Evaluation of procedures to estimate biomass on surface coal mine lands reclaimed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

Current surface mine regulations as ascribed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 require that mine lands be returned to the approximate original contours (AOC) with an area coverage of at least 70% and to biological productivity equal to or greater than that which existed prior to mining. Six different procedures were evaluated on nine mine sites in northwestern Pennsylvania as to their suitability to estimate aboveground biomass on mines reclaimed as hayland and pastures. Biomass estimates determined by different procedures were compared to those obtained by random clip plots and with landowner estimates of the annual yield from each site. Biomass estimates determined from a disk meter and landowner interviews varied approximately ±10% from those obtained from random clip plots compared to a variation of ±8%–37% for the other procedures. The number of samples required to obtain reliable estimates within ±10% of the mean at 95% confidence intervals varied among the different sampling procedures according to the variance in biomass on the site. Although all procedures may be used either singly or in combination to estimate above ground biomass on reclaimed mine lands, the combination of the disk meter, profile board, and vegetation height is recommended because of their ease of measurement compared to the other procedures.     

有色金属矿山尾矿库复垦与生态恢复技术

由北京矿冶研究总院开发、北京环境保护产业协会推荐的有色金属矿山尾矿库复垦与生态恢复技术适用于有色金属和其它矿山尾矿库、排土场、渣场、露天采矿坑等被破坏、损毁土地使用价值的恢复。主要技术内容一、基本原理对矿业开发形成的尾矿库、排土场、渣场、露天采矿坑等损毁压占的土地，采取综合整治措施，经过工程复垦、生物复垦和监测、管理、修复三个阶段，使其变成农田、林地、草场、鱼塘，恢复土地的使用价值和环境生态。二、技术关键该技术突破单一覆土工程和植被的传统复垦模式，以安全、稳定、可持续利用和生态恢复为目标组织水工…     

Social impact evaluation of the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Debate over environmental policy often focuses on social impacts of those policies, but few empirical studies examine the impacts of environmental regulations once they are implemented. A quasi-experimental design based on survey data is used to assess the social impacts of the US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) on the West Virginia chemical industry. Changes in employment, manufacturing process, product line, and manufacturing costs are evaluated. RCRA seems to have produced changes in manufacturing processes, but we find no statistically significant impacts on.jobs, product line, or manufacturing costs.     

Innovation in environmental policy: the National Environmental Policy Act of the US and the Resource Management Act of New Zealand

On enactment, both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 1970 of the US and the Resource Management Act (RMA), 1991 of New Zealand received accolades for innovativeness. However, is such praise justified when these acts are explored through the literature on policy innovation? This paper suggests that it is. More importantly, recognizing how different attributes of innovation contribute to having a policy adopted suggests what the crafters of future environmental policies might do well to consider. It is critical to attend to the political climate in which a policy is being drafted.     

适宜性评价视角下的煤矿土地复垦技术措施研究——以白山市道清沟煤矿为例

基于土地适宜性评价方法,着重选取极限值条件法、AHP层次分析法、加权指数和法对白山市道清沟煤矿区的土地适宜类和土地质量等进行系统综合的分析,判定道清沟煤矿待复垦土地的类型、数量和质量。基于土地破坏现状和适宜性评价结果,提出以工程措施为主、生物化学措施为辅助的土地生态重构对策。     

Private and Social Costs of Surface Mine Reforestation Performance Criteria

We study the potentially unnecessary costs imposed by strict performance standards for forest restoration of surface coal mines in the Appalachian region under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) that can vary widely across states. Both the unnecessary private costs to the mine operator and costs to society (social costs) are reported for two performance standards, a ground cover requirement, and a seedling survival target. These standards are examined using numerical analyses under a range of site productivity class and market conditions. We show that a strict (90%) ground cover standard may produce an unnecessary private cost of more than 700/ha and a social cost ranging from700/ha and a social cost ranging from 428/ha to 710/ha, as compared with a 70 standard, may produce an unnecessary private cost of approximately710/ha, as compared with a 70% standard. A strict tree survival standard of 1235 trees/ha, as compared with the more typical 1087 trees/ha standard, may produce an unnecessary private cost of approximately 200/ha, and a social cost in the range of 120 to120 to 208/ha. We conclude that strict performance standards may impose substantial unnecessary private costs and social costs, that strict performance standards may be discouraging the choice of forestry as a post-mining land use, and that opportunities exist for reform of reforestation performance standards. Our study provides a basis for evaluating tradeoffs between regulatory efficiency and optimal reforestation effort.     

