Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Big Business, Small Plastic, Hannah Johnson

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Year Long Water Quality Analysis Of White Horn Brook, Kevin Dyer

Senior Honors Projects

KEVIN DYER (Marine Biology)

Year-long Analysis of the Water Quality of White Horn Brook

Sponsor: Thomas Boving (Geological Sciences)

Water is the foundation for all life on earth and is the most vital resource on this planet. Despite this, oceans and waterways all over the world are being polluted and exploited in ways detrimental to their fundamental hydrologic functions. For instance, excess nitrate levels can lead to eutrophication which gives rise to harmful algae blooms. Low pH can cause the breakdown of CaCO3 exoskeletons of organisms, such mollusks. High temperature variations are major stressors to living things and can cause …

The “Green Eating” Project: A Pilot Intervention To Promote Sustainable And Healthy Eating In College Students, Kelleigh E. Eastman

Senior Honors Projects

The “Green Eating” Project: A Pilot Intervention to Promote Sustainable and Healthy Eating in College Students

Kelleigh Eastman

Sponsor: Geoffrey Greene, Nutrition and Dietetics

A topic of interest that is growing in the general population is the idea of being sustainable, or “green”, and there is a rising awareness in sustainable practices involving food and the environment. Some of the “green” eating behaviors identified through my research included eating a plant-based (i.e. vegetarian or semi-vegetarian) diet, eating locally grown foods, eating organically grown foods, and eating foods that are labeled fair-trade. Frequently, these “green” eating behaviors are healthful eating behaviors …

Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden, Mark S. Scialla

Senior Honors Projects

An edible forest garden is a low-maintenance system that uses edible native and regionally-adapted plants arranged in beneficial relationships to meet human, wildlife and ecosystem needs. The forest garden in Roger Williams Park will transform underutilized urban land into a highly productive parcel producing market-viable fruits, nuts, vegetables, medicine and fiber. Forest gardens mimic natural forest systems in architecture and complexity. The design follows ecological principles to create a system that promotes biodiversity and enhances the surrounding ecosystem. This project also demonstrates the potential to grow food and create land-based livelihoods in the city.

Located on the edge of a …

Importance Of Early Successional Forest For Wildlife In Southern New England, Amy Wynia

Senior Honors Projects

Many bird species that require early successional forest are declining in the Northeast U.S. because such habitat is relatively rare and when they inhabit the more common mature forests or suburban areas they are less successful. Early successional forest is maintained by regular disturbance (wind, fire, clear-cutting, and flooding) which has been happening less frequently during the past 50 years. Bird species that have declined during this time and which inhabit early successional forest include ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), chestnut-sided warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera), eastern …

Nitrogen Loading From Wastewater Treatment Plants To Upper Narragansett Bay, Donald Pryor, Emily Saarman, David Murray, Warren Prell

Narragansett Bay Collection

Increasing awareness of low-oxygen conditions in Narragansett Bay, as well as other

symptoms of eutrophication such as macroalgae accumulation, eelgrass failure, and fish

kills, has led to management actions to reduce nitrogen loads to the upper Bay

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 …

Managine For Effectiveness And Efficiency In Oil Spill Response, Peter A. Tebeau

Theses and Major Papers

Responding to oil spills, even spills of moderate proportion, requires the commitment of substantial manpower and equipment on the part of the responsible party or the federal government. Throughout the response operation, successful spill management entails choosing the most effective and efficient countermeasures and cleanup techniques to remove or neutralize oil in the environment, minimize overall environmental damages from the spill, and insure that the objectives and expectations of government agencies, responsible parties, and the public are met. As the response progresses, effective and efficient management requires determining when response operations should be terminated. In making this decision, the On-Scene …

The Providence River Shipping Channel Dredge Project: Its Best Chance For Success Is Through Risk Communication, Elizabeth R. Deblois

Theses and Major Papers

Providence Harbor and the Providence River shipping channel in Narragansett Bay need dredging to accommodate the shipping interest of the Port of Providence. Federal and State regulations have evolved in such a way that no dredging can be initiated without identifying sites for disposal of the dredge spoils. Dredge spoils are one of the few remaining categories of materials that, under regulation, can be dumped in the ocean. What then stalemates the process of identifying dredge spoil sites and initiating a dredging program? By default Rhode Island has adopted the "do nothing" alternative for the past twenty years. This apparently …

The Persian Gulf Oil Spill: A Case Study Of Emerging International Law On Environmental Damages During Hostilities, Esther J. Mcclure

Theses and Major Papers

During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the retreating Iraqis caused the deliberate discharge of six million barrels of oil into the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. The immediate impact on the ecosystem was dramatic, and, because of the intense media coverage of the conflict, highly visible to the American public. The spill popularized the term 'ecoterrorism' and raised serious questions about the applicability of international law to the situation. There are numerous conventions that seek to establish standards of due diligence for the prevention of accidental pollution and to impose civil liability on those who damage the environment, but …

