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Full-Text Articles in Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment

The New Certificates Of Financial Responsibility: Environmental Progress Or National Economic Disaster?, Paul R. Younes Jan 1995

The New Certificates Of Financial Responsibility: Environmental Progress Or National Economic Disaster?, Paul R. Younes

Theses and Major Papers

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) is the first comprehensive oil spill legislation passed in the United States. Included in the law were new provisions governing the liability and financial responsibility of both the company responsible for the spill and the insurer. These provisions, while well-intentioned, have created a dangerous situation for both the environment and the economy of the United States. This paper will examine the financial responsibility and liability regime that was in place prior to the passage of OPA 90, and the provisions of OPA 90 that establish new requirements shipowners must meet to qualify …

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Dispersants For Oil Spill Response: Issues, Policy, And Planning Considerations, Tina M. Burke Jan 1995

Dispersants For Oil Spill Response: Issues, Policy, And Planning Considerations, Tina M. Burke

Theses and Major Papers

The purposes of this paper are four-fold. First, dispersant use as an oil spill response option and the issues surrounding dispersant use will be discussed. Second, the past dispersant use policy will be reviewed, as will the recent changes to the policy in terms of the attempt to make dispersants a viable response option in the United States. Third, the role of interest groups in oil spill response issues and the importance of including them in contingency planning efforts, specifically dispersant planning, will be discussed. Lastly, the results of the study to determine the involvement of interest groups in the …

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Environmental Messages In Boating Magazines: A Content Analysis Of Recreational Power Boating Articles, Robert S. Holtzman Jan 1995

Environmental Messages In Boating Magazines: A Content Analysis Of Recreational Power Boating Articles, Robert S. Holtzman

Theses and Major Papers

This paper presents the results of a study analyzing the editorial content of consumer power boating magazines for messages of environmental responsibility. It presents evidence of a cause and effect relationship between recreational power boating and damage to the marine environment, and cites arguments that power boating in its currently popular form, involving high speeds and heavy fuel consumption, is inherently "unfriendly" to the environment. The paper describes a "chain of influence" through which boat manufacturers, in their role as advertisers, influence the editorial content of consumer boating magazines through the tactics of marketing public relations. A hypothesis is developed …

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Population Growth In North Carolina: Implications On Coastal Wastewater Management, Carol Anne Kinder Apr 1994

Population Growth In North Carolina: Implications On Coastal Wastewater Management, Carol Anne Kinder

Theses and Major Papers

The sustainability of North Carolina's coastal resources are threatened from environmental degradation. A decline in water quality has resulted, in part, from a lack of regional consensus on coastal wastewater management. Yet coastal population growth continues without the necessary infrastructure to support domestic wastewater treatment. This paper will attempt to address the feasibility of an ocean outfall in the state of North Carolina by summarizing results of earlier research, drawing expertise from current outfall projects, examining legal and financial obstacles, and evaluating progressive steps toward an integrated planning of coastal wastewater disposal. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is one framework through …

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Implications Of Soviet And Russian Nuclear Waste Dumping In The Arctic Marine Environment, Jeffrey L. Canfield Jan 1993

Implications Of Soviet And Russian Nuclear Waste Dumping In The Arctic Marine Environment, Jeffrey L. Canfield

Theses and Major Papers

This study examines fragmentary information on ocean dumping of radioactive wastes conducted by the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation from 1959 to the present, then assays the impact of this activity in terms of the legal historical, oceanographic and political contexts. Lacking accurate and thorough data on many aspects of the activity, it has been necessary to infer and extrapolate from what is know about the impact of radioactive materials on analogous ocean sites and regimes where radionuclides have been introduced and monitored by other states. Preliminary assessments are provided for the impact on human uses of resources in …

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Nonpoint Source Pollution From Agricultural Runoff: An Analysis Of Problems, Solutions, And The Remedial Action Plan Process For The St. Louis River Basin, Thomas V. Giddings Jan 1993

Nonpoint Source Pollution From Agricultural Runoff: An Analysis Of Problems, Solutions, And The Remedial Action Plan Process For The St. Louis River Basin, Thomas V. Giddings

Theses and Major Papers

Agricultural nonpoint source pollution is the pollution coming from agricultural production, which has no clear origin. It comes from a diffuse source, such as a farm field or an animal holding area. While programs and studies probe every facet of point sources and extol the efforts of point source clean-up, the relatively more difficult task of identifying nonpoint sources and the process of proposing to do something about them has been largely ignored. Reducing the adverse impacts on the environment from farm related activities requires knowledge of the various pollutants and how pollutant pathways can be interrupted. Nutrients, and pesticides …