Prioritizing Abandoned Coal Mine Reclamation Projects Within the Contiguous United States Using Geographic Information System Extrapolation

Coal mine reclamation projects are very expensive and require coordination of local and federal agencies to identify resources for the most economic way of reclaiming mined land. Location of resources for mine reclamation is a spatial problem. This article presents a methodology that allows the combination of spatial data on resources for the coal mine reclamation and uses GIS analysis to develop a priority list of potential mine reclamation sites within contiguous United States using the method of extrapolation. The extrapolation method in this study was based on the Bark Camp reclamation project. The mine reclamation project at Bark Camp, Pennsylvania, USA, provided an example of the beneficial use of fly ash and dredged material to reclaim 402,600 sq mi of a mine abandoned in the 1980s. Railroads provided transportation of dredged material and fly ash to the site. Therefore, four spatial elements contributed to the reclamation project at Bark Camp: dredged material, abandoned mines, fly ash sources, and railroads. Using spatial distribution of these data in the contiguous United States, it was possible to utilize GIS analysis to prioritize areas where reclamation projects similar to Bark Camp are feasible. GIS analysis identified unique occurrences of all four spatial elements used in the Bark Camp case for each 1 km of the United States territory within 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 km radii from abandoned mines. The results showed the number of abandoned mines for each state and identified their locations. The federal or state governments can use these results in mine reclamation planning.     

The US Clean Water Act and habitat replacement: evaluation of mitigation sites in Orange County,California, USA

Both permit requirements and ecological assessments have been used to evaluate mitigation success. This analysis combines these two approaches to evaluate mitigation required under Section 404 of the United States Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which allow developers to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands. This study reviewed permit files and conducted field assessments of mitigation sites to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation required by the US Army Corps of Engineers for all permits issued in Orange County, California from 1979 through 1993. The 535 permit actions approved during this period allowed 157 ha of impacts. Mitigation was required on 70 of these actions, with 152 ha of enhanced, restored, and created habitat required for 136 ha of impacts. In 15 permit actions, no mitigation project was constructed, but in only two cases was the originally permitted project built; the two cases resulted in an unmitigated loss of 1.6 ha. Of the remaining 55 sites, 55% were successful at meeting the permit conditions while 11% failed to do so. Based on a qualitative assessment of habitat quality, only 16% of the sites could be considered successful and 26% were considered failures. Thus, of the 126 ha of habitat lost due to the 55 projects, only 26 ha of mitigation was considered successful. The low success rate was not due to poor enforcement, although nearly half of the projects did not comply with all permit conditions. Mitigation success could best be improved by requiring mitigation plans to have performance standards based on habitat functions.     

Assessing the US Clean Water Act 303(d) listing process for determining impairment of a waterbody

This study evaluated the US Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) listing and delisting processes, based on historical and current federal and state guidelines, to determine whether there are regional differences in water quality assessment criteria used by various states to determine impairment of a waterbody for inclusion in the 303(d) list. A review of almost 50 total maximum daily load (TMDL) and delisting documents revealed that the basis for listing or delisting a waterbody varies considerably and that, in many cases, determination of impairment was based on insufficient water quality information. Historical USEPA guidance on the 303(d) listing and delisting processes has been generally broad, resulting in wide interpretation of the assessment criteria by various states. This has led to unclear or conflicting listing methodologies among states, leading to inconsistencies in impairment determination. Common problems include inconsistent data quality and quantity, differences in frequency of monitoring, variable interpretation of narrative water quality standards, and differences in specificity of implementation and monitoring plans, resulting in significant difference in the basis for listing and delisting waterbodies. In response, several states have taken the initiative to provide much more specific guidance for their internal agencies. Listing and delisting criteria are generally clearer at the state level, but the development of differing state guidance documents has resulted in diversity in the development of the 303(d) lists and in the process of delisting a waterbody. While state guidelines are better able to address local considerations, such as variations in climate, landuse, and water quality objectives, as well as social and economic preferences, the variation in listing criteria has led to inconsistencies across state boundaries in the levels of attainment of national water quality objectives. For stakeholders that participate in the 303(d) listing process within a particular state, these types of discrepancies may not have a significant impact. However, these inconsistencies can lead to confusion for some stakeholders who participate in the process in multiples states, and must deal with differing and sometimes conflicting requirements depending on the location of their facilities.     

基于VB ActiveX方法的土地复垦信息系统设计——以保安煤矿区为例

从VB、MapX和Matlab的技术结合点入手，发挥两者优势并应用于矿区土地管理信息系统的设计与实现。以矿区土地复垦管理信息系统的开发应用为例，重点介绍了当前VB与MATLAB编程的ActiveX方法。     

生活污水处理及回用技术

由河南宏立源生物科技有限公司、厦门宏立源生物科技有限公司、郑州郑锅环境节能有限公司联合开发的生活污水处理及回用技术,适用于分散式生活污水及工业有机污水的处理和回用。主要技术内容一、基本原理该技术与装置是利用生物膜处理技术组合成的一种     

Environmental Management and the New Politics of Western Water: The Animas-La Plata Project and Implementation of the Endangered Species Act

/ This paper explores the new politics of western water policy through an examination of the Animas-La Plata water project and implementation of the Endangered Species Act. It is suggested that the focus of western water programming has shifted from the source of distributed funds, the United States Congress, to the agencies originally created to deliver federal benefits because funding for new project construction has not been forthcoming. Under this new system, members of Congress continue to excite their constituents with promises of money for new project starts, while the administrative agencies perform the myriad duties needed to keep these projects alive. The result is that political objectives have replaced operational/management objectives in administrative processes. In this case, the author demonstrates how resource managers in the Bureau of Reclamation manipulated hydrological analysis to control administrative process, why their manipulation was unfair, and perhaps illegal, and why biologists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service accepted the analysis. While ostensibly protecting all interests, the result is that none of the objectives of federal water programming are achieved. KEY WORDS: Environmental management; Administrative politics; Water policy; Endangered Species Act; Animas-La Plata, Bureau of Reclamation     

