Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Environmental Sciences

Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 151 - 180 of 12750

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Role Of Gender And Salient Social Identities In Producing Vulnerability And Maladptation To Flooding In Koraso, Berekum, Ghana, Kingsley Damoah Oppong May 2026

The Role Of Gender And Salient Social Identities In Producing Vulnerability And Maladptation To Flooding In Koraso, Berekum, Ghana, Kingsley Damoah Oppong

Geography ETDs

This paper highlights how social identities like polygamy, illiteracy, and ethnicity hinder rural women farmers in Ghana from adapting to climate change. It advocates for an intersectional approach to address these challenges, moving beyond simplistic gender binaries. Using qualitative interviews (n=49) in a flood-prone village in Berekum, Ghana, the study reveals how these identities intersect with gender roles and colonial legacies, exacerbating vulnerability. It bridges Black feminist thought with climate change, an underexplored area, offering insights into climate change and environmental studies, as well as Black feminist scholarship. This research urges a reevaluation of how we understand climate change in …


Incorporating Sustainable Strategies And Practices Into The City Improvements Plan Of Madisonville, Kentucky To Better Suit It For The Changing World, Cade R. Howell May 2026

Incorporating Sustainable Strategies And Practices Into The City Improvements Plan Of Madisonville, Kentucky To Better Suit It For The Changing World, Cade R. Howell

Honors College Theses

This project aims to make the case for city improvements in Madisonville, Kentucky by using successful strategies implemented by other cities across the region. These strategies include sidewalk improvements, the installation of roundabouts and parking garages, increased walkability and beautification, and a restructuring of the types of cars predominantly used in the area. The strategies would be implemented from least expensive to most expensive, and in a way that gets the communities involved as much as possible. By using these strategies, Madisonville can better prepare itself for a more sustainable future.


Distribution, Habitat, And Fish Assemblages Associated With The Rocky Shriner In Arkansas, Savannah L. Wise May 2026

Distribution, Habitat, And Fish Assemblages Associated With The Rocky Shriner In Arkansas, Savannah L. Wise

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The Rocky Shiner (Notropis suttkusi) is a minnow species endemic to the Red River and its tributaries in southern Arkansas and Oklahoma. This species is petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act and is a species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) in Arkansas. However, there is little information for the species’ distribution, habitat use, and ecological niche, especially within the Arkansas portion of its range. Because of this data gap, my study provides an updated description of its distribution and habitat associations using conditional occupancy modeling and explores patterns of species co-occurrence within the community. I sampled …


Determining Cave Presence And Diet Variation Of The Ozark Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus Townsendii Ingens) From Guano Dna, Lark E. Sybrant May 2026

Determining Cave Presence And Diet Variation Of The Ozark Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus Townsendii Ingens) From Guano Dna, Lark E. Sybrant

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens; OBEB) is federally endangered in Arkansas, where it persists in a few small, geographically restricted populations within the Ozark National Forest. Although the region contains many caves that appear suitable for OBEB, expanded survey efforts are needed to locate additional roost sites for monitoring and protection. Effective conservation also requires a clear understanding of their distribution and diet. Traditional cave surveys can be disruptive and often miss cryptic species, and earlier diet studies based on manually sorting prey remains provided only coarse taxonomic resolution and overlooked soft‑bodied insects. To address these …


The Legacy Of Lead: Lead Exposure's Harmful Effects And Its Concentration In Poc Communities, Layla Sophronia Barber May 2026

The Legacy Of Lead: Lead Exposure's Harmful Effects And Its Concentration In Poc Communities, Layla Sophronia Barber

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis examines the disproportionate burden of lead exposure carried by low income, POC communities. The systemic nature of this problem is a symptom of a longstanding legacy of environmental injustice in the United States. Decades of federal neglect are reflected in the higher statistics of lead exposure and poisoning in predominantly black communities. While it is understood that lead exposure poses a serious threat to physical health and early cognitive development, there is a discouraging lack of urgency to remove the toxin from non-wealthy communities. The material covered by this thesis aims to identify and correct the discriminatory social …


Re: Comment Letter For Old Butte Silver Bow Landfill/Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Remedy Effectiveness Evaluation Phase I (Conceptual Site Model) (Dated February 27, 2026), Emma Rott May 2026

Re: Comment Letter For Old Butte Silver Bow Landfill/Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Remedy Effectiveness Evaluation Phase I (Conceptual Site Model) (Dated February 27, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.


Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Site Investigation Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated April 16, 2026), Emma Rott May 2026

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Clark Tailings Consolidated Waste Management Area (Ctcwma) Site Investigation Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Dated April 16, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.


