Chemical Stabilization of Mixed Organic and Metal Compounds: EPA SITE Program Demonstration of the Silicate Technology Corporation Process

In November 1990, the Silicate Technology Corporation's (STC) proprietary process for treating soil contaminated with toxic semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants was evaluated in a Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) field demonstration at the Selma Pressure Treating (SPT) wood preserving site in Selma, California. The SPT site was contaminated principally with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and arsenic, as well as lesser amounts of chromium and copper. Because of their importance when selecting a remedy for the site, PCP and arsenic were identified as critical analytes to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Evaluation of STC's treatment process was based on contaminant mobility, measured by numerous leaching tests, and structural integrity of the solidified material, measured by physical, engineering, and morphological tests. An economic analysis was also performed, using cost information supplied by STC and supplemented by information generated during the demonstration.

Conclusions drawn from this SITE demonstration evaluation are: (1) the STC process can chemically stabilize contaminated soils similar to those at the Selma site that contain both semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants; (2) PCP was successfully treated as demonstrated by total waste analysis; (3) heavy metals such as arsenic can be immobilized successfully based on various leach-test criteria; (4) the short-term physical stability of the treated waste was good, with unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) well above landfill solidification standards; (5) treatment resulted in a volume increase of 59 to 75 percent (68 percent average) and a slight increase in bulk density; and (6) the process is expected to cost approximately $190 to $360 per cubic yard when it is used to treat 15,000 cubic yards of waste similar to that found at the STC demonstration site, assuming that on-site, in-place disposal is performed.     

Design and construction of baghouses for the Shawnee Steam Plant

This paper deals with the basic considerations of the specifications, detail design, and construction of the baghouse system for the 10-unit Shawnee Steam Plant. Special attention is given to a unique preheating and reheating system for each baghouse prior to boiler startup or for cycling operation, criteria for varying number of compartments online against flow (ACFM) to minimize dewpoint consideration, criteria of air-to-cloth ratio as well as filter material and coating, selection of materials, and construction of a unique raft foundation system—all within a total construction period of 42 months.     

Analysis of the role of waste minimisation clubs in reducing industrial water demand in the UK

As a result of the UK Government's waste policy, which increasingly encourages sustainable development, and the realisation that water in the UK cannot be treated as an unlimited resource, there is growing interest in reducing the demand for water by industry. A series of industrial waste minimisation clubs have been set up within the country. This paper identifies the effectiveness of these clubs in reducing the demand for water. An overview of some of the clubs show how there is a major discrepancy between potential and implemented water savings, whilst a more detailed analysis of three specific examples show how water demand and cost to the company can be reduced, with the project paying for itself within around 1 year. It appears that companies are able to reduce water consumption by approximately 30%. If this level of saving was taken up by the entire industrial sector in England and Wales, water consumption could be reduced by approximately 1500 Ml/day. This reduction would be more significant in regions of lower rainfall, for example East Anglia and Southeast England.     

Sibling competition and cooperation in mammals: challenges,developments and prospects

Many vertebrates grow up in the company of same or different-age siblings, and relations among them can be expected to significantly influence individual life histories and the development of individual morphological, physiological, and behavioral phenotypes. Although studies in birds still dominate and have stimulated most theoretical considerations, the increasing number of mammalian studies promises to broaden our understanding of this complex field by enabling interesting comparisons with the rather different bird system. It therefore seems timely to bring together recent studies of sibling relations in mammals and to demonstrate what these can offer in the way of fresh insights. In this brief review, intended to accompany a series of papers on a diverse range of mammals, we outline the current state of sibling research in mammals, comparing it to the better studied birds. Most obviously, in mammals, mother and young are in much closer contact during early life than in birds, and siblings can influence each other’s development as well as the mother’s physiology while still in utero. During nursing, mammalian young also encounter a very different feeding situation to bird siblings. These contrasts should help stimulate further debate, as well as provide further opportunities to study the relative importance of maternal versus sibling effects on individual development. Finally, we discuss the need to balance studies of sibling competition and conflict with a consideration of the benefits accruing to individuals from sibling presence and the need for long-term studies of the influence of early sibling relations on individual development and life histories. This contribution represents the introduction to the special issue “Sibling competition and cooperation in mammals”.     

Western Land Managers will Need all Available Tools for Adapting to Climate Change,Including Grazing: A Critique of Beschta et al.

In a previous article, Beschta et al. (Environ Manag 51(2):474–491, 2013) argue that grazing by large ungulates (both native and domestic) should be eliminated or greatly reduced on western public lands to reduce potential climate change impacts. The authors did not present a balanced synthesis of the scientific literature, and their publication is more of an opinion article. Their conclusions do not reflect the complexities associated with herbivore grazing. Because grazing is a complex ecological process, synthesis of the scientific literature can be a challenge. Legacy effects of uncontrolled grazing during the homestead era further complicate analysis of current grazing impacts. Interactions of climate change and grazing will depend on the specific situation. For example, increasing atmospheric CO₂ and temperatures may increase accumulation of fine fuels (primarily grasses) and thus increase wildfire risk. Prescribed grazing by livestock is one of the few management tools available for reducing fine fuel accumulation. While there are certainly points on the landscape where herbivore impacts can be identified, there are also vast grazed areas where impacts are minimal. Broad scale reduction of domestic and wild herbivores to help native plant communities cope with climate change will be unnecessary because over the past 20–50 years land managers have actively sought to bring populations of native and domestic herbivores in balance with the potential of vegetation and soils. To cope with a changing climate, land managers will need access to all available vegetation management tools, including grazing.     

