Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
E S D061B
Course Title (CB02)
Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention: Energy, Chemicals and Waste
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Explores environmental protection (pollution control and prevention) and resource management, focusing on: 1) energy and chemical production and use and 2) prevention and management of solid and hazardous waste. Examines the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in: 1) producing and using energy and chemicals/chemical products, 2) recovering resources from waste materials and 3) disposing of non-recoverable waste materials. Explores associated job and career opportunities in these areas.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU transferable and is a requirement for the CTE Certificate and Degree in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention. The course meets a student identified need to learn about: 1) the impacts of our energy and chemical production and use (and how to lessen those impacts) and 2) prevention and management of solid and hazardous waste.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

E S D050.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from the text and other assigned sources.
  2. Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis and critical analysis of data and information.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application.
  2. Written homework assignments that require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze course concepts and principles and their application.
  3. Written Exploration Reports that require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize and critically analyze current topics and issues regarding Energy, Chemicals, and Waste.
  4. A comprehensive Final Exam to evaluate student comprehension of course concepts and principles and their application.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies
  • (Special Purpose Facilities: 1) LEED Platinum-rated green building designed to showcase and teach about effective energy management, efficient environmental resource use, and pollution prevention, 2) Equipment Demonstration/Computer Lab (KC 239), 3) Natural Science Lab (KC 120) 4) Open Teaching Classroom/Lab (ESA Building), 5) Rooftop Air Pollution Monitoring Station)

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Miller and Spoolman. "Sustaining The Earth." 11th Edition. Brooks-Cole. 2014.
Herson, Albert and Gary Lucks, "California Environmental Law and Policy," 2nd. Edition. Solano Press. 2017.
Jerry A. Nathanson. "Basic Environmental Technology: Water Supply, Waste Management & Pollution Control" 6th Ed. Prentice Hall. 2014.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Kubasek, Nancy K. & Gary S. Silverman, "Environmental Law," 8th Ed., Prentice Hall, 2013.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in producing and sustainably using/managing energy supplies.
  • Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in manufacturing and sustainably using/managing chemicals and chemical products.
  • Explore and examine the life-cycle impacts of the production and use of energy and chemicals/chemical products on our air, water and land resources.
  • Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in recovering resources from waste materials.
  • Explore and examine the impacts (both positive and negative) on our air, water, land, energy and material resources resulting from the recovery of resources from waste materials.
  • Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in disposing of non-recoverable waste materials.
  • Explore potential job and career opportunities in environmental protection and resource management that involve energy or chemical production and use or recovery of resources from waste materials.
  • Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems & tools employed related to the environmental impacts associated with energy and chemical production and use and the generation and management of solid and hazardous waste.

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate the elements, principles and practices involved with Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention as it specifically relates to 1) our energy and chemical production and use and 2) prevention and management of our solid and hazardous waste.

Outline

  1. Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in producing and sustainably using/managing energy supplies.
    1. Examine the scientific aspects involved.
      1. Examine the basic science of energy generation (ex: electricity generation).
      2. Examine the potential health impacts of energy generation (ex: smog formation).
    2. Examine the legal and regulatory aspects involved.
      1. Examine applicable federal and state laws (ex: Federal Energy Policy Act)
      2. Examine federal and state agencies involved (U.S. Dept of Energy, California Energy Commission, etc.)
    3. Examine the technical aspects involved.
      1. Examine the technology involved in energy generation (ex: nuclear power plant, wind turbines, etc.).
      2. Examine the technology involved in controlling/preventing pollution from energy generation (ex: air pollution control devices, etc.)
    4. Examine the practical management aspects involved (ex: need for a “smart†electricity grid system).
  2. Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in manufacturing and sustainably using/managing chemicals and chemical products.
    1. Examine the scientific aspects involved
      1. Examine the basic science of chemicals & chemical products (i.e., the basic types of chemicals/chemical products out there and their associated chemical/physical properties).
      2. Examine the potential health impacts of chemicals and chemical products (cancer, etc.).
    2. Examine the legal and regulatory aspects involved.
      1. Examine applicable federal and state laws (ex: federal Toxic Substances Control Act)
      2. Examine federal and state agencies involved (USEPA, California Dept of Toxic Substances Control, etc.)
    3. Examine the technical aspects involved
      1. Examine the technology involved in chemical and chemical product manufacturing (ex: a typical chemical manufacturing facility).
      2. Examine the technology involved in controlling/preventing pollution from chemical and chemical product manufacturing (ex: air pollution control devices, etc.)
    4. Examine the practical management aspects involved (ex: safeguards in manufacturing, use and disposal of chemicals).
  3. Explore and examine the life-cycle impacts of the production and use of energy and chemicals/chemical products on our air, water and land resources.
    1. Examine the impacts on our air resources (ex: air pollution from coal-fired electricity plants and chemical production facilities).
    2. Examine the impacts on our water resources (ex: water use for energy production, wastewater generated from chemical production facilities).
    3. Examine the impacts on our land resources (ex: mountain-top mining of coal, land contamination from old chemical plants).
  4. Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in recovering resources from waste materials.
    1. Examine the scientific aspects involved.
      1. Examine the basic science of waste (i.e., basic waste types and their associated chemical/physical properties)
      2. Examine the potential health impacts of waste materials.
    2. Examine the legal and regulatory aspects involved.
      1. Examine applicable federal and state laws (ex: federal Resource Recovery and Conservation Act)
      2. Examine federal and state agencies involved (USEPA, California Dept of Toxic Substances Control, etc.)
    3. Examine the technical aspects involved.
      1. Examine recycling equipment and methods.
      2. Examine recovery and reuse equipment and methods.
    4. Examine the practical management aspects involved (ex: recovered product re-use/sale).
  5. Explore and examine the impacts (both positive and negative) on our air, water, land, energy and material resources resulting from the recovery of resources from waste materials.
    1. Examine the positive impacts (ex: reduced use of virgin materials).
    2. Examine the negative impacts (ex: air pollution from trash-to-energy plants).
  6. Explore and examine the scientific, legal, technical and practical management aspects involved in disposing of non-recoverable waste materials.
    1. Examine the scientific aspects involved.
      1. Examine the basic science of waste (i.e., basic waste types and their associated chemical/physical properties)
      2. Examine the potential health impacts of waste materials.
    2. Examine the legal and regulatory aspects involved.
      1. Examine applicable federal and state laws (ex: federal Resource Recovery and Conservation Act)
      2. Examine federal and state agencies involved (USEPA, California Dept of Toxic Substances Control, etc.)
    3. Examine the technical aspects involved
      1. Examine treatment and disposal equipment and methods for non-recoverable non-hazardous waste.
      2. Examine treatment and disposal equipment and methods for non-recoverable hazardous waste.
    4. Examine the practical management aspects involved (ex: difficulty in siting new landfills).
  7. Explore potential job and career opportunities in environmental protection and resource management that involve energy or chemical production and use or recovery of resources from waste materials.
    1. Explore job and career opportunities at government agencies.
    2. Explore job and career opportunities at non-profit organizations.
    3. Explore job and career opportunities with business/industry.
  8. Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems & tools employed related to the environmental impacts associated with energy and chemical production and use and the generation and management of solid and hazardous waste.
    1. Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems & tools employed in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention aimed at Energy Use and Conservation.
    2. Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems & tools employed in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention aimed at Chemical Hazard/Toxicity Assessment and Reduction.
    3. Examine monitoring and assessment technologies, systems & tools employed in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention aimed at Waste Identification/Characterization and Reduction/Prevention.
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