The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy: A Comparison With The Approach Of The Unep Regional Seas Programme, Vinton Valentine

Theses and Major Papers

In the past two decades, there has been a rise in the number of multilateral regional agreements for marine environmental protection. A large proportion of these regional agreements are the result of the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Regional Seas Programme. While there are thirteen regional seas under the Programme, the Arctic Ocean is not, and never was, one of them. In describing concerns regarding the Arctic environment and approaches to handle them, a number of commentators have proposed the application of UNEP Regional Seas Programme approach to the Arctic region. However, despite an attempt from the Inuit Circumpolar Conference …

Conservation And Management Of Sri Lanka's Coastal Resources Through The Experience Of Other Countries, K.W.P. Thilakaratna

Theses and Major Papers

After Sri Lanka's independence in 1948, the economic importance of the coastal areas had intensified due to development of commercial and fishery harbors, transportation, communication, and recreational facilities. Opportunities in the public administration, industry, and education sectors were other main attractions. With the introduction of international tourism in 1970, economic development of coastal areas increased further. In addition to the job opportunities provided by the industrial and commercial sectors, many people were engaged in other activities depending on coastal resources, including fishing and mining activities. Prior to 1978, there was no proper authority or mechanism to address coastal issues. legislation …

Marine Safety And Pollution Prevention: The Role Of The Port State, Jonathan Douglas Sarubbi

Theses and Major Papers

This paper will examine the evolving role of the port State with regard to the enforcement of international safety of life at sea and pollution control standards and its effect on improving maritime safety and reducing vessel-source pollution. Chapter 2 will analyze the flag State enforcement regime, with particular emphasis on flags of convenience or open registries countries demonstrating the inadequacy of flag State enforcement and the need for port State control. Chapter 3 will examine the concept and legal requirements of the port State control regime. Chapter 4 will focus on the role of the port State with respect …

Analysis Of Factors Contributing To Environmental Activism: A Case Study Of Beach Clean-Up Participants, Elizabeth Ann Fuller

Theses and Major Papers

This study was initiated to investigate factors which contribute to environmental activism. Towards this end, three hypotheses were investigated. First, it was hypothesized that beach clean-up participants would harbor pro-environmental attitudes. Second, it was hypothesized that participants would be relatively young, politically liberal, well-educated, and wealthy. Finally, it was hypothesized that particular types of social structure would influence a person's decision to participate in a beach clean-up. Specifically, it was hypothesized that participants at each clean-up location would be clique members and/or would be structurally equivalent. Surprising, it was revealed that there was virtually no difference in attitude between the …

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 …

Marine Spill Response Corporation (Msrc): How It Hopes To Fill The Oil Recovery Requirements Of The Oil Pollution Act Of 1990, Gerald P. O'Reilly

Theses and Major Papers

The establishment of Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) is a direct outcome of OPA-90 which will have a substantial effect on domestic shipment, storage and traffic of oil. The ramifications of the law will be felt internationally and it has set a precedent for prevention of oil spills from tankers throughout the world. It will have a positive impact on the environment of the world. But it will be costly and the public will ultimately bear the burden of the environment impact.

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 …

Alyeska, Sullom Voe And The Oil Pollution Act Of 1990: A Comparison Of Tanker Safety Regulation And Environmental Monitoring, Neil V. Kelly

Theses and Major Papers

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 highlighted deficiencies in the Trans Alaska Pipeline System's (TAPS) marine operation on both regulatory and operational levels. The United States Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to promote the prevention of oil spills and to improve our ability to mitigate the effects of spills that occur. An oil terminal roughly analogous to the TAPS terminal at Valdez, Alaska, exists at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands, west of Norway and to the north of Scotland in the North Sea. The Sullom Voe terminal has had an environmental advisory group guiding policy …

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 …

The 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement: A Model Of Intergovernmental And Multi-State Cooperation In Estuary/Coastal Resource Management, John F. Faltus

Theses and Major Papers

The 1980s witnessed an increased awareness of the problems of estuary and coastal water pollution. The medical waste problems of 1988 heightened public awareness of this problem and showed that coastal pollution is not just isolated but rather is a regional problem which requires regional solutions. During the 1980x the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the States of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia worked together to forge two agreements, one in 1983, and more significantly a broader agreement in 1987, in which they agreed to work together to develop specific goals and objectives to address and solve …

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion: (Otec) Outlook For The Future, John M. Kroft

Theses and Major Papers

The temperature differential between the tropical ocean surface and deep waters represents tremendous energy potential. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems represent an environmentally sound method to extract that energy resource. Included in this paper is a review of the history of OTEC, basic thermodynamic principles involved and major components of the system. The three basic types of OTEC systems are discussed, citing the various advantages and disadvantages of each. The resource extent and possible environmental impacts are examined from the U. S. perspective. After reviewing the conflicting ocean use interest involved, comparative cost calculations of energy types, and the …

