3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course presents details of environmental technologies for assessment, remediation, and restoration of contaminated sites. The course includes a brief review of environmental policy related to impacts of hazardous chemicals and endocrine blockers, but focuses on remediation technologies available for reclaiming contaminated resources and reducing health risks. It covers the application of multiple physical, chemical, and biological technologies, but emphasizes use of biological systems for the cleanup of hazardous chemicals. Students are introduced to the nature of hazardous waste, behavior of chemicals in the subsurface, biochemistry of microbial degradation and technology applications. Students also explore the use of biotechnology to maintain biodiversity, to remediate contaminated soils, and to isolate and remove substances. In keeping with the emerging “bio” technology exploration, students take a look at biofuels and their role in combating climate change on a global-scale and their role in restoration of degraded land on a local-scale. Students in this class learn to select appropriate technologies, design a monitoring program for assessing the applicability of bioremediation techniques, develop biological conceptual models for natural attenuation, and understand the key principles for design. Prerequisites: 420.601 Geological Foundations of Environmental Science and 420.604 Hydrology and Water Resources, equivalent courses, or experience. Prerequisites for SIS: AS.420.601 and AS.420.604