Description Table of Contents Details Authors Reviews

Description

This is one of the most comprehensive books on complex subjects of environmental engineering assessment and planning. Addressing these issues requires an understanding of technical, economic, and policy perspectives; based upon extensive research and practical experience of the authors, these perspectives are thoughtfully and clearly presented.

Covered in this book are subjects related to environmental engineering and planning which include environmental laws and regulations, international perspectives on environmental analysis engineering and planning, economic and social impact analysis, public participation, and energy and environmental implications of major public works and private projects. Contemporary issues ranging from climate change to ecorisk and sustainability are covered in a special section as well.

Under Contemporary Challenges are environmental issues that have received considerable public support and concern; they include: climate change, acid rain, deforestation, endangered species, biodiversity, ecorisk, cultural resources, and sustainability. For most of these issues, there are scientific agreements and disagreements; there are many uncertainties, thus views differ widely. These topics are discussed in considerable detail. Notwithstanding uncertainties and differing views on such topics, all of this information is put in a policy context such that progress towards addressing these contemporary challenges can be made while consensus on the nature and extent of the problem and resultant solutions are being developed.

The book provides considerable information about many timeless issues. These issues range from resources needed for sustaining the quality of life on the planet: air resources to natural resources. Specifically covered are: air, water, land, ecology, sound/noise, human aspects, economics, and resources. For each of these areas, some of the key elements are described so that one can

Key Features

  • Help with every aspect of analyzing the environmental implications of a project.

  • Complete coverage of current approaches, practices, procedures, documentations, regulations, and issues related to environmental engineering and planning.

  • Step-by-step directions for preparing environmental impact analysis, and environmental reports.

  • Valuable expert advice on international perspectives, public participation, social and environmental impacts.

  • A comprehensive write-up on contemporary issues ranging from climate change to sustainability.

  • A comprehensive description and analysis of timeless issues ranging from air resources to natural resources.

Readership

Environmental Engineers, Civil Engineers, Environmental Engineering Technicians and Civil Engineering Technicians

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Authors

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Chapter One. Environmental Assessment in Engineering and Planning

1.1 What Is Environmental Assessment?

1.2 Engineering and Planning Issues

1.3 Why Environmental Assessment Is Needed

1.4 Who Prepares Environmental Assessment and Planning Documents?

1.5 Integrating Art, Science, Strategy, and Management Issues

1.6 Discussion and Study Questions

Chapter Two. Environmental Laws and Regulations

2.1 Rationale for Environmental Legislation and Regulations

2.2 Shortcomings of Environmental Legislation and Regulations

2.3 Legislative Data Systems

2.4 Overview of Federal Environmental Legislation

2.5 Trends in Environmental Legislation and Regulations

2.6 Discussion and Study Questions

Chapter Three. National Environmental Policy Act

3.1 Elements of NEPA

3.2 Judicial Review

3.3 Effects of NEPA

3.4 Implementation of NEPA

3.5 Council on Environmental Quality

3.6 Executive Orders and Agency Response

3.7 State Environmental Policy Acts

3.8 NEPA and Agency Planning

3.9 Discussion and Study Questions

Chapter Four. Environmental Documents and CEQ Regulations

4.1 Function and Purpose of the NEPA Assessment Process

4.2 NEPA Regulations

4.3 Environmental Documents

4.4 Application of Environmental Documentation Process

4.5 EIS Format and Content

4.6 Preparing and Processing the EA or EIS

4.7 Timing of Agency Action

4.8 Tiering

4.9 Mitigation

4.10 General Considerations in EIS Preparation

4.11 Case Studies

4.12 Discussion and Study Questions

Chapter Five. Elements of Environmental Assessment and Planning

5.1 Agency Activities

5.2 Environmental Attributes

5.3 Determining Environmental Impact

Details

No. of pages:
784
Language:
English
Copyright:
© 2012
Published:
Imprint:
Butterworth-Heinemann
eBook ISBN:
9780123884459
Print ISBN:
9780123884442
Print ISBN:
9780128102916

About the authors

Ravi Jain

Ravi Jain is Dean and Professor of the School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of the Pacific, Stockton, California. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from California State University, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech. He studied public administration and public policy at Harvard, earning an M.P.A. degree and did additional graduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Affiliations and Expertise

Dean and Professor Emeritus, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA

Lloyd Urban

Affiliations and Expertise

Former Director, Water Resources Center, Professor of Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University

Harold Balbach

Affiliations and Expertise

Senior Research Scientist, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

M. Diana Webb

Affiliations and Expertise

Former Leader, Ecology Group, and Director, Policy Office, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Reviews

This is one of the most comprehensive books on complex subjects of environmental engineering assessment and planning. Addressing these issues requires an understanding of technical, economic, and policy perspectives; based upon extensive research and practical experience of the authors, these perspectives are thoughtfully and clearly presented.

Covered in this book are subjects related to environmental engineering and planning which include environmental laws and regulations, international perspectives on environmental analysis engineering and planning, economic and social impact analysis, public participation, and energy and environmental implications of major public works and private projects. Contemporary issues ranging from climate change to ecorisk and sustainability are covered in a special section as well.

Under Contemporary Challenges are environmental issues that have received considerable public support and concern; they include: climate change, acid rain, deforestation, endangered species, biodiversity, ecorisk, cultural resources, and sustainability. For most of these issues, there are scientific agreements and disagreements; there are many uncertainties, thus views differ widely. These topics are discussed in considerable detail. Notwithstanding uncertainties and differing views on such topics, all of this information is put in a policy context such that progress towards addressing these contemporary challenges can be made while consensus on the nature and extent of the problem and resultant solutions are being developed.

The book provides considerable information about many timeless issues. These issues range from resources needed for sustaining the quality of life on the planet: air resources to natural resources. Specifically covered are: air, water, land, ecology, sound/noise, human aspects, economics, and resources. For each of these areas, some of the key elements are described so that one can

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