Identifying hydrologically sensitive areas: bridging the gap between science and application

Researchers have noted that current water quality protection strategies, like nutrient management plans, lack a sound hydrological underpinning for pollutant transport processes. This is especially true for areas like the northeastern U.S. where copious research has shown that variable source area hydrology largely governs runoff generation. The goal of this study was to develop a scientifically justified method to identify the locations that generate overland flow. Furthermore, this methodology must be computationally simple enough that it can be utilized or incorporated into nutrient management plans and other established water quality tools. We specifically tested the reliability of the 'distance from a stream,'D(s), and the 'topographic index,'lambda, to predict areas with a high propensity for generating overland flow, i.e. hydrologically sensitive areas (HSA). HSAs were defined by their probability of generating runoff, P(sat), based on 30 year simulations using a physically based hydrological model. Using GIS, each location's P(sat) was correlated with D(s) and lambda. We used three Delaware Co., NY watersheds in the New York City watershed system with areas varying in size from 1.6 to 37 km2 and with forested and agricultural land uses. The topographic index gave stronger, more regionally consistent correlations with P(sat) than did D(s). Equations correlating lambda and P(sat) for each month are presented and can be used to estimate hydrological sensitivity in the region surrounding our study watersheds, i.e. in Delaware Co. This work is currently being incorporated into an Internet Mapping System to facilitate user-friendly, on-line identification of HSAs.     

Catalyzing sustainable fisheries management through behavior change interventions

Small-scale fisheries are an important livelihood and primary protein source for coastal communities in many of the poorest regions in the world, yet many are overfished and thus require effective and scalable management solutions. Positive ecological and socioeconomic responses to management typically lag behind immediate costs borne by fishers from fishing pressure reductions necessary for fisheries recovery. These short-term costs challenge the long-term success of these interventions. However, social marketing may increase perceptions of management benefits before ecological and socioeconomic benefits are fully realized, driving new social norms and ultimately long-term sustainable behavior change. By conducting underwater visual surveys to quantify ecological conditions and by conducting household surveys with community members to quantify their perceptions of management support and socioeconomic conditions, we assessed the impact of a standardized small-scale fisheries management intervention that was implemented across 41 sites in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The intervention combines TURF reserves (community-based territorial use rights for fishing coupled with no-take marine reserves) with locally tailored social-marketing behavior change campaigns. Leveraging data across 22 indicators and 4 survey types, along with data from 3 control sites, we found that ecological and socioeconomic impacts varied and that communities supported the intervention and were already changing their fishing practices. These results suggest that communities were developing new social norms and fishing more sustainably before long-term ecological and socioeconomic benefits of fisheries management materialized.     

Social Approval of the Community Assessment Model for Odor Dispersal: Results from a Citizen Survey

Odors emitted from US Midwest hog production facilities present farmers, residents, and state regulatory agencies with a set of complex challenges. To predict odor exposure from multiple swine production sources simultaneously, and to determine siting recommendations for proposed new or enlarged hog facilities, researchers at Iowa State University designed the community assessment model for odor dispersion (CAM). A three-county citizen survey conducted in Iowa examined the level of hypothetical social acceptance of the modeling process, and level of trust in CAM results. While 69 % of respondents approved of modeling as a way to determine the most socially appropriate location for production sites, only 35 % would trust the results if potential odor exposure from a new facility were proposed to be built near their home. We analyzed approval of the CAM model, and level of trust, across a number of demographic, attitudinal, and belief factors regarding environmental quality and the hog industry. Overall, trust in CAM was uneven and varied across respondents. Those residents who would not trust CAM tended to be more concerned with environmental quality and less inclined to believe that the hog industry is critically important economically. Those who would not trust CAM results also had significantly more direct experience with odors. Findings point to predominantly positive, yet equivocal acceptance of CAM results among the citizenry, which is not unexpected given conflict typical of siting decisions in industry and waste disposal arenas. Recommendations are offered regarding the interaction of trust, beliefs and attitudes and the utility of CAM.     

