Environmental Science

Early policy period

Focused on land settlement and expansion (late 1700s–1800s).

Homestead Act

Law giving settlers land for $16 under certain conditions (1862).

Silent Spring

Major book by Rachel Carson published in 1962 that raised environmental awareness in the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Created in 1970 to enforce environmental laws and protect human health/environment.

NEPA

Requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for any major federal project.

U.S. environmental policy of 1960s-1980s

Focused on pollution control and environmental protection.

CERCLA

Law requiring cleanup of hazardous waste sites, also known as the Superfund Act (1980).

Transboundary problem

An issue that crosses political borders, such as pollution in the Tijuana River.

Montreal Protocol

Treaty that phased out ozone-depleting chemicals (1987).

Cap-and-trade

Cap = legal limit on emissions; trade = permits can be bought/sold.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Coordinates international environmental efforts.

International treaties limitation

They rely on voluntary cooperation/enforcement.

NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations like Greenpeace influence policy mainly through advocacy, lobbying, and raising awareness.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Organization that resolves trade disputes, including environmental issues.

Everglades restoration project

Cost: $10.5 billion; Benefit: Improved water quality, biodiversity, flood protection.

Benefit-cost ratio

4:1 ratio in Everglades restoration, meaning benefits outweigh costs by four times.

Scottish wind farms

Reach carbon payback in about 6–9 months of operation.

London’s ULEZ impact

Reduced hospital admissions for respiratory issues by 44%.

Germany’s recycling program benefits

Conserves resources, creates jobs, and reduces landfill use.

CBA challenges

Difficult to quantify non-market values or long-term effects.

Intrinsic value of biodiversity

Biodiversity has intrinsic, cultural, and ecological values beyond monetary value.

Tesla Y charging

Ms. Molina must fully charge her Tesla about 37 times per year for 12,000 miles.

Cost to drive Tesla Y 100 miles

About $3.63 at $0.16/kWh.

Yearly charging cost for Tesla Y

About $436 when charged at home.

Nissan Versa

Has the lowest upfront cost compared to Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Tesla Y.

Tesla Y years’ fuel cost

Has the lowest yearly fuel/energy cost.

Short-term financial sense

For someone on a teacher’s salary, Nissan Versa makes the most financial sense.

Population growth

Region’s population tripled between 1972 and 2000.

San Diego beach closures

76% of 2007 closures were linked to the Tijuana River.

U.S. Clean Water Act enforcement in Mexico

It only applies within U.S. borders.

1990 bilateral agreement commitments

U.S. built South Bay plant; Mexico upgraded wastewater treatment.

Ongoing cooperation challenges

Challenges include rapid population growth, funding shortfalls, and cross-border coordination issues.

Louisiana's fishing industry ranking

Second only to Alaska.

Annual seafood harvest in Louisiana

About 455 million kilograms.

Dead zone oxygen level definition

Defined by oxygen levels below 1.5 ppm.

Gulf's dead zone record size

Reached a record size of 22,000 square km in 2002.

Global dead zones documentation

Over 200 global dead zones have been documented.

Cause of Gulf's dead zone

Nutrient runoff (nitrogen & phosphorus) from agriculture.

Midwestern states nutrient runoff

Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois contribute heavily to nutrient runoff into the Mississippi River.

Algae death in Gulf waters

When algae die and sink, bacteria decompose them, consuming oxygen and creating hypoxia.