From Eyesores To Assets

Picture: This picture shows what strip mining really looks like and how it disfigures the environment.

Summary: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are planning to renew the abandoned mines, landfills, and brownfields. For each project, the EPA will give 1 million dollars to each of these sites to protect people's health, the environment, and job creation. At each site, the project leaders will evaluate whether or not they can use wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal energy. These sites are all over the United States and some have been succesful in the past as well. Some of these sites are Superfund sites and are the hardest to renew because they have the most complex, uncontrolled, and hazardous waste. Brownfields are sites that are complicated by the amount of contaminants. This was started in September 2008 by the EPA and NREL and is being furthered.

Opinion: I think that this is a great way to reuse abandoned sites as energy powerplant area. Hopefully this plan will be carried out and not fall through because of funding or other problems. This plan will produce many stimulating oppurtunities as well, such as economy boosting, job creation, and of course, energy production. One aspect that I like about this plan is that are evaluating each of the sites for what specific energy source they sould use. It is troubling to see how these sites were originally formed through the stripmining process or fracking or whatever else companies did to the land.

Questions:

1. What are some contaminants spread to the air or water from mining?

2. What are some of the most environmentally friendly mining or drilling companies?

3. Where are some of these renewing sites?

4. What are your opinions on the way mining or drilling companies affect the land?

Radioactive Leaks

http://www.treehugger.com/energy-disasters/new-leak-radioactive-water-fukushima-nuclear-power-plant.html

Summary

Recently there has been another radioactive leak from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. This plant is located in Japan, and it has been reported that 79 gallons of potentially radioactive water has been leaked into a gutter that leads into the ocean. This harmful water has chemicals in it such as iodine, cesium and strontium. However, nobody can be positive how much strontium has been released with this water. The Fukushima nuclear power plant has been scheduled to be shut down by the end of the year.

Opinion

I think that this is a disgrace, power plants need to take more responsibility to make sure this kind of event does not happen. There should be a lot more regulations and precautions that these plants can take. I understand accidents happen, but if many more of this radioactive water escapes then our water could be in for a lot of damage. Especially after the nearly fatal nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan, you would think that people would take special care to prevent it from happening again.

Questions

1.) When was the nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan?

2.) What are side affects of radioactive leaks?

3.) How many power plants have had radioactive leaks in the past year?

4.) What are some precautions that plants can take in order to prevent leaks?

Human Energy

http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/crematorium-generate-clean-energy.html



This picture show a crematorium in England where they have came up with an unusual way to make energy.


Summery
A crematorium in the U.K. is getting turbines installed to capture the energy from burning dead body's. Of the three burners two will assigned produce electricity, in theory enough energy to power 1500 television,           but the other burner will use its heat to warm the chapel and the office buildings that are connected to the building. The cause of this new idea may be from the U.K. raising its standers in industry  pollution and since burning bodies release mercury many other crematoriums are getting new furnaces this one wanted to be Eco friendly. This is the first crematorium like this but some experts say this one may spark more.


I feel that this is a good idea but it could easily go wrong especially using one of the burners to heat the chapel because I personly wound not want to be warmed by a dead guy. But on the other note its good that when you die your body wont be wasted. And i feel its neat to help the environment even after death.


Questions
1.would using body's for heat smell bad?
2.Are the embalming agents bad for the environment?
3.Do any places in america do this?
4.How much energy does it take to power 1500TVs ?
5. what chemicals do burning bodies produce?

Traced

In 20% of all public and private wells, that are untreated in our nation, have found contaminates

Summary: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2914&from=rss_home

Throughout the nation, water is used everyday as not just a necessity, but also out of leisure. People use more than a normal 20 liters a-day whether its because they want a nice long shower or they need more to drink than the average human. Only problem? About 20% of all public and private wells throughout our nation (that have not been treated) have traces of manganese, arsenic and uranium. "In public wells these contaminants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and contaminants are removed from the water before people drink it," said Joe Ayotte, USGS hydrologist and lead author on the study. "However, trace elements could be present in water from private wells at levels that are considered to pose a risk to human health, because they aren’t subject to regulations. In many cases people might not even know that they have an issue." Other contaminates include nitrate, pesticides and VOCs. Most of these are from the water's over exposure to mining, natural rock weathering and waste disposal. Radon (from natural uranium) is also traced in ground water.

Shocking Facts:

1. Arsenic was found in about 7% of all wells that is above human health standards
2. Uranium was found in 4% of all wells and is above the human health standards
3. Manganese was found in 12% of all wells and is also above human health standards
4. Arsenic can cause multiple types of cancers
5. Uranium can cause kidney disease or death
6. "In doses similar to some of those found in this study, manganese can adversely affect child intellectual function and, in large doses, acts as a neurotoxin, causing symptoms similar to those experienced by sufferers of Parkinson’s disease. Radon, a product of the decay of natural uranium, also exceeded its proposed EPA maximum contaminant level in 65% of wells tested (300 Picocuries per liter)."

