Framing the Long-Term <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Liability Issue for Geologic Carbon Storage in the United States

This paper examines how legal standards of liability may apply to geologic carbon storage. The liability regime governing geologic carbon storage will shape the technology's cost-effectiveness and overall attractiveness. We classify potential sources of liability into operational, in situ, and climate liability. As a first step, we explore in situ liability in the United States. After summarizing legal standards of liability including negligence, breach of implied warranty, strict liability, and product liability, we discuss how liability may be addressed at the level of the federal government, state government, industry, and the firm. Finally, we address the implications of judicial treatment of liability for carbon storage, including the apportionment of liability and the adequacy of current regulations.     

Atmospheric aerosol growth rates at different background station types

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Highly time-resolved particle number size distributions (PNSDs) were evaluated during 5 years (2013–2017) at four background stations in the...     

Green synthesis,characterization, application and functionality of nitrogen-doped MgO/graphene nanocomposite

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A facile, feasible, and green synthesis via an electrochemical exfoliation process was applied to synthesize nitrogen-doped MgO/graphene nanocomposite...     

Process modeling of chemical looping combustion (CLC) of municipal solid waste

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) of MSW could serve as a potential treatment method for the disposal of MSW and the recovery of energy because it...     

N-nitrosodimethylamine: a disinfectant byproduct and its occurrence in wastewater.

This paper will provide wastewater treatment utility professionals with a comprehensive synthesis of information pertinent to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) so that plant operators can make informed and cost-effective decisions regarding appropriate management techniques. A suspect disinfection byproduct, NDMA is a potential carcinogen and is presently under scrutiny from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because it poses a threat to groundwaters from reclaimed wastewaters. Recognizing that the current state of knowledge pertaining to the occurrence and treatment of NDMA from wastewater treatment is in its infancy, the information presented in this paper is timely and will help utility professionals develop confidence toward controlling NDMA during wastewater treatment. Given the increased probability of the formation of NDMA using current wastewater treatment technologies and also in the complex matrices of the wastewaters subjected to UV treatment, the investigation of occurrence pathways and means of suppression of NDMA formation before and after treatment needs to be investigated. This paper also summarizes strategies to minimize exposure such as modifying treatment or instituting waste and agricultural management practices that minimize inorganic and organic nitrogen discharges to wastewaters.     

EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION MODELS FOR APPLICATION TO WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

ABSTRACT: A research project was undertaken for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the relative utility and effectiveness of four well-known multicriteria decision making (MCDM) models for applications in realistic water resources planning settings. A series of experiments was devised to examine the impact of rating and ranking procedures on the decision making behavior of users (e.g., planners, managers, analysts, etc.) when faced with situations involving multiple evaluation criteria and numerous alternative planning projects. The four MCDM models tested were MATS-PC, EXPERT CHOICE, ARIADNE, and ELECTRE. Two groups of analysts and decision makers were tested. One group consisted of experienced U.S. Army Corps planners, while the other was comprised of graduate students. Based on a series of nonparametric statistical tests, the results identified EXPERT CHOICE as the preferred MCDM model by both groups based largely on ease of use and understandability. ARIADNE fostered the largest degree of agreement within and among the two groups of individuals tested. The tests also lend support to the claim that rankings are not affected significantly by the choice of decision maker (i.e., who uses any of these MCDM models) or which of these four models is used.     

Effect of ammonia on the survival of Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel) at each developmental stage

The survival rates were studied of fertilized eggs, larvae, fry, and adults of pale chub Zacco platypus (Temminck and Schlegel) exposed to various concentrations of ammonia. There was a decrease in hatching rate and an increase in deformed alevins at a concentration of 0.9 mg liter(-1) of ammonia. All alevins were deformed at a concentration of 1.6 mg liter(-1) of ammonia and no eggs hatched at a concentration of 3.1 mg liter(-1) of ammonia. No larvae survived for 84, 24 and 12 h at concentrations of 1.2, 2.0 and 4.7 mg liter(-1) of ammonia, respectively. Eighty percent of the fry died after 168 h and no fry survived for 24 h at concentrations of 1.6 and 2.1 mg liter(-1) of ammonia, respectively. Eighty percent of the adults died after 24 h and no adult survived for 12 h at concentrations of 1.0 and 1.9 mg liter(-1), respectively. Larger adults were the most susceptible to ammonia. The order of resistance to ammonia was eggs, fry, larvae, and adults.     

Food offering in jackdaws (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Corvus monedula</Emphasis>)

Food sharing among unrelated same-sex individuals has received considerable interest from primatologists and evolutionary biologists because of its apparent altruistic nature and implications for the evolution of complex social cognition. In contrast to primates, food sharing in birds has received relatively little attention. Here we describe three types of food sharing in jackdaws, with the initiative for the transfer either with the receiver or the giver. The latter situation is of particular interest because the food transfer takes place through active giving. Compared to primates, jackdaws show high rates of food sharing. Finally we discuss the implications of food sharing in jackdaws, and in birds in general.