Part1
1. Once you have group members, each group member needs to write one paragraph (minimum 300 words) detailing what three environmental issues they felt are of most concern regarding the Environmental Risk Survey below), AND to include a graph (line graph, bar graph, pie chart) covering some aspect of the risk you feel is most concerning. You will need to conduct an internet search to find data to graph, or a chart to replicate, but be sure to include the source of the data. Explain what the graph details within you section. Each group member needs to include a graph within their section of the paper.
Part2
2. Each group member has a responsibility. Designate one person to be the team leader, one person the Summary writer, one person the Introduction writer and one person the Comparison writer. Here is each team members responsibilities:
· Comparison writer: In addition to your paragraph, you are responsible for an additional paragraph that compares and contrasts the different perceptions of risk discussed from each group member.
Environmental Issue / Potential Concern |
Not Important |
Intermediate |
Very Important |
||
| 1. Acid rain caused by the deposition of acid producing Sulphur dioxide into streams and on forests, usually from the burning of coal. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 2. Global warming caused by excessive amounts of greenhouse gases like
carbon dioxide and methane that may lead to weather extremes, such as temperature increases, flooding, sea level rise, extreme storms. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 3. The Ozone hole caused by ozone-depleting substances like refrigerants (e.g.,
Freon) that reduce the protective ozone layer and lead to an increase in ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Also known as stratospheric ozone depletion. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 4. Drilling for oil from offshore drilling platforms along the coasts and on federal
lands (e.g., Alaska National Wildlife Refuge) and the transportation of oil and petroleum products (e.g., pipelines, tank trucks and supertankers) that may result in spills. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 5. Hazardous waste sites which may release toxic chemicals into streams and estuaries and landscapes. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 6. Radiation: Release of radioactive materials associated with nuclear power
generation. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 7. Persistent and toxic organic pollutants (e.g., PCB’s, DDT, dioxin, toluene,
benzene) discharged into surface streams or the air from chemical manufacturing plants. These chemicals are long-lived in the environment and can be transported great distances. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 8. Heavy metals like lead, zinc, and cadmium released into surface waters from
mining operations and mercury released from the burning of coal. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 9. Pesticides: Insecticides used to treat insect pests; herbicides used to treat
weeds; and rodenticides used to kill animal pests (e.g., gophers, prairie dogs). |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 10. Eutrophication: the over-enrichment of waters due to nitrogen fertilizer run-off and nitrogen oxide deposition in watersheds. This may lead to algal blooms and depletion of dissolved oxygen in rivers and coastal waters. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 11. Sewage: Untreated sewage dumped from cruise ships and treated sewage
from waste water treatment plants discharged into streams. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 12. The growing of genetically engineered crops (e.g., corn); also known as
genetically modified organisms or GMO’s. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 13. Invasive species: plants like kudzu and cheat grass and animals like zebra
mussels. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 14. Clear-cut logging of large tracts of forests for pulp, paper and wood products. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 15. Destruction and fragmentation of wildlife habitat due to urbanization and
suburban sprawl. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 16. Damming of rivers for electric power generation, flood control, navigation, and
recreation |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 17. Destruction and loss of wetlands by residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural or recreational development. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 18. Surface run-off (also known as non-point pollution) contaminated with agricultural chemicals and sediment |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 19. Mountain top mining: A technique that removes portions of mountain tops to
reveal an ore seam (e.g., coal). The mined residue is then used as fill material that may alter the landscape. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 20. Overgrazing of range and pasture lands by excessive livestock on a specific
area. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 21. Entrainment and impingement of fish in water intake pipes at power plants
and hydroelectric dams |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 22. Sport fishing (e.g., fishing for bass, trout, catfish, deep sea and coastal fish)
and sport hunting (e.g., hunting for deer, squirrels, waterfowl and other wildlife). |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 23. Commercial fishing (e.g., fishing for tuna, lobsters or crabs for human consumption). |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 24. Worldwide human population growth. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |