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Conserving The Public Lands: Policy And Spatial Analysis Of A Bureau Of Land Management Conservation Leasing Mechanism, Isaiah M. Menning

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the largest land administrator in the United States, managing about 10% of U.S. lands, primarily in the Western states. The BLM manages under a multiple-use framework, issuing commercial authorizations for grazing, mining, oil and gas, and wind and solar on public lands, while also managing for ecosystem health. In April 2024, the agency finalized a rule that would create a conservation leasing mechanism to allow private, state, and tribal parties to lease BLM lands for restoration and mitigation purposes, which I investigate here. First, I find that while the conservation leasing mechanism does …

Land-Use Governance And Indigenous Engagement In Arctic Alaska And Norway: Successes, Current Gaps, And Paths Forward, Ningning Sun

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

This study aims to analyze the land use governance structures and the role of Indigenous engagement in Alaska and Norway using a comparative approach, with special focus on successful practices, current gaps, and paths forward to achieve equitable governance. Extractive land uses, such as oil and gas extraction and the construction of wind farms, have mixed impacts on Indigenous communities and lead to social and legal issues such as land use conflict and environmental injustice. Previous research has studied land use governance in Arctic countries with regard to Indigenous Peoples, yet there is a lack of literature that spans Alaska …

Carbon Pricing In Action: Evaluating The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Evelyn M. Hatem

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is one of the longest-standing emissions trading schemes for carbon dioxide in the United States. “Cap-and-trade” describes an emissions trading scheme where emissions are capped at a specific level, allowances are allocated beneath that cap, and emitters can trade allowances. In RGGI, the cap lowers over time, and the allowances are distributed via a quarterly auction. While RGGI includes 10 member states across the Northeast United States, there is risk of carbon leakage whereby the carbon price signal in RGGI states reduces carbon emissions in those states, but there is increased generation in neighboring …

The Fight For Rice: Understanding How Monte Cristi Will Respond To Dr-Cafta And Climate Change, Scarlette G. Flores

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

The Dominican Republic and Central American Free Trade Agreement, or DR-CAFTA, was signed on March 1, 2007 by the United States, the Dominican Republic and six other countries in Central America. The United States set specific tariff schedules to be phased in after twenty years for certain crops, one of which is rice. Rice is one of the most important crops in the Dominican Republic and produced in the northwestern province of Monte Cristi. This area is affected by climate change due to droughts and water shortages. In my research, I investigate how rice farmers and agrochemical companies, two important …

Spatial Targeting Of Irrigation Development And Water Resource Management To Mitigate Vector-Borne Disease, April Frake, Brad Peter, Grivin Chipula, Joseph Messina

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Scaling irrigated agriculture is a global strategy to mitigate food insecurity concerns. While expanding irrigated agriculture is critical to meeting food production demands, it is important to consider how these land use and land cover changes (LULCC) may alter the water resources of landscapes and impact the spatiotemporal epidemiology of disease. Here, a generalizable method is presented to inform irrigation development decision-making aimed at increasing crop production through irrigation while simultaneously mitigating malaria risk to surrounding communities. Changes to the spatiotemporal patterns of malaria vector (Anopheles gambiae s.s.) suitability, driven by irrigated agricultural expansion, are presented for Malawi's rainy and …

Draft Final Revised Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) (Residential Parcels), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Of The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Residential Metals Abatement Program Yard Submittals (Dated April 24, 2024) And Draft Rmap Remedial Action Work Plan (Dated May 7, 2024), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Deferred Grazing And Sheep At The Break Of Season In South West Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock factsheets

Grazing annual pastures in the first 12 days after germination can lower the productivity of pastures during winter by removing poorly rooted plants, and by reducing plant leaf area to sub-optimal levels. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) recommends deferring grazing of pasture paddocks at the break-of-season until feed on offer is at least 500–800 kilograms of dry matter per hectare (kg DM/ha). At this level, pasture plants are likely to be firmly rooted and have sufficient leaf area to be productively grazed.

