The northern Great Plains of Saskatchewan is one of the most significantly modified landscapes in Canada. While the majority of anthropogenic disturbance to Saskatchewans grasslands is the result of agricultural practices, oil and gas activity are of increasing concern to grassland conservation efforts. Although such developments require formal regulatory approval (Environmental Impact Assessment), follow-up and monitoring of the effects of oil and gas development on grasslands is not common practice. In the absence of empirical based follow-up and monitoring, the actual environmental effects of petroleum and natural gas (PNG) development on grassland ecology and the spatial extent of development are largely unknown.<p> This thesis examines the spatial and temporal extent of PNG development and its effects on grassland ecology within a PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) pasture in southwest Saskatchewan. The extent of the changes to infrastructure and the actual impacts from development within the study area were documented from 1955 to 2006. The actual impacts of oil and gas activity on grassland ecology were determined by analyzing ground cover characteristics, soil properties, and community composition at lease sites and compared to reference pasture sites. Associated with construction practices, lease sites had low herbaceous, Lycopodiaceae, litter, organic horizon (Ah) thickness, and soil compaction values. Lease sites were also found to have low desirable species diversity, range health values, and greater undesirable species presence. Impacts from development were amplified at active, highly productive lease sites. The impacts associated with PNG development were also found to persist for more than 50 years, and extend 20m 25m beyond the physical footprint of infrastructure. This research will contribute to monitoring and mitigation measures for oil and gas development within Saskatchewan and Canadian grasslands.

The northern Great Plains of Saskatchewan is one of the most significantly modified landscapes in Canada. While the majority of anthropogenic disturbance to Saskatchewans grasslands is the result of agricultural practices, oil and gas activity are of increasing concern to grassland conservation efforts. Although such developments require formal regulatory approval (Environmental Impact Assessment), follow-up and monitoring of the effects of oil and gas development on grasslands is not common practice. In the absence of empirical based follow-up and monitoring, the actual environmental effects of petroleum and natural gas (PNG) development on grassland ecology and the spatial extent of development are largely unknown.<p> This thesis examines the spatial and temporal extent of PNG development and its effects on grassland ecology within a PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) pasture in southwest Saskatchewan. The extent of the changes to infrastructure and the actual impacts from development within the study area were documented from 1955 to 2006. The actual impacts of oil and gas activity on grassland ecology were determined by analyzing ground cover characteristics, soil properties, and community composition at lease sites and compared to reference pasture sites. Associated with construction practices, lease sites had low herbaceous, Lycopodiaceae, litter, organic horizon (Ah) thickness, and soil compaction values. Lease sites were also found to have low desirable species diversity, range health values, and greater undesirable species presence. Impacts from development were amplified at active, highly productive lease sites. The impacts associated with PNG development were also found to persist for more than 50 years, and extend 20m 25m beyond the physical footprint of infrastructure. This research will contribute to monitoring and mitigation measures for oil and gas development within Saskatchewan and Canadian grasslands.

Enteric adenoviruses (EAd) types 40 and 41 (Ad40 and Ad41) representing subgenus F, are primary pathogens of children being second only to rotaviruses as the most important cause of infantile diarrhea. The EAds differ from all other adenoviruses in their inability to grow in most conventional established cell lines and have been suggested to be deficient in some early gene functions since they could be complemented by Ad 5 early regions EIA and E1B. In order to search for differences that could explain its characteristic growth restriction, the early regions EIA and E1B of Ad41 (strain D389) were sequenced, analysed and compared with the corresponding regions of Adl2, Ad7, Ad2, and Ad4. As revealed by the analysis of Ad2, three major mRNAs of 9S, 12S and 13S are generated from region EIA. The EIA region of Ad41 encodes two mRNAs corresponding to the 12S and 13S mRNAs. Only the 13S mRNA is transcribed at detectable levels. This mRNA can be translated into a 251 aa putative protein that contains the three highly conserved domains found in all other human adenoviruses and shown to be responsible for many important regulatory functions during infection. The E1B region of Ad41 encodes three transcripts that correspond to 22S, 14S and 9S mRNA of Ad2. No equivalent to the 13S mRNA of Ad2 E1B is found. In addition the Ad41 14S mRNA exhibits an additional exon of 23 bp created by a donor and an acceptor splice sites not desribed for other adenovirus E1B sequences. Due to their growth restriction in conventional cultures, rapid diagnostic procedures developed for the enteric adenovirus infections have mainly been aimed at the detection of viral antigens or nucleic acids. This thesis also describes several procedures developed for the general detection of adenoviruses and specific detection of the enteric types in stools specimens. General and specific hybridization assays were developed by use of two BamHI clones obtained from the EIA region of Ad41. One- and two-step PCR procedures were also developed for the general detection of adenoviruses using primers corresponding to highly conserved sequences within the hexon gene. Subgenus F specific one- and two-step PCRs were developed by using primers located in the Ad41 E1B region. The one-step PCR systems were tested and validated against isolation in tissue culture, DNA restriction enzyme analysis and a commercial latex agglutination test in the study of 60 specimens obtained from children with rotavirus negative diarrhea. The asymptomatic fecal excretion of adenoviruses was evaluated by two-step PCR amplifications on samples from 50 healthy children, 50 healthy adults, and 50 adults suffering from diarrhea. Finally, a simplified procedure for detection, discrimination and typing of EAd was also designed by combining the one-step PCR amplification of the hexon region with the restriction of the 300 bp product. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1992</p> / digitalisering@umu