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Conflicts In Use: The Impacts Of The Oil And Gas Industry On The Herring Fishery In The North Sea, Cornelia Ann Pasche Jan 1993

Conflicts In Use: The Impacts Of The Oil And Gas Industry On The Herring Fishery In The North Sea, Cornelia Ann Pasche

Theses and Major Papers

The interaction of the herring (Clupea harengus) with the oil and gas industry in the North Sea is reviewed. The population crash of the herring in the early 1970's and the subsequent closing of that important fishery between 1977 and 1983 has drawn considerable attention to the influences, both biotic and abiotic, affecting the recruitment to the North Sea stock. Current accepted theory points to a change in oceanic current and the subsequent decrease in salinity in the North Sea region, resulting in a change in plankton availability for larval herring as the cause of the recruitment failure during the …

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User Perceptions Of The Environmental Quality And Governance System Of Narragansett Bay, Mary-Beth Gadzik Hart Jan 1993

User Perceptions Of The Environmental Quality And Governance System Of Narragansett Bay, Mary-Beth Gadzik Hart

Theses and Major Papers

This paper hypothesizes that there will be differences in perception between the users and managers of Narragansett Bay with respect to (1) the Bay's environmental quality; and (2) the effectiveness of the governance system established to manage and regulate the Bay. Any discrepancies in the perception of the quality of Narragansett Bay's shoreline and water resources among various user groups are likely to contribute to conflicts between users, and a less efficient approach to the management of Bay resources. Thus, the identification of where management policies may diverge from the interests of public user groups will serve to improve resource …

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Netc Tank Farm Five Hazardous Waste Cleanup: An Investigation And Evaluation Of Cleanup Practices For Waste Oil Tanks At Netc, Newport, Ri, David J. Sisson Jan 1992

Netc Tank Farm Five Hazardous Waste Cleanup: An Investigation And Evaluation Of Cleanup Practices For Waste Oil Tanks At Netc, Newport, Ri, David J. Sisson

Theses and Major Papers

My intention in this paper is to focus on the "chronic" hazardous waste problem stemming from past disposal/storage practices. More specifically, to focus on two underground storage tanks at NETC which were used for the storage of hazardous waste (waste oil tanks). It is now common knowledge that old underground storage tanks throughout the country present a potential ground water contamination hazard which must be dealt with. Over the past decade naval installations have heightened their awareness of environmental responsibilities and implemented recycling programs for the disposal of paper, glass, etc. and have even established programs for fuel collection and …

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The International Regulation Of The Maritime Transportation Of Hazardous Cargo, Philip M. Henry Jan 1992

The International Regulation Of The Maritime Transportation Of Hazardous Cargo, Philip M. Henry

Theses and Major Papers

This paper examines the subject of the international regulation of the maritime transport of hazardous cargo. For the scope of this paper, hazardous cargo includes all that material which is carried by vessels for market and as waste with the exception of oil. The study examines the trend of the regulatory process by reviewing the development of concern, international agreements, codes and the International Maritime Organization. It also provides a broad overview of international regulations governing the marine transportation of hazardous cargo and the prevention of pollution by hazardous cargo of the marine environment.

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Rhode Island Marine Debris Pilot Project, Christina L. Beal Jan 1992

Rhode Island Marine Debris Pilot Project, Christina L. Beal

Theses and Major Papers

The Rhode Island Marine Debris Pilot Project was initiated in Newport, R.I. during the summer of 1991. The objective of the project was to decrease recreational boaters' contribution to marine debris. Two methods were used to achieve this goal. First, trash and recycling disposal facilities were increased around the harbor. Secondly, educational literature on the environmental consequences of marine debris, and the law that applies to overboard disposal, were distributed throughout the local marine community. The implementation of the pilot project led to a significant increase in the amount of debris brought ashore by boaters, and a decrease in the …

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The Potential Loss Of Coastal Open Space Due To The Utilization Of Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment Facilities: A Case Study In Gloucester, Massachusetts, Eric W. Hutchins Jan 1992

The Potential Loss Of Coastal Open Space Due To The Utilization Of Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment Facilities: A Case Study In Gloucester, Massachusetts, Eric W. Hutchins

Theses and Major Papers

The impact of privately owned sewage treatment plants, a viable alternative to on-site septic systems, is examined in regards to future land-use patterns. It was hypothesized that the use of these facilities would lead to a greater loss of open space, in the coastal City of Gloucester, Massachusetts, than if only conventional on-site septic systems were to be permitted. Constraints to development such as zoning, wetlands, soil characteristics, parcel size, and economic viability were applied to undeveloped property in Gloucester. The results were used to identify individual parcels and calculate the respective developability based on the two different scenarios. Only …

