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Homework #1: Make-up Hours (2) Using the U.S. EPA’s MyEnvironment Query Tool This is NOT a group assignment. You should complete this assignment on your own. 1. Go to the Environmental Protection Agency’s “MyEnvironment” website: http://www.epa.gov/myenvironment 2. Enter the zip code for downtown Wilmington: 28401 3. In the “MyAir” section, you should see the AQI table. What is the “Current” AQI color?
4. Above the AQI table, you should see a link that says “Read more about air quality.” Click this link. a. According to this information, what is the numerical AQI range for the current AQI color? b. What is the “meaning” of this AQI level? 5. Close the AQI page. You should be back on the EPA’s MyEnvironment page for Wilmington, NC. In the “MyWater” section, the information tells you that the EPA is required to report on the conditions of surface waters. a. How often must the EPA report on these conditions? b. What laws mandate this reporting (list both sections)? 6. At the bottom of the “MyWater” section, click the link that reads “Read more about water quality.” Use the information on this page to answer the following questions: a. In your own words, what is the difference between the “good”, “threatened”, and “impaired” categories of use support? b. What is the difference between “Causes of Impairment” and “Sources of Impairment”? c. Under “Causes of Impairment”, there is a “Pollution Categories Summary Document”. According to this document, what causes excessive algal growth? How can people help reduce algal blooms in their waterways? d. In the same “Pollution Categories Summary Document”, scroll down to PCBs (page 14). Click on the link for “Basic PCB Information”. According to the information on this page, i. When were PCBs banned in the U.S? ii. What is the most common trade name for PCB mixtures? iii. List five (5) commercial products that may contain PCBs if manufactured before the PCB ban.
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7. Close the Basic PCB Information page. You should be back on the EPA’s MyEnvironment page for Wilmington, NC. Click on the “MyMaps” heading. A large maps should appear on the screen. Use the interactive tools that we looked at in class (in the upper right-hand corner, “Map Contents”) to answer the following questions: ***NOTE: You may need to click the “Update Contents on Page” button that appears in the upper left corner of the map if you change the scale of the map (zoom in or zoom out) while investigating the site. a. Within our study site (between the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, HWY 17/76 and Ness Creek), how many facilities have “Water Dischargers”? Is Horton Iron & Metal one of these facilities? b. How many EPA water monitors are available within our study site? c. The water EPA water monitor at the Isabel Holmes Bridge/US421 (Station ID B9740000) is reporting on both metals and microbiological contaminants. List ten (10) metals that have been detected by this water monitor. d. How many Superfund Sites are within our study site? e. Cape Fear Community College is listed on this map for reporting to the EPA. Can you find what CFCC is reporting? (Hint: It is one of the categories under the “Land” section) f.
What is the cancer risk for the majority of the Wilmington area? (Your answer should be a numerical value for Total risk per million individuals.)
g. Of all of the energy sources listed on this map, you should see that the Wilmington area has three (3) of these sources being produced/used. i. What energy sources are being reported? ii. What is the name of the coal facility? iii. Where is the coal facility located?
You’re Done!! Now, you need to save this document & email it to me. Please follow the instructions below:
Don’t forget to fill in the header info on this assignment (Name, Group, Date) Save this file with the file name “MSC210 Homework 1 - first initial-last name” (Example: MSC210 Homework 1 - S-Daniel.docx) Attach this file to an email addressed to me:
[email protected] Your email MUST have the Subject Line: MSC-210 Homework 1
This assignment is due by 11:59pm on Friday, September 18th, 2015.