Class Notes

DePaul Magazine

DePaul alumni share news about their promotions, career moves, weddings, birth announcements, other accomplishments and more with the DePaul community. John Carruthers (CMN MA '09) makes pizzas to support nonprofits. Nyabweza Itaagi (LAS MA '18) helps grow a community-owned agro-eco district with a nature trail in a former rail corridor and conversions of vacant lots into urban farms.

Study On Law And Influencing Factors Of Air Leakage In Isolated Island Working Face With Large Burial Depth, Gang Wang, Mingze Xia, Shuliang Xie, Hao Xu, Shuxin Wang, Xintai Deng

Journal of Sustainable Mining

During the mining of a single coal seam isolated island work surface with large burial depth, the high mine pressures can crush and break the protective coal pillars, causing serious air leakages in the rear goaf. Herein, we use the analytic hierarchy process(AHP) to determine the main influencing factors of air leakage in island mining face. The air leakage source and sink in goaf were determined by measuring the differential pressures between the island mining face and the adjacent goaf using the energy level measurement method. The air volumes in the roadways were monitored on site to quantitatively analyze the …

Wildfire Smoke Impacts Lake Ecosystems, Mary Jade Farruggia, Janice Brahney, Andrew J. Tanentzap, Jennifer A. Bentrup, Ludmila S. Brighenti, Sudeep Chandra, Alicia Cortés, Rocio L. Fernandez, Janet M. Fischer, Alexander L. Forrest, Yufang Jin, Kenneth Larrieu, Ian M. Mccullough, Isabella A. Oleksy, Rachel M. Pilla, James A. Rusak, Facundo Scordo, Adrianne P. Smits, Celia C. Symons, Minmeng Tang, Samuel G. Woodman, Steven Sadro

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Wildfire activity is increasing globally. The resulting smoke plumes can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers, reflecting or scattering sunlight and depositing particles within ecosystems. Several key physical, chemical, and biological processes in lakes are controlled by factors affected by smoke. The spatial and temporal scales of lake exposure to smoke are extensive and under-recognized. We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 to 2021. Because smoke can be transported at …

Residential Metals Abatement Program Investigation Summary Report Kennedy Elementary School Post- Remedial Action Surface Dust Sampling, Christopher Berg, Elsie King

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Rock Glaciers In Utah, Scott Hotaling, Kendall Becker, Matthew Morriss

All Current Publications

Utah’s primary water supply––winter snowpack––is in decline due to climate warming coupled with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow. As snowpack dwindles, other sources of cold stream water, such as rock glaciers, will become more important. Rock glaciers contain significant volumes of internal ice covered by debris. This internal ice provides cold meltwater to mountain streams, sustaining flows in summer and supporting biodiversity. Rock glaciers are common in Utah’s mountains and are projected to be more stable under climate change than Utah’s snowpack. Thus, rock glaciers are likely to persist in their current form even as snowpack volumes …

Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Uncontrolled Surface Flow Areas Remedial Design (Rd) Work Plan, Draft Bpsou Uncontrolled Surface Flow Areas Pre-Design Investigation (Pdi) Work Plan, 2023 Uncontrolled Surface Flow Area Soil Characterization Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) [Dated January 25, 2024], Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Gender-Based Service Quality Evaluation Of Multimodal Public Transportation In Dki Jakarta, Mohammad Owais, Jachrizal Sumabrata, Nahry Yusuf

Smart City

In DKI Jakarta, despite the extensive infrastructure development, there has been a significant decline in the usage of public transportation. This can be attributed to the inadequate quality of the services provided. Various studies have highlighted the significance of evaluating the quality of service in public transportation to ensure passenger satisfaction and attract new users. However, there is no agreement on the most effective methodology and suitable indicators for conducting such analyses. In addition, there is a growing recognition of the importance of promoting gender equality in multimodal public transportation (MMPT) and understanding gender differences and perceptions of MMPT services. …

Prototype Device For Measuring The Dustiness Of Stone And Lime Dust Used In Explosion Prevention, Adrian Toman, Zdzisław Dyduch, Tomasz Skowronek