Draft Final Butte Mine Waste Repository Operation And Maintenance (O&M) Plan, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc. May 2026

Draft Final Butte Mine Waste Repository Operation And Maintenance (O&M) Plan, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.


Integrating Advanced Geochemical Workflows With Modern Statistical Tools To Improve The Decision-Making Process At Ccr Sites, A Case Study, Glenna Thomas May 2026

Integrating Advanced Geochemical Workflows With Modern Statistical Tools To Improve The Decision-Making Process At Ccr Sites, A Case Study, Glenna Thomas

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

While statistical assessment provides the foundation for CCR compliance reporting, incorporating a holistic geochemical framework transforms statistics from a compliance requirement into a powerful predictive tool. Strategic geochemical insight established the basis of understanding needed to support successful statistical approaches and to ensure that statistical outcomes reflect actual groundwater behavior. Whether it is trend analysis, delineating source mechanism, or updating geochemical conceptual site models (GCMs), geochemical context provides the technical foundations for statistical outputs and methods. A continuously refined GCSM enhances the ability to anticipate how groundwater chemistry should evolve, improving interpretation and predictive capability. This allows practitioners to understand …


Before The Limit Hits: Lessons From A Proactive Construction Air Monitoring Program, Brian Egan, Nicholas Golden, Wendy Depp May 2026

Before The Limit Hits: Lessons From A Proactive Construction Air Monitoring Program, Brian Egan, Nicholas Golden, Wendy Depp

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This presentation describes a comprehensive air monitoring program designed to protect workers and nearby neighborhoods during ash pond closure work. The program uses three main components: project (or boundary) monitoring at the site perimeter to track dust near the project boundaries, work area monitoring placed near active construction zones, and personal sampling on individual workers at regular intervals. Together, these approaches provide data on both community impacts and worker exposures, helping the team respond quickly when levels approach action limits. The Teams actions prior to exceedance of regulatory limits has helped prevent exposures. The talk will explain how monitors are …


Monitored Natural Attenuation Evaluation And Additional Characterization Of A Ccr Unit Lithium Groundwater Plume, Matt Barickman, Adam Piestrzeniewicz Pg May 2026

Monitored Natural Attenuation Evaluation And Additional Characterization Of A Ccr Unit Lithium Groundwater Plume, Matt Barickman, Adam Piestrzeniewicz Pg

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) refers to the reliance on natural attenuation processes (within the context of a carefully controlled and monitored site cleanup approach) to meet groundwater protection standards (GPS) for a CCR unit within a reasonable time frame (USEPA, 1999). MNA is being evaluated as an adaptive management strategy for a CCR unit groundwater plume with statistically significant lithium concentrations above GPS, though with little risk of offsite migration. A previous MNA evaluation was performed for the lithium plume following the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) “tiered lines of evidence approach” (USEPA, 2015), which determined that there were …


Establishing Groundwater Monitoring Systems Under The Legacy Rule: A Systematic Approach For Utilities, Chris Hoglund May 2026

Establishing Groundwater Monitoring Systems Under The Legacy Rule: A Systematic Approach For Utilities, Chris Hoglund

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The USEPA’s Legacy CCR Rule introduces new requirements for establishing groundwater monitoring systems at Legacy Surface Impoundments (LSIs) and Coal Combustion Residual Management Units (CCRMUs). These requirements present unique challenges for electric utilities, particularly at inactive or historically operated facilities where subsurface data are limited and CCR units may have nontraditional configurations such as linear roadways, elongated embankments, or distributed disposal areas. Utilities must also determine how best to apply single-unit or multi-unit monitoring approaches, integrate newly regulated units into existing monitoring networks, and align monitoring system design with planned closure strategies. This presentation outlines a systematic, defensible framework to …


Risk Evaluation Of Linear Coal Combustion Residual Management Unit (Ccrmu) Fills, Qian Zhang, Andrew Bittner, John Kondziolka, Masoud Arshadi May 2026

Risk Evaluation Of Linear Coal Combustion Residual Management Unit (Ccrmu) Fills, Qian Zhang, Andrew Bittner, John Kondziolka, Masoud Arshadi

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

In 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) established new regulations for coal combustion residual management units (CCRMUs), defined as coal combustion residual (CCR) deposits placed on power plant properties outside of landfills or surface impoundments. US EPA supported the rulemaking with modeling-based risk analyses and established regulatory requirements based on fill size. Linear CCRMU, such as backfill along pipelines or haul roads, have individual segments that may be composed of a small amount of mass below the threshold for regulation, but the cumulative mass over the full linear feature extent may exceed regulatory thresholds. This study applies US …


