RESOLUTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT ISSUES IN PERMITTING TILE PLATEAU CREEK PIPELINE1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes how a hydrologic model proved to be a valuable tool to help interested parties understand impacts to four threatened and endangered fish species in the Upper Colorado River. In 1994, the Ute Water Conservancy District initiated permitting and design of the Plateau Creek pipeline replacement. The project was considered a major Federal action and therefore subject to the National Environmental Policy Act. Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) entered the process to develop a Biological Opinion (BO) and determined that the project could potentially impact the endangered fish in the 15‐mile reach of the Colorado River. The Section 7 consultation was directed by a Core Committee comprised of stakeholders in the Upper Colorado River watershed. Hydrologic modeling became the evaluation tool for comparing flow reductions to USFWS target recovery flows and defining make‐up flow requirements to meet those targets. The Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program was designated to provide the make‐up flows. The USFWS released a final BO in December 1997, approving diversions through 2015. An Environmental Impact Statement for the project was completed and the Record of Decision was issued by the Bureau of Land Management in early 1998.     

WHO GETS CLEAN WATER? AID ALLOCATION TO SMALL WATER SYSTEMS IN PENNSYLVANIA1

ABSTRACT: Research on the condition of drinking water provision in the United States documents the inequitable financial impact of environmental regulations on small water systems (those serving 3,300 or fewer people). While a variety of federal and state financial assistance programs are available for water systems, few quantitative analyses have evaluated the success of these programs in alleviating the problems of small systems. A case study of the largest aid initiative for water supply infrastructure in Pennsylvania provides the empirical framework through which to analyze government funding opportunities for water systems. This study examines the allocation practices of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to water systems of varying sizes. Utilizing data from PENNVEST applications and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the distribution of PENNVEST award recipients and denied applicants by size characteristics are compared. The study indicates that very small water systems (those serving 500 or fewer) do not apply for or receive funds with the same frequency as their larger counterparts. Understanding the allocation of awards from PENNVEST offers insight into the ability of small communities to access capital for water supply infrastructure.     

细菌信息素研究进展

有关细胞信号的研究一直是生物学研究中的热点课题,尤其是动物细胞信号系统的研究已很深入,发现了许多信号分子和信号传导途径.但对微生物而言,长期以来的认识都是微生物,特别是细菌,一般只能被动地感受环境的变化,而没有群体的效应.其中唯一的特例是粘细菌(ｍｙｘｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉａ),在营养缺乏的条件下,通过释放ｃＡｍｐ等信号分子,促使营养细胞聚集,形成子实体和粘孢子[1].直至70年代,Ｈａｓｔｉｎｇ等通过对海洋发光细菌Ｖｉｂｒｉｏｆｉｓｃｈｅｒｉ和Ｖｉｂｒｉｏｈａｒｖｅｙｉ的发光机制的研究,发现发光细菌本身能产生一类小分子物…     

城市大气质量模式研究进展

本文通过对大气质量模式发展历史的回顾,及其发展趋势的讨论,认为城市大气质量预报模式的建立与发展主要受以下三个动态因素的支配：（１）政府环境管理目标;（２）科学进步;（３）计算机及信息处理和通讯技术。结合三要素就建立我国城市空气质量预报系统框架进行了讨论。     

应对环境风险的反身规制研究

面对当前日益严峻的环境风险和生态危机,环境领域的两大规制模式——命令控制规制模式和激励规制模式呈现规制失灵、治理不力的困境。从反身法理论来阐释,是由于这两种规制模式忽略了法律系统与其他社会子系统自身的独特运行逻辑,法律系统具有运行的封闭性与认知的开放性,有效的规制模式必须实现不同系统之间的结构耦合。反身规制是一种对自我规制的规制,其在承认法律自身规制局限性的基础上,培育其他子系统的反思结构,为提升当前环境治理绩效提供了一个新路径。实现对环境风险的反身规制,需要从信息披露、程序设计及商谈规范方面建构相应的法律制度。     

