RISK OF EXTREME EVENTS IN A MULTIOBJECTIVE FRAMEWORK1

ABSTRACT: This paper summarizes advances made in risk-based decisionmaking in water resources through use of the partitioned multiobjective risk method (PMRM). (Risk is a measure of the probability and severity of adverse effects.) In the PMRM, the risk of extreme events is differentiated from risk involving less extreme damage severity and is evaluated within a multiobjective framework. Study of the extreme-event risk function f₄(*) has addressed the following issues: methods for calculating f₄(*); the sensitivity of f₄(*) to various parameters, particularly to the partitioning point of the extreme-event range and the selection of probability density functions; insight provided by the statistics of extremes; and the impact of f₄(*) on risk management, for example, in the application of the PMRM to water resources problems. In particular, this paper shares with the reader recent research results on the PMRM, the relationship between the statistics of extremes and the conditional expected value, derived formulas for f₄(*), distribution-free estimates of f₄(*), documented case studies in dam safety, and future research directions.     

Toxic Effect of a Pesticide, Diflubenzuron on Freshwater Microinvertebrate (Tetrahymena pyriformis)

Harmful bugs affect food production,directly by the qualitativeor quantitative reduction of the harvests,or indirectly while servinglike vectors of several illnesses of the plants and human[1].Many chemical products are used by human for a long time inthe…     

Improved Cu and Zn sorption on oxidized wheat lignocellulose

We studied the effect an oxidizing treatment of a lignocellulosic substrate, extracted from wheat bran, on the sorption of Cu and Zn. Oxidizing agents, such as potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) or sodium periodate (NaIO₄), creates oxygenated functions, e.g. alcohol and carboxylic acid, which increase the density of functional sites and the binding capacity of lignocellulose towards copper and zinc. We found that the treatment with KMnO₄ is the most efficient, with an increase of about 30–40% metal ion binding, compared to 15–25% using NaIO₄. The investigation of the oxidation process shows that the efficiency of KMnO₄ can be attributed to its affinity towards insaturated double bonds of lignin entities. Oxidized lignocellulose is thus a promising, efficient, and cheap biomaterial for the decontamination of wastewater.     

Modeling energy facility regulatory compliance with application to multi-scale liquefied natural gas facilities

Negotiation for permitting and regulatory compliance of energy facilities typically involves complex decision making over multiple planning horizons involving several organizations with possibly competing goals. Delays in compliance negotiation have the potential to undermine or deter the ability for countries and agencies to increase energy capacities and improve overall energy security. There is need for a multi-scale modeling framework with recognition of multiple time horizons, geographies, and organizational entities influencing the system. This paper presents a multi-scale analysis of the review and permitting process for repeated stages of interaction between a private energy operator and an energy regulatory agency. The interaction is modeled as a finitely repeated incomplete information game with identification of steady-state equilibrium conditions. The result is a strategy-guiding tool that can be used to identify potential incentives for cooperation among a variety of decision makers including energy policy decision makers, regulatory agencies, and project developers. The tools are described via a simplified demonstration applied to the permitting of liquefied natural gas terminals in various stages of their lifecycle. There is wide applicability for regulation, approval, deployment, and monitoring of infrastructure and environment in the energy industry.     

Non-indigenous ascidians in southern California harbors and marinas

Southern California's many large harbors form an important coastal ecosystem, yet they are also a␣major destination for thousands of pleasure craft and cargo vessels that have often traveled great distances. Many groups of marine organisms, including ascidians, have now been documented as undergoing range extensions as a consequence of rapid ship-transport between distant harbors phenomenon. This has resulted in a rapid increase in the rate of introductions of non-indigenous species worldwide, yet these effects of boat traffic remain largely unstudied in southern California. Ascidians are sessile marine filter-feeders, hermaphroditic, and often self-fertilizing; many species are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, can reach sexual maturity in just a few weeks, and have a long breeding season. This paper documents the arrival of 14␣non-indigenous species in southern California harbors␣during this century, 13 of which have persisted:␣four prior to the 1960s (Cionaintestinalis, Styelaclava, S.␣plicata, Botryllusschlosseri), another by 1972 (S.␣canopus, formerly S. partita), and 8 since 1983 [C.␣savignyi, Ascidia zara, Ascidia sp., Polyandrocarpa zorritensis, Symplegma brakenhielmi (formerly S. oceania, and S. reptans, Microcosmus squamiger, and Molgula␣manhattensis)]. We estimate the relative abundance and seasonal fluctuations of both non-indigenous and native ascidians in all harbors in southern California from San Diego to Santa Barbara based upon the historical record, our 35 yr of field notes, and our recent surveys carried out during fall 1994, spring and fall 1995, fall 1996 and spring 1997. Possible points of origin of the exotics and predictions on further U.S. Pacific coast range-extensions are included. The concomitant decline in numbers and species of native ascidians in the harbors of southern California during this century is also reviewed. Received: 4 March 1997 / Accepted: 26 September 1997     