Effects of Cutrine-Plus® algaecide and predators on wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpole survival and growth

Copper contamination is increasing in many aquatic ecosystems. One mode by which copper can be introduced into aquatic ecosystems is as an algaecide, such as Cutrine-Plus®. Using a mesocosm experiment, we examined the effects of Cutrine-Plus® on wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles. In addition, we examined how the presence of a nonnative predator the Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) may interact with exposure to Cutrine-Plus®. Exposure to our low and high Cutrine-Plus® treatments had a strong negative effect on the wood frog tadpoles, and survivorship was greatly decreased in the low treatment, and no tadpoles survived in the high treatment. Additionally, the tadpoles that survived the low treatment were significantly smaller than those in the control treatment. Mosquitofish had no effect on the survivorship or growth of wood frog tadpoles, and mosquitofish presence did not have a significant interaction with the Cutrine-Plus® treatments. Cutrine-Plus® clearly had a negative effect on wood frog tadpoles at the concentrations used in our experiment, which were at and below the label-recommended dosages, suggesting that the use of Cutrine-Plus® in natural ponds may have negative consequences for wood frog populations and possibly other amphibians.     

Spatial trends of organochlorinated pesticides,polychlorinated biphenyls,and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Atlantic Anguillid eels

The bioaccumulation of lipophilic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can result in a reduction in fitness and spawner quality in eels and may be a factor in Anguillid sp. population declines. Contaminant concentrations in eels have been studied extensively in Europe, but data for American eels are severely lacking. Concentrations of PCBs, OCPs, and PBDEs were determined in American eel from eastern Canada and New York, USA, along with European eel from Belgium. Principal component analysis revealed that eels captured in the St. Lawrence estuary were a mixture of upstream migrants from the St. Lawrence River watershed, and fish captured in local tributaries. Contaminant concentrations were dependent on origin, related to the local environment, and were lower than historic values. In Canada, concentrations of OCPs and PCBs in eel tissues were below the Canadian human consumption guidelines for contaminants in fish, indicating that the current risk to consumers is low. However, concentrations of PCBs, total DDT, and mirex in eels from L. Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence R. were above Great Lakes guidelines for the protection of piscivorous predators. Concentrations of penta-BDE homologs exceeded the Canadian guideline for environmental quality in over half of the eels in this study, but concentrations of the other homolog groups were below the guideline.     

The sensitive and selective determination of aluminium by spectrofluorimetric detection after complexation with N-o-vanillidine-2-amino-p-cresol

A simple, easy to use and selective spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of trace levels of aluminium has been developed. A new Schiff base, N-o-vanillidine-2-amino-p-cresol (OVAC), has been synthesized and its fluorescence activity with aluminium investigated. Based on this chelation reaction, a spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of aluminium in samples buffered at pH 4.0 using acetic acid-sodium acetate. The chelation reaction between Al(iii) and N-o-vanillidine-2-amino-p-cresol was very fast, requiring only 20 min at room temperature to complex completely. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 423.0 and 553.0 nm, respectively, at which the OVAC-Al complex gave the maximum fluorescence intensity at pH 4.0 in a 50% ethanol-50% water medium. The interference from fluoride ions was minimized by the addition of Be(2+). Other ions were found not to interfere at the concentrations likely to be found in natural waters. Under these conditions, the calibration plot was linear up to 1000 microg L(-1) (r = 0.999). The limit of detection (3sigma) for the determination of Al(iii) was 0.19 microg L(-1) and the precision for multiple determinations of 3 ng mL(-1) Al(iii) prepared in ultra-pure water was found to be 0.29% (n = 16). The Schiff base ligand could be used to determine ultra-trace aluminium from natural waters. Analysis of environmental certified reference materials showed good agreement with the certified values. The procedure was found to be equally applicable to both fresh water and saline solutions (including sea water) using either normal external calibration or the standard additions method.     

