GEOCHEMICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF GROUNDWATER FLOW SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT. Interest in the geochemistry of groundwater is increasing owing to the great number of current projects involving underground liquid waste storage, artificial recharge of potable water, accidental contamination of groundwater bodies, sanitary landfills, and pollution monitoring. Geochemical techniques used to facilitate the understanding of a groundwater system range from extremely simple to those requiring sophisticated theories, equipment, and procedures. An interpretation of the simple trilinear diagram for samples collected from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico provided evidence that the fresh-water body was only a few tens of meters thick and was underlain everywhere by an extensive body of salt water. A geochemical technique that has been used effectively to identify the source of salt water in coastal aquifers is measurement of the carbon-14 concentrations. Carbon-14 has been used in a regional carbonate aquifer to determine the velocity of groundwater movement, rates of chemical reactions, and distribution of hydraulic conductivity. The application of principles of irreversible thermodynamics to groundwater systems provides a basis for constructing models which permit prediction, over both time and space, of changes in head distribution and chemical character of the water resulting from imposed stresses on the system. In essence, proper application of irreversible thermodynamics combines the potential theory of Hubbert with principles of reversible chemical thermodynamics, such as solution of carbonate minerals, to describe and explain controlling chemical reactions and processes of groundwater systems.     

Degradation of poly(β-hydroxyalkanoates) and polyolefin blends in a municipal wastewater treatment facility

Six types of plastics and plastic blends, the latter composed at least partially of biodegradable material, were exposed to aerobically treated wastewater (activated sludge) to ascertain their biodegradability. In one study, duplicate samples of 6% starch in polypropylene, 12% starch in linear low-density polyethylene, 30% polycaprolactone in linear low-density polyethylene, and poly(-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/V), a microbially produced polyester, were exposed to activated sludge for 5 months, and changes in mass, molecular weight average, and tensile properties were measured. None of the blended material showed any sign of degradation. PHB/V, however, showed a considerable loss of mass and a significant loss of tensile strength. In a second study, PHB/V degraded rapidly, but another type of microbial polymer which forms a thermoplastic elastomer, poly(-hydroxyoctanoate), did not degrade. These results illustrate the potential for disposal and degradation of PHB/V in municipal wastewater.     

重庆地下热水径流特征研究

重庆地下热水资源丰富,但对其径流特征缺乏研究,盲目开采致使许多温泉泉流量减小、水温降低,甚至断流、枯竭。为指导地下热水的科学开采,文章对重庆地下热水的常规化学组分及同位素组分特征进行了研究,分析了地下热水补给、径流条件,指出大气降水为其补给源,补给区在重庆以北大巴山及华莹山背斜华莹山和铜锣峡背斜北端的岩溶露头区,嘉陵江组(T1j)为其储水层,地下热水主要沿背斜T1j地层由北往南流,同一背斜地下热水由北到南为一个统一的热水系统。     

吉林省生态环境保护“十四五”规划的初步思考

"十四五"是在打赢污染防治攻坚战、全面建成小康社会的基础上,加快实现2035年基本建成美丽中国"吉林样板"的关键五年。研究报告在对吉林省"十三五"生态环境保护成效及存在的主要问题、"十四五"生态环境保护面临的机遇和挑战进行分析的基础上,提出了"十四五"全省生态环境保护的总体思路与目标及主要任务。     

“十四五”推动绿色消费和生活方式的政策研究

当前,中国消费规模持续快速扩张,居民消费已从温饱向小康转型升级,消费对中国经济增长的贡献率快速提升,成为驱动经济增长的重要引擎。前期研究表明,消费领域的绿色转型有助于引导和倒逼生产的绿色化,促进形成绿色生产生活方式,带动公众积极践行绿色理念,改善社会绿色转型的治理体系,将对中国整体绿色转型和高质量发展发挥决定性作用。在此基础上,本文研究提出了中国“十四五”时期推动绿色消费的总体目标、指标体系和重点领域,认为中国政府应将绿色消费放在更加突出的战略位置,通过“十四五”规划全面推动相关实践,按照供给侧与需求侧共同发力、激励约束并举、政府企业消费者共建共治共享的原则,构建绿色消费政策体系,并针对建筑、汽车、电力、物流等重点行业提出了具体的政策建议。     

