Assessing energy, environmental, and economic tradeoffs in intermodal freight transportation

This paper presents an energy and environmental network analysis model to explore tradeoffs associated with freight transport. The geospatial model uses an intermodal network built by the authors to connect various modes (rail, road, water) via intermodal terminals. Routes along the network are characterized not only by temporal and distance attributes, but also by cost, energy, and emissions attributes (including emissions of carbon dioxide, particulate matter, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and oxides of nitrogen). Decision-makers can use the model to explore tradeoffs among alternative route selection across different modal combinations, and to identify optimal routes for objectives that feature energy and environmental parameters (e.g., minimize carbon dioxide emissions). The model is demonstrated with three case studies of freight transport along the U.S. eastern seaboard.     

Evaluation of Storage and Filtration Protocols for Alpine/Subalpine Lake Water Quality Samples

Many government agencies and other organizations sample natural alpine and subalpine surface waters using varying protocols for sample storage and filtration. Simplification of protocols would be beneficial if it could be shown that sample quality is unaffected. In this study, samples collected from low ionic strength waters in alpine and subalpine lake inlets and outlets in the western United States were used to evaluate (1) effects of refrigerated storage time on the chemistry of unfiltered samples, and (2) differences in sample filtration protocols. No analytes exhibited significant changes when stored less than 48 h. Six analytes (pH, sodium, ammonium, potassium, chloride, sulfate) exhibited statistically significant (but small) changes when storage time exceeded 48 h. Two analytes (calcium, nitrate) were significantly higher when samples were field filtered than when filtered in the laboratory, but the differences were also small. For waters similar to those in this test, unfiltered refrigerated samples may be stored up to 48 h without compromising sample quality. The small differences between field and lab filtration do not justify the expense, training, and contamination risk of field filtration.     

Analysis of snake tissue and snake eggs for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin via fused silica GC combined with atmospheric pressure ionization MS

Several snake tissue samples and one set of snake eggs were collected and analyzed for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-$\text{p}$-dioxin. The isomer-specific analysis was performed using fused silica GC combined with atmospheric pressure ionization MS. The results ranged from a low of 38 parts-per-trillion (ppt) to high levels over 500 ppt.     

Air quality at a snowmobile staging area and snow chemistry on and off trail in a Rocky Mountain subalpine forest, Snowy Range, Wyoming

A study was begun in the winter of 2000–2001 and continued through the winter of 2001–2002 to examine air quality at the Green Rock snowmobile staging area at 2,985 m elevation in the Snowy Range of Wyoming. The study was designed to evaluate the effects of winter recreation snowmobile activity on air quality at this high elevation site by measuring levels of nitrogen oxides (NO _x , NO), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM₁₀ mass). Snowmobile numbers were higher weekends than weekdays, but numbers were difficult to quantify with an infrared sensor. Nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide were significantly higher weekends than weekdays. Ozone and particulate matter were not significantly different during the weekend compared to weekdays. Air quality data during the summer was also compared to the winter data. Carbon monoxide levels at the site were significantly higher during the winter than during the summer. Nitrogen oxides and particulates were significantly higher during the summer compared to winter. Nevertheless, air pollutants were well dispersed and diluted by strong winds common at the site, and it appears that snowmobile emissions did not have a significant impact on air quality at this high elevation ecosystem. Pollutant concentrations were generally low both winter and summer. In a separate study, water chemistry and snow density were measured from snow samples collected on and adjacent to a snowmobile trail. Snow on the trail was significantly denser and significantly more acidic with significantly higher concentrations of sodium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, and sulfate than in snow off the trail. Snowmobile activity had no effect on nitrate levels in snow.     

The Politics of Participation in Watershed Modeling

While researchers and decision-makers increasingly recognize the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making, there is less agreement about how to involve the public. One of the most controversial issues is how to involve citizens in producing scientific information. Although this question is relevant to many areas of environmental policy, it has come to the fore in watershed management. Increasingly, the public is becoming involved in the sophisticated computer modeling efforts that have been developed to inform watershed management decisions. These models typically have been treated as technical inputs to the policy process. However, model-building itself involves numerous assumptions, judgments, and decisions that are relevant to the public. This paper examines the politics of public involvement in watershed modeling efforts and proposes five guidelines for good practice for such efforts. Using these guidelines, I analyze four cases in which different approaches to public involvement in the modeling process have been attempted and make recommendations for future efforts to involve communities in watershed modeling.