Dissolution kinetics of sub-millimeter Composition B detonation residues: role of particle size and particle wetting

The dissolution of the 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) from microscale particles (<250 μm) of the explosive formulation Composition B was examined and compared to dissolution from macroscopic particles (>0.5 mm). The dissolution of explosives from detonation soot was also examined. The measured mass transfer coefficients for the microscale particles were one to two orders of magnitude greater than the macroscopic particles. When normalized to particle surface area, mass transfer coefficients of microscale and macroscale particles were similar, indicating that the bulk dissolution processes were similar throughout the examined size range. However, an inverse relationship was observed between the particle diameter and the RDX:TNT mass transfer rate coefficient ratio for dry-attritted particles, which suggests that RDX may be more readily dissolved (relative to TNT) in microscale particles compared to macroscale particles. Aqueous weathering of larger Composition B residues generated particles that possessed mass transfer coefficients that were on the order of 5- to 20-fold higher than dry-attritted particles of all sizes, even when normalized to particle surface area. These aqueous weathered particles also possessed a fourfold lower absolute zeta-potential than dry-attritted particles, which is indicative that they were less hydrophobic (and hence, more wettable) than dry-attritted particles. The increased wettability of these particles provides a plausible explanation for the observed enhanced dissolution. The wetting history and the processes by which particles are produced (e.g., dry physical attrition vs. aqueous weathering) of Composition B residues should be considered when calculating mass transfer rates for fate and transport modeling.     

Relationship of Particulate Control,SO2 Removal,and Waste Management

Results with the EPRI 2.5 MW(e) Integrated Environmental Control Pilot Plant (IECPP) indicate the interrelationship of particulate penetration, SO₂ scrubber operation, waste production, and waste properties. Tests compared a fabric filter/wet scrubber and ESP/wet scrubber, the latter operated to simulate 1979 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), 1971 NSPS, and pre-NSPS ESP units. Tests were conducted with low-sulfur coal producing a flue gas concentration of400ppm; flue gas spiking could be used to increase SO₂ to 2000 ppm. Scrubber waste was dewatered in a thickener and vacuum belt filter (to 55 percent solids content), and mixed with fly ash. The pilot SO₂ scrubber—when preceded by an ESP and forced to operate in zero-discharge—captured less SO₂ than when preceded by a fabric filter. Also, scrubber operation with the ESP produced a greater quantity of waste with difficult handling characteristics, as compared to operation with the fabric filter. These difficulties occurred with particulate penetration above 0.10 lb/MBtu, which could reduce reagent utilization to 80percent. These results are attributable to inhibited limestone dissolution due to accumulation of an aluminum/fluoride compound. For both lowsulfur and simulated high-sulfur test conditions, allowing wastewater discharge to purge aluminum/fluoride content restored performance to design levels. Particulate control efficiency also affected solid waste physical properties. The fabric filter/wet scrubber produced the lowest solid waste permeability (10^?8 cm/s). ESP operation at 1979 NSPS and pre-1971 NSPS ESPs increased solid waste permeability to 10^?7 and 10^?6 cm/s, respectively. These results are meaningful for SO₂ scrubbers both for new plants and for retrofit to units with pre-NSPS ESPs, and could become significant with the increasing trend to restricted water discharge.     

Field Verification of Sound Attenuation Modeling and Air Emission Testing in Support of Missile Motor Disposal Activities

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense-approved activities conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) include both operational readiness test firing of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) motors, as well as the destruction of obsolete or otherwise unusable ICBM motors through open burn/open detonation (OB/OD). Within the Utah Division of Air Quality, these activities have been identified as having the potential to generate unacceptable noise levels, as well as significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Hill Air Force Base, UT, has completed a series of field tests at the UTTR in which sound-monitoring surveillance of OB/OD activities was conducted to validate the Sound Intensity Prediction System (SIPS) model. Using results generated by the SIPS model to support the decision to detonate, the UTTR successfully disposed of missile motors having an aggregate net explosive weight (NEW) of 81,374 lb without generating adverse noise levels within populated areas. In conjunction with collecting noise-monitoring data, air emissions were collected to support the development of air emission factors for both static missile motor firings and OB/OD activities. Through the installation of 15 ground-based air samplers, the generation of combustion-fixed gases, VOCs, and chlorides was monitored during the 81,374-lb NEW detonation event. Comparison of field measurements to predictions generated from the US Navy energetic combustion pollutant formation model, POLU4WN, indicated that, as the detonation fire ball expanded, organic compounds, as well as CO, continued to oxidize as the combustion gases mixed with ambient air. VOC analysis of air samplers confirmed the presence of chloromethane, vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, and 2-methyl-1-propene. Qualitative chloride analysis indicated that gaseous HCl was generated at low concentrations, if at all.