聚氨酯的回收利用技术

随着聚氨酯工业的迅速发展,大量的聚氨酯废弃物需要回收利用,文章介绍发展和应用现状。     

填埋场场地复用技术与展望

城市垃圾卫生填埋场场地复用技术是一种能增大填埋场填埋能力，避免过高的填埋场地费用的新方法。该技术在德国和美国的实践都已取得了成功。为使该技术能在我国得到推广和应用，文中介绍了该技术的实施条件，列举了部分应用实例，分析了该技术的优势及潜在问题，最后对其在我国的应用前景进行了展望。     

水再生回用的研究进展与对策

本文对城市生活污水和工业生产废水的再生回用技术进行了比较全面系统的评述,将物理化学方法和生物方法进行了对比介绍;对水再生回用技术的发展趋势进行了展望,提出了水再生回用的发展对策。     

From the office to the field: Areas of tension and consensus in the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act within the US Forest Service

We conducted an online survey (n = 3321) followed by five focus groups with Forest Service employees involved in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to explore agency views of how NEPA should be implemented within the agency. We filter these perceptions through the lenses of different functional groups within the agency, each with its own role in agency compliance with NEPA and its own suite of perceived accountabilities. In doing so, we uncover areas of consensus regarding valued practices as well as tensions between employees with different roles in NEPA compliance. General consensus exists regarding the importance of the effective functioning of interdisciplinary teams, but opinions about what constitutes an effective team vary. Findings suggest that NEPA serves as a playing field for competing accountabilities felt by line officers, disciplinary specialists, and advisory personnel within the agency, as each attempts to exert influence over NEPA processes and their outcomes.     

污泥资源化处置技术研究进展

随着污泥量的增长,污泥的处置变得日益重要,处置得不好就会对环境造成再一次污染.污泥土地利用、焚烧、制作建筑材料等是把污泥作为资源进行再利用,既能妥善的处置污泥,又能获得一定的经济和社会效益,因此这些处置方法越来越受到人们的重视.主要介绍了污泥土地利用、焚烧、制作建筑材料等资源化处置方法的国内外研究进展,以期掌握污泥处置的最新动向,促进我国污泥资源化的发展.     

Reclamation of acid sulfate soils using lime-stabilized biosolids

Excavation of sulfidic materials during construction has resulted in acid rock drainage (ARD) problems throughout Virginia. The most extensive documented uncontrolled disturbance at a single location is Stafford Regional Airport (SRAP) in Stafford, Virginia. Beginning in 1998, over 150 ha of sulfidic Coastal Plain sediments were disturbed, including steeply sloping cut surfaces and spoils placed into fills. Acid sulfate soils developed, and ARD generated on-site degraded metal and concrete structures and heavily damaged water quality with effects noted over 1 km downstream. The site was not recognized as sulfidic until 2001 when surface soil sampling revealed pH values ranging from 1.9 to 5.3 and peroxide potential acidity (PPA) values ranging from 1 to 42 Mg CaCO(3) per 1000 Mg material. In February 2002 a water quality program was established in and around the site to monitor baseline pH, EC, NO(3)-N, NH(4)-N, PO(4)-P, Fe, Al, Mn, and SO(4)-S, and initial pH values as low as 2.9 were noted in on-site receiving streams. In the spring and fall of 2002, the site was treated with variable rates of lime-stabilized biosolids, straw-mulch, and acid- and salt-tolerant legumes and grasses. By October 2002, the site was fully revegetated (> or = 90% living cover) with the exception of a few highly acidic outcrops and seepage areas. Surface soil sampling in 2003, 2004, and 2006 revealed pH values typically > 6.0. Water quality responded quickly to treatment, although short-term NH(4)(+) release occurred. Despite heavy loadings, no significant surface water P losses were observed.     

浅析露天矿土地复恳中应注意的几个问题

通过分析我国露天矿土地复垦现状,本文着重进行了问题探讨,从复垦技术,综合利用及经济补偿等方面提出一些新措施,以促进土地复垦,使生态、经济和社会三效益统一。     

淮北市采煤塌陷区的土地复垦

安徽省淮北市的淮北矿区是我国重要的十大煤炭生产基地之一,现有大小煤矿30余座.长期以来,因采煤而造成的塌陷土地累计达14667hm2,由此引起的地貌变形、房屋倒塌、生态环境恶化等灾害,严重影响了当地工农业生产和人们的生活.因此,加强对采煤塌陷区土地复垦的研究极为重要.在实地考察和有关数据分析的基础上,将淮北矿区因采煤塌陷而被破坏的土地分为四个区,总结出两大土地复垦模式,并对复垦后的土地利用进行适宜性评价.