Non-Uniform Regulations of Underground Storage Tanks in the United States: Calls for a National-Scale Revision

Leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) are one of the major sources of ground water contamination. United States federal regulations for USTs were established in September of 1988. Since that time little or no amendments have been made to these regulations. In order to protect sensitive areas such as aquifer recharge zones for public water supply wells and wetlands, different states have been obligated to apply more stringent standards than the federal UST regulations. This practice however, has led to a non-uniform application of regulations for USTs throughout the country. In this article, United States regulations for USTs are reviewed and its deficits are highlighted. Based on these regulations and the experience of northeastern states of United States, a sequence of leak and spill preventive measures for USTs is proposed. Application of the proposed measures could substantially reduce the possibility of UST failure and would be more protective of the subsurface environment.     

电力节能减排法规体系建设思考

简述了中国环保法规建设的发展和现状,重点分析了电力SO2排放控制的法规、行政要求;介绍了电力行业供电煤耗、烟气脱硫、脱硝、废水排放等节能减排成效。对法律间存在的不够协调,法律与法规、法规与规章之间缺乏一致性、配套性以及法律本身存在的不明确、操作性不强等问题,从改革发展、体制变化、环境性质、基础研究等方面进行了分析：重点对项目环评、规划环评、工频电磁场、火电厂脱硫、排污收费、污染物总量控制、区域限批等要求进行了初步分析,并提出了相关建议。     

对我国新化学物质管理的建议

介绍了我国新化学物质管理工作的进展,并针对存在的问题提出一些建议:编制我国的新化学物质环境管理法规,要从我国实际情况出发,可以借鉴国外的经验,但不能照搬国外的法规;我国新化学物质的管理应纳入整个化学物质管理之中,充分利用现有的化学物质管理组织机构来监管新化学物质,执行现有的危险化学物质、有毒化学物质、危险废物的储存、运输、生产方面的相关规章制度。     

Estimating the costs of corrective action at land disposal facilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed regulations that would require corrective action (e.g., soil excavation and groundwater removal and treatment) at municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLFs) and hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs). This paper presents an overview of the proposed corrective action regulations, and discusses their relationship to proposed or existing closure and post-closure care regulations. The paper then presents estimated corrective action cost curves for various MSWLF scenarios defined by landfill area, average waste thickness, and the presence or absence of a clay liner. The paper finally illustrates the economic benefits of sound closure and postclosure care by comparing estimated costs of corrective action to estimated costs of closure and postclosure care at MSWLFs.     

'Stop pub': can banning of junk mail reduce waste production?

According to the new regulations on junk mail management to be adopted in France, both producers and distributors must participate in the recycling process. This case study was carried out in 2000 in four sectors in the Departement of Charente in the south west of France. This report presents the quantities of junk mail in residual waste and in separate collections. The conclusion is that the new regulations may reduce overall domestic waste production by 2-4%, with the impact on separately collected paper being some 20%.     

国外建筑废弃物循环利用的经验及对我国的启示

伴随着建筑废弃物产生量的迅速增长,建筑废弃物循环利用已成为循环经济发展的重点领域。从完善的法律法规、深度循环利用方式和产业化发展等方面,对国外发达国家废弃物循环利用的经验和做法加以总结和提升,并结合我国实际,提出建立健全我国建筑废弃物法律法规体系、构筑多级循环利用模式和培育废弃物利用产业体系的几点启示,以期为我国相关部门制定建筑废弃物的相关政策制度、提高建筑废弃物的循环再利用水平提供参考和依据。     

Trace elements in compost regulation: the case of Spain

We use the example of the Spanish Decree on Fertilizers (2005) to discuss the need of new horizontal regulations for assessing the quality of all the materials reaching the soil as amendments of fertilizers, in particular in what concerns potentially toxic trace elements in compost. Here it is proposed that the new regulations take into account the following: establishing maximum legal limits for the total loads for each element when compost is added to agricultural soils; establishing the maximum total concentration and bioavailability of each element in the final compost; and that they take into account the soil characteristics for establishing those limits.     

关于CCUS技术发展与标准建设的思考

我国CCUS技术发展,迫切需要政策制度的积极引导和技术标准的强力支撑。阐述了我国发展CCUS技术的基本原则和相关政策;跟踪了国内外CCUS技术发展动态及其标准研究现状;重点分析了美国及欧盟在CCS相关政策、法规和标准方面的主要成果;依据我国CCUS发展规划和技术发展路线图,提出了我国CCUS技术发展与标准建设的相关建议。     

A comparison of refrigerant management policies and suggestions for improvement in South Korea

HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) emerged as alternative refrigerants after the production of chlorofluorocarbons was banned and hydrochlorofluorocarbons were phased out, under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. However, because the Kyoto Protocol considered HFCs as greenhouse gases, and their impact on climate change has been increasing, major developed countries have been strengthening existing regulations on the use of HFCs as refrigerants. South Korea has also passed various legislations related to refrigerant management. However, reports indicate that implementation of these regulations has been ineffective, due to the absence of a specific system for managing the production, use, and disposal phases of refrigerants. To identify and resolve these issues, this study investigates the current state of refrigerant management in South Korea for those three phases. Refrigerant management policies are compared between different legislatures, using the examples of the European Union, United States, and Japan. Based on the findings, five types of measures are suggested to reduce the production and consumption of refrigerants, and to improve refrigerant management regulations in ways that are most appropriate to the South Korean context.     

