Intertemporal and intergenerational pareto efficiency revisited

This paper demonstrates that Bishop's formulation deviates in a fundamental way from our model and, in so doing, Bishop has assumed the problem away. Bishop utilizes a utility function that is too general to discriminate the time pattern of consumption from that of production. Hence, the intertemporal nature of the goods that we analyzed cannot be captured by Bishop's representation. Furthermore, we show that current benefit cost methods that discount the benefit stream of a public asset are Pareto intertemporally inefficient.     

ESTIMATION OF COASTAL WATER CONTAMINATION LONG-TERM TREND USING SEASONAL LINEAR MODELS1

ABSTRACT: Bivalves are used as bioindicators to assess trends of the chemical quality of coastal and marine environments due to their ability to concentrate chemicals. These shellfish are subject to seasonal physiological changes influencing the chemical concentration. Using quarterly data, we model concentration via linear regression with a biologically based seasonal component. This was applied to cadmium concentration measured in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) at three sites in the Seine estuary (Normandy, France). In this case we have a high concentration season from January to June and a “low concentration” season from July to December. This season definition was checked a posteriori, using box-and-whisker plots and a statistical test of comparison of pair-wise adjusted least-squares mean differences, and it appears to be very reasonable. We averaged data by season and across sites. Our final model (R²= 0.846 with N= 27 observations) includes highly significant terms: a season effect, which accounts for 45% of the total variability, a linear and a quadratic time term. Outliers were identified by high Studentized residual values and attributed to bias in the temporal sampling schemes. The methodology developed will further be used with other shellfish and/or other trace elements and organic chemicals.     

222RN IN THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF TUCSON,ARIZONA1

ABSTRACT: A study of ²²²Rn concentrations in the water distribution system of Tucson, Arizona, revealed levels of 60 to 1260 pCi/L in domestic waters. These measurements are comparable to levels of between 80 and 1400 pCi/l for ²²²Rn found in ground water samples in the North-Central Tucson basin (Kahn et al., 1994). Estimated loss of ²²²Rn due to radioactive decay during travel from the well head to the home ranges from 8 to 50 percent.     

Negotiating for assistance and cost control: Effectively interacting with environmental regulatory agencies

Regulatory agencies are involved in analysis of plans for, and results of, virtually every environmental site investigation and remediation project. Controlling the cost of such projects is largely dependent on arriving at a reasonable scope of work. Regulatory approval is heavily influenced by the approach, cooperation, level of expertise, communication skills, preparation, and diplomacy of those who interact directly with agency personnel. Agencies also can be sources of assistance in obtaining the cooperation of other responsible parties. This article discusses a practical approach to maximize assistance, cooperation, and collaboration from regulatory agencies.     

Human behavior incorporation into ecological computer simulations

The responses of ecological computer simulations are significantly changed by the inclusion of human behavior patterns. Two computer simulations illustrate this principle for internal and external decision making. The Northwest Educational Trawler Simulation (NETS) models the interaction between fish populations, fishing effort, markets, and a fishing community. This simulation includes an internal decision making submodel for changing fishing effort based on observed behaviors of fishermen. NOGERO, a simulation of a mythical coastal fishing culture, uses external decision making where simulation users act as stewards. The patterns of model response vary depending on the attitudes and goals of decision makers. This shows how human behavior interacts with ecosystem dynamics to produce a variety of results.     

Management provoked conflict in fisheries

Fishery management concepts incorporate a number of value judgements about what social goals are right for a fishery. These value judgements result in optimizing some goals over others. Since the public, fishermen, and consumers weight goals differently than managers, frustration and conflict result. The correspondence between social goals specified by the public and those inherent in management concepts needs to be evaluated.     

WATER-ORIENTED RECREATION IN THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA,ONTARIO1

ABSTRACT: In Ontario no major studies have been attempted in the area of water-oriented recreation to guide planned development. To fill this gap a comprehensive investigation was undertaken on a group of lakes in the District of Muskoka, one of the premier tourist regions of the province. This paper presents the results of this study which focusses on the lake environment, recreational activities, attitudes, and perceptions of the cottagers.     

The economic and environmental benefits of increased use of pfa and granulated slag

It is commonly claimed that increased use of pulverised fuel ash (pfa) and ground granulated blast-furnace slag in concrete as partial replacement for Portland cement can have economic, amenity and technical advantages. Many factors need to be considered is such an analysis and this paper is offered as a contribution to the debate of this issue, and not as a definite solution. In the long-term the major benefit may be in the savings of the energy that would otherwise be required for increased production of Portland cement.     

A NOTE ON SPRING WARMING IN LAKE SUPERIOR1

ABSTRACT. Temperature recorder data from central Lake Superior obtained from May through July, 1967, are used to describe the spring warming of this deep lake. Data from the 30, 91 and 150 m levels suggest that water descending in the thermal bar spreads lakeward, filling the lake with an increasingly thick layer of maximum density water. Lakeward of the thermal bar, local warming is relatively slow preceeding and following the passage of the reverse thermocline at a given level.