U.S. Postal service northeast area master plans: Cutting edge environmental management for the real world

The U.S. Postal Service faces a range of environmental challenges as broad as those encountered by many large industries. The Postal Service's Northeast Area has responded with a carefully crafted, far-reaching approach to environmental management that relies on several key components—chief among which is a comprehensive Environmental Compliance Master Plan.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Visual impact assessment: A neglected component of environmental impact statements in Ireland?

This paper documents the results of an analysis of Visual Impact Assessments (VIA) within a sample of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) in Ireland. The standard of VIA conducted within the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for three categories of development; piggeries, quarries and urban developments between 1997 and 1999 are evaluated. The extent to which VIA have complied with the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and disparities between the results for each development category are examined. The survey concluded that (i) the standard of VIA is less comprehensive than might be expected, and (ii) the use of visualization techniques for VIA could be substantially improved.     

Selling green: What managers and marketers need to know about consumer environmental attitudes

Research clearly shows that the environment is not going to go away as an issue of public concern. In fact, for many people, the environment is no longer simply an issue—it is a way of life. This is not likely to change. What has changed, however, is today's consumer. Today we are faced with a different type of consumer: one who is more knowledgeable on environmental issues—and more demanding. Environmental messages can be effective in reaching these potential buyers—but only if corporate managers and marketers understand public concerns and learn how to craft their environmental marketing strategies. © 1999 Integrated Marketing Services (IMS) and Environmental Research Associates, a division of IMS, Princeton, New Jersey. Reprinted with permission.     

Integrating a life-cycle assessment with NEPA: Does it make sense?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 provides the basic national charter for protection of the environment in the United States. Today NEPA provides an environmental policy model, emulated by nations around the world. Recently, questions have been raised regarding the appropriateness and under what conditions it makes sense to combine the preparation of a NEPA analysis with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 14000 standards for Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). This article advances a decision-making tool consisting of six discrete factors for use in determining when it is appropriate to perform an integrated NEPA/LCA analysis. Properly applied, this tool should reduce the risk that an LCA may be inappropriately prepared and integrated with a NEPA analysis.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

面向生态文明的中国环境管理学:历史使命与学术话语

中国环境管理面临实践困境和学科认同危机的双重考验。本文在回溯其环境学和公共管理的学科渊源基础上,分析了当下中国环境管理学的基本概念、学科归属、功能与定位,认为新时期应基于生态文明思想,重构中国环境管理学的规范价值、知识体系、政策工具与制度机制,提出了重构中国环境管理学的5项建议,包括须注意环境管理的回应性与前瞻性,学科专业性与跨学科协作并重,创新环境管理学的知识生产方式,搭建环境管理学同政治与大众对话的平台和机制,以及形成环境管理的理论、制度与实践相互转化的研究能力等。最后,提出以生态文明思想为引领,树立中国环境治理的道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信。     

ISOTOPIC EVALUATION OF Pb OCCURRENCES IN THE RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE KANKAKEE WATERSHED,ILLINOIS‐INDIANA1

ABSTRACT: Environmental background levels of Pb were measured in ponds, river waters, sediments, suspended sediments, rocks, and air particulates within the Kankakee watershed during the period of 1995 to 1999. Stable isotopic Pb distinguished airborne Pb and its incorporation into riverine wetland sediments from geogenic Pb measured in river sediments. The provenance of the naturally‐occurring Pb is from carbonate bedrock and contributes comparable concentrations in riverbank sediments (25.9–30.4 mg kg^?1) as Pb found in wetland sediments (18.6–24.8 mg kg^?1). Estimates of anthropogenic Pb contributions from airfall into the Kankakee wetlands were found to be near 0.43–0.71 Bq cm^?2 yr^?1 during 1995 to 1999. While leachable Pb data suggests the uppermost layers of pond sediments were disturbed, ²¹⁰Pb analyses from undisturbed sedimentation suggests Pb‐bearing sediments accumulate approximately 0.46–0.51 cm yr^?1 in the ponds within the riparian zones. Transboundary Pb pollution from aerosols of industrial Pb across the Great Lakes occurs, but Pb isotopy indicates that the Pb concentrations are comparable to natural concentrations of Pb in both waters and sediments within the Kankakee watershed.     

EIA,Decision-making Theory and Screening and Scoping in UK Practice

As an aid to decision making Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is seen as a rational and systematic process which is often held to be holistic and proactive in its approach to environmental protection (Glasson et al., 1999). The roots of EIA are firmly located within the 1960s' demand for a more systematic and objective approach to environmental decision making and hence within the rationalist model of decision making theory. This paper examines the key stages of the EIA process to assess how far EIA conforms to the rationalist model today. Most research in EIA decision making has focused on the project authorization process and not the crucial decisions made at the earlier stages of screening and scoping. This study examines those early stages within the context of UK EIA practice. From this examination the paper attempts to locate EIA within decision-making theory.     

