Who cleans up the oil? A microeconomic study

Although oil spill cleanup requirements have existed in the United States for years, recent increases in oil imports and marine transportation of petroleum products as well as growing environmental concern have exposed a new industry, the Oil Spill Cleanup Industry. This paper explores some of the microeconomic aspects of this industry which has come under increased scrutiny by the general public, big business, and the federal government.In addition to a brief history and definition, several basic questions about the economic viability of the oil spill cleanup industry are raised and explored, and the impact on the industry of cleanup from government sources is examined, both from the perspective of present operations and from apparent future increases in federal participation. The primary dilemma facing the industry, that of providing continued and immediate supply while confronted with stochastic demand, is discussed. The effects of the large spill on the industry both in terms of revenue and ability to meet cleanup requirements is also considered.Information for the paper is drawn from past and continuing involvement in the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Protection Program by both authors. The statistical evidence presented here was compiled through personal interviews and from two computerized Coast Guard information systems; PIRS (the Pollution Incident Reporting System), and SKIM (the Spill Cleanup Equipment Inventory System).     

上海海域溢油生态环境风险区划研究

上海海域海洋资源丰富,对于现今频发的溢油事故,开展相应的生态环境风险区划研究,对事故周边生态敏感资源采取及时有效防护,特别是饮用水源地的保护是尤为迫切和重要的。结合上海海域生态敏感资源分布情况和溢油特征信息,利用灰色模糊综合评价法,对海域生态敏感区敏感系数进行模糊评判,综合分析历年溢油事故及船舶流量统计资料,基于GIS平台对事故高发区污染源周边生态敏感区进行风险等级划分,以大比例尺上海海域溢油生态环境风险区划图直观反应溢油影响范围、高风险区和生态敏感资源保护顺序等信息,为事发后海域应急响应工作提供简便快捷的基础性分析依据。     

Effects of a spill of bunker oil on the marine biological communities in Hong Kong

The effects of a recent bunker oil spill on the marine environment were assessed through investigation of the rocky shore fauna, phytoplankton population and macrobenthic communities over a study period of 150 days. In addition, toxicity experiments were carried out in the laboratory to ascertain the toxic effects of the oil-plus-dispersant on selected test organisms. The impacts of the spill on the marine fauna were minimal with no visible reduction in species and individual numbers. Possible reasons were the small amount of oil spilled, the rapid containment and dispersion in the clean-up operations, and the less toxic effects of the heavy bunker oil. On Hong Kong shores, the limpets can be identified as indicator species to oil pollution. A quick survey of the limpet fauna on the rocky shores immediately after a spill provides an initial assessment of the impacts on the shoreline. However, faunal recovery over a long-term period may be difficult to assess in view of the lack of baseline data on most of the marine biological communities in Hong Kong waters.     

Planned retreat as a management response to coastal risk: a case study from the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia

Australian coastal areas have been identified as highly vulnerable to climate change, with major projected impacts including sea level rise, extreme weather events, increased erosion, and a change in coastal processes and wave patterns. Such impacts would cause coastal settlements and ecosystems to face increasingly uncertain conditions. In response to increased risk, effective coastal management at local and regional scales is needed, with governing bodies providing significant leadership. This research explores the challenges of applying effective adaptation responses to projected climate change in vulnerable coastal systems on the South Coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia. In particular, the option of planned retreat as a management response to coastal risk is critically examined, with the incorporation of learning from Byron Bay, NSW. A mixed methods approach was undertaken by integrating documentary interrogation with the analysis of interview responses from key coastal managers. It was determined that despite the increase in adaptation planning and development of management strategy options to manage sea level rise on the Fleurieu Peninsula, there is a lack of implementation of adaptation responses. In addition, planning seems to focus largely on the implications of sea level rise on infrastructure, often overlooking other risks and possible ecological impacts. Inconsistencies in governance are reflected at all levels, indicating a need for comprehensive improvements to ensure the incorporation of appropriate risk responses into planning decisions.     

How much could a tanker spill cost British Columbians?

