans, and procedures to stakeholders and other interested parties
General Considerations for a Presentation to Stakeholders
What you should be sure to convey:
content is appropriate for the audience of stakeholders and is sufficiently detailed
show that your assessment/review of the issue has scientific rigor, and that it is an on-going monitoring and evaluation process
provide representative data and support as graphics, figures, and charts as often as possible
be clear about roles and responsibilities
address federal laws, regulations, and policies that govern the process as well as who ensures compliance and how compliance is achieved
be clear about which natural and treatment resources are involved and which stakeholders are impacted; e.g., processes that impact water or land use will necessarily involve specific jurisdictions
make stakeholders feel part of the team and that they will be heard; e.g., include direct quotes from stakeholders or explicitly address concerns that have been expressed
reduce unnecessary fears, suspicions, misconceptions
encourage the stakeholders to continue participating and working with you to work out fair and equitable solutions
make recommendations for maintained or improved health and safety compliance, or maintained or improved environmental sustainability
Possible Audience of Stakeholders:
elected officials
concerned citizens, especially those who feel directly affected
university professors and students
engineering consultants for the cities and counties
city and county resources personnel
county and state department representatives such as transportation, environment, or parks and recreation
facility and utility managers such as from industries that might be impacted
environmental groups
special interest groups such as agricultural growers
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 1 Quiz
Question 1 A cubic meter of air sample was sampled at 1.0 atm and 40 C.
An ion chromatographic analysis of that sample found it to contain 24 micrograms of NO2.
Calculate how many ppb of NO2 was in that air sample.
Question 2 Which of the following situations typically increase environmental impact? Check all that apply.
Biking and walking in place of using cars
Eating more plant-based proteins in place of meats
Increased population
Living in the suburbs instead of in urban areas
Buying more stuff
Question 3 Which of the following statements are correct about technology? Check all that apply:
It can break the second law of thermodynamics
It always creates some waste stream
It is capable of creating energy from nothing
It is capable of producing 100% efficient gadgets
It has infinite capacity to grow
Question 4 A co-worker tells you that 400 ppm of CO2 is not a big deal. After all, that is 0.04% of our atmospheric content. What’s the big deal with such a small part of our atmospheric content? Please respond in one to two sentences demonstrating your ability to think critically and analytically.
Question 5 Carbon dioxide is a criteria pollutant
True
False
Question 6 Which of the following statements are correct about the nitrogen cycle? Check all that apply.
Lightning oxidizes N2 to nitrogen oxides
There are nitrogen sinks in both water and soils
Bacteria are part of the nitrification portion of the nitrogen cycle
Bacteria are part of the de-nitrification portion of the nitrogen cycle
It contains nutrients such as nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, which are essential to all life on earth.
Humans have interrupted the nitrogen cycle with excessive use of fertilizers
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 4 Quiz
Question 1 Which of the following are reasons for business to implement sustainability into their organization? Check all that apply.
Improvement of company’s image
Increased attraction and retention of employees who care about sustainability
Lowering of legal risks and insurance costs
Reduction of energy and materials use and waste
Differentiation of product or services and brand
Question 2 The figure above is from one of your course viewings on trends versus variations. Check all correct statements about trends versus variations.
If the axis of the graph above was time (x axis) versus average global temperature (y axis), the global temperature trend would be shown to be increasing
The man determines the direction the dog will eventually go
The dog's path is like actual yearly global temperature averages we have seen
If the axis of the graph above was time versus average global temperature, the most recent temperature trend would appear to be going down
The dog has determined the path the man will walk
Question 3Which of the following statements are correct about our global use of fossil fuel? Check all that apply.
Fossil fuel drives the world economy
The consequences of our fossil fuel use has left indigenous people untouched
With advanced technology, we are finding cheaper ways of obtaining fossil fuel
The cost of fossil fuel around the world accounts for its social and ecological consequences
ENMT495 Global Environmental
Week 7 Quiz
Question 1 Which of these technologies are generally good at remediating volatile organics in unsaturated soils? Check all that apply.
Flocculation and precipitation
Soil vapor extraction
Bioventing
Soil washing
Question 2 Match appropriate remediation technology for each waste stream:
Waste mainly consisting of sulfuric acid
Cyanide wastes
Hazardous waste high in organics
Aqueous waste that does not contain volatile hazardous constituents
Wastes high in lead and nickel such as acid battery waste
Waste containing chromium in the +3 state (Cr3+)
1. Evaporation
2. Incineration
3. Ion exchange
4. Neutralization
5. Precipitation
6. Oxidation-reduction
Question 3 Which of the following are examples of international environmental laws? Check all that apply.
The Clean Air Act
Montreal Protocol
Commission on Sustainable Development
International Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste
Paris Climate Agreement
Question 4 Which of these types of technologies would not be helpful in a Superfund site? Check all that apply.
Remediation technologies
Control technologies
Avoidance technologies
Monitoring technologies
Question 5 Which of the following are correct statements about international environmental laws? Check all that apply.
A few environmental laws have established international institutions with power to directly impose trade sanction
The task of direct enforcement is typically left to member nations
International agreements have adequate resources to monitor and ensure compliance
With consent, countries may sue each other for violation of international agreements
There are both hard and soft environmental laws.
Question 6 Which of the following statements are correct about ISO 14001? Check all that apply.
ISO stands for international standards organization
ISO is a set of mandatory standards for environmental improvements
ISO 14001 centers on environmental management systems standards
ISO 14001 are technical standards
Existing environmental management activities can be integrated into ISO 14001 implementation
