Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

大气环境质量的模糊综合评判方法

分析了大气环境质量评价方法现状和模糊综合评判中存在的问题及解决办法，依据我国环境影响评价实际，提出采用单因子标准指数法和模糊综合评判法相结合的方法评价大气环境质量，并给出评价方法，步骤、结合实例说明其应用。     

某基岩区工业固体废物填埋场地递进式场地环境调查实例

针对某基岩区简易封场后的固体废物填埋场,采用多层次、递进式调查策略,配合使用地球物理探测、直压式土壤快速取样、现场快速检测等技术,分3个阶段开展填埋场及其周边环境调查。第1阶段,调查地质环境特征,开展地球物理探测;第2阶段,调查填埋物、渗滤液主要组分及对周边积水、农田土壤、民用井水的污染情况;第3阶段,划定重点污染区域,开展土壤和地下水污染调查。调查结果显示,填埋区已发生明显渗漏,对邻近区域土壤、地下水及地表积水造成了一定污染,但未对周边农用地土壤、民用井水质等产生不利影响,总体处于可控范围。提出,通过削减污染源,切断污染物迁移、暴露途径,消除已有污染影响,长期跟踪监测等多项管控治理措施进行综合整治。     

When unequals are treated equally: the 2002 commission of inquiry into Orica's Geomelt proposal

This paper deals with the Commission of Inquiry (COI) established by the NSW Department of Planning to examine Orica's proposal to build a Geomelt plant at its Botany site to destroy its stockpile of Hexachlorobenzene. The Inquiry is analysed in light of the literature on democracy/democratisation. The paper argues that the standard operating procedures of the Inquiry ensured that all stakeholders were treated equally. However, this equality was found to be purely formal, and drawing on the critique of formal equality dating back to Aristotle, it is argued that treating unequals equally results in the circumvention of deliberative democratic ideals by perpetuating entrenched structural inequalities while nonetheless giving the superficial appearance of fair play.     

Evolution of environmental impact assessment as applied to watershed modification projects in Canada

This article reviews the application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedures and practices to three watershed modification projects situaled in western Canada. These ventures were justified for accelerating regional economic development, and cover the period during which public concerns for protecting the environment rapidly made their way into the national political agenda. An historical account and analysis of the situation, therefore, seems desirable in order to understand the development of EIA processes, practices, and methodologies since the start of construction of the first project in 1961. This study concludes that there has been good progress in predicting and evaluating environmental and related social impacts of watershed modification proposals. However, a number of obstacles need to be overcome before EIA can firmly establish itself as an effective planning tool. These difficulties include jurisdictional confusions and conflicts, division of authority and responsibility in designing and implementing appropriate mitigative and monitoring measures, lack of tested EIA methodologies, and limited availability of qualified human resources. A number of conclusions and suggestions are offered so that future watershed modification proposals may be planned and implemented in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. These include: (1) EIA processes must be completed before irrevocable decisions are made. (2) Any major intrusion into a watershed is likely to impact on some major components of the ecosystem(s). (3) Mitigation costs must form part of the benefit-cost analysis of any project proposal. (4) Interjurisdictional cooperation is imperative where watersheds cross political boundaries. (5) The EIA process is a public process, hence public concerns must be dealt with fairly. (6) The role of science in the EIA process must be at arms length from project proponents and regulators, and allowed to function in the interest of the protection of the environment and public health and safety. The views expressed here are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of FEARO and/or other government agencies and officials involved in the review of these projects.     

跨区域环境治理中地方政府间的博弈分析

地方政府作为利益主体面临着经济发展和环境保护的双重压力,在环境事务的合作治理中,为争取自身利益的最大化展开博弈。文章运用博弈论的理论工具,从动态的、微观的角度分析跨区域环境事务中地方政府间的利益博弈过程和理性决策行为,并为区域间环境事务的合作和交流提出合理建议,以期为我国跨区域环境监管制度、机制的建设和完善提供了理论参考。     

喀什地区环境库兹涅茨曲线特征分析

用1991～2005年间喀什地区的环境经济数据,通过对人均GDP数据与大气污染物、水污染和固体废弃物等数据进行回归拟合,构建了喀什地区环境库兹涅茨曲线,分析了环境指数与人均GDP之间的关系。结果表明:喀什地区降尘和总悬浮颗粒物与人均GDP之间的相关性较高,而二氧化硫和氮氧化物排放量与人均GDP的相关系数较低。从库兹涅茨曲线的变化趋势来看,大气中的污染物与人均GDP之间的EKC曲线的变化类型可分为3种;随着人均GDP的增加,人均GDP与水污染指数的拟合曲线呈现出先下降后上升的趋势,其转折点出现在2001年;从相关系数来看,工业固体废弃物产生量与人均GDP呈弱的正相关关系;从近似函数关系曲线的变化趋势来看,工业固体废弃物产生量与人均GDP之间呈现出典型的"U"型曲线。     

宁波-舟山海域入海污染物环境容量研究

在宁波-舟山海域数值模拟潮流场的基础上,建立了该海域各污染源的响应系数场,计算了主要污染源COD、无机氮和活性磷酸盐的分担率场,及各污染源和控制单元的环境容量.研究结果将为该海域入海污染物总量控制提供科学依据.     

中小企业安全生产“供求”与政府管制

从安全生产作为一种"公共产品"的视角,分析中小企业供给与需求状况,得出目前中小企业安全生产处于"供给低、需求低"的非正常状态,说明劳动力市场对安全供求的调节已经失灵;通过对安全管制下中小企业日常安全管理行动的调研,结合相关研究成果,说明中小企业安全生产管制存在"管制失灵";对安全生产管制存在的问题进行分析,并提出以完善安全生产法律法规体系为前提,以加强中小企业安全生产监管信息库建设为基础,以建立和完善中小企业安全生产三大机制为手段将中小企业安全生产引入良性发展轨道。     

基于环境质量管理的城市综合环境绩效评估研究

文章以26个省会城市2004~2013年的样本数据,从环境健康、生态保护、资源与能源利用、环境治理等4个方面开展研究,构建了包括4项二级指标、12项三级指标和26项四级指标在内的城市综合环境绩效指标体系。研究发现,大部分城市的综合环境绩效历年差异明显,东、中、西部的环境绩效有明显的差异。因此,文章认为应该进一步优化环境绩效指标体系,充分体现区域差异特点,通过实施城市综合环境绩效考核来提高城市环境质量管理水平。