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This paper presents the prototype of a device for measuring the dustiness of powdered materials by means of a new measurement method. The currently employed stationary laboratory device, utilised in KD “Barbara”, uses the attenuation of a radiant flux transmitted through a dust cloud induced by a manually generated air blast. The new device uses the same measurement method, but it includes modern elements based on a microprocessor, a laser line generator instead of an LED diode, and a precise multi-channel detector. The generated quantity of the mixture (dust and air) is strictly determined and precisely dosed via buffer containers, …

Tracking Mining Company Electric Vehicles For Sustainable Development Optimization Using Distributed Ledger Technologies, Teodora Hristova

Journal of Sustainable Mining

It is established that based on the industrial revolutions towards Industry 5.0, the population of the Earth and its well-being are increasing. To preserve and improve living conditions the development in all spheres of life is by the paradigm of sustainable development. Through the prism of the mining industry, one step could be the introduction of circular economy measures for digitized tracking of materials, repairs, consumed electricity, safety, and finances. Implementing of electric cars is an option to achieve this goal through automation, manageability, and data traceability via Industry 4.0 technologies. Such are blockchain technologies, IoT, V2V, and others. For …

College Of Saint Benedict And Saint John's University Fy2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Csb+Sju Office Of Sustainability

Sustainability Office Publications

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) Office of Sustainability conducted a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory that includes emissions from both CSB and SJU campuses. This report details GHG emissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) in Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (MTCO2e), the standard unit of measurement used to track and report GHG emissions based on their global warming potential. Data was collected, organized, and analyzed by staff in the CSB and SJU Sustainability Office.

A Screening Life Cycle Analysis Of One-Way And Reusable Crate Designs – Estimating Environmental Impacts Via Lca Software, Nicolas R. Corona

Master's Theses

A comparison analysis conducted via COMPASS life cycle analysis software has indicated that a one-way crate design, rather than a reusable crate design, is in fact the more environmentally friendly packaging system. These results can be interpreted differently, however, as the manufacturer of said crate designs must confirm what impact indicators they would like to reference as environmental goalposts. The conducted analysis provides insight into what the environmental impacts of each packaging system look like as packaging at all three system levels has been identified as a means of reducing environmental impacts globally. As such, the manufacturer of said crate …

Assessing The Efficacy Of Hydraulic Pumping As A Remediation Method Of A Subsurface Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Spill In Arroyo Grande, California, James M. Raney

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

The efficacy of hydraulic pumping as a remediation method of a petroleum, or Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) spill in Arroyo Grande, California will be assessed by determining aquifer properties, assessing the chemical properties of the contaminant, recovering the contaminant from the subsurface, and proposing alternative remediation techniques. Soil, groundwater and contaminant characteristics, cumulative volume of LNAPL skimming test data, pumping rates, and LNAPL thicknesses in wells installed within the contaminant plume were collected. Sediments around the LNAPL source are contaminated with hydrocarbons in the gas and diesel range. Pumping efficacy is expected to continue to decrease at the site, …

Electrocoagulation As A Pretreatment For Reverse Osmosis For Potable Water From Brackish Groundwater, Mahmood Jebur, Yu-Hsuan Chiao, Hideto Matsuyama, S. Ranil Wickramasinghe

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a widely utilized method for water treatment and desalination. Our study examined the application of an electrocoagulation (EC) and RO hybrid system for treating actual brackish groundwater (BGW), focusing on reducing RO scaling by EC pretreatment. A series of EC operating conditions were investigated, such as applied voltage, pH, EC reaction time, and type of electrode. The commercial software WAVE was utilized to analyze the water quality to assess the scaling potential of the EC pretreated feed stream for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) BGW desalination plant. The SAWS BGW desalination process involves a three-stage …

Western Kentucky University Stormwater Utility Survey 2024, Warren Campbell

SEAS Faculty Publications

The main goal of this survey is to identify as many U.S. Stormwater Utilities (SWUs) as possible. Because many stormwater professionals do not have the time to respond to questionnaires, our primary method of identification was Internet searches. We searched key terms such as “stormwater utility,” “stormwater fee,” and “drainage fee.” We scoured online municipal codes such as Municode, AmLegal, Sterling, LexisNexis, General Code, and others. We searched through many city web websites to find utilities. We have also had many people contact me to update fees and identify new utilities. However, the data primarily comes from Internet sources and …

