All Flashcards
Define pollution.
Substance or energy introduced into the environment with harmful effects.
What is point source pollution?
Pollutants from a single, identifiable location.
What is nonpoint source pollution?
Pollutants from many diffuse sources, hard to pinpoint.
Define Best Practicable Technology (BPT).
Technology standard used for cleaning up point sources.
Define Best Available Technology (BAT).
Technology standard used for cleaning up toxins.
Define Physical Hazards.
Hazards arising from natural processes.
Define Chemical Hazards.
Synthetic chemicals manufactured by society.
Define Biological Hazards.
Ecological interactions causing illness.
Define Cultural Hazards.
Hazards from residence, socioeconomic status, and behavior.
Why is it important to distinguish between point and nonpoint source pollution?
Different sources require different management and regulatory strategies.
What is the goal of the Clean Water Act?
To make all water 'fishable and swimmable'.
How does runoff contribute to nonpoint source pollution?
Runoff carries pollutants from diffuse sources into water bodies.
What are the four categories of environmental hazards?
Physical, chemical, biological, and cultural.
What does the Clean Water Act regulate?
Discharge of pollutants into waterways.
What is required to discharge point source pollution under the Clean Water Act?
A permit.
What type of funding does the Clean Water Act provide?
Money for sewage treatment plants and wetland protection.