Translating a remediation technology into the required air,water, and rcra permits

Because remediation techniques and technologies are themselves generally viewed as contaminant source by hazardous waste laws and regulations, permits are required to use them, even if it is only to contain or remove a site's principal contaminants. Referring to such major environmental laws as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, RCRA, TSCA, and CERCLA, this article outlines the steps needed to translate cleanup projects into the appropriate permits.     

The European Directive on environmental impact assessment: Implementation at last?

Summary The Commission of the European Communities' directive on environmental impact assessment (EIA) finally came into force in July 1988. The main provisions of the Directive are described, together with the objectives it is intended to achieve and the key areas where member state legislation will need to be effective if the principal requirements of the Directive are to be properly implemented. These include adequate coverage of projects, sufficient information in EIA studies, and effective consultation and public participation. Most European countries have some experience with EIA but, as illustrated by the UK Channel Fixed Link reports, the quality of the studies undertaken is very variable. Recommendations are made for improvements in practice through more effective diffusion of best practice, better provision and use of EIA guidance, more focused EIA research, more effective consultation and closer collaboration between the different parties involved in the EIA process, and both quantitative and qualitative improvements in EIA training. The results of a recent survey of European EIA training activity indicate growing interest, but further progress in improving the provision of EIA training is needed before the Directive can be effectively implemented.Drs Christopher Wood and Norman Lee have both been involved on various Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for the European Commission and have written widely on EIA and related topics. Both are Senior Lecturers at the University of Manchester and they are co-Directors of its EIA Centre. Christopher Wood teaches mainly in the Department of Town and County Planning, Norman Lee in the Department of Economics.     

Evaluating the cumulative effects of alteration on New England wetlands

In New England, patterns of glacial deposition strongly influence wetland occurrence and function. Many wetlands are associated with permeable deposits and owe their existence to groundwater discharge. Whether developed on deposits of high or low permeability, wetlands are often associated with streams and appear to play an important role in controlling and modifying streamflow. Evidence is cited showing that some wetlands operate to lessen flood peaks, and may have the seasonal effect of increasing spring discharges and depressing low flows. Wetlands overlying permeable deposits may be associated with important aquifers where they can produce slight modifications in water quality and head distribution within the aquifer. Impacts to wetlands undoubtedly will affect these functions, but the precise nature of the effect is difficult to predict. This is especially true of incremental impacts to wetlands, which may, for example, produce a change in streamflow disproportionate to wetland area in the drainage basin, i.e., a nonlinear effect as defined by Preston and Bedford (1988). Additional research is needed before hydrologic function can be reliably correlated with physical properties of wetlands and landscapes.A model is proposed to structure future research and explore relationships between hydrologic function and physical properties of wetlands and landscapes. The model considers (1) the nature of the underlying deposits (geologic type), (2) location in the drainage basin (topographic position), (3) relationship to the principal zone of saturation (hydrologic position), and (4) hydrologic character of the organic deposit.     

HYDROLOGIC MODELING USING A SIMULATION LANGUAGE BASED ON QUEUEING THEORY1

ABSTRACT: A novel approach has been developed by applying queueing theory to hydrologic modeling. A queueing situation is characterized by a flow of customers arriving randomly at one or more service facilities. In this case, the customers are represented by water and the service time is the time it takes to move through the soil and over the land. This approach has the potential to be simpler and more efficient than some previously developed models. Another important attribute of queueing theory is its ability to model almost unlimited detail. Many simulation languages based on queueing theory have been developed and tested and are available. Applications of the languages include manufacturing operations, transportation systems, computer systems, financial planning, and health care systems. A model was developed, using a simulation language, to predict runoff hydrographs from storms occurring on small homogeneous watersheds. With continued development, queueing theory could provide an effident, detailed approach to simulating many natural processes.     