Does corporate social performance reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the macro level?

Corporate social performance (CSP) is assumed to have a positive impact on macroeconomic sustainability, but empirical evidence of this impact is absent in the literature. The objective of this paper is to investigate the macro impacts of CSP. We first establish a conceptual framework on the relationship between CSP at the individual business level and sustainability at the macro level. Next, we empirically test the relationship between (averaged) CSP scores and greenhouse gas emissions at the macro level for 22 countries during 2004–2011. We use Granger causality tests to check for Granger causality. The estimation results show that CSP reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but the long-term effect is rather modest.     

Influence of Mowing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia tridentata</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">wyomingensis</Emphasis> on Winter Habitat for Wildlife

Mowing is commonly implemented to Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Beetle & A. Young) S.L. Welsh (Wyoming big sagebrush) plant communities to improve wildlife habitat, increase forage production for livestock, and create fuel breaks for fire suppression. However, information detailing the influence of mowing on winter habitat for wildlife is lacking. This information is crucial because many wildlife species depended on A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis plant communities for winter habitat and consume significant quantities of Artemisia during this time. Furthermore, information is generally limited describing the recovery of A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis to mowing and the impacts of mowing on stand structure. Stand characteristics and Artemisia leaf tissue crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations were measured in midwinter on 0-, 2-, 4-, and 6-year-old fall-applied mechanical (mowed at 20 cm height) treatments and compared to adjacent untreated (control) areas. Mowing compared to the control decreased Artemisia cover, density, canopy volume, canopy elliptical area, and height (P < 0.05), but all characteristics were recovering (P < 0.05). Mowing A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis plant communities slightly increases the nutritional quality of Artemisia leaves (P < 0.05), but it simultaneously results in up to 20 years of decrease in Artemisia structural characteristics. Because of the large reduction in A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis for potentially 20 years following mowing, mowing should not be applied in Artemisia facultative and obligate wildlife winter habitat. Considering the decline in A. tridentata spp. wyomingensis-dominated landscapes, we caution against mowing these communities.     

Preparation of CuO/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and photocatalytic activity by degradation of methylene blue

A photocatalyst based on CuO/SiO₂ was prepared, and evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue in aqueous medium. The photocatalyst was obtained by calcination method of copper salt, in the presence of silica. The characterization by XRD, FTIR, and TPR techniques confirmed the formation of CuO as active phase. SEM studies showed CuO deposited on the surface of SiO₂. By ESI-MS, it was demonstrated that the degradation of methylene blue occurs through successive hydroxylations. Photodegradation assays showed that CuO/SiO₂ was efficient for degradation, and that the material worked better in the presence of UV light.     

Vegetative buffers for fan emissions from poultry farms: 1. temperature and foliar nitrogen

This study sought to evaluate the potential of trees planted around commercial poultry farms to trap ammonia (NH(3)), the gas of greatest environmental concern to the poultry industry. Four plant species (Norway spruce, Spike hybrid poplar, Streamco willow, and hybrid willow) were planted on eight commercial farms from 2003 to 2004. Because temperature (T) can be a stressor for trees, T was monitored in 2005 with data loggers among the trees in front of the exhaust fans (11.4 to 17.7 m) and at a control distance away from the fans (48 m) during all four seasons in Pennsylvania. Norway spruce (Picea abies) foliage samples were taken in August 2005 from one turkey and two layer farms for dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) analysis. The two layer farms had both Norway spruce and Spike hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides x Populus nigra) plantings sampled as well allowing comparisons of species and the effect of plant location near the fans versus a control distance away. Proximity to the fans had a clear effect on spruce foliar N with greater concentrations downwind of the fans than at control distances (3.03 vs. 1.88%; P < or = 0.0005). Plant location was again a significant factor for foliar N of both poplar and spruce on the two farms with both species showing greater N adjacent to the fans compared to the controls (3.75 vs. 2.32%; P < or = 0.0001). Pooled foliar DM of both plants was also greater among those near the fans (56.17, fan vs. 44.67%, control; P < or = 0.005). Species differences were also significant showing the potential of poplar to retain greater foliar N than spruce (3.52 vs. 2.55%; P < or = 0.001) with less DM (46.00 vs. 54.83%; P < or = 0.05) in a vegetative buffer setting. The results indicated plants were not stressed by the T near exhaust fans with mean seasonal T (13.04 vs. 13.03 degrees C, respectively) not significantly different from controls. This suggested poultry house exhaust air among the trees near the fans would not result in dormancy stressors on the plants compared to controls away from the fans.