 My Opinion:
I never knew that the private wells would never be treated. After seeing the tapped video and the water project by Jay-Z, you would think people would realize: "Hey, maybe my water isn't what I think it is..." or "Hmm, my water tastes funny. Is there a problem?" Instead they may ignore it or just adapt to it, which in some cases, is a dangerous risk they bring on themselves. All in all, I have to say that for the EPA to do their job, they HAVE to regulate ALL water equally, and not just some of the water with some differences.

Questions:

1. How much, is too much of each contaminate? (Manganese, Arsenic and Uranium)
2. What are some of the EPA's regulations on water?
3. If water companies (ex. Nestle) take water from springs and wells that have not been treated and they don't plan to treat it, is there a possibility that the water has any of those contaminates?
4. What are some other major contaminates that are found in water?
5. As an opinion, do you think all water should have some sort of regulation?

Got Seaweed?

Scientists believe that global warming is affecting the movement of many of Australian's seaweed species. Possibly affecting some species so much that they become extinct.

http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/ocean-warming-sends-australian-seaweed-south-and-possibly-into-extinction.html

Summary
Studies from the Univeristy of Western Australia are showing baffling data concerning species of seaweed that are native to Australian water. Global warming is affecting the water temperature therefore changing many species' living conditions and usual habitat habits. These studies show seaweed communities moving southward, possibly reaching the continential shelf and facing almost certain extinction. Another possibility of seaweed moving locations is that the animals that depend on seaweed for food and shelter could become threatened or extinct. Seaweed is a huge part in the ocean ecosystem, without it almost all species would die off.
Reaction
I never knew that seaweed could migrate or depended on the temperature of water for survival. Seaweed is such an important part in ocean ecosystems, so many different species depend on them for shelter and food. This is really surprising to me to learn that it is a very good possibility for species of seaweed to become extinct if we don't change our ways fast.

1.) What are some species of seaweed found in Australia?
2.) What kinds of animal species depend on seaweed for survival?
3.) How many different species of seaweed are there?
4.) Do you think that seaweed extinction will affect oceans deeply? Why?

Disappearing Jordan

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6473/

This is a picture of how little water the Jordan River has left. It is decreasing from its water being used for farming.


The water of the Jordan River is slowly being used up. This is from the Israel’s project “make the desert bloom” which provides the surrounding area with water "This diversion of water may be a technical marvel, but it’s emptying rivers and leaving critical aquifers dangerously susceptible to the intrusion of salt water and raw sewage." Stephan Faris. One of they causes of this crises is the scarcity of water in the middle east that caused all the surrounding county's to dam up there their water to keep it in their respective country's. this water hording is hurting more than just ecosystems though, they are hurting many poor Palestine towns ability to produce food. And now the dead seas water is being affected because the Jordan River has decreased so much its barley producing a trickle into the sea. Once a grand river the Jordan has petered into just a small stream


I feel that this is awful. People should have more respect for the environment than this. I feel that    politics shouldn't be involved with the distribution of water. I know that they have to get the water for somewhere but the system can get dangerous very quickly and thousands could die if this continues.  
1. what other rivers are being largely drained.
2. what could the governments to to improve this situation.
3. are people in Israel dying from lack of water.
4. what county has the least water per person.
5. do they have any ground water left.

EPA Bill Allows Arsenic in Water

This picture shows the worst case scenario for drinking water, which is that there is so many pollutants that it can be set on fire.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/10/bill-prevents-epa-coal-ash-oversight-vote.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29

Summary:

The Safe Drinking Water Act, or HR 2273, was passed by the House of Congress and allows corporations to pollute drinking water without any consequences because the bill does not allow the EPA to control or mandate the dumping of coal ash, lead, arsenic and other toxins. If this bill was not passed, it was thought about 28,000 new jobs would be created per year, but the government decided "to put the interests of corporate polluters ahead of the American public." The bill also allows states to make the regulations on toxins in drinking water instead of the EPA. Many states have already conducted programs to stop pollution, but now they can allow the pollution of drinking water because they cannot recieve any consequences. One of the bill's sponsers has recieved a number of mining company's donations and checks from other polluting companies. This bill not only affects humans, but it also destroys environments and habitats by poisoning water, food and even the air we breathe. HR 2273 was even based on an old standard of drinking water which states that 50 micrograms of toxins per liter is a safe amount to ingest. Now, the new standard is 10 micrograms of toxins per liter of water is safe to drink. The worst part of this bill is that once a decision is made by a state its "desicions cannot be reversed, even if they jeopordize public health."

Opinion:

I really cannot believe how the House allowed this to pass, and the votes were significantly in favor of the bill. It really makes me upset to see that the leaders of our country put themselves before the needs of the people they serve. HR 2273 is one of the worst bills past by Congress in my opinion because of the many effects it has on the environment and on humans' health. There is no way that drinking 50 micrograms of toxins per liter of water is healthy for any organism, and the fact that this bill was based on this old standard really makes this bill illegitimate. The ironic part of this bill is that it is called "The Safe Drinking Water Act" even though it is completely harmful to society and the environment.

Questions:

1. Make a list of toxins that are most prominent in drinking water.

2. Find areas that are most affected by coal ash, arsenic, lead, or other toxins.

3. Why do you think the composers of this bill based it around an old and outdated drinking water standard?

4. What are some ways to reduce toxins in drinking water?