From Superfund Site to Developable Property: The Case of Rentokil

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 USC §§9601 et seq.), commonly known as Superfund, was enacted on 11 December 1980 to facilitate the clean-up of hazardous waste sites. Superfund authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compel responsible parties to clean up such sites. Superfund has been the source of extensive criticism since its inception. In response to this criticism, the EPA undertook a series of administrative reforms in 1993 to make the Superfund programme faster, fairer and more efficient. As of September 2000, active site remediation was complete at 757 (43%) of the 1779 national priority list (NPL) sites and 218 sites (12%) had been deleted from the NPL. Rentokil, a former wood-preserving plant on a 10 acre (4 ha) site in Henrico County, Virginia, was brought to the Virginia Health Department's attention as a threat to human health and the environment in 1989, was listed on the NPL the same year and was fully cleaned up in 1999. The cost of cleaning up Rentokil was $12 million, or $37.08 per square foot ($412 per square metre). The site is proposed to be redeveloped for tax-generating light industrial and commercial use. Rentokil reflects the EPA's implementation of several reforms geared toward reconciling cost considerations with remedy effectiveness and expedient implementation, and facilitating redevelopment. This case study's examination of Rentokil's progression through the Superfund process is intended to provide planning practitioners and students with insight into the Superfund programme and process, as well as an awareness of the challenges confronting Superfund's success.     

Public involvement in the EIS process

In the United States public involvement in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process is required by Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guidelines, Executive mandates, and agency guidelines. Public participation after the initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and throughout the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is desirable for it permits contributions from:

1. those who are directly affected by a proposed project.
2. individuals with expertise in environmental fields that may be affected by government action.

Early public participation can be useful in identifying environmental problems and potential sources of controversy. A systematic approach should be applied by government agencies to solicit public opinion throughout the preparation of the DEIS. Early, active, and meaningful participation particularly by those government and public segments most affected by the proposed project is a positive step towards effectively using the EIS as a management tool for mitigating impacts to the human environment. Here we discuss the role of public participation in the EIS process and develop an approach for initiating early and expressive public participation.     

Designing of an environmental assessment algorithm for surface mining projects

This paper depicts the method used to quantify the environmental impact of mining activities in surface mine projects. The affected environment was broken down into thirteen components, such as Human health and immunity, Surface water, Air quality, etc. The effect of twenty impacting factors from the mining and milling activities was then calculated for each Environmental Component. Environmental assessments are often performed by using matrix methods in which one dimension of the matrix is the “Impacting Factor” and the other one is the “Environmental Components”. For the presented matrix method, each Impacting Factor was first given a magnitude between −10 and 10. These factors are used to set up a matrix named Impacting Factor Matrix, whose elements represent the Impacting Factor values. The effects of each Impacting Factor on each Environmental Component were then quantified by multiplying the Impacting Factor Matrix by Weighting Factor Matrix. The elements of the weighting factors matrix reflect the effects of each Impacting Factor on each Environmental Component. The outlined method was originally developed for a mining and milling operation in Iran, but it can successfully be used for mining ventures and more general industrial activities in other countries in accordance to their environmental regulations and laws.     

Environmental education research notes (USA)

Conclusion The Commission's efforts are currently in a second phase directed toward identification and additional of more research papers and higher levels of analysis. Funding support is provided from the operating budget of the National Association for Environmental Education. Persons interested in additional information concerning the activities of the NCEER may contact Professor Iozzi at The Institute for Science, Technology, and Social Science Education, Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey, Doolittle Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 USA. Copies ofResearch in Environmental Education 1971–1980 may be obtained from the publisher, SMEAC Information Reference Center, The Ohio State University, 1200 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212 USA, for $15. also Associate Director, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education (SMEAC). In preparing these notes, use was made of abstracts printed inResearch in Environmental Education 1971–1980.     

Stockholm Recommendation 96: Viable in the Dominican Republic

Summary The Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries face serious challenges to their natural resource base. In recent years the government of the Dominican Republic has taken major steps toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan for national natural resources management. This plan is called Plan Sierra. An important component of this plan is the outline of actions for carrying out an environmental education programme within the country. This demonstrates a commitment to fulfill Recommendation No. 96 of the Stockholm Conference in a way that could become a model for other Latin American nations. Clinton L. Shepard is Assistant Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Shepard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Kentucky and graduate degrees from The Ohio State University in Natural Resources/Environmental Education and Education-Foundations and Research. He has worked as an interpreter and Environmental Education Coordinator for the State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a research associate for ERIC—Science, Math, and Environmental Education Clearinghouse, and College instructor in interpretive methods, environmental education methodology, resident outdoor programming, and natural resources development. He is also involved in international research and development, especially in the Caribbean Basin. Robert E. Roth is Chairman/Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Roth received a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management, a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Science Education, a Master's degree in Conservation Education from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Education from The University of Wisconsin. he came to OSU in 1969 and since that time has designed and institutionalized the only academic unit in the US that offers both well developed undergraduate and graduate programmes in Environmental Communications, Education and Interpretation and has published over 40 works in the field. He has been instrumental in implementing a growing international environmental education research and development emphasis in the wider Caribbean, he continues as an Executive Editor of theJournal of Environmental Education.     

Environmental risk management and the role of environmental insurance

Environmental insurance—especially the newer types of coverage introduced in recent years— can help protect your company from a range of potential liabilities. © 2000. Environmental Insurance Underwriters Agency, Inc. Used with permission.     