The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, Susan Ware

Theses and Major Papers

The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty was opened for signature on August 5, 1985, on the 40th Anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima. The Treaty prohibits Party states from controlling or assisting in the manufacture of nuclear explosive devices and from allowing devices not in their control stationing within their territory or land space. The Protocols to the Treaty enjoin the nuclear weapon sates and the states with territories within the Zone to adhere to the principles of the Treaty and to refrain from control or use of any nuclear explosive devices within the Zone. The principle concern of …

Licensing Of The U. S. Maritime Personnel: The International Impacts, Warren G. Schneeweis

Theses and Major Papers

This paper examines the international and Federal efforts to enhance safety at sea and the protection of the marine environment through the development of standards to improve the training and strengthen the professional qualifications of seafarers. Special regard is made to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, signed by the United States in 1979, and to the proposed amendments to the Federal regulations for licensing U. S. maritime personnel which will bring the U. S. licensing scheme in general conformance with that Convention. This research should lessen resistance to U. S. ratification of …

Pollution In The Mediterranean: A Regional Response, Antony O. Heimer

Theses and Major Papers

Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea has been an issue of significant political, economic and environmental concern for more than a decade. It has more recently become a regional issue with politically diverse coastal states and a wide variety of international agencies implementing cooperative programs of scientific research, education and training, planning, and treaty drafting. Being a regional issue, the pollution problem has facilitated discussions between nations on several levels and governments have found it politically advantageous to use the issue for a variety of purposes.This paper will provide an overview of the Mediterranean pollution problem, covering the nature of the …

The Rhode Island Quahogger: Candidate For The List Of Endangered Species?, James M. Korney

Theses and Major Papers

It is the hypothesis of this paper that today the livelihood of the independent Narragansett Bay quahogger is faced with two potentially dangerous threats; water pollution in upper Narragansett Bay and the prospect of an expanding aquaculture industry in the lower bay. Unless the state of Rhode Island properly interprets and enforces existing state legislation to protect the quahoggers interests, his very livelihood will be jeoprodized. This paper will examine the legal, political, economic, and environmental affects of water pollution in upper Narragansett Bay and an expanding aquaculture industry in the lower bay in their relation to the Rhode Island …

Municipal Sewage Treatment: Problems And Considerations, George R. Johnson

Theses and Major Papers

The coastal areas are vital to the economic and physical well being of the United States. Virtually every facet of our way of life is related in some fashion to these coastal areas. Ocean borne transportation moves not only vast quantities of raw materials, but also many of the intermediate and final products that are then manufactured to their related market areas. Fisheries provide vast amounts of food and employment for many of our people. In addition, the coasts are a continuing source of enjoyment and recreation for millions of our citizens. Coastal waters provide much of the water necessary …

Decision Analysis: A Systematic Approach To Environmental Impact Assessment, Richard E. Dodson

Theses and Major Papers

The creation of the national Environmental Policy Act of 1969 was an explicit recognition by the congress for the need of a better management system to be used in environmental matters by all federal agencies. Section 102(2)(A) of the Act directs that a systematic, interdisciplinary approach be used in the planning and in the decision-making if the planned action may have an impact on the environment. While the council on Environmental Quality, which was created under the Act, has revised its regulations recently pertaining to the structure and format of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), it has yet to articulate how …

A Comparison Of Global Conventions Concerned With Controlling Ship-Borne Pollution On The High Seas, Robert F. Ogurek

Theses and Major Papers

This paper will compare the global conventions concerned with controlling ship-borne pollution, noting the major differences in regulations concerned with the prevention, control and reporting of pollution incidents, as well as the enforcement provisions of these conventions. Section I of this paper will be a discussion of the provisions made in the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea Draft Convention on the Law of the Sea (not yet in force) concerning ship-borne pollution. Section II will be a discussion of the major global conventions, both those presently in force and those yet to enter into force, …

A High School Curriculum In Marine Environmental Issues: "The Sea - Use And Abuse" Part I, Martha J. Zimmerman

Theses and Major Papers

To the Teacher: The materials presented and developed in this learning activity packet involve dynamic, complex, and persistent environmental issues concerning man's interaction with the oceans and the marine environment. As we progress into the 1980's, many decisions effecting the marine world will be made within the political sphere. These decisions will have wide-spreading impacts into the economic and social areas as well. Some consequences will be observed immediately, and others perhaps more serious, defiant of detection, and in some instances even hazardous, may have delayed results. The complex interrelationships of land and oceanic environments, the fragility of the marine …

A High School Curriculum In Marine Environmental Issues: "The Sea - Use And Abuse" Part Ii, Martha J. Zimmerman

Theses and Major Papers

To the Student: As we progress into the 1980's, you will become more aware of a number of marine related environmental issues. Many of these complex marine issues will be decided within the political sphere of our society. These are not isolated issues, but rather complicated ones which impact a wide section of our economic and social lives. The issues we are discussing include: land use (especially in the coastal zone), the city of facilities (e.g. sewer treatment plants, power plants, nuclear power plants), and the drilling for oil and gas and minerals on submerged and continental shelf areas. Port …