2020年危险废物市场分析

危险废物处理与政策、法规、标准、技术、市场等影响因素关系密切。对2019年以来我国出台的危险废物管理政策法规、管理措施和标准规范情况进行梳理,对危险废物产生和利用处置情况进行对比分析,对危险废物利用处置技术进展、价格变动和市场投资趋势等进行概述,对环境违法案件舆情及突发事件等因素对危险废物市场影响进行分析,综合运用类比、归纳和演绎等方法,对2020年危险废物市场进行预测分析。     

Review of biosolids management options and co-incineration of a biosolid-derived fuel

This paper reviews current biosolids management options, and identifies incineration as a promising technology. Incineration is attractive both for volume reduction and energy recovery. Reported emissions from the incineration of biosolids were compared to various regulations to identify the challenges and future direction of biosolids incineration research. Most of the gaseous and metal emissions were lower than existing regulations, or could be met by existing technologies. This paper also presents the results of an experimental study to investigate the potential use of biosolids for co-incineration with wood pellets in a conventional wood pellet stove. Pilot scale combustion tests revealed that co-incineration of 10% biosolids with 90% premium grade wood pellets resulted in successful combustion without any significant degradation of efficiency and emissions.     

Evaluation of Korean recycled aggregates as backfilling underground power system considering particle breakage effect

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Attempts have been made to address the strict regulations on eco-friendly construction and recycle aggregate resources, encouraging researchers to...     

三峡移民外迁过程中的公共政策研究

三峡工程移民是中国历史上少数几次大规模的工程移民之一,不论是对移民本身还是对移民的迁入地都将产生巨大的影响。在三峡工程移民外迁的实施工作中,存在一些公共政策方面的问题,如缺乏权威的移民职能管理机构．移民政策在具体执行过程中产生偏差,移民法律、法规不健全,移民与当地社会难以融合等问题,应通过建立国家移民局,完善法律、法规,建立社会保障体系以及提高补助标准与加大扶持力度相结合的长效机制,来解决移民外迁过程中的难题。     

Generation of solid wastes in typhoon disasters and their emergent cleaning and treatment means

In Taiwan, typhoons usually result in a large amount of waste that needs to be removed in a short time from July to October. This study reviewed the relevant regulations on the clean-up of typhoon waste, including emergency response regulations, organizations and information systems; and we also discuss different typhoon waste clean-up and disposal methods. The results indicate that the parameters other than the maximum wind speed, such as the maximum accumulated rainfall, flooded area, waste output, sludge output, disinfected area and government dispatched attendance reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). Waste, tree branches and bird carcasses were primarily incinerated, while silt and building materials were buried, and pig and cattle carcasses were placed in a landfill with the tertiary treatment of wastewater. This study also reports on the relevant regulations for prevention of epidemics among personnel working in disaster areas. The results can provide important references for the disposal of typhoon waste in developing countries. As Asian countries have similar life styles and are often attacked by typhoons, the results of this study provide Asian countries with the operating experience of Taiwan in emergency treatment of solid waste resulting from typhoons as a reference for them to plan response systems and operation.     

生活垃圾焚烧发电项目的竣工环保验收

根据生活垃圾焚烧发电项目的特点,归纳了此类项目环境保护验收工作的法规依据、验收程序和重点内容,并提出了相应的污染防治措施。     

湿法烟气脱硫装置性能试验中钙硫比及石灰石耗量测试方法探讨

针对我国目前尚无关于烟气脱硫装置钙硫比和石灰石耗量检测技术规程的现状,介绍了钙硫比和石灰石耗量的测试方法,并对测试中的技术要点进行了探讨。     

发达国家餐厨垃圾回收利用经验及借鉴

介绍了发达国家回收处理和再利用餐厨垃圾的管理和技术,提出我国应借鉴发达国家经验,从技术、政策、法规等方面加强餐厨垃圾的再利用工作。     

Managing petroleum refining wastes by thermal desorption

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed regulations under the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) of 1984 to restrict the land disposal of hazardous wastes. As a result of the regulations, all hazardous wastes to be placed on the land must meet treatment standards based on the performance of the best demonstrated available technology (BDAT) identified for individual waste classifications. The Marathon Oil Company is currently evaluating innovative technologies for managing listed waste materials, with a focus on waste minimization and recycling. Remediation Technologies, Inc. (ReTeC) has conducted testing on wastewater treatment sludges from three Marathon refineries using a proprietary thermal desorption technology. The results from these tests have demonstrated that the technology has the ability to consistently meet BDAT treatment standards, while preferentially separating and condensing residual moisture and oils from the material.     

Landfill reduction experience in The Netherlands

Modern waste legislation aims at resource efficiency and landfill reduction. This paper analyses more than 20 years of landfill reduction in the Netherlands. The combination of landfill regulations, landfill tax and landfill bans resulted in the desired landfill reduction, but also had negative effects. A fierce competition developed over the remaining waste to be landfilled. In 2013 the Dutch landfill industry generated €40 million of annual revenue, had €58 million annual costs and therefore incurred an annual loss of €18 million. It is not an attractive option to prematurely end business. There is a risk that Dutch landfill operators will not be able to fulfil the financial obligations for closure and aftercare. Contrary to the polluter pays principle the burden may end up with society. EU regulations prohibiting export of waste for disposal are in place. Strong differentials in landfill tax rate between nations have nevertheless resulted in transboundary shipment of waste and in non-compliance with the self-sufficiency and proximity principles. During the transformation from a disposal society to a recycling society, it is important to carefully plan required capacity and to guide the reorganisation of the landfill sector. At some point, it is no longer profitable to provide landfill services. It may be necessary for public organisations or the state to take responsibility for the continued operation of a ‘safety net’ in waste management. Regulations have created a financial incentive to pass on the burden of monitoring and controlling the impact of waste to future generations. To prevent this, it is necessary to revise regulations on aftercare and create incentives to actively stabilise landfills.