Ocean-based industries provide employment for nearly 30 % of the population in the North Coast region of British Columbia. Marine resource dependence has raised concerns about the possible economic impacts of a tanker spill along the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway shipping route, which would export 525,000 barrels (bbls) per day of oil, bitumen, and condensate from Kitimat, British Columbia, to international markets. This study uses current and projected future values of four ocean-based industries and the Enbridge Northern Gateway project to estimate total (i.e., direct, indirect, and induced) economic effects on total output, employment, and gross domestic product (GDP) and impacts on the regional economy over a 50-year period under three potential spill scenarios: no impact (no spill), medium impact (a 63,000-bbl spill), and high impact (a 257,000-bbl spill). The proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway project could produce total positive economic effects of $600 million in output, 5,700–8,400 person years (PYs) of employment, and $300 million in GDP in the North Coast region. A medium impact tanker spill could cause losses of $40–$190 million in output, 400–1,500 PYs of employment, and $20–$100 million in GDP, and a high-impact spill could cause losses of $90–$300 million in output, 1,650–4,500 PYs of employment, and $70–$200 million in GDP.     

Ecological effects of experimental oil spills in Eastern coastal plain estuaries

Ecological effects of weathered and unweathered Louisiana crude oil spilled in eastern coastal plain estuaries were evaluated at all trophic levels and the major chemical components of the oil were followed through selected components of the ecosystem for 36 months.The study site consisted of a natural estuarine marshcreek habitat off the York River, Virginia, modified by the construction of retaining walls to form aquatic and marsh areas in each experimental unit. Each system was closed on all sides with the exception of an opening below the level of lowest tide to allow communication with tidal flow. Five experimental units were constructed, each having a surface area of about 810 m², containing 695 m² of marsh, 100 m² of open water and 15 m² of intertidal mud flat. The most upstream unit served as the control and the four downstream units received dosages of fresh and weathered crude oil. In addition, biological sampling in the open marsh and creek areas was conducted to provide an estimate of the effects of containing the marsh.Five hundred and seventy liters of fresh South Louisiana crude were added to each of the two downstream experimental enclosures approximately three hours into flood tide and were completed in 1 h. The weathered oil was similarly applied to the upstream units 3 days later.The weathered oil was not visible one week after the spill except as coatings on marsh grass blades, while the fresh crude remained for over three weeks. Plankton populations recovered within a week, and fish mortalities, which were most pronounced in the weathered oil unit, ceased after 10 days.Reductions in standing crops of marsh grasses were most pronounced the year following the spills, when peak biomass in the control exceeded the spill units by a factor of three. Recovery progressed further in the second year with peak biomass in the oiled units being about 70% of the control. The third year following the spill, recovery was nearly complete.Benthic populations were dominated numerically by oligochaetes. Significant reductions in populations of this dominant organisms and in populations of polychaetes and amphipods were demonstrable for a period of three years although most of the populations have shown definite signs of recovery.     

武汉市九峰城市森林保护区景观敏感度评价

为合理开展森林景观的规划与建设，应用RS和GIS技术，并结合小班调查，对武汉市九峰城市森林保护区的景观生态敏感度和景观视觉敏感度进行了研究。结果表明：在武汉市九峰城市森林保护区中，高生态敏感区面积占总面积的4.6％，主要包括荒山、废弃采石场和少量灌木林地，应尽快进行生态恢复。中生态敏感区面积占总面积的535％，主要为水域、农田、部分苗圃和建设用地，可重点开展森林植被恢复和景观建设。低生态敏感区面积占总面积的419％，主要是森林覆盖区域、部分苗圃和居民点，应重点加强保护。一级视觉敏感区主要分布在沿道路两侧坡度大于20°的近景带，应以保护和生态恢复措施为主。二级视觉敏感区主要是坡度较小的近景带和山体的中、远景带区域，可视性强，应重点开展景观改造。三级视觉敏感区主要是中、远景带中的平坦地带，包括农田、苗圃、居民点等半自然景观和人文景观，可在不影响整体风貌和视觉环境的前提下进行景观建设。四级视觉敏感区为不可见区域或低可见区域，坡度大，可及性差，不宜规划建设项目。     

