Environmental Science, 10th Edition (Cunningham)

Chapter 21: Solid, Toxic, and Hazardous Waste

GE Exercise: Freshkills Landfill, New York

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Take a virtual field trip with Google Earth!
Google Earth is a free, online application that uses satellite imagery to allow the user to zoom across the globe in a realistic, virtual environment. Downloading Google Earth is free at http://www.earth.google.com.

An overview manual is available by clicking here... Google Earth Overview (342.0K)

To continue:
- Make sure you have the Google Earth software installed and running.
- Copy the following latitude and longitude and paste into the "Fly to" field under the Search tab.
- Hit "Enter" for Google Earth to take you to the specified coordinates, then come back here and read the following overview.

Latitude/Longitude: 40.5815, -74.1938

Overview: Freshkills Landfill, NY, p. 479

This landfill was the principle waste disposal site for New York City during the second half of the 20th century and was at one time the largest refuse heap in the world. Over the 53 years in which it was in operation, waste deposited there covered 900 ha (2,300 acres) and rose to a height of 50 m (162 ft), or taller than the nearby Statue of Liberty. In March 2001, the landfill was declared closed. After the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Freshkills was reopened to receive and process much of the debris from the destruction.

In 2003, plans were made to convert the site to a landscaped park and restored wetland. When the GE image was made most of the landfill was already closed, but a small area on the north side of the creek can be seen to still be active. You can see garbage barges tied up along the banks of the creek. Several other areas on either side of the freeway and along the upstream portion of the creek have been graded and covered with vegetation.

1
Groups of barges are tied up in the tidal river that runs through the landfill. What are they for?
A)They were used to carry recycled products from the landfill to retail businesses.
B)They carried garbage from New York City to the landfill.
C)They were used to carry tourists from the Big Apple who wanted to see the landfill.
D)They were used to carry workers to the landfill.
E)They were used to transport excess garbage to other landfills.
2
Find your Ruler tool (under the Tools menu at the top of the window, if it's not already turned on). How far is it across this landfill? (You have to zoom out to see all the landfill.)
A)It's about 4 km from east to west and about 10 km from north to south.
B)It's about 0.5 km from east to west and about 2.5 km from north to south.
C)It's about 2 km from east to west and about 2.5 km from north to south.
D)It's about 10 km from east to west and about 20 km from north to south.
3
What island is this landfill on?
A)Manhattan
B)Long Island
C)Potters Island
D)Shooters Island
E)Staten Island
4
What does "kill" mean in the name "Freshkills"?
A)It means "big stink" (a term used by the early Dutch settlers).
B)It means "refuse" (a term used by the early Dutch settlers).
C)It means "stream" (a term used by the early Dutch settlers).
D)It means "unspoiled" (a term used by the early Dutch settlers).
E)It means "debacle" (a term used by the early Dutch settlers).
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