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Sea Level Rise And Its Impact On Bangladesh, Carlos Alfredo Castro Ortiz Jan 1992

Sea Level Rise And Its Impact On Bangladesh, Carlos Alfredo Castro Ortiz

Theses and Major Papers

Global temperatures are expected to increase as a result of the so-called "greenhouse" effect, causing concern among scientists who fear that the sea level may rise as much as three meters by 2100. Using mid-range seal-level-rise scenarios of 1.5 and 2 meters potential socioeconomic impacts on coastal Bangladesh are discussed. The geography is described point out the spatial extent and magnitude of potential damages. Topographic and political-administrative maps are used for population distribution and economic analyses of the areas which would be affected in the sea level rise scenarios. A valuation technique is used to project the gradual GDP loss …

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The Siia: A Mechanism For Addressing Pollution Problems Plaguing New Jersey's Coastal Zone, Laurie J. Sands Jan 1991

The Siia: A Mechanism For Addressing Pollution Problems Plaguing New Jersey's Coastal Zone, Laurie J. Sands

Theses and Major Papers

New Jersey has been plagued in recent years by beach closures resulting from elevated bacteria levels after rainfall events. The Sewage Infrastructure Improvement Act (SIIA) was adopted to correct these problems by addressing both point and nonpoint sources of pollution found in discharges of stormwater. However, there are problems with the SIIA such as overly burdensome requirements, limited resources and lack of future funding and direction. This research identifies these problems and examines existing State and federal legislation to find the necessary components to correct these concerns. The results show that by pursuing a legislative amendment to the SIIA, redistributing …

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The Oil Pollution Act Of 1990: A Solution Or A Problem?, Kevin M. Carey Jan 1991

The Oil Pollution Act Of 1990: A Solution Or A Problem?, Kevin M. Carey

Theses and Major Papers

The signing of the Oil Pollution Control Act of 1990, Public law 101-380, (OPA 90) on August 18, 1990 was a significant landmark in the struggle to control pollution by oil and the activities associated with the recovery, transport, and refinement of oil and associated products in the territorial waters of the United States, and was long overdue. The aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, which was the impetus that finally prodded Congress to pass the oil spill legislation that had been under consideration for years, has been filled with controversy over how the spill occurred, how the clean up …

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An Evaluation Of Noaa's Role In Ocean Dumping Policy Implementation, Kenneth W. Barton Jan 1990

An Evaluation Of Noaa's Role In Ocean Dumping Policy Implementation, Kenneth W. Barton

Theses and Major Papers

Dumping of wastes into the ocean has gone on for years especially in the New York Bight. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is mandated by Title II of the Ocean Dumping Act of 1972 to investigate the effects of ocean dumping on the marine environment. However, there is a perception within Congress, the public and other agencies that NOAA is not meeting it's responsibilities with regard to ocean dumping research. The effectiveness of NOAA's ocean dumping policies and programs and the difficulties in implementation experienced by the agency are evaluated by applying George Edwards' theory of policy implementation. …

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The Effect Of Industrial Development On The Sediment Contamination Of Apponaug Cove, A Historical Analysis, Marina Havan-Orumieh Jan 1990

The Effect Of Industrial Development On The Sediment Contamination Of Apponaug Cove, A Historical Analysis, Marina Havan-Orumieh

Theses and Major Papers

Sediment cores have long been used to formulate the chronology of environmental contamination. This paper will investigate the utility of sediment cores in determining the chronology of trace metal contamination in Apponaug Cove, Rhode Island. A meter-long sediment core taken from the Cove was analyzed for chromium, copper, lead, zinc and nickel as well as organic pollutants coprostanol, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, benzotriazole and clorobenzotriazole. The core represents a close to 200 year record of sediments in Apponaug Cove. The cultural/economic changes in the Watershed in addition to environmental laws composed in the State and Federal levels which may have correlated with …

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Environmental Management Planning And The Special Area Management Process, Timothy P. Dillingham Jan 1989

Environmental Management Planning And The Special Area Management Process, Timothy P. Dillingham

Theses and Major Papers

Within coastal areas, growing numbers of resource users, increasingly divergent resources use demands, and loss of indigenous resources combine to exert tremendous pressures on these areas. The Narrow River is a unique estuary located on the coast of southern Rhode Island. The estuary has experienced a decline in water quality over the last 20 years, primarily attributable to poor development practices and improper disposal of on-site sewage. Increasing levels of development have begun to bring about further changes in the watershed, including alteration of scenic values, conversion and loss of wildlife habitat, additional sources of pollution inputs and increasing conflict …