Effectiveness of GIS suitability mapping in predicting ecological impacts of proposed wind farm development on Aristazabal Island,BC

Predicted impacts from a proposed wind farm at Aristazabal Island, British Columbia, were estimated to examine the compatibility of a wind farm with ecological factors using Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM). Historically, GIS-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) has not been used extensively in the quantification of ecological impacts. A GIS suitability map was created based on predictive ecosystem mapping (PEM) data using combined methods of Boolean overlay and weighted linear combination (WLC). This map was used to assist in generating a preliminary project layout for measuring footprint impacts to ecological elements. These impacts were tested against a selection of disturbance targets using scoring for ecological (as well as economic and social) factors based on EBM documentation. Of the 12 ecological targets identified, 10 were easily satisfied by the proposed layout, while the remaining two, impacts to rare ecosystems and their critical habitat, could be satisfied if the final design incorporated further field studies. Despite the data gaps and uncertainties (e.g., non-footprint impacts such as fragmentation), GIS suitability mapping using PEM is demonstrated to be an effective tool in representing a real wind farm and quantifying its ecological impacts in terms of magnitude.     

流域土地利用变化的长周期水文效应及管理策略

长周期水文效应作为不同强度暴雨事件的综合反映，对流域规划和管理决策非常重要。以太湖地区蠡河流域为研究区，通过解译1984年、1995年和2000年3个时段TM/ETM获得土地利用分布地图，分析其土地利用变化的模式，并基于研究区30年的降水序列，应用长周期水文分析模型L-THIA（Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment），计算3个时段土地利用特征对暴雨地表径流的影响，分析不同土地利用类型水文效应的敏感性，在此基础上总结了减少流域水文效应的土地利用管理策略。分析结果显示，该区土地利用有明显变化，主要表现为水田、旱田向建筑用地的转化，从1984年到2002年，城镇及居民地扩展占流域总面积的4.199 4 ％，地表径流量增加了6.170 ％，不同土地利用方式的水文效应有较大差别，林地、湖滩湿地的敏感性最大，其次是水田和旱田。     

土地生态适宜性分析在城市规划环境影响评价中的应用

规划环境影响评价是规划工作的一项重要内容,也是规划环境影响评价体系不可或缺的组成部分。鉴于理论、方法上尚存在某些空白,基于土地生态适宜性分析在城市规划环境影响评价中应用的必要性和可行性,从生态学的角度,依据生态位理论,以上海市某新城作为实证,探讨在城市规划环境影响评价中土地生态适宜性分析与评价的方法、程序及内容,从而为城市环境影响评价提供内容上的补充和技术方法上的完善。     

阿斯旺高坝的生态环境问题

:通过对阿斯旺高坝和尼罗河的实际考察和生态环境监测数据的分析 ,介绍了埃及政府相关管理部门的官员和专家对阿斯旺工程的看法 ,对阿斯旺高坝及其生态环境问题进行了评述。认为阿斯旺工程是一个成功的工程 ,它对埃及发挥的巨大影响和积极作用是有目共睹的。它对生态环境的不利影响 ,确被很多批评者盲目地夸大了 ,其中也包含有政治因素。中国在修建水利工程时 ,要对环境的影响作出客观、科学的评价 ,并采取措施把不利影响减少到最小。阿斯旺高坝运行近 30年 ,在生态环境监测方面积累了丰富的数据 ,这些成果和结论对三峡工程具有直接的借鉴和参考价值。     

阿斯旺高坝的生态环境问题

通过对阿斯旺高坝和尼罗河的实际考察和生态环境监测数据的分析,介绍了埃及政府相关管理部门的官员和专家对阿斯旺高坝工程的看法。对阿斯旺高坝及其生态环境问题进行了评述。认为阿斯旺工程是一个成功的工程,它对埃及发挥的巨大影响和积极作用是有目共睹的。它对生态环境的不利影响,确被很多批评者盲目地夸大了,其中也包含有政治因素。中国在修建水利工程时,要对环境的影响作出客观、科学的评价,并采取措施把不利影响减少到最小。阿斯旺高坝运行近30年,在生态环境监测方面积累了丰富的数据,这些成果和结论对三峡工程具有直接的借鉴和参考价值。     

