Scientific certainty and the laws that govern location of a potential high-level nuclear waste repository

Recent studies have questioned the ability of the Department of Energy to successfully construct and operate a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA, consistent with current Environmental Protection Agency standards and Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations. Questions focus on whether demonstration of compliance with the agency's standards is based too much on numerical calculations and analyses that the Department of Energy must conduct to project the long-term performance of the repository. Unless these questions are resolved, the licensing of the repository could be withheld or delayed by litigation. This article reviews the extent to which laws that govern the siting of high-level nuclear waste repositories require scientific certainty in any findings about the environmental consequences of locating a repository.     

RESOLVING INTERSTATE WATER CONFLICTS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES: THE RE-EMERGENCE OF THE FEDERAL-INTERSTATE COMPACT1

ABSTRACT: As population growth occurs in regions of the eastern United States that do not have abundant water supplies, new transbasin diversions may be required. Such diversions are exceptionally politically divisive and are at the core of most of the interstate water conflicts that presently exist in the eastern states. This study examines alternative means by which these conflicts might be resolved. The strengths and weaknesses of these alternatives are examined. The study concludes that the federal-interstate compact should be the preferred alternative by which interstate water conflicts in the eastern United States are resolved.     

WESTERN WATER RESOURCES: THE DESERT IS BLOOMING,BUT WILL IT CONTINUE?1

ABSTRACT: The arid Southwest of the United States is confronted with increasing water demands and a limited resource. Past efforts to meet water demand have been directed toward development of scarce water resources. While development programs have been successful in stretching available supply, few feasible development options remain. Furthermore, heavy water utilization has affected water quality within drainage basins. It seems likely that water management will play a much more significant role in water resource allocation in the future. This paper will examine water development activity in the Southwest to date. Attention will be given to several of the problems that have arisen. The paper will then examine water management options. Particular attention will be given to water management options being implemented in the State of Arizona.     

Investigations on an evacuated tube solar water heater using hybrid-nano based organic phase change material

ABSTRACT

This work explores the opportunities to address the setback in thermal energy storage of solar-based water heaters by uniting it with a suitable hybrid-nano composite phase change material (HNCPCM) in a static mode of operation. The experiments were conducted on a natural circulation all-glass evacuated solar water heating system (AGSWH). The investigation was steered in five cases such that the first case without any phase change material (PCM), the second with pure paraffin as PCM, and remaining three cases with three different mass percentage of HNCPCMs (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% mass fraction of hybrid nanoparticles within PCM) in real-time solar exposure. The system was analyzed based on the first and second law of thermodynamics to assess the performance in all the five cases. Erstwhile, the hybrid nanoparticles were prepared by blending equal mass of SiO₂ and CeO₂ nanoparticles and characterized to gauge its thermal storage properties. The achieved results substantiated that the thermal conductivity had boosted with the accumulation of hybrid nanoparticles within the paraffin matrix, and maximum enhancement of 65.56% was attained with 2.0% mass fraction. The first law and second law investigations revealed that the incorporation of hybrid-nano composites improved the energy and exergy content of the system, distinctly. Among the experimented cases, HNCPCM with 1.0 mass% of hybrid nanoparticles remarkably yielded a better result of 19.4% and 1.28% improvement in energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively. Besides, it evidenced the necessity of choosing the right quantity of nanoparticles for achieving better overall results.     

湖南汛期降水分区和变化规律的探讨

利用湖南５２站汛期降水资料,根据聚类分析方法,进行降水分区,结果共分为Ⅰ区,Ⅲ区（湘北）Ⅲ区（湘东）,Ⅳ区（湘中）和Ⅴ区（湘南）等５个区域,能反映地理位置和地形对降水的影响。然后,通过统计分析,讨论了各区域汛期降水的年际变化趋势,结果表明,Ⅱ区（湘北）汛期降水的年际变化最大;同时,根据各区域汛期降水的距平资料,探讨了它们的变化规律,结果显示,基本上都呈现出上升－下降－上升的特征,只有Ⅴ区（湘南）稍     

AN ANALYSIS OF PLAYA LAKE WATER UTILIZATION ON THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS1

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the spatial, temporal and legal aspects of playa lake water utilization on the semi-arid Texas High Plains. These small basins of interior drainage collect and briefly hold an estimated two to three million acre-feet of runoff water annually, representing from one-fourth to one-third the quantity of groundwater pumped from the dwindling Ogallala aquifer. Once considered a detriment to farming operations, there is now increased interest in using playa water more effectively. At present direct pumping is the chief method of utilization, and modification of lake bottoms to concentrate runoff and reduce evaporation is the most widespread conservation practice. The use of playa water for groundwater reacharge is hampered by as yet unsolved technical problems. For many years the question of ownership of playa water remained unsettled. The Texas Water Rights Commission now classes it as diffused surface water, which under Texas law may be used by the landowner, though some legal problems remain. For play lakes to be effectively integrated into the regional water resource it becomes imperative that all present and prospective water utilization problems be identified and resolved.     

PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO WATER IN TEXAS LAKES AND STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: Rapidly increasing demand for recreational use of Texas' public waters is resulting in growing conflict between riparian landowners and the public. This paper examines the public access question, certainly one of the most poorly defined and understood areas of Texas water and property law. Since the appropriation acts of the late 1800's, most surface waters are owned by the state, and are held in trust for the benefit of the people. While there is no express statutory authority giving the general public the right to use these waters, there is extensive, if often conflicting, case law recognizing such rights on navigable streams. It is equally well established that the public may not gain access by crossing private property. Definition of public and private rights is complicated by the fact that Texas land grants (with their attendant property rights) have emanated from Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the state. Obstacles imposed by riparian landowners to public entry, use and passage, as well as spatial aspects of access, are also considered. Because public access rights are based on the peculiar circumstances of each case, it is difficult to establish general legal principles, and there is almost no reliable information to aid the recreation-seeking public. A clear legislative enunciation of public rights appears politically infeasible at present, the most immediately attainable goal lying in the area of better public education.     

UNIVERSITY WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH AND STATE LEGISLATURES1

ABSTRACT: Societal trends indicate an increased need for university water researchers to develop and improve working relationships with state legislatures to help ensure that water related legislation is based on sound water resources information. Recommendations for providing technical support to state legislatures on water resources issues include: the necessity for researchers to take the initiative; the importance of researchers capitalizing on existing linkages; the need to maintain a continuous link between key legislators, legislative staff, and researchers; and the need for researchers to provide comprehensible information in a timely manner.     

NEW HAMPSHIRE WATER LAW: AN INTERPRETIVE OVERVIEW1

ABSTRACT: New Hampshire's riparian water law, first modified judicially, has been more drastically changed by recent legislative and administrative action. As it stands, however, the judicially enforced doctrine of reasonable use appears to be utterly inadequate to handle increasing water demands. The protection of the public interest has imposed substantial limitations on the use of riparian water rights, all under the guise of the exercise of the police power, i.e., the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. The efficient use of the state's water resources has been further crippled by the widespread and indiscriminate exercise of eminent domain. As a result, the state is now considering the imposition of a permit system that has the potential to streamline the allocation of water. Such a system should take into consideration the public interest factors that have recently frustrated the exercise of riparian rights and the effective use of the state's water resources.     

江西洪涝灾害的时空分布规律

洪涝灾害是江西农业灾害的主要文种之一,也是全省农业及经济持续发展的重要制约因素之一．本文通过对全省８５个县（市）近５０ａ洪涝灾害资料的统计、对比和分析,揭示了江酉洪涝灾害的时空分布规律,为全省制定防洪减涝对策和措施提供了重要决策依据．