Application Of Mine Tailings Flow Failure Assessment On Ccr, Zachary Fallert May 2026

Application Of Mine Tailings Flow Failure Assessment On Ccr, Zachary Fallert

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

A new geotechnical stability analysis method has been implemented for a CCR surface impoundment to aid in design for temporary cut slopes and final closure grades. Conditions have come to light after significant tailings dam failures occurred across the globe, specifically those exhibiting flow failures (i.e. failures in which tailings behave a liquid and flow out of the facility). These failures have come under intense scrutiny as the failures pose significant risk to public safety and the environment and have been observed in CCR. Additionally, static liquefaction has arisen as another potential but less well understood causative mechanism. As the …


Lessons Learned: Commissioning An Fgd Wastewater Treatment System, Bella Triolet, Mckale Grant, Louis Manigault May 2026

Lessons Learned: Commissioning An Fgd Wastewater Treatment System, Bella Triolet, Mckale Grant, Louis Manigault

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Stantec recently supported commissioning a flue gas desulfurization (FGD) Wastewater Treatment System in accordance with the 2020 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG) Rule, which requires that coal fired power plants meet their more stringent requirements by December 31, 2025. With the addition of the 2024 EPA ELG Rule, coal fired power plants will now be expected to move to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems or permanently cease coal combustion by 2034. Due to this change, it is likely that coal fired power plants will be looking to design and install ZLD systems within the next decade. While …


Trimble County Pond Closures, Steven Turner, Shanti Montgomery May 2026

Trimble County Pond Closures, Steven Turner, Shanti Montgomery

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The Trimble County Closure Project is a 5-year project to close the 40-acre (161,900 square meters) Gypsum Storage Pond (GSP) through closure-by-removal and the 100-acre (404,700 square meters) Bottom Ash Pond (BAP) through closure-in-place in accordance with coal combustion residual (CCR) Rule. The excavated gypsum from the GSP was “Beneficially Reused” to fill the BAP to the prescribed grade for drainage through a monitored outfall to the adjacent creek. The daily plant produced CCRs of fly ash, bottom ash, and gypsum were also used for four years to supplement the filling of the BAP as well as several onsite soil/rock …


Re: Conditional Approval Letter For Draft Final 2026 Interim Site-Wide Groundwater Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Dated May 6, 2026), Emma Rott May 2026

Re: Conditional Approval Letter For Draft Final 2026 Interim Site-Wide Groundwater Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (Dated May 6, 2026), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.


Dissecting The Connection Between Technological Advancement And Environmental Justice Through An International Perspective, Benson H. Le May 2026

Dissecting The Connection Between Technological Advancement And Environmental Justice Through An International Perspective, Benson H. Le

Honors Theses

This thesis dissects the connection between technological advancement and environmental justice through an international perspective. With modern-day technologies advancing by the day, the implications of these technologies on our environment have been rising as well. This thesis looks to dissect the connection between these two entities, as well as view this connection through an international lens. Countries around the world view this connection very differently, and the way these technologies are implemented within the environment is drastically different based on different international views. This thesis aims to answer the questions about this phenomenon. How do countries around the world view …


Establishing Sustainable Vegetation On A Challenging Legacy Ccr Site, Derek Oosterhouse, Blake Arthur May 2026

Establishing Sustainable Vegetation On A Challenging Legacy Ccr Site, Derek Oosterhouse, Blake Arthur

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

American Electric Power (AEP) is closing and restoring a legacy Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) site in Ohio that once held a power plant that pioneered innovative steam generation technology. The plant was closed in 1975. Today, the legacy CCR site is being transformed back to natural, sustainable vegetation. To comply with and close the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) permit, permanent stabilization is required on the site. AEP, one of the largest electric companies in the country, holds a core principle to respect the environment through creative sustainable solutions. AEP connected with Profile Products, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier …


Future Strategies For Beneficial Use Harvesting, Gabe Lang, Patrick Kiser May 2026

Future Strategies For Beneficial Use Harvesting, Gabe Lang, Patrick Kiser

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

TVA is the largest public power company in the U.S. and has historically operated a fleet of 12 coal-fired plants as part of their diverse generating portfolio. To date, eight of the coal plants have been retired and the remaining four plants are projected to shut down in the next couple of decades. The decommissioning of these plants is driving a transition to harvesting of ponded and landfilled CCR’s to continue to support ready-mix concrete and other industries that enable infrastructure development. However, the regional market demand limits the ability to initiate widespread harvesting activities during near-term CCR Unit closure …


