1 Introduction -- The Environment and the Geological Sciences -- Environment and History -- Environmental Guidelines -- The Environmental Decade -- The Present Status -- The Future -- Postlude -- 2 Mineral Resources -- Classification -- Occurrence and Distribution of Ore Deposits -- Exploration and Discovery -- Mining and Development -- Supply and Demand -- Non-Metallic Minerals -- Impacts Caused by Mining -- Mineral Policy and Planning -- Reclamation -- Postlude -- 3 Energy Resources -- An Overview -- Oil -- Natural Gas -- Coal -- Synfuels -- Other Geologic Energy Sources -- Energy Policy -- Postlude -- 4 Water Resources -- Occurrence -- Water Use -- Water Problems -- Water Management -- Case Studies in Water Management -- Postlude -- 5 Volcanic Activity -- Distribution -- Processes and Classification -- Volcanic Disasters -- Prediction -- Hazard Mitigation -- Beneficial Aspects -- Postlude -- 6 Earthquakes -- Terminology -- Distribution -- Causes -- Effects -- Damages -- Disasters -- Prediction and Amelioration of Earthquakes -- Postlude -- 7 Landslides -- Effects -- Landslides and Related Processes -- Classification -- Natural Causes -- Human Interference -- Landslide Destruction -- Land Management -- Snow Avalanches -- Government Landslide Programs -- Postlude -- 8 Floods -- River Systems -- Why Do We Have Floods? -- Effects of Floods -- Management of Flood Hazards -- Geological Data -- Postlude -- 9 Coastal Environments -- The Seascape -- Coastal Forces -- Historical Background -- Current Status of Shorelines -- Barrier Islands -- Human Intervention -- Coastal Engineering -- Coastal Law -- Postlude -- 10 Soil Destruction -- What is Soil? -- Historical Background -- Soil Destruction -- Farmland Erosion -- Deforestation -- Salinization -- Other Soil Losses -- Desertification -- Structural-Engineering Controls -- The World Situation -- Postlude -- 11 Geoengineering -- Conveyance Systems -- Dams -- Channelization -- Environmental Engineering -- Other Case Histories -- Postlude -- 12 Environmental Contamination -- Role of Geology -- Air Pollution -- Solid-Waste Disposal -- Hazardous Waste -- Nuclear Waste -- Wastewater Disposal -- Recycling -- Postlude -- 13 Environmental Management -- The Format of Management -- Objectives -- Role of the Geologist -- Urban Areas -- Natural Resources -- Geologic Hazards -- Environmental Costs -- Environmental Policies in Other Countries -- Postlude -- 14 Environmental Law -- General Laws -- Specific Environmental Laws -- Laws for Geologists -- Mining Law -- Water Law -- Maritime Law -- Land-Use Law -- Legal Rights for Natural Features -- Eminent Domain -- Hazards and Disasters -- Postlude -- Appendix A Table of Conversions -- Appendix B Volcanic Disasters -- Appendix C Major Earthquake Disasters Throughout the World -- Appendix D Landslide Disasters -- Appendix E Major Land Subsidence Areas -- Appendix F Severe Flood Disasters in the United States -- Appendix G Coastal Area Disasters from Tropical Storms and Tsunamis -- References and Source Materials.