A regulatory perspective on the radiological impact of NORM industries: the case of the Spanish phosphate industry

Radioactive and chemical risks coexist in NORM industries although they are usually addressed separately by regulations. The European Union (EU) has developed extensive legislation concerning both matters, which has been diversely reflected in national policies. We consider the case of the Spanish phosphate industry and analyse to which extent regulatory mandates have reduced the historical and ongoing radiological impact on the environment of phosphate facilities. Although no specific radiological constraints on effluent monitoring and release or on waste disposal have yet been imposed on NORM industries in Spain, other environmental regulations have achieved a substantial reduction on the phosphate industry impact. Nevertheless, a more efficient control could be established by eliminating the current conceptual and practical separation of chemical and radioactive risks in NORM industries. We highlight research needs to accomplish so and propose shorter-term measures that require active cooperation among the regulatory bodies involved.     

Sweet for the sour: Incentives in environmental mediation

The siting of facilities with undesirable environmental characteristics often leads to public conflict. Efforts to resolve the conflict and make siting decisions frequently exacerbate the problem. Environmental mediation, the process of negotiating an agreeable settlement, is an accepted approach to resolving conflict. This paper explores the use of incentive systems as a means of achieving equity in environmental mediation. Obnoxious and noxious characteristics of facilities are discussed as the basis of conflicts. Four types of incentives—mitigation, compensation, reward, and participation—are discussed. The paper concludes with a discussion of the utility and application of incentives for solving environmental conflicts.     

A Complicated Reef: The Relationship Between a Representation and the Represented Phenomenon

In this study, I describe the relationship between the Florida Aquarium's representation of a coral reef and the live reef that served as the model for the representation. I specifically illustrate how naming practices complicate the aquarium's stated purpose of environmental education. I conclude by suggesting ways the aquarium and other pro-environmental facilities can better manage environmental representation.     

试论环境侵害损害赔偿中的行政调解

论述了环境侵害损害赔偿中应用行政调解的特点、效力等问题，具有一定的现实意义。     

行政正当程序视角下环境公众参与制度的规范与完善

行政正当程序理论是环境公众参与制度的理论基础。2014年修订的《中华人民共和国环境保护法》中已经确立以环境公众参与权为核心的环境公众参与制度,但是对于公众参与的规范特别是参与权的规范过于笼统。面对实践中参与主体类型界分不明、多项权利内容规范缺失、法律责任规范效力存疑及环境行政管理规范不足等问题,本文建议应以行政正当程序理论为指导,实现参与主体的类型化界分,细化公众参与权利内容,增加公众参与法律责任条款,并完善环境行政管理公众参与规范。     

村镇土地资源集约利用评价与影响因素分析——以四川省葛仙山镇为例

土地是人类生存和发展的基础,土地利用水平与人类社会的经济、社会和环境效益紧密相关。目前,随着我国城镇化水平的快速发展,城镇土地利用方式正在从粗放外延式向集约内涵式转化,而农村地区由于不合理的土地利用方式,大部分土地集约利用水平低,土地利用效率低。因此,研究农村土地集约利用状况,对转换目前农村土地利用方式并促进农村的可持续发展至关重要。基于行政村空间尺度,利用四川省彭州市2006年土地利用变更调查数据和葛仙山镇社会经济统计数据,运用模糊评价法和因子分析法,对四川省葛仙山镇20个行政村土地资源集约利用水平进行评价,并对影响因素进行因子分析。结果表明：从总体来看,葛仙山镇土地资源集约利用水平较低,属于低度集约利用水平,各行政村之间没有明显的空间差异性,受地形和区位等因素影响,北部丘陵山区的土地资源集约利用水平低于南部平原坝区。因子分析表明提高土地利用程度和土地投入水平是促进葛仙山镇土地资源集约利用水平的两个首要解决问题。尤其是减少北部丘陵山区人均农村居民点面积,提高对建设用地的利用强度,加大对土地的资金投入和人力资源投入,进一步挖掘北部丘陵山区的土地利用潜力,提高土地利用的强度,是葛仙山镇提高土地集约利用总体水平的首要任务。同时,还需加强葛仙山镇村镇土地整理的力度,多途径挖掘土地利用潜力,扩大人均耕地面积,提高土地的可持续利用程度。     

Beyond behaviour change: technological artefacts and characterological development

Addressing the root causes of (un)sustainability entails fundamentally changing our ways of living. This requires going beyond technology and behaviour-oriented approaches common under the umbrella of sustainable development (SD). More fundamental change is required to increase the possibility of realizing ecological and psychological well-being. Here, such change is conceptualized as ‘characterological change’. Next to SD another domain is introduced: characterological development (CD). The potential role of design-interventions in CD is explored in this article. Two studies were conducted, a literature study and experts interviews, covering the fields of Design for Sustainable Behaviour, Persuasive Technology, Practice-Oriented Design and Philosophy of Technology. The literature study shows that current research and interventions predominantly fall within the domain of SD, leaving character and related notions largely unaddressed. The expert interviews (n = 10) show a consensus that (design) research concerning the relation between technological artefacts and human character would be valuable. Research challenges and opportunities for design towards ‘living the good life within ecological means’ are discussed.     

基于结构方程模型的安全生产行政执法绩效分析

为加强对企业安全生产的监督和完善行政执法的评估体系,构建了企业安全生产行政执法绩效评估指标体系。利用调查问卷的方式,获得行政执法部门的绩效评价数据。根据结构方程模型(SEM)相关原理设计绩效评价的测量模型,通过AMOS17.0软件对评价体系进行分析,得到各指标的标准化估计值。利用标准化估计值分析各潜变量对企业安全生产执法的影响权重,各观察变量对企业安全生产执法的影响权重,并进行排序,结果显示:行政执法的合法性>执法人员的素质>执法的合理性>执法的文明性>执法的公开性。     

炼化常减压装置挥发性有机物无组织源谱分析

以典型常减压装置中工艺管线无组织逸散VOCs为切入点,选取不同地域的多套常减压装置,参照美国EPA包袋法采样标准,并按照HJ 644-2013标准将气态样品转移到组合三吸附管内,利用气相色谱-质谱仪进行分析检测.结果表明,常减压装置无组织排放的VOCs共含116种物质,以烷烃类、烯烃类和醛酮类物质占主导,其中烷烃类物质占总排放的65%以上.在此基础上,对检出物质占比量进行量化分析,明确了常减压装置VOCs无组织排放因子以2-甲基丁烷、丁烯和苯等物质为主,并检出了微量的萘.相关结论可为炼化企业构建VOCs排放清单提供有力支撑,对于后续精细化管理炼化行业的VOCs排放具有指导意义.     

美国路易斯安那州自然资源损害评估制度及其启示

联邦《石油污染条例》、州《溢油预防和应对法案》和《溢油预防和应对条例》共同构成了美国路易斯安那州自然资源损害评估制度体系,确立了评估活动主导者和参与者明确、程序清晰、客观公正、资金来源有保障,且融合了应急、评估、响应行动于一体的评估制度。我国正在建立的生态环境损害赔偿制度,虽然就损害评估已经形成了部分规范性文件,但多重视的是评估机构的资质管理和具体的评估技术方法,有必要借鉴域外经验,从主体构建、程序设计、多方参与、评估资金、融合评估和应急、恢复行动于一体五个方面完善评估管理制度。