国家“十四五”环境经济政策改革路线图

"十三五"时期环境经济政策对建立我国生态文明建设长效机制发挥了重要作用,"十四五"时期需要通过进一步深化环境经济政策改革与创新以适应新时代生态文明建设需要。本文研究提出了我国"十四五"时期环境经济政策改革思路、框架与重点,认为我国"十四五"时期环境经济政策改革要深入贯彻习近平生态文明思想,系统考虑政策改革创新面临的新形势和新要求,推进建立"两山"转化和环境质量达标的长效激励机制,突出环境质量持续改善激励、突出经济过程全链条调控,突出政策手段的系统优化与协同增效,突出政策执行能力保障。继续推进生态环境财政制度改革,深化绿色价格税费机制创新,推进建立多元化、市场化生态补偿制度,健全生态环境权益交易机制,完善绿色金融体系,并同步推进完善生态环境价值核算、环境信息公开和信用体系、资源环境名录、政策绩效评估等政策实施配套能力建设,构建全面支撑生态文明建设的环境经济政策体系,推进环境治理体系和治理能力现代化。     

“十四五”生态环境保护国际合作思路与实施路径探讨

生态环境国际合作是构建人类命运共同体建设的重要内容。"十三五"时期,我国在推动生态文明建设取得显著成效的同时,生态环境保护国际合作取得积极进展。本文在分析生态环境保护国际合作现状、不足以及面临新形势的基础上,提出坚持底线思维,突出重点,精准对接,以我为主、以外促内等合作原则,建议"十四五"时期加强战略规划和引领,提升生态环境国际合作的地位和作用,以建设性姿态参与全球环境治理,努力实现国内环境治理、全球环境治理以及全球治理良性互动,提升生态环境国际合作在服务国家总体发展战略中的地位和水平。并为此提出五大重点举措:即打造绿色"一带一路"成为区域环境合作的平台高地;更具建设性加强我与周边国家双边及多边环境合作;坚决维护多边主义的立场,主动参与全球环境治理体系变革;助力擦亮绿色底色,全力支撑服务打赢污染防治攻坚战;加快能力建设形成生态环境国际合作与交流的大格局。     

“十四五”时期危险废物污染防治思路探讨

"十三五"时期,我国环境质量改善和生态文明建设取得显著进展,"十四五"时期生态环境保护面临的形势和任务仍然严峻艰巨,亟须正确识别当前的环境形势以及未来的重大环境问题,制定针对性的规划。本文概述了"十三五"期间我国危险废物污染防治取得的进展和成效,并分析了当前危险废物环境风险防控面临的废物产生量大且持续增加、环境风险高、利用处置短板凸显、综合利用风险防控不足等突出问题,从制度优化、科学管理和技术支撑等重点任务、重大工程方面,提出"十四五"环境保护危险废物污染防治规划思路,为编制"十四五"危险废物污染防治规划提供参考。     

我国“十四五”时期农村环境保护总体思路探讨

打好升级版污染防治攻坚战,思路创新与转型是关键。我国农村环境保护底子薄、基础差、欠账多,现阶段农村环境治理仍是经济社会发展的突出"短板"和显著"弱项"。本文在分析"十四五"时期农村环境保护工作基础和面临形势的基础上,提出以改善农村环境质量、提高农村环境治理体系和治理能力现代化水平为核心,以解决农民群众身边最紧迫、最直接的突出生态环境问题为导向,聚焦农村生态、农业生产、农民生活三大重点领域,统筹城乡污染治理体制机制,推动建立多元共治体系,打通"两山"转化通道,打好升级版的农村污染防治攻坚战的总体思路,助力乡村振兴战略,全面提升农村生态文明和绿色发展水平。     

A clash of cultures (and lawyers): Anglo Platinum and mine-affected communities in Limpopo Province,South Africa

The human rights related controversies surrounding Anglo Platinum's Mogalakwena mine in South Africa's Limpopo Province hit the world stage in 2008, attracting public scrutiny and instigating much debate in the realm of international business and human rights discussions. We provide an in-depth analysis of the controversies at Mogalakwena, and Anglo Platinum's responses. This case study contributes to ongoing debates on mining company-community relations in the context of the emerging business and human rights agenda, specifically with respect to the notion of human rights ‘due diligence’. We argue that the Mogalakwena case study illustrates the risks of companies adhering to and emphasizing the technical and logistical facets of due diligence, without sufficient attention to the relational, communicative and emergent aspects, which are closely tied to corporate culture. We highlight the complexities of company-community relationships, with particular reference to the issues of legitimate community representation and participatory decision-making, and discuss the role that organizational culture plays in exacerbating or mitigating corporate-community conflict. The case study demonstrates how legal challenges often exacerbate rather than resolve the conflicts that arise due to a clash between corporate and community cultures. We suggest the need for corporate leaders to become more conscious of this cultural dimension of effective social management, particularly when interacting with communities whose cultures are markedly different from those of business corporations.