大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑分布与栖息地特征研究

在实地调查和资料分析基础上,对大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑栖息地及分布进行了量化分析,并对其适宜栖息地保护河段进行了评估与划分。研究表明:(1)1950~2012年,大渡河流域川陕哲罗鲑分布范围持续减少,损失率高达91.4%,强烈的人类活动(如水电开发)成其主要影响因素;(2)川陕哲罗鲑对栖息地生境质量需求较高,适应水温范围较窄(4℃~14℃)。在不同生活史阶段川陕哲罗鲑对于生境的需求存在差异;(3)大渡河上游干流及众多支流对保护川陕哲罗鲑极为重要。在上游适宜划分为川陕哲罗鲑栖息地保护的河段总长度共计2 222.9 km。根据研究结果,我们建议:(1)川陕哲罗鲑栖息地有效保护,不仅应保护其现有分布区域,而且还应涵盖具有较高保护和恢复价值的历史分布和潜在分布空间;(2)尽快开展大渡河河源区川陕哲罗鲑栖息地保护相关规划和研究工作;(3)为协调流域保护和发展,建议建立完善生态补偿机制。     

Heat waves and floods in urban areas: a policy-oriented review of ecosystem services

Urbanisation is increasing and today more than a half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Cities, especially those where urbanisation is un-planned or poorly planned, are increasingly vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards such as heat waves and floods. Urban areas tend to degrade the environment, fragmenting and isolating ecosystems, compromising their capacity to provide services. The regulating role of ecosystems in buffering hydro-meteorological hazards and reducing urban vulnerability has not received adequate policy attention until now. Whereas there is a wide body of studies in the specialised biological and ecological literature about particular urban ecosystem features and the impacts of hazards upon people and infrastructures, there is no policy-driven overview looking holistically at the ways in which ecosystem features can be managed by cities to reduce their vulnerability to hazards. Using heat waves and floods as examples, this review article identifies the aggravating factors related to urbanisation, the various regulating ecosystem services that buffer cities from hydro-meteorological impacts as well as the impacts of the hazards on the ecosystem. The review also assesses how different cities have attempted to manage related ecosystem services and draws policy-relevant conclusions.     

基于主体功能区划的规划布局优化调整方法——以博鳌亚洲论坛特别规划区规划环评为例

针对规划环境影响评价所面临的关键问题之一,即规划布局的优化调整问题,以海南博鳌亚洲论坛特别规划区为研究对象,综合考虑该地区的功能定位及其生态环境特征,筛选出具有代表性的生态适宜性评价因子和生态敏感性评价因子,利用地理信息系统空间分析工具对该地区生态适宜性和敏感性进行评价。根据生态适宜性与敏感性评价结果,进行案例区主体功能区划分。在此基础上,通过比较主体功能区划与案例规划布局,从建设用地地块层面提出具体的规划布局优化调整建议。研究结果表明:规划的141个建设用地地块中,约四成位于禁止开发区和限制开发区,建议控制项目规模或者取消项目。通过基于主体功能区划的规划布局优化调整方法及其案例研究,从环境保护与生态建设角度指导该地区规划布局,同时也丰富和发展了规划环境影响评价技术方法。     

Problems of Marine Ecological and Environmental Compensations of Oil Spill in China

Abstract

In recent years, the frequent occurrences of marine oil spills have already become one of the major reasons threatening the marine ecological safety of China. In the event of oil spill, other than taking the necessary emergent measures aiming specifically at the damage to the marine ecology and environment, using legal means to assure that the damage liabilities are borne by the responsible persons to protect the national interests are also very necessary. This paper advances five recommendations regarding the development of a system for ecological legal compensations from the standpoint of the current status of legislation and execution of the laws on compensation of oil spill polluting marine ecosystem. These five recommendations include: determination of the status of juristic action in marine ecological and environmental compensations in accordance with the laws, determination of plaintiff of marine ecological and environmental compensations in accordance with the laws, determination of the four basic principles in the legal actions of marine ecological and environmental compensations in accordance with the laws, determination of assessment technical standard of marine ecological and environmental damages in accordance with the laws, and determination of the scope of marine ecological and environmental compensations in accordance with the laws.     

