TABLE OF CONTENTS G.Raymond Schulte
Consulting Engineer,
Johnson, Mirmiran and
Thompson, Inc. Baltimore, MD
Thomas E.Wilson
Consulting Engineer,
Barrington, IL
Environmental engineers are concerned with works developed to protect and promote public health, improve the environment, and prevent degradation of land, water, and air. Their practice includes surveys, reports, designs, reviews, management, operation, and investigations of such works. They also engage in research in engineering sciences and such related sciences as chemistry, physics, and microbiology to advance the objectives of protecting public health and controlling environment.
Environmental engineering deals with treatment and distribution of water supply; collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater; control of pollution in surface and underground waters; collection, treatment, and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes; housing and institutional sanitation; rodent and insect control; control of atmospheric pollution; limitations on exposure to radiation; limitations on noises; and other environmental factors affecting the health, comfort, safety, and well-being of people. This section, while covering primarily the aspects related to handling of liquid wastes, also deals briefly with other environment-related tasks, such as solid-waste handling and air pollution. (See also environmental discussions in Sec. 14 and subsequent sections.)
Because of public concern over accelerating deterioration of the natural environment, Congress established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and passed legislation to control disposal of solid wastes and discharges to water and air. The following legislation is of particular significance to environmental engineers.
National Environmental Policy Act ? All agencies of the Federal government and state...
