A Procedure for NEPA Assessment of Selenium Hazards Associated With Mining

This paper gives step-by-step instructions for assessing aquatic selenium hazards associated with mining. The procedure was developed to provide the U.S. Forest Service with a proactive capability for determining the risk of selenium pollution when it reviews mine permit applications in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The procedural framework is constructed in a decision-tree format in order to guide users through the various steps, provide a logical sequence for completing individual tasks, and identify key decision points. There are five major components designed to gather information on operational parameters of the proposed mine as well as key aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environment surrounding it — geological assessment, mine operation assessment, hydrological assessment, biological assessment, and hazard assessment. Validation tests conducted at three mines where selenium pollution has occurred confirmed that the procedure will accurately predict ecological risks. In each case, it correctly identified and quantified selenium hazard, and indicated the steps needed to reduce this hazard to an acceptable level. By utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can be confident in their ability to understand the risk of aquatic selenium pollution and take appropriate action. Although the procedure was developed for the Forest Service it should also be useful to other federal land management agencies that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as regulatory agencies responsible for issuing coal mining permits under the authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and associated Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. Mining companies will also benefit from the application of this procedure because priority selenium sources can be identified in relation to specific mine operating parameters. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at which there is a need to modify operating conditions to meet environmental quality goals. By recognizing concerns early in the NEPA process, it may be possible for a mining company to match operational parameters with environmental requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood that the permit application will be approved.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Environmental Impact Assessment of Industrial Structure Change in a Rural Region of China

As the embodiment of human activities, the change of regional industrial structure is an essential driving factor of global environmental change. Consequently, the research on the change of regional industrial structure and associated effects on the environment is one of the key issues of researches on sustainable development, human–environment relationship, and regional response to global environment change. However, compared to the flourish of researches on environmental impact assessment of industrial departments, few studies have been conducted to assess the environmental impact of regional industrial structure. In this study, based on a synthetic analysis of environmental disturbances of different industrial departments, the environmental impact coefficient of industrial department associated with the index of environmental impact of industrial structure was constructed, so as to make a quantitative assessment of environmental impact of the change of regional industrial structure. And the results of the case study in Lijiang City, a rural region of China, have showed that there are two obvious changes of industrial structure in the study area from 1992 to 2003, associated with a continuous decreasing of the index of environmental impact of industrial structure, which indicated a positive environmental effects of the change of regional industrial structure.     

环境影响预测中基准值问题的探讨

鉴于目前环境影响预测中基准值取法存在的问题,提出了结合目前通用做法与灰色预测的灰靶方案,该方案使得环境影响预测结果在一定范围内变化,从而更为切合评价实际。     

硝化污泥低温冲击强化试验

采用完全好氧式膜生物反应器富集耐低温硝化污泥,通过低温冲击强化试验研究硝化污泥的耐低温特性.结果表明,低温对硝化污泥中微生物的群落多样性影响较大,温度越低,微生物多样性越低.低温强化组投加了耐低温高硝化菌含量硝化污泥,使得硝化菌在反应器内生长趋势良好,对低温冲击的恢复更有效果,且低温硝化污泥比中温硝化污泥具有更好的氨氮...     

矿山地质环境保护与治理恢复方案编制中几个技术问题的探讨

以国土资源部颁布的《矿山地质环境保护规定》、《矿山环境保护与综合治理编制规范》和《地质灾害危险性评估技术要求》为原则,结合工作实践,尝试对矿山地质环境评估要求进行了强调与细化,对评估范围的确定方法,对现状评估、预测评估及综合评估的关系、方案适用年限、成果图件的编制等几个矿山地质环境保护与治理恢复方案中的主要技术问题做了初步探讨。     

从环境立法进程展望中国大气污染防治战略的发展方向2002年9月12日在能源与环境中美研讨会上的讲话

本文从中国环境立法，特别是再次修改《大气污染防治法》等展望中国大气污染防治的重要战略方向。     

有色金属矿山恢复开采项目环评应关注的几个问题

根据有色金属矿山恢复开采项目环境影响评价工作中的不足,提出应关注的几个重要问题,主要涉及产业政策及规划相符性、矿山历史遗留问题、公众参与等。     

移动通信基站电磁辐射环境保护与评价浅析

通过对移动通信基站天线的电磁辐射分析和探讨,归纳了移动通信基站建设在施工期、营运期环境保护工作的重点与措施,对电磁环境影响评价制度与方法进行了系统的描述,并指出了今后的工作方向。     

建设项目环境影响报告表编制需重点关注的问题

随着国家对建设项目环境影响评价工作的要求不断规范和完善,为提高环境影响报告表的编制质量,为环境管理部门审批项目提供科学依据。本文就目前在编制建设项目环境影响报告表工作中,分析和探讨了几个需要特别重点关注的问题,供有关人员借鉴。     

地下水环境影响一级评价水文地质调查的工作内容和方法

自《环境影响评价技术导则一地下水环境》实施以来,地下水环境影响评价就成为整个建设项目环境影响评价中的难点。本文以对水文地质调查的调查精度要求最高的一级评价为例,从资料收集、野外调查、室内模拟和污染预测几个方面论述一级评价水文地质调查的内容和方法,总结了在此过程中需要注意的几个问题,为广大的水体环境影响评价工作者提供参考。