ABSTRACT
When the industrial revolution began in the 1850s, the United States was a land of abun dant resources, diverse markets, and transportation systems capable of moving raw materials and finished products. Engineers were concerned with performance, quality, and maximum yield. Their main objective was to make a profit by producing more and better goods and ser vices. Environmental considerations were not a significant factor in the manufacturing equa tion. We had seemingly infinite land and water resources capable of assimilating whatever amounts of wastes were dumped. Adverse environmental impacts were not perceived as a se rious problem (although adverse impacts were, in fact, present). Therefore, there were few or no environmental costs to consider.
