HOME

Cuyamaca College
Environmental Technology Program

ENVT 100 Course Outline

Introduction to Environmental Technology

Units: 4 UNITS (4 hours lecture) Prerequisite: None

Catalog Description: This course is designed to give the student a general overview of the environmental technology arena with an emphasis in hazardous materials, hazardous wastes management and Occupational worker health & safety. The history of pollution leading to current legislation and current best practices of handling of hazardous substances to minimize its harmful impact on society, environment and industry will be covered. Topics covered include: the legislative and regulatory framework created to manage hazardous materials and hazardous waste and worker protection, characteristics of hazardous materials/hazardous waste, application of basic chemistry principles, fate and transport of chemicals through environmental compartments, toxicology, interpreting and application of material safety data sheets, labels and placards, pollution prevention, career ladders and future environmental issues.

Course Objectives

	The student will be able to:
	A.		Define and Use Terminology common to Hazardous Materials/Waste Management and Occupational Helath and Safety.
	B.		Research, analyze, interpret and apply industry, local, state and federal Environmental Laws and regulations to case studies and situations.
	C.		Describe the roles of agencies that regulate Hazardous Materials/Waste and Occupational Health and Safety.
	D.		Write a research paper and deliver a presentation on a Major Environmental Issue or Topic.
	E.		Interpret Labels, MSDS and Symbols common to Hazardous Materials / Waste.
	F.		Apply critical thinking principles and techniques to Environmental issues and potential solutions.

Texts and References

	A.	Required text:
		1. Introduction to Environmental Technology, Ann Boyce
	B.	Syllabus and reference material

Unit I: Perspective and Overview

1. Environmental Conservation Movement
2. History and Concerns
3. Environmental Protection/Worker Health Industry

Unit II: Hazardous Materials Introduction and Overview

1. Chemistry Overview and Application
2. Characteristics of Hazardous Materiaals
3. MSDS Sheets/Labels, Etc.
4. Terminology

Unit III: Environmental Laws & Agencies Overview

1. Federal Agencies
   1. EPA
   2. DOT
   3. OSHA
   4. Coast Guard
   5. FEMA
   6. Department of Labor
   7. Others
2. Federal Laws
   1. RCRA
   2. CERCLA
   3. DOT
   4. FIFRA
   5. TSCA
   6. SARA
   7. CWA
   8. SDWA
   9. Ocean Dumping Act
   10. Others
3. State Agencies
   1. Cal/EPA
   2. DOT
   3. Cal/OSHA
   4. Coast Guard
   5. OES
   6. Others
4. State Laws/Regulations
   1. Toxic Substances
   2. Community Right to Know
   3. Prop 65
   4. Asbestos, PCB, Batteries, Etc.
   5. Underground Storage Tanks
   6. Biomedical Waste
   7. Hazard Communication
   8. Hazardous Worker Site Worker Requirements
   9. SB198
   10. Toxic Hot Spots
   11. Contingency Plans
   12. Others

Unit IV: Introduction to Health Effects/Workplace Safety

1. Terminology
2. Principles
3. Worker Rights
4. Worker Protection Programs
5. Medical Surveillance

Unit V: Environmental Compartments

1. Soil
   1. Legislation
   2. Environmental Contamination
   3. Community Health Protectin
   4. Remediation
2. Water
   1. Legislation
   2. Environmental Contamination
   3. Community Health Protectin
   4. Remediation
3. Air
   1. Legislation
   2. Environmental Contamination
   3. Community Health Protectin
   4. Remediation

Unit VI: Pollution Prevention

1. Terminology/Definitions
2. Legislation
3. Principles

Unit VII: Solid Waste Sites

1. Construction
2. Monitoring

Unit VIII: First Responder Awareness

1. Principles
2. Application

Unit IX: Risk Management

1. Principles of Risk Management

Unit X: Ecology

1. Terminology/Definitions
2. Principles
3. Cycles

Last update 05/12/98 by Cuyamaca Web Team