ENVS 330 Environmental Pollution Final Exam 7 December 2011 13 December 2011

Welcome to the final exam! This exam is being handed out on Wed. 7 December 2011 and is to be submitted back to me no later than 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday 13 December 2011. Exams submitted after 8:00 p.m. will have points deducted until midnight. No exams will be accepted after midnight. Exams can be turned in electronically via blackboard or may be sent directly to my email (spmcinin@vcu.edu). NOTE: You are responsible for making sure electronic transmissions have been successful. Hard copies may be dropped off at my office (#039 basement level of Life Sciences Building; slide under the door if I am not there). Please use your best scientific writing skills to answer all questions. That is, make it thorough but keep it succinct and to the point. You have plenty of time and so I expect answers to be well thought out and structured accordingly. Those answers appearing to be a series of random thoughts will not be graded highly (re-write if you must!). If you have questions, please email me or use my email to set up a meeting. This exam is worth 150 points. Thank you and best of luck. 1. Choose any common, everyday product. Answer the following questions about your product. (a) Where was it produced? What are the environmental impacts of (b) recovering the resources needed to make it, (c) manufacturing it, (d) using it. (e) What will happen to the product at the end of its useful life? [20pts]

2. Someone once wrote that One of the primary results and one of the primary needs of industrialism is the separation of people and places and products from their histories. From an environmental perspective, how does knowing the origin of consumer products or agricultural goods matter? Provide an example. [10pts]

3. Are people more likely to help clean and maintain a healthy environment because they have learned that it is good for their health and the environment or because it may be profitable? Explain. [15 pts] 4. The Union of Concerned Scientists recently carried out risk assessments of common activities. They found that an individuals major environmental impact comes from the use of transportation. (a) How do transportation decisions affect the environment? (b) Eating meat is another activity having a major environmental impact. Why does eating meat have more adverse environmental impact than eating grains, fruits, and vegetables? Would you give up meat 1 or 2 days a week to help the environment? [20 pts]

5. The Superfund laws (CERCLA) resulted in more-responsible hazardous waste disposal. It also stimulated more Pollution Prevention efforts how? [10 pts]

6. Congratulations you have just won a tropical island off the coast of Namibia. It is about half the size of Virginia and has a small population of indigenous people. Your friends and family are already packing (as are their friends and families) and you have hired a small group of politicians to run the government. Your job is to set up the environmental guidelines that will allow your islanders to live happily for a long time. Please explain your policies. Include at least the following topics: a). Agriculture and livestock operations b). Non-hazardous solid waste c). Liquid waste d). Industrial operations (make sure to include hazardous and chemical wastes) e). Any other considerations such as for global pollution issues, ocean dumping, acidic deposition

**The best answers here will include potential policies, laws, and actions toward violators, clean-up and incentives for reduced or zero waste levels. Dont be afraid to be creative and inventive.** [75 pts]