An experimental soft-release of oil-spill rehabilitated American coots (Fulica americana): II. Effects on health and blood parameters

The Unocal-Metrolink oil spill of 21 February 1995 resulted in approximately 7800 barrels of San Joaquin crude oil being deposited into the San Gabriel River in Huntington Beach, CA, USA. In order to determine long-term pathological effects of oil exposure and rehabilitation, hematological and serum biochemical parameters for both rehabilitated (RHB) American coots (Fulica americana) and reference (REF) coots were examined every 3-4 weeks (56, 81, 108 and 140 days post oil exposure) after birds were cleaned, rehabilitated and soft-released. Most significant differences in monthly comparisons between RHB and REF birds occurred 56 days following oil exposure. Total white blood cell (WBC) count, albumin:globulin (A:G) ratio and calcium concentration were higher in RHB birds compared to REF birds 56 days post oil exposure. In addition, mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities, and creatinine, total protein (TP) and globulin concentrations were lower in RHB birds. Blood results from 56 days post oil exposure for RHB coots which subsequently died were compared to blood results from days 108 and 140 for REF coots which survived. Oiled and rehabilitated birds which died had significantly higher WBCs, packed cell volume, TP and globulin concentrations, and lower A:G ratio, MCH, MCHC, glucose and sodium concentrations compared to REF birds which survived. Blood result differences detected at 3-4-week intervals between RHB and REF survivors, and differences detected between RHB coots which died and REF coots which survived, suggested that RHB coots developed an inflammatory response (infectious or non-septic) and, concurrently, may have experienced decreased immune responsiveness. Additionally, RHB coots experienced either an iron (Fe) utilization or Fe metabolism problem. These pathophysiological mechanisms were consistent with increased hemosiderin (stored Fe) present in the liver, spleen and kidney of necropsied RHB birds, and may have contributed to RHB coot mortality. When blood parameter differences were examined for their impact on survival time, it was determined that RHB coots had shorter survival times if they had very high cholesterol (> or =449 mg/dl) or chloride (> or =110 MEQ/l) concentrations on day 56 post oil exposure. Interestingly, the lack of differences between RHB and REF coots from day 81 through day 140 suggested that, from a hematologic and clinical chemistry perspective, coots which were oiled, rehabilitated, released and survived at least 3.5 months could not be differentiated from wild (REF) coots. From these findings it appears that blood analysis, coupled with post-release survival data, may help discern reasons for increased mortality of oiled and rehabilitated birds, compared to non-oiled reference birds.     

Vapour pressures, aqueous solubilities, Henry's Law constants, and octanol/water partition coefficients of a series of mixed halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles

Basic physical-chemical properties of five bromine and chlorine containing mixed halogenated dimethyl bipyrroles (HDBPs) were determined using established methods. Subcooled liquid vapour pressures (P(o)(L,25)), aqueous solubilities (S(w,25)), and octanol/water partition coefficients (K(ow)) were determined using the gas chromatography-retention time, generator column, and slow-stirring methods, respectively. Henry's Law constants (H25) were estimated using experimentally-derived P(o)(L) and S(w,25) data. Values of all four properties were generally similar to those reported for other polyhalogenated aromatic compounds [P(o)(L,25) = (7.55-191) x 10(-6) Pa; S(w,25) = (1.0-1.9) x 10(-5) g/l; log K(ow) = 6.4-6.7; H25 = 0.0020-0.14 Pa m3/mol]. The effect of replacing a chlorine with a bromine atom significantly decreased P(o)(L,25) (log P(o)(L,25) = -0.4197 (# bromine atoms) - 2.643, p<0.01) and H25 (log H25 = -0.508 (# bromine atoms) + 0.394, p<0.02). There were no significant effects of bromine/chlorine substitution on S(w,25) or K(ow). A simple Level I equilibrium partitioning model predicted the environmental behaviour of HDBPs to be similar to a tetrabrominated diphenyl ether. Only slight differences in behaviour amongst HDBP congeners were predicted since substitution of a bromine for a chlorine (Cl/Br substitution) atom had less effect than H/Cl or H/Br substitution on P(o)(L,25), S(w,25), H25, and K(ow).     