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Sewage Discharge By Recreational Boats In R.I. Coastal Waters, Maureen E. Eldredge Jan 1989

Sewage Discharge By Recreational Boats In R.I. Coastal Waters, Maureen E. Eldredge

Theses and Major Papers

Federal legislation regulating sewage from recreational boats has existed since 1972 (The Clean Water Act). Since that time the regulations have failed to prevent untreated sewage from boats from being discharged into the Nation's waterways. This has caused conflicts over water quality, particularly in shellfish growing areas. The regulatory system which exists to regulate sewage from recreational boats was analyzed for nine sources of possible regulatory failure. Seven of the nine were found to be operating. They include, lack of technology, lack of enforcement, lack of issue salience, negative attitudes on the part of the boaters, the economics of compliance, …

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A Less-Polluted Future For Boston Harbor?: Assessing Selected Impacts Of A Citizen Information Program, Enid Carol Kumin Jan 1989

A Less-Polluted Future For Boston Harbor?: Assessing Selected Impacts Of A Citizen Information Program, Enid Carol Kumin

Theses and Major Papers

The demand for good public information is a need which many environmental groups are now attempting to fill. Programs are generally designed around a particular environmental issue. One such effort is the Boston Harbor "Sewer Tour" Program run by 'Save the Harbor/Save the Bay' in Boston, Massachusetts. The Sewer Tour Program addresses matters of water pollution control in the Metropolitan Boston area. The present study examines the impact of the Sewer Tour Program on participants and spillover effects on their communities. A mailed survey is used to collect the data. A framework for data analysis is drawn from psychological research …

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A Site-Specific Need Assessment For Ocean Incineration At The North Atlantic Incineration Site (Nais), Lynne H. Macdonald Jan 1989

A Site-Specific Need Assessment For Ocean Incineration At The North Atlantic Incineration Site (Nais), Lynne H. Macdonald

Theses and Major Papers

This thesis examines the problems of hazardous wastes in the United States-and the problems their disposal present, in particular. Ocean incineration, one of the very few methods available to destroy many highly toxic wastes, is presented as a viable, necessary means to destroy liquid organochlorine wastes. Next, the international and federal regulations governing ocean incineration and the current status of ocean incineration in the United States are reviewed. A site-specific assessment for determining the need for ocean incineration is developed as an alternative to the two currently contended approaches (nationwide versus permit-by-permit need assessments). This site-specific need assessment evaluates the …

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Stormwater Quality Management In Rhode Island, Elizabeth A. Scott Jan 1989

Stormwater Quality Management In Rhode Island, Elizabeth A. Scott

Theses and Major Papers

This study documents the threat that uncontrolled "urban" stormwater runoff poses to surface water quality and the inadequacy of existing regulations governing land use development in preventing further water quality degradation resulting from "urban" runoff. The study applies recent research findings from the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program and the experience of other state regulatory programs in evaluating management alternatives and proposing a strategy for Rhode Island. The documented impacts of "urban" stormwater runoff on water quality, including excesses in criteria for copper, lead, and coliform, and eutrophication, support the need for stormwater quality management. This need is made more evident …

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The Dynamic Balance Between Experts And The Public In The Assessment Of Hazards: Ocean Incineration - The U.S. Experience, Sally J. Spadaro Jan 1988

The Dynamic Balance Between Experts And The Public In The Assessment Of Hazards: Ocean Incineration - The U.S. Experience, Sally J. Spadaro

Theses and Major Papers

Understanding environmental threats posed as a byproduct of technology has become an important role for our federal governmental agencies. This study examined environmental hazard assessment in theory and in practice. Discussion established the unique nature of environmental hazard assessment as compared to financial or natural hazard assessment. This first section examined advantages and shortcomings of four methods to judge the tolerability of environmental hazards: Natural Baselines, Risk/Cost/Benefit Analysis, Revealed Preferences, and Expressed Preferences. The differences in perspectives between expert risk assessors and the lay public was highlighted. For the case of ocean incineration of hazardous wastes the dilemma faced by …

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Wastewater Management Alternatives For The Salt Pond Region Of Westerly, Rhode Island (With Special Emphasis On The Winnapaug Pond Watershed), John R. King Dec 1987

Wastewater Management Alternatives For The Salt Pond Region Of Westerly, Rhode Island (With Special Emphasis On The Winnapaug Pond Watershed), John R. King