The European Conformity Assessment Procedures and the Quality Assurance Instruments for Personal Protective Equipment in the Internal Market

Conformity assessment procedures prescribed by European legislation are presented and their concrete implementation is illustrated by the example of personal protective equipment (PPE). The different categories of PPE defined by Council Directive 89/686/EEC are explained with reference to the applicable conformity assessment elements. Quality assurance of production is presented as the central element of the conformity assessment procedure for complex PPE. Special emphasis is put on the necessity of having a regular exchange of views and information among notified bodies in Europe. Ways in which third countries can eventually carry out conformity assessment on the basis of a contract with the European Community Commission are explained.     

Game theory and environmental disputes

The courts have provided the traditional battleground for conflicts between environmental interest groups and those whose actions in some way have an adverse impact on the environment The judicial process is a time-consuming one in which all sides usually must concede to some points. Environmental disputes involve complex scientific issues which the court system is not set up to comprehend, so that the process gives the parties to a dispute the sense of having lost control of their own destinies. An increasing number of parties to environmental disputes are turning to negotiation, or mediation, as an alternative in which they can be active parties in the settlement-making process rather than the victims of a court-imposed solution When do the parties to a dispute choose a negotiated settlement over a court battle? To what extent does each party make the concessions necessary to reach an agreement? These questions can be answered by the game theory that provides a model for analyzing the negotiation process. This paper will apply game theory to two environmental conflict cases A series of questions pertinent to the analysis of all environmental disputes will be raised     

Assessment of Arsenic Losses during Ashing: A Comparison of Two Methods Applied to Atmospheric Participates

A comparison was made of over 300 pairs of arsenic results from instrumental neutron activation and flameless atomic absorption analyses of atmospheric particulates collected on glass fiber filters. Atomic absorption analyses involved low temperature ashing of filters at high power levels. No matrix modification chemicals were added to the acid extract which was analyzed. Neutron activation results are on the average 9% higher than those obtained by atomic absorption and the difference is statistically significant. This small difference is probably due to the analytical techniques or acid extraction and not in any important way to losses during low temperature ashing. This conclusion is in sharp contrast to other recently reported situations where low temperature ashing losses in analyzing atmospheric particulate were sizable. Although the atmospheres sampled differed somewhat between these situations the most obvious difference was in the combustibility of the filters used in sampling.     

Mining and sustainable development: considerations for minerals supply

Sustainable development involves meeting the needs of human societies while maintaining viable biological and physical Earth systems. The needs include minerals: metals, fuels, industrial and construction materials. There will continue to be considerable demand for virgin mineral resources, even if levels of recycling and efficiency of use are optimal, and rates of population growth and globalisation decrease significantly. This article aims to stimulate debate on strategic issues for minerals supply. While the world has considerable stocks of mineral resources overall, international considerations of the environmental and social aspects of sustainable development are beginning to result in limitations on where mining will be conducted and what types of deposits will be mined. Current and emerging trends favour large mines in parts of the world where mining can be conducted within acceptable limits of environmental and social impact. Finding new deposits that meet such criteria will be all the more challenging given a disturbing global decline in the rate of discovery of major economic resources over the last decade, and the decreasing land area available for exploration and mining.
To attract responsible exploration and mining, governments of mining nations will need to provide: regional-scale geo-scientific datasets as required to attract and guide future generations of exploration; resource access through multiple and sequential land use regimes, and frameworks for dealing with indigenous peoples' issues; and arrangements for consideration of mining proposals and regulation of mines that ensure responsible management of environmental and social issues.
The minerals industry will need to continue to pursue advances in technologies for exploration, mining, processing, waste management and rehabilitation, and in public reporting of environmental and social performance.