Methods To Enhance Groundwater Remediation During Cbr And Mass Transfer Controls On Post-Closure Groundwater Cleanup At Ccr Impoundments, Sean Larkin, Jacob Chu, John Blue May 2026

Methods To Enhance Groundwater Remediation During Cbr And Mass Transfer Controls On Post-Closure Groundwater Cleanup At Ccr Impoundments, Sean Larkin, Jacob Chu, John Blue

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Utilities are implementing closure‑by‑removal (CBR) of coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments as part of corrective action programs to meet groundwater protection standards (GWPSs) and are evaluating closure strategies for Legacy Units. Although CBR and associated decanting and dewatering systems can substantially reduce source mass and improve groundwater quality, lingering “tail” concentrations in the aquifer are often observed after closure because groundwater remediation typically requires extended timeframes. These persistent concentrations may be compounded by secondary source zones beneath the former impoundment, where constituent mass stored in low‑permeability materials or immobile pore spaces is slowly released into the transmissive aquifer after CBR. …


A Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Remedial Approach For Metals: Utilizing Phyto-Enhancement To Accelerate Ph Adjustment Of Shallow Groundwater, Jerry Wylie, Thomas Colton May 2026

A Cost-Effective, Low-Impact Remedial Approach For Metals: Utilizing Phyto-Enhancement To Accelerate Ph Adjustment Of Shallow Groundwater, Jerry Wylie, Thomas Colton

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

SynTerra will present a unique, low-cost, low-impact approach to metals remediation in shallow groundwater at a former industrial site located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The approach employs pH adjustment of groundwater using agricultural lime coupled with the use of daikon radish to augment lime contact time and to increase depth of soil augmentation. This method is designed to be a more sustainable, less resource-intensive, and less technically challenging remedial alternative with lower estimated overall costs. The primary corrective action—source removal—has been completed. However, the oxidation of residual sulfide-bearing minerals has resulted in persistent low-pH groundwater, which increases the solubility …


Ccr Impoundment Closure: Encapsulation Design Using Closure Cap And Cutoff Wall, John Klamut, A. Edward Sciulli, Kevin Bortz May 2026

Ccr Impoundment Closure: Encapsulation Design Using Closure Cap And Cutoff Wall, John Klamut, A. Edward Sciulli, Kevin Bortz

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

When closing a CCR Impoundment while leaving CCR in place, 40 CFR 257.102 requires minimizing post-closure infiltration of liquid into the CCR. This presentation will provide a description of a closure plan for a 16-acre impoundment in Indiana to accomplish this criteria. Key components of the closure plan which will be presented including consolidation of CCR into a smaller footprint due to questionable underlying clay layer identified in a portion of the impoundment and the design of a geosynthetic and soil cap system. A Soil-Cement-Bentonite (SCB) cutoff wall will be constructed to enclose the portion of the impoundment where CCR …


The Effect Of Closure In Place On Groundwater Performance Objectives, Dennis Connair, Jason Lach, Rachel Bosch May 2026

The Effect Of Closure In Place On Groundwater Performance Objectives, Dennis Connair, Jason Lach, Rachel Bosch

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The effect of closure in place (CiP) of a coal combustion residual (CCR) surface impoundment on the achievement of groundwater remedial performance objectives is evidenced in groundwater monitoring data. The CCR unit is located over a major alluvial aquifer adjacent to a navigable river. The unit is separated from the aquifer by an unsaturated zone and the compliance monitoring wells are located at the unit boundary. Sluicing of CCR to the unit was ceased in early 2020 with dry placement of CCR from other units and CiP/installation of a composite cap substantially completed by the end of 2020. Groundwater corrective …


Integrated Groundwater Flow And Transport Modeling For Coal Combustion Residual (Ccr) Sites: From Closure Permitting To Corrective Action, Brian Hennings, Pejman Rasouli, Vic Modeer, Rhys Fuller May 2026

Integrated Groundwater Flow And Transport Modeling For Coal Combustion Residual (Ccr) Sites: From Closure Permitting To Corrective Action, Brian Hennings, Pejman Rasouli, Vic Modeer, Rhys Fuller