Effects of geographical location and land use on atmospheric deposition of nitrogen in the State of Connecticut

A network of eight monitoring stations was established to study the atmospheric nitrogen concentration and deposition in the State of Connecticut. The stations were classified into urban, rural, coastal and inland categories to represent the geographical location and land use characteristics surrounding the monitoring sites. Nitrogen species including nitrate, ammonium, nitric acid vapor and organic nitrogen in the air and precipitation were collected, analyzed and used to infer nitrogen concentrations and dry and wet deposition flux densities for the sampling period from 1997 through 1999, with independently collected meteorological data. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the spatial variations of atmospheric concentration and deposition fluxes of total nitrogen in Connecticut. A slightly higher atmospheric concentration of total nitrogen was observed along the Connecticut coastline of Long Island Sound compared to inland areas, while the differences of nitrogen deposition fluxes were insignificant between coastal and inland sites. The land use characteristics surrounding the monitoring sites had profound effects on the atmospheric nitrogen concentration and dry deposition flux. The ambient nitrogen concentration over the four urban sites was averaged 38.9% higher than that over the rural sites, resulting a 58.0% higher dry deposition flux in these sites compared to their rural counterparts. The local industrial activities and traffic emissions of nitrogen at urban areas had significant effects on the spatial distribution of atmospheric nitrogen concentration and dry deposition flux in the State. Wet and total deposition fluxes appeared to be invariant between the monitoring sites, except for high flux densities measured at Old Greenwich, a monitoring station near to and downwind of the New York and New Jersey industrial complexes.     

Dimensionless analysis of two analytical solutions for 3-D solute transport in groundwater

Analytical solutions are widely used as screening tools for estimating the potential for contaminant transport in groundwater, or for interpreting tracer tests or groundwater quality data. A solution for three-dimensional solute migration from a plane-source source that is frequently used in practice is the approximate solution of Domenico [J. Hydrol. 91 (1987) 49-58]. A more rigorous solution to the same problem was provided by Sagar [ASCE, J. Hydraul. Div. 108, no. HY1 (1982) 47-62]. A comprehensive and unambiguous comparison between these two solutions is provided using dimensionless analysis. The solutions are first cast in terms of dimensionless parameters and then used to provide type curves covering a wide range of dimensionless parameter values. Results show that while discrepancies between the two solutions are relatively negligible along the plume centreline (for flow regimes dominated by advection and mechanical dispersion), large concentration differences can be observed as lateral distance from the centreline increases, especially in the presence of solute decay.     

On-road measurement of vehicle tailpipe emissions using a portable instrument

A study design procedure was developed and demonstrated for the deployment of portable onboard tailpipe emissions measurement systems for selected highway vehicles fueled by gasoline and E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). Data collection, screening, processing, and analysis protocols were developed to assure data quality and to provide insights regarding quantification of real-world intravehicle variability in hot-stabilized emissions. Onboard systems provide representative real-world emissions measurements; however, onboard field studies are challenged by the observable but uncontrollable nature of traffic flow and ambient conditions. By characterizing intravehicle variability based on repeated data collection runs with the same driver/vehicle/route combinations, this study establishes the ability to develop stable modal emissions rates for idle, acceleration, cruise, and deceleration even in the face of uncontrollable external factors. For example, a consistent finding is that average emissions during acceleration are typically 5 times greater than during idle for hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide and 10 times greater for nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. A statistical method for comparing on-road emissions of different drivers is presented. Onboard data demonstrate the importance of accounting for the episodic nature of real-world emissions to help develop appropriate traffic and air quality management strategies.     

Development of probabilistic emission inventories of air toxics for Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Probabilistic emission inventories were developed for 1,3-butadiene, mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), benzene, formaldehyde, and lead for Jacksonville, FL. To quantify inter-unit variability in empirical emission factor data, the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method or the Method of Matching Moments was used to fit parametric distributions. For data sets that contain nondetected measurements, a method based upon MLE was used for parameter estimation. To quantify the uncertainty in urban air toxic emission factors, parametric bootstrap simulation and empirical bootstrap simulation were applied to uncensored and censored data, respectively. The probabilistic emission inventories were developed based on the product of the uncertainties in the emission factors and in the activity factors. The uncertainties in the urban air toxics emission inventories range from as small as -25 to +30% for Hg to as large as -83 to +243% for As. The key sources of uncertainty in the emission inventory for each toxic are identified based upon sensitivity analysis. Typically, uncertainty in the inventory of a given pollutant can be attributed primarily to a small number of source categories. Priorities for improving the inventories and for refining the probabilistic analysis are discussed.