Creative Connections: Building Empathy To Foster Ecoliteracy Through Art Education, Jocelyn Salim

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the potential positive impact of fostering empathy and understanding for the natural world through art education. Through action research, this study examines various teaching approaches, such as incorporating scientific knowledge, employing literature to discuss ecological themes, and engaging in participatory storytelling activities to cultivate empathy among elementary school children. The objective of this thesis is to explore empathy as a potential pathway to encourage children to foster connections with the natural world and develop compassionate traits, attitudes, and behaviors towards nature as they grow. The findings of this study reveal that children exhibit high levels of enthusiasm …

Electric Vehicle Usage Patterns In Multi-Vehicle Households In The Us: A Machine Learning Study, Vuban Chowdhury, Suman Kumar Mitra, Sarah Hernandez

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Electric vehicles (EVs) play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions. In the US, EVs are mostly owned by multi-vehicle households, and their usage is primarily studied in the context of vehicle miles traveled. This study takes a unique approach by analyzing EV usage through the lens of vehicle choice (between EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles) within multi-vehicle households. A two-step machine-learning framework (clustering and decision trees) is proposed. The framework determines the preferred trip category for EV use and captures the effects of household attributes, driver attributes, built-environment factors, and gas prices on EV use in multi-vehicle households. …

Investigating H2s Occurrence In Bakken Oil-Producing Wells Using Sulfur Isotopes In Gas, Water, And Rock Samples, Alexander V. Chakhmakhchev, Marc D. Kurz, T. Austin Mcrae, Xue Yu, Arash Abarghani, Darren D. Schmidt, Nicholas A. Azzolina, Bethany A. Kurz, James A. Sorensen

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This work investigated multiple mechanisms that can potentially lead to H₂S in the oil production stream of Bakken wells, including TSR, BSR, source rock generation, migration from deeper or shallower formations that contain H₂S, and geomechanical mechanisms related to reservoir stimulation work.

Herbicides, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Herbicides play a vital role in integrated weed management programs. Knowledge of the mechanisms and activity of herbicides will improve the impact and sustainability of herbicides as a weed management tactic. This fact sheet is a guide to the types of herbicides available and when and how they should be used.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, June 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- Rota, Spain: A Unique Hub for U.S. Military Vehicle Painting
--- Get involved with the Solid Waste Educators Group
--- USDA announces Composting and Food Waste Cooperative Agreements
--- Library Compost Training Series visits West Bend, IA
--- Important Reminders

Matching The Scales Of Planning And Environmental Risk: An Evaluation Of Community Wildfire Protection Plans In The Western Us, Matthew Hamilton, Cody Evers, Max Nielsen-Pincus, Alan A. Ager

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Theory predicts that effective environmental governance requires that the scales of management account for the scales of environmental processes. A good example is community wildfire protection planning. Plan boundaries that are too narrowly defined may miss sources of wildfire risk originating at larger geographic scales whereas boundaries that are too broadly defined dilute resources. Although the concept of scale (mis)matches is widely discussed in literature on risk mitigation as well as environmental governance more generally, rarely has the concept been rigorously quantified. We introduce methods to address this limitation, and we apply our approach to assess scale matching among Community …

Herbicide Application, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grains and other field crops factsheets

Herbicides can be applied by a variety of means, including boom sprayers, aerial spraying, misters, blanket wipers, rope wick applicators, weed seekers and back-pack sprayers. This fact sheet reviews the different methods, including nozzles and calibration of equipment, used to apply herbicides.

Environmental Fate And Transport Of Pfas In Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent Discharged To Rapid Infiltration Basins, Kai M. Trobisch

Masters Theses

Fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent discharged to rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) is investigated using data from 26 WWTPs in Michigan and numerical modeling to assess the role of air-water interface (AWI) sorption in modulating mass fluxes to the saturated zone. Analysis of RIB physical properties yields a median separation distance of 6.5 meters between land surface and the water table, and a continuum of area-normalized effluent fluxes ranging from 0.01 to 0.62 meters per day. A subset of WWTPs with RIBs indicate higher PFAS concentrations in groundwater than effluent with …