Distribution and hydrodynamic model of the Keumdong oil spill in Kwangyang Bay, Korea

Oil concentrations in the seawater, seabed sediments, and shoreline sediments were measured from the samples collected 165 days after the Keumdong oil spill accident, which had occurred in Kwangyang Bay of the South Sea, Korea in September 1993. Distribution patterns of the concentrations in the seabed and shoreline sediments have allowed us to hindcast the transport and fate of the spilled oil. Overall, the patterns agree better with the southward (seaward) surface water circulation than with the northward (landward) bottom water circulation over the region. Rapid, initial dispersal of the spilled oil to the south and its subsequent grounding onto the intertidal seabed sediments, as well as onto the shorelines, appear to have made ineffective the subsurface oil transport by the bottom current.     

生态敏感区建筑遗产保护规划编制的再思考——以之江大学旧址为例

生态敏感区环境的复杂性对处于区内的建筑遗产保护提出挑战,现行建筑遗产保护规划体现了单纯的文物本位价值观,忽视了生态敏感区的特性及其对保护区划分、空间格局保护及遗产保护策略的主导性和先决性。重新审视处于生态敏感区内的建筑遗产保护问题,认为建筑遗产与特定生态环境具有整体性和高度相关性,并在此基础上对现行建筑遗产保护规划编制流程和技术方法进行再思考。提出了基于遗产保护与生态环境整体性的可辩护的规划框架,将现行保护规划中环境规划部分从一个独立的简单的单项规划转变为生态先导下的一系列规划环节,强调在特定生态敏感区的背景下环境影响评价对以建筑遗产评价为主导的保护区划的修正和补充。最后结合之江大学旧址保护规划对其进行实践验证.     

Distribution and hydrodynamic model of the Keumdong oil spill in Kwangyang Bay, Korea

Oil concentrations in the seawater, seabed sediments, and shoreline sediments were measured from the samples collected 165 days after the Keumdong oil spill accident, which had occurred in Kwangyang Bay of the South Sea, Korea in September 1993. Distribution patterns of the concentrations in the seabed and shoreline sediments have allowed us to hindcast the transport and fate of the spilled oil. Overall, the patterns agree better with the southward (seaward) surface water circulation than with the northward (landward) bottom water circulation over the region. Rapid, initial dispersal of the spilled oil to the south and its subsequent grounding onto the intertidal seabed sediments, as well as onto the shorelines, appear to have made ineffective the subsurface oil transport by the bottom current.     

Climate proofing the Zuidplaspolder: a guiding model approach to climate adaptation

Climate change will have an impact on various sectors, such as housing, infrastructure, recreation and agriculture. Climate change may change spatial demands. For example, rising temperatures will increase the need for recreation areas, and areas could be assigned for water storage. There is a growing sense that, especially at the local scale, spatial planning has a key role in addressing the causes and impacts of climate change. This paper promotes an approach to help translate information on climate change impacts into a guiding model for adaptive spatial planning. We describe how guiding models can be used in designing integrated adaptation strategies. The concept of guiding models has been developed in the 1990s by Tjallingii to translate the principles of integrated water management in urban planning. We have integrated information about the present and future climate change and set up a climate adaptation guiding model approach. Making use of climate adaptation guiding models, spatial planners should be able to better cope with complexities of climate change impacts and be able to translate these to implications for spatial planning. The climate adaptation guiding model approach was first applied in the Zuidplaspolder case study, one of the first major attempts in the Netherlands to develop and implement an integrated adaptation strategy. This paper demonstrates how the construction of climate adaptation guiding models requires a participatory approach and how the use of climate adaptation guiding models can contribute to the information needs of spatial planners at the local scale, leading to an increasing sense of urgency and integrated adaptation planning process.