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This session describes a coordinated multi-year effort to assess and manage groundwater quality at five CCR impoundments. The objectives were to (i) develop site-specific hydrogeologic and geochemical conceptual models; (ii) quantify groundwater flow and constituent transport under baseline and post-closure conditions; and (iii) design and evaluate corrective action strategies that achieve regulatory compliance and provide a defensible framework for long-term monitoring and management. The program highlights a phased approach aligned with regulatory requirements, progressing from closure construction to corrective action planning for detected exceedances. Comprehensive hydrogeologic datasets including borehole lithology, hydraulic testing, CCR source water characterization, and groundwater monitoring were …


Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty In Ccr Management: A Panel Discussion, Mark Rokoff, Richard Huggins, Martha Thomsen, Roger Clarke May 2026

Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty In Ccr Management: A Panel Discussion, Mark Rokoff, Richard Huggins, Martha Thomsen, Roger Clarke

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The only certainty in CCR management is regulatory uncertainty! As we approach 2026, the industry and “CCR Universe” faces significant challenges and uncertainties due to the proposed EPA rule expected early in the year. This panel discussion will bring together a diverse group of industry experts, including representatives from associations (e.g. EEI), legal professionals, utility representatives, and consultants, to address the hard questions head-on and provide insight to and understanding of the implications of these regulatory changes. Key discussion points will include: • Legal Ramifications and Possible Pathways for 2026: Exploring the potential major pathways considering the proposed regulations and …


Corrective Action Alternative Evaluation For Surface Impoundment Remedy – Two Case Study Examples, Qian Zhang, Andrew Bittner May 2026

Corrective Action Alternative Evaluation For Surface Impoundment Remedy – Two Case Study Examples, Qian Zhang, Andrew Bittner

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Illinois Administrative Code Part 845 requires owners and operators of coal combustion residual (CCR)-containing impoundments with groundwater protection standard (GWPS) exceedances to perform a Corrective Action Alternatives Analysis (CAAA) to evaluate viable remedies prior to selecting and implementing corrective action. The goal of a CAAA is to holistically evaluate a range of factors for the various corrective actions being considered at an impoundment. This presentation summarizes two CAAAs conducted for surface impoundments (SIs) at two power plants. Each CAAA applied a consistent decision framework that evaluates corrective action options using multiple performance criteria, such as: • Magnitude of Reduction of …


Ensuring Quality Geosynthetics Installations Throughout The Project Lifecycle, Glen Toepfer May 2026

Ensuring Quality Geosynthetics Installations Throughout The Project Lifecycle, Glen Toepfer

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

Geosynthetics serve numerous functions in containment systems used within the Coal Ash Industry and ultimately protect the site owner from liability. A failure in the geosynthetics containment system exposes the owner to liability; therefore, it is imperative that these geosynthetic containment systems be installed correctly to mitigate the risk of failure. Avoiding failure is not just the responsibility of the geosynthetics installer – it is the responsibility of every party involved in the project lifecycle from conception through post-closure. In fact, the success of the field installation is largely determined before the first panel of geomembrane is ever installed. The …


Evaluating And Managing Ccr Variability At An Active Beneficial Use Clean Closure Site, John Garten, Bob Baker, Lee Lenhart May 2026

Evaluating And Managing Ccr Variability At An Active Beneficial Use Clean Closure Site, John Garten, Bob Baker, Lee Lenhart

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

The basin is a 132-acre (534,200 square meter) coal combustion residual (CCR) disposal impoundment that has been undergoing closure-by-removal since 2021, with CCRs harvested for use in concrete manufacturing. Excavated CCRs are processed on-site through initial drying and screening before being routed through a thermal beneficiation process. Despite an extensive pre-closure CCR characterization program, pockets of material encountered in 2025 caused significant off-specification issues for the beneficiation feedstock that required immediate corrective action. To address this, a supplemental surveying, sampling, and on-site testing program was implemented to obtain additional grainsize and Loss on Ignition (LOI) data for active and upcoming …


Identifying And Controlling Landfill Construction Impacts To Stormwater Flow Paths, Kory Anstead May 2026

Identifying And Controlling Landfill Construction Impacts To Stormwater Flow Paths, Kory Anstead

World of Coal Ash Proceedings

This presentation will examine the engineering challenges and lessons learned associated with construction impacts and altered stormwater flow paths in the vicinity of a Sediment Pond adjacent to a newly constructed landfill. During construction activities, the sediment basin liner experienced multiple instances of flotation. Early corrective measures were implemented as quick fixes; however, these proved ineffective and ultimately necessitated more comprehensive solutions once the underlying causes were better understood. The presentation will begin with an analysis of the initial liner flotation events, focusing on the conditions that led to the problem, the immediate responses, and the eventual engineered solution. It …