Guidelines and Techniques for Improving the NEPA Process

/ The Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) principal aims in implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are (1) to reduce paperwork, (2) to avoid delay, and most importantly (3) to produce better decisions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment. This paper presents four strategies for improving the NEPA process along with tools that can be used to implement each strategy. The tools include guidelines for project management and problem definition, tips for acquiring existing information and identifying issues of public concern, worksheets on how to identify and analyze potential impacts on resources, ideas for enhancing NEPA documents, and a NEPA process checklist. The tools can be used at various stages of the NEPA process and provide a toolbox of guidelines and techniques to improve implementation of the NEPA process by focusing the pertinent information for decisionmakers and stakeholders. KEY WORDS: National Environmental Policy Act; NEPA; Environmental impact assessment; Ecosystem management     

Education on environmental law

Summary The current views on whether environmental law is a subject of study at the Universities is discussed in this paper. The author traces the development of environmental law, and maintains that legal science is one, and that it has been grounded into branches for teaching and research purposes. A case for the teaching of environmental law at the universities is made. A teaching programme is suggested which brings out the relationships of environmental law with ecology, social science, economics, management science, technology and other branches of legal science.Born in Argentina, with a Doctor of Law from the University of Buenos Aires. Has held professorships in Water and Mining Laws, Agrarian and Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, in several universities in Argentina. He was a visiting professor in the period 1967–71, at Delft Technological Institute, The Netherlands.From 1969–70, he was Secretary of State for Water Resources of Argentina, and in 1970, Vice-Chairman of the UN Committee on Natural Resources. Consultant on Environmental Law for FAO in 1970. He is at present (1980–82) President of the International Water Resources Association.He has been a member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Policy, Law and Administration since 1978, is President of the Inter American Commission on Environmental Law and Administration, and Regional Governor (Latin America) of the International Council on Environmental Law.In 1978 he was awarded the Elizabeth Haub Prix on Environmental law.He is author of several books and papers on environmental, natural resources and water laws. These include Code on Natural Resources (Province of Corrientes Argentina, 1980) and co-author of Code on the Renewable Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Colombia, 1974.     

RESEARCH: Land Use Characteristics and Water Quality: A Methodology for Valuing of Forested Buffers

In this study, water quality and basin characteristics data from different basins of the Fish River basin, Baldwin County, Alabama, were used to develop a valuation model. This valuation model is based on the effectiveness of “contributing zones” identified and delineated using methods described by Basnyat and others (Environmental Management]1999] 23(4):539–549). The “contributing zone” delineation model suggests that depending on soil permeability, soil moisture, depth to water table, slope, and vegetation, buffer widths varying from 16 m to 104 m must be maintained to assimilate or detain more than 90% of the nitrate passing through the buffers. The economic model suggests the value of retiring lands (to create the buffers) varies from $0 to $3067 per ha, depending on the types of crops currently grown. The total value of retiring all areas identified by the contributing zone model is $1,125,639 for the study area. This land value will then form the basis for estimates of the costs of land management options for improving (or maintaining) water quality throughout the study area.     

Structure and function of environmental programmes

Summary In this article, the need for integrated curricula in environmental science/studies programmes is reviewed. The required competencies/outcomes for understanding and solution of environmental problems, the requirement for interdisciplinarity and incorporation of innovative skills/methods into environmental curricula, examples of ways to integrate curricula, teaching methodologies and their rationales, impacts of environmental programmes, and academic support for programmes, are also examined in this context.Dr John Lemons is Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, and Chairperson of the Department of Life Sciences at the University of New England. He is also Editor-in-Chief ofThe Environmental Professional, the official journal of the National Association for Environmental Professionals.     

决策支持系统应用于城市环境管理

南宁市环境决策支持系统集环境管理办公自动化、环境管理系统(MIS)、环境地理信息系统(GIS)、多媒体环境管理信息应用和环境管理信息辅助决策等多功能一体集成的综合性环境信息系统，为南宁市环境管理、经济发展决策提供环境信息支撑与服务。     

An environmental impact assessment of the proposal to build a wind farm at Langdon Common in the North Pennines,UK

Summary This paper measures the diversity of environmental impacts inherent within a proposal by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) to build a demonstration wind farm at Langdon Common in the North Pennines, UK. This assessment was made in April, 1989 in the wake of the European Community Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its subsequent interpretation within the UK Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations (1988).Langdon Common lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These designations create a contentious choice of site made by the CEGB and the extent of environmental impact is subsequently made more broad. While the conclusions drawn are specific to Langdon Common, the methodology evolved within the project lends itself to further application to other sites in the future. The following Environmental Impact Assessment can, therefore, be seen as a step towards the reconciliation of the acceptable siting of wind turbines in the UK and the capacity of the planning system to regulate such development.This paper by Alex Steele received the Institution of Environmental Sciences award and First Prize for the best undergraduate environmental project in the UK in 1989. Alex Steele graduated from Sunderland Polytechnic in that year and now works as an Environmental Planner for a leading company of Environmental Management Consultants.