8-13 by Alex (unfinished.)

8. THERMAL - COAL
production methods
Canada is the fourth largest coal exporter, with over 24 functional coal mines that produced 70 million tons in 2007. This makes up only 1.17% of the world's production. The headquarters are located in Calgary, Alberta and are monitored by The Canadian Coal Association.
where used in Canada
Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the three provinces that have working coal mines in Canada. Out of the ten Canadian provinces, only a few of them actually use coal for domestic purposes, and the percentage has been lowered drastically since 2001. New Brunswick, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec have all been known to consume coal for energy purposes, yet Alberta was the number one province for coal consumption in 2001, with 42% of Canada's imported coal.
environmental impacts
The production and consumption of coal both have a toll on the environment. The processing of coal, especially thermal coal can emit toxins into the atmosphere. Harmful gasses such as carbon dioxide and mercury add to the already built up pollution in the air. Not only can the toxins be released into the air, but also by products (such as fly-ash, sludge and bottom ash) that contain arsenic, uranium, mercury and thorium can be spilled into bodies of water or disposed of in unsafe and environmentally unfriendly ways. Acid rain is another effect from the burning of coal. Some gasses from the burning of coal in the air have been proven to have caused lung cancer in citizens, and an overall impact on human health (not to mention animal and plant life, as well.)

9. THERMAL - NUCLEAR
production methods
Nuclear power in Canada produces about 15% of it's electricity. Ontario has the largest nuclear industry in Canada, with 16 operating plants and providing 50% of the provinces nuclear needs. Quebec and New Brunswick have only one nuclear reactor each. Canada was the world's biggest uranium producer for many years, until 2009 when Kazakhstan took over that title.
where used in Canada
Ontario uses nuclear power the most, and this form of energy makes up 15% of the entire countries electrical power, and this power comes from Ontario itself. New Brunswick and Quebec are also known to use nuclear power (as opposed to Hydro Power.) Production of nuclear comes mainly from MacArthur River mine in Saskatchewan
environmental impacts
Like coal, nuclear power has environmental impacts through production, consumption and disposal - also known as the 'Nuclear Fuel Cycle.' Nuclear dispose can become radioactive waste, and the Chemical and Volume Control System (CVCS) has to take care of it and manufacture it to become less dangerous and less harmful before releasing it.

10. ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES
(biomass, natural gas, solar, wind, garbage incineration, geothermal)
production methods
Garbage incineration is when the waste is burned at temperatures as high as 900-1000 degrees, and the steam is channeled through tubes to places where it heats up water, and turns into energy. Burning the garbage also cuts down the amount of waste sent to landfills by 90%.
where used in Canada (or world)
Alberta: Alberta Special Waste Treatment Center, Swan Hills. Ontario: Laidlaw, Sarnia. Quebec: Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc. America also uses incinerators, as well as Germany and many other countries.
environmental impacts
The burning creates an output of gasses and a substance called “flue ash,” which is every bad for our ozone layer. In older incinerators, there is also the concern of “odor pollution.”
limitations
There is much controversy about incinerators because of the gaseous emissions they produce. Although they generate less pollution than coal fired plants, they also produce more than natural gas plants.

11. RECREATIONAL LANDS – PARKS
-overuse and degradation – e.g. Banff
After the war years, Banff National park began attracting many tourists, thus many resturaunts, hotels, golf courses, tourist attractions and expensive billboards and advertisements began to populate the area. After the national highway was constructed, this allowed more tourism to integrate into the area. Many acts and policies have been initiated to maintain and conserve the area, since the original Rocky Mountains Park Act.
conflicts - man vs. animals
There are many animals located in the Banff park, over 280 species of birds, there are caribou, wolves, bears, deer, one species of toad, two species of frog and many other animals. The Banff Springs snail is an endangered species at the moment, as well as caribou and grizzly bears.

12. WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING

- Three R’s – reduce reuse recycle
the economics of recycling (worth it or not ?)
If we take into account how much more waste there COULD potentially be, recycling seems like a splendid idea. Plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, glass....all of these things are being turned into more reusable substances, recyclable indefinitely. But, recycling plants require energy, and collection of recyclables requires transportation (which requires fuel.) The whole process of recycling, as well as transportation emits emissions and creates waste. Is it worth it to still recycle? Yes. At least we're reusing SOMETHING.
liquid waste – sewage treatment, septic systems, urban run off
Urban and domestic liquid waste (sewage) or other contaminated waters are run in systems to plants where they filter the water generously and clean it, disinfect it and release it again.
landfills, sanitary landfills, incineration – advantages/disadvantages
Landfills are where we ship waste that cannot be recycled or reused. Sanitary landfills are where the waste is isolated from the environment by being buried.. Incineration is when we burn and compress our waste and create a steam that can be used as an energy source, but can still emit pollution and gasses into the ozone layer.



13. WATER MANAGEMENT
- major users of water…agriculture, domestic, industrial
- impacts and solutions for each user