Carbon dioxide emission tallies for 210 U.S. coal-fired power plants: A comparison of two accounting methods

Annual CO₂ emission tallies for 210 coal-fired power plants during 2009 were more accurately calculated from fuel consumption records reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) than measurements from Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Results from these accounting methods for individual plants vary by ± 10.8%. Although the differences systematically vary with the method used to certify flue-gas flow instruments in CEMS, additional sources of CEMS measurement error remain to be identified. Limitations of the EIA fuel consumption data are also discussed. Consideration of weighing, sample collection, laboratory analysis, emission factor, and stock adjustment errors showed that the minimum error for CO₂ emissions calculated from the fuel consumption data ranged from ± 1.3% to ± 7.2% with a plant average of ± 1.6%. This error might be reduced by 50% if the carbon content of coal delivered to U.S. power plants were reported.

Implications:

Potentially, this study might inform efforts to regulate CO₂ emissions (such as CO₂ performance standards or taxes) and more immediately, the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule where large coal-fired power plants currently use CEMS to measure CO₂ emissions. Moreover, if, as suggested here, the flue-gas flow measurement limits the accuracy of CO₂ emission tallies from CEMS, then the accuracy of other emission tallies from CEMS (such as SO₂, NO_x, and Hg) would be similarly affected. Consequently, improved flue gas flow measurements are needed to increase the reliability of emission measurements from CEMS.     

Minimizing drift and exposure from knapsack sprayers

Abstract

An improved drift shield for attaching to the lance of conventional knapsack sprayer to reduce wind induced drift and operator exposure was designed and tested. The drift shield consists of a conical wire frame covered with polythene and has an annular opening at the point of attachment to the lance which allows air to be drawn into the shield while spraying. Tests conducted with winds in the range of 1.25–5.75 m/s show that wind can increase the width of spray swath from an unshielded lance, up to 4.3 times the normal swath in no‐wind condition. Use of a conventional shield contained the swath width within 3.5 times and the improved shield restricted the swath width to 3.1 times the normal swath. Spray deposit from an unshielded lance, within the normal swath decreased to as low as 45%, due to wind effects. However, use of the conventional, and the improved shields enhanced the spray deposit to 54.2% and 68%, respectively. The improved drift shield improved the spray pattern displacement (SPD) significantly (P<0.05) compared with the conventional shield and the unshielded lance when the wind speed exceeded 1.25 m/s. The improved shield decreased the off target drift by as much as 63% compared with the unshielded spray. It also decreased the quantity of pesticide deposit on the operator's body by 41–84% and thereby reduced exposure and improved safety.     

Social support and newcomer adjustment in organizations: Attachment theory at work?

Social support has been suggested as important for newcomer adjustment to an organization. The present paper reports a longitudinal study of 91 newcomers to three separate organizations. The effects of availability and helpfulness of 10 sources of social support on newcomers reports of psychological distress, satisfaction, intention to leave, and their supervisors assessment of their performance rating (N of supervisors = 41; n of ratings = 91) were examined. The availability of support activities such as offsite training sessions and business trips were found to be associated with decreased psychological symptoms. Helpfulness of various relationship supports were associated with positive adjustment. These results are discussed within the context of attachment theory and our knowledge of social support in work settings.     

Authentic leadership as a pathway to positive health

We propose to bridge the domains of positive health and leadership. We suggest that a “positive” health model helps explain highly effective leadership. The leader must strive for health and facilitate health in his/her followers. We look at leadership through this new and positive lens, that of “positive” health promotion. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Attachment behavior and health: relationships at work and home

This article examines the relationships between interpersonal attachment orientations, health, and social support. Four hypotheses specified relationships between three interpersonal attachment orientations (interdependent, counterdependent, and overdependent), physical and psychological symptoms, and social support. Data were collected from 297 students, the majority of whom were also full-time employees. An interdependent orientation was negatively related to social dysfunction. Counterdependent and overdependent orientations were negatively related to health. A counterdependent orientation was negatively related to social support, while an overdependent orientation was positively related to social support from co-workers and family. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An examination of antecedents to coal miners' hearing protection behaviors: a test of the theory of planned behavior

PROBLEM: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's [NIOSH] National Occupational Research Agenda (DHHS Publication No. 96-115) reports that approximately 50% of miners will experience hearing loss by age 50, compared to only 9% of the general population. The present investigation examines three antecedents believed to be associated with miner's use of hearing protection. METHOD: A posttest-delayed-posttest-control group field research design was employed to assess antecedents toward wearing hearing protection. RESULTS: Following the initial posttest, miners' attitudes and subjective norms were antecedents to intentions to wear hearing protection devices. Also, intentions toward wearing hearing protection predicted hearing protection behaviors. Approximately six weeks later, miners' attitudes and perceived behavioral control were each significant predictors of intentions to wear hearing protection and again, intentions were positively associated with hearing protection behaviors. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Our results indicate that appeals to normative influences may be the most effective antecedent to employ when persuading coal miners to wear hearing protection. However, messages designed to impact attitudes and perceived behavioral control were also effective.     

Using persuasive messages to encourage voluntary hearing protection among coal miners

INTRODUCTION: This longitudinal field study was designed to encourage Appalachian coal miners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania to engage in hearing-protection behaviors. METHOD: Participants were mailed postcards that featured either a positive, negative, or neutral message on the outside of the postcard and a message encouraging hearing protection behaviors on the inside. The first posttest measurement of the effectiveness of the persuasive messages was conducted about a week after the postcards were mailed. The delayed posttest measurement was conducted six weeks later. RESULTS: Responses from 307 coal miners revealed that the positive or neutral messages generated significantly more self-reported hearing protection behaviors than the negative message. Identical results were obtained in a delayed posttest assessment of miners' self-reported hearing protection behaviors. The positive message was also more effective than either the neutral or negative message in preventing defensive mechanisms from emerging over time. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Positive and neutral messages were convincingly more successful than negative messages in facilitating self-reported hearing protection behaviors among coal miners. Similarly, the positive messages kept defensive processes at bay.     

PRECIPITATION DISTRIBUTION IN COASTAL BRITISH COLUMBIA1

ABSTRACT: The spatial distribution and the temporal and spatial variation of the annual, seasonal, and monthly precipitation in two mountainous watersheds in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, have been analyzed using a detailed database for 1971–1990 in the Capilano and Seymour watersheds. The analysis showed that the precipitation increases up to the mid-position of the watersheds, and then either levels off or decreases. Precipitation on mountain slopes and in the valley at the same distance from the beginning of the slope is similar, and the barrier height is identified as the dominant parameter which influences the precipitation distribution. The temporal variation of the precipitation is the smallest at the mid-position of the watersheds. This variability is the least in the fall and winter and largest in the summer. Correlation between the precipitation accumulations at various stations is large, ranging from 0.80 for the wet period of October-March to 0.65 for the dry period of April-September for distances less than 32 km. Comparison with other studies and the analyses of precipitation and runoff data from coastal British Columbia showed that the results of this study are perhaps general and thus transferable to similar areas in the coastal Pacific Northwest.