Environmental Geology 1134 EMPACTS project
Instructor: Paul Lowrey
Students: Amy Goodnow
Emmanuel Nieto
Megan Stoudt
As residents of Northwest Arkansas we have noted many instances of illegal rural dumping in and around Benton County, Arkansas. How might this dumping affect others living in the area?
What Constitutes Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping is the disposing of waste in unauthorized areas. It can occur in off roadways, near junkyards, landfills, solid waste stations, and temporary construction dump sites. Often the borders of cities and counties have a higher incidence, and dumping occurs on their back roads, rural farm lands and abandoned properties.
Illegal dumping attracts additional dumping and often other illegal activities. This can be from lack of police presence, lack of ordinances, and lack of ordinance enforcement.
These abandoned piles of household garbage, bags of yard waste, discarded appliances, old barrels, used tires and demolition debris can threaten the health of humans, wildlife and the environment.
It is an environmental crime the punishment for which can range from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Why is Rural Dumping a concern to all of us?
Small localized pockets of dumping may seem like isolated and limited problems. However the result of this rural dumping may pollute the drinking water for a much larger area. Northwest Arkansas is comprised of Karst aquifers and multiple watersheds that can be contaminated by water runoff from polluted dump areas.
Instructor: Paul Lowrey
Students: Amy Goodnow
Emmanuel Nieto
Megan Stoudt
As residents of Northwest Arkansas we have noted many instances of illegal rural dumping in and around Benton County, Arkansas. How might this dumping affect others living in the area?
What Constitutes Illegal Dumping?
Illegal dumping is the disposing of waste in unauthorized areas. It can occur in off roadways, near junkyards, landfills, solid waste stations, and temporary construction dump sites. Often the borders of cities and counties have a higher incidence, and dumping occurs on their back roads, rural farm lands and abandoned properties.
Illegal dumping attracts additional dumping and often other illegal activities. This can be from lack of police presence, lack of ordinances, and lack of ordinance enforcement.
These abandoned piles of household garbage, bags of yard waste, discarded appliances, old barrels, used tires and demolition debris can threaten the health of humans, wildlife and the environment.
It is an environmental crime the punishment for which can range from a misdemeanor to a felony.
Why is Rural Dumping a concern to all of us?
Small localized pockets of dumping may seem like isolated and limited problems. However the result of this rural dumping may pollute the drinking water for a much larger area. Northwest Arkansas is comprised of Karst aquifers and multiple watersheds that can be contaminated by water runoff from polluted dump areas.