西南地区水资源及其评价

西南是我国水资源最丰富的地区,但供需矛盾十分突出:旱灾频繁不少城市供水不足中小河流污染较重径流式电站出力显著下降内河航运不断萎缩。分析其原因,与水资源的特点和演变规律分不开。① 来水与用水不协调:坝区地多水少、山区水多地少城市和工业集中区水量偏小、偏僻地区来水偏大用水季节来水少、非用水季节来水多岩溶分布广泛,水资源利用困难。② 枯季径流不断减少:西南水资源70％以上分布在雨季。旱季水很少,且在不断下降。如不改变径流的分配方式,用水危机将会到来。③ 水质不断恶化:西南水质是好的。随着城市化的发展,农药化肥的大量使用,水质变差。重视保护、防止污染是重要的战略措施。④ 水资源的开发必须因地制宜,重视蓄水和跨流域调水的作用。     

中国区域环境绩效及波特假说的再检验

以二氧化碳为非期望产出,基于序列DEA的方向性距离函数、环境规制强度指数、Malmqulist-Luenberger指数,测度了1999~2010年中国30个省、市、自治区及东、中、西、东北四大区域的环境技术效率、环境规制成本及全要素生产率,并对四大区域的全要素生产率进行了波特假说的再检验.研究结果表明:区域间的环境技术效率呈现东-东北-中-西依次递减的演变格局;东北老工业基地的环境规制成本最高、西部地区最低;环境规制强度与全国及四大区域全要素生产率有显著的正相关性,这支持了波特假说的存在;技术进步效应的检验结果显示,只有中部区域支持波特假说的存在,西部区域检验结果表明碳排放的规制过高会对技术进步带来消极影响;环境技术效率变化效应的检验结果显示,全国及四大区域均支持波特假说的存在,碳排放规制强度的加强,会推动各地区在不同时期追赶最优生产前沿面的程度.     

微生物聚磷及其酶学调控

本文论述了微生物细胞内磷酸盐转运机制和与聚磷相关的酶—PPK、PPX及两者对微生物聚磷行为的调控,并对今后研究重点做出展望.论文认为对于微生物聚磷的研究应从纯种微生物转移到强化生物除磷系统的混合微生物菌群,运用分子生物学和生物信息学手段分析聚磷优势菌种的PPK和PPX酶的结构特征及其在活性污泥中的变化规律,进一步深入认识生物除磷调控机理,开辟寻求提高系统除磷效率的新途径.     

江汉湖沼资源的开发与保护

湖沼是重要的自然资源,是开发水体生态农业以及发展轻化工业原材料的生产基地保护湖沼资源不但能调控环境,且可成为天然水生或沼生生物基因库。对江汉湖沼资源的合理开发利用,既能收到巨大经济效益,又可保护湖沼生态环境和发挥其生态效益作用。     

花卉废物和牛粪联合堆肥中的氮迁移

以花卉废物和牛粪为原料,进行了温度反馈的通气量控制联合堆肥中的氮迁移中试研究.采用自制的静态好氧床进行一次发酵,过程控制采用温度反馈通气量控制方法,发酵周期20d;采用周期性翻堆进行物料二次腐熟,腐熟周期40d.研究了堆肥过程中总氮、有机氮、无机氮、氨氮、硝氮等氮素形态转化随时间的变化特征及温度反馈的通气量控制对氮迁移的影响.结果表明:堆肥初期的氨化作用和反硝化作用显著,氮素总量损失累计达41.98%,其中主要是有机氮的损失,99.95%的氮损失发生在一次发酵阶段;氮素损失主要是在pH和温度较高条件下的氨气大量挥发造成的.对通风进行有效控制、提高物料C/N及添加酸性物质有望减少N损失.对于C/N较低,硝态氮含量较高的物料堆肥,NH₄⁺-N≤0.04%、NH₄/NO₃≤0.16不能作为腐熟度指标.