EM500-1 Environmental Foundations and Principals April 14, 2011

Course Bookkeeping Discussion Boards Assignments New Seminar Times – Not May 5 th but May 4 th Seminar make-up if you can’t make the new time Going forward

Do we do it to ourselves? Some of the problems that face Calcutta Urban sprawl of Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas How much does the automobile contribute to Los Angeles’ problems? Did the “American Dream” of a little house with a white picket fence contribute? Political corruption and graft? Wal-Mart Case and “Urban Renewal”

Sustainable Cities: how do we get there? Right now its drive until you qualify Pedestrian Scale neighborhoods Art Credits Park Credits Can we go back to life pre-automobile? Do we want to? Americans hate two things: Suburban Sprawl High Density living

Concepts of Urban Planning How do we save cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta? Can environmental laws be used to fix zoning issues? Can they fix the Urban Environment?

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA ) Protects National Landmarks, properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and those properties that are “eligible” for listing on the National Register National Register is kept by the DOI National Park Service Like NEPA, it applies to Federal projects or private projects that need Federal Approval or use Federal funds Sets up the Section 106 consultation

Section 4(f) of The Department of Transportation Act of 1966 Stipulated that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other DOT agencies cannot approve the use of land from publicly owned parks, recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, or public and private historical sites unless the following conditions apply: There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of land. The action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting from use. Powerful hook for stopping Federal Projects, but only ones that passes through parks.

Clean Water Act – Section 404 wetlands program Prevents the dredging and filling of wetlands without a permit Avoid, minimize and mitigate Many feel this is a zoning statute because it tell you where you can built and where you can’t

Safe Water Drinking Act of 1974 The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water. Under SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards. Not really a command and control statute Mostly a grant statute; a carrot without a stick

Drinking Water Facts And Figures Water is the only substance found on earth in three forms solid, liquid, and gas. A person can live more than a month without food, but only about a week, depending on conditions, without water. 66% of the human body is water; 75% of the human brain is water.

Is Clean Water endangered? A person must consume 2.5 quarts of water per day from all sources (drinking, eating) to maintain health. Water regulates the earth’s temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes wastes. It is possible for people today to drink water that was part of the dinosaur era. From:

Water, water everywhere... 3% of water on planet is fresh; 1% available for use Water quantity Overdrawing of surface water Over pumping Redistribution of water Water quality Pollution (point source and non-point source) Causes of pollution Overdevelopment, deforestation, agricultural use