1. Chapter 4.4
Protecting Resources

2. Americans make up 6% of the world’s population but use 1/3 of the world’s resources and produce 1/3 of the world’s garbage.
This uses many nonrenewable resources and also uses large amounts of energy and creates pollution to get rid of.
Many people believe that conservation can help protect resources and create less pollution. Conservation is the careful use of resources.
Pollution prevention means stopping pollution from entering the environment.

3. Keeping Water Clean and Safe
Starting in the 1970s, the federal government passed several laws to prevent or decrease pollution and protect resources.
Clean Water Act – requires industries to reduce or eliminate point source pollution. Also lead to an increase in the number of sewage treatment plants. This increased surface waters from 36% to 62%.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) – protects drinking water. It set maximum contaminant levels for the number of pollutants that can be found in drinking water.

4. Protecting the Air
In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, to prevent air pollution.
It established standards for 6 pollutants – carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, sulfur \, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.
Today power plants and motor vehicles use pollution control devices to reduce pollution.
Use of alternative energy sources help clean the air.
Electric and hybrid cars reduce car emissions.

5. Caring for Land Resources
Protecting land resources involves preventing pollution and managing land resources wisely.
Farmers use soil conservation to prevent erosion and soil fertility. They practice contour plowing – this decreases water runoff. Also strip cropping – rotating crops that require different nutrients.
Selective cutting conserves forest resources – this is cutting some tree, not all. This prevents erosion and preserves the forest habitat.
Some farmers and gardeners use less pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. The use compost – partly decomposed organic material – instead.
Some laws also put new restrictions on landfills.
Recycling – collecting and processing of used items so they can be made into new products – also have reduced waste.