1. Why has Hungary declared a state of emergency? Be specific.

2. What dangers does the sludge pose to humans?

3. What environmental damage could the toxic flood cause?

4. How is Hungary's environmental agency attempting to stop the sludge from spreading?

5. Consider the following information and then answer the questions:

• Police have launched an investigation into the leak.
• MAL Rt., the Hungarian Aluminum Production and Trade Company that owns the Ajkai plant, has insisted the red sludge is not considered hazardous waste according to European Union standards. The company has also rejected criticism that it should have taken more precautions to shore up the reservoir, a huge structure more than 1,000 feet 500 yards wide.
• Joe Hennon, a European spokesman, said the company has a license to operate and added "we have nothing to indicate there was anything wrong with it."
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says authorities were caught off guard by the disaster since the plant and reservoir had been inspected only two weeks earlier and no irregularities had been found.

a) Do you think the company was negligent in its safety procedures for the sludge reservoir? Explain your answer.
b) How do you think company officials feel about the toxic sludge flood? Explain your answer.
b) Should the company be held liable for damages? Explain your answer.