Theses and Major Papers

As people move toward the coasts in growing numbers, the coastal zone is faced with ever increasing development pressures. The Town of Westerly, Rhode Island is experiencing many of the problems associated with these pressures. In order to expand a motel in the Misquamicut section of Westerly, the current owner of the property has proposed to extend city sewer lines to this area at his own cost. Afterward the line would be turned over to the town. While extension of sewer lines may relieve some local septic system failure problems, it could also spur more rapid and extensive growth. Over-development …

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Oil Spill Liability And Compensation: A Review Of The Existing Mechanisms And A Look At The Future, Gary A. Reiter May 1987

Oil Spill Liability And Compensation: A Review Of The Existing Mechanisms And A Look At The Future, Gary A. Reiter

Theses and Major Papers

This study provides an examination of the existing United States Federal laws and international regimes regarding oil spill liability and compensation, and the manner in which they have been implemented by regulation and policy. The presentation concludes with discussion of and arguments concerning various proposed Federal comprehensive liability and compensation legislation. Emphasis is placed on the unsuccessful legislative proposals of the 99th Congress and the effects that similar legislation, if passed by the 100th congress, may have on current response policies and Federal and state governments. In particular, the effects of the proposed legislation on state's sovereignty and response operations …

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Study Of The Ocean Transportation Of Chemicals, Joseph A. Meyertholen Jan 1987

Study Of The Ocean Transportation Of Chemicals, Joseph A. Meyertholen

Theses and Major Papers

The growth of the chemical industry over the past 30 years has contributed significantly to the increased volume of hazardous cargo transported by ocean vessel. The properties of some chemicals in commerce, particularly intermediate products, are such that their movement represents a risk to society in terms of environmental damage, bodily injury, and carcinogenic effects that may not surface for years. This study traces the development of the ocean chemical transportation system with emphasis on the technology, management and regulatory regime that has evolved to control these risks. Selected incidents involving hazardous chemical cargoes are reviewed, highlighting the industry and …

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Balancing Conservation And Development In Maryland's Coastal Zone: A Program Evaluation, James G. Turek Jan 1987

Balancing Conservation And Development In Maryland's Coastal Zone: A Program Evaluation, James G. Turek

Theses and Major Papers

An evaluation of a federal regulatory program administered by the Baltimore District Corps of Engineers (COE), governing certain development activities in Maryland's coastal zone, was conducted to (1) identify cumulative development and wetland impact outcomes that occurred over a 5-year (1981-1985) period; and (2) assess a component of the decision-making process that resulted in these outcomes. This study focuses specifically on program coordination between the COE and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to evaluate how the process has been affected by (1) programmatic changes resultant of the Reagan Administration's regulatory reform; and (2) societal demands as indicated by changes …

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A Review Of The Management And Current Status Of Northern Fur Seals Of The Pribilof Islands, Holly Hansell Jan 1986

A Review Of The Management And Current Status Of Northern Fur Seals Of The Pribilof Islands, Holly Hansell

Theses and Major Papers

The North pacific fur seals of Alaska's Pribilof Islands have been subjected to commercial harvest for nearly 200 years. The harvest has been regulated under international agreement almost continuously since 1911; first under the 1911 North Pacific Fur Seal Convention, and following that under the 1957 Interim Convention on Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals. Both Conventions banned pelagic sealing and divided the restricted land harvest among the four member states, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Soviet Union. Management under the 1911 convention resulted in a steady increase in the severely depleted fur seal herd, restoring the population …

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Acid Deposition: Legal And Political Controversies, Noelle F. Lewis Jan 1986

Acid Deposition: Legal And Political Controversies, Noelle F. Lewis

Theses and Major Papers

Acid rain is more accurately referred to as acid deposition since acidity is deposited in both the wet and dry form. Acid rain results from the conversion of sulfur and nitrogen gases to sulfates and nitrates, respectively. In the United States, sulfur compounds are responsible for about two-thirds of the acidity in precipitation; nitrogen compounds, one-third. In 1980, man-made sources in the United States emitted approximately 26 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 21 million tons nitrogen oxides. Within the United States, the major sources of sulfur dioxide emissions, approximately 90-95% of the total, are electric generating utilities, industrial boilers, …

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Analysis Of A Worst Case Oil Spill Eis, Galveston, Gail Elizabeth Meisner Jan 1986

Analysis Of A Worst Case Oil Spill Eis, Galveston, Gail Elizabeth Meisner

Theses and Major Papers

On July 8, 1980, the Galveston district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued the permits required for the construction of an onshore deepwater port. The proposed port expansion project has been the subject of extensive controversy and litigation. The primary conflict has centered on the exclusion of a worst case oil spill analysis, as required by recent Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. A rational-deductive approach to this decision leads to the conclusion that the economically and environmentally favored choice would have been to include the worst case analysis in the initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Because …

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