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been successfully adopted in South Africa in line with international trends. A number of international scholars found that EIA offers distinct advantages to a proposed project (Bartik, 1988; Porter & van der Linde, 1995; Annandale & Taplin, 2003). The widespread successful adoption of EIA could be an indication that the benefits of conducting EIAs outweigh the potential economic loss due to delays and costs related to the EIA. However, there are negative perceptions about EIA and its influence on development. But the question is whether South African engineers are experiencing these benefits at project level? South African civil engineers are faced with the legislative requirements of EIAs on a daily basis. Through a survey of professionally registered civil engineers this research examined the merits that EIA has for civil engineers. It was found that EIA helps engineers to ensure that they have all the legal aspects of the development in place before the development starts. Furthermore EIA creates the opportunity for the engineers to design out the most significant adverse environmental impacts. It was found that since the implementation of EIA engineers are observing a shift towards more environmentally sound design alternatives. Therefore, if the EIA process is influencing engineers to review their designs from an environmental point of view, it could significantly minimise environmental impacts. According to engineers it was found that, EIA is assisting them in taking all the potential impacts of a new development into account during the design process. The engineering design normally determines the true environmental impact of a development. According to the respondents, the majority were aware of projects where the design was changed as a result of potential impacts highlighted by the EIA. It was found that for the majority of the respondents the environmental review of the design was a key component of the design process. According to the engineers that took part in the survey, they were aware of projects where the EIA improved the sustainability of the design by effecting a change to the design or to the construction materials. Since the implementation of EIA they have become more aware of, not only the life cycle, but also the sustainability of the development. EIA is therefore creating awareness about sustainability in the engineering fraternity. The engineers experienced EIA as a useful tool for improving the sustainability of the design. However, it was found that EIA also caused a significant delay in the majority of the projects where the respondents were involved. The delays were sometimes so severe that it jeopardised the economic feasibility of the projects in question. According to the respondents, the delays are mainly due to slow decision making by the competent authority. Due to this slow decision making process, the engineers blame the competent authority if they start with the construction of the project before authorisation. However, in spite of these delays, the engineers are still of the opinion that EIA is doing more good to the environment than harm to the economy. It was found that what the majority of the engineers knew about the EIA process was what they had learned from their own experience. They agreed that there was very little focus on environmental sustainability during their undergraduate studies and that EIA training during their undergraduate study would have been useful. But in spite of this, the majority of respondents did not complete any environmental short courses or post graduate studies. It was found that EIA does in fact have a positive influence on the work of civil engineers and that they experience these benefits at project level. The engineers have a positive attitude towards EIA and it is increasingly influencing their work positively. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been successfully adopted in South Africa in line with international trends. A number of international scholars found that EIA offers distinct advantages to a proposed project (Bartik, 1988; Porter & van der Linde, 1995; Annandale & Taplin, 2003). The widespread successful adoption of EIA could be an indication that the benefits of conducting EIAs outweigh the potential economic loss due to delays and costs related to the EIA. However, there are negative perceptions about EIA and its influence on development. But the question is whether South African engineers are experiencing these benefits at project level? South African civil engineers are faced with the legislative requirements of EIAs on a daily basis. Through a survey of professionally registered civil engineers this research examined the merits that EIA has for civil engineers. It was found that EIA helps engineers to ensure that they have all the legal aspects of the development in place before the development starts. Furthermore EIA creates the opportunity for the engineers to design out the most significant adverse environmental impacts. It was found that since the implementation of EIA engineers are observing a shift towards more environmentally sound design alternatives. Therefore, if the EIA process is influencing engineers to review their designs from an environmental point of view, it could significantly minimise environmental impacts. According to engineers it was found that, EIA is assisting them in taking all the potential impacts of a new development into account during the design process. The engineering design normally determines the true environmental impact of a development. According to the respondents, the majority were aware of projects where the design was changed as a result of potential impacts highlighted by the EIA. It was found that for the majority of the respondents the environmental review of the design was a key component of the design process. According to the engineers that took part in the survey, they were aware of projects where the EIA improved the sustainability of the design by effecting a change to the design or to the construction materials. Since the implementation of EIA they have become more aware of, not only the life cycle, but also the sustainability of the development. EIA is therefore creating awareness about sustainability in the engineering fraternity. The engineers experienced EIA as a useful tool for improving the sustainability of the design. However, it was found that EIA also caused a significant delay in the majority of the projects where the respondents were involved. The delays were sometimes so severe that it jeopardised the economic feasibility of the projects in question. According to the respondents, the delays are mainly due to slow decision making by the competent authority. Due to this slow decision making process, the engineers blame the competent authority if they start with the construction of the project before authorisation. However, in spite of these delays, the engineers are still of the opinion that EIA is doing more good to the environment than harm to the economy. It was found that what the majority of the engineers knew about the EIA process was what they had learned from their own experience. They agreed that there was very little focus on environmental sustainability during their undergraduate studies and that EIA training during their undergraduate study would have been useful. But in spite of this, the majority of respondents did not complete any environmental short courses or post graduate studies. It was found that EIA does in fact have a positive influence on the work of civil engineers and that they experience these benefits at project level. The engineers have a positive attitude towards EIA and it is increasingly influencing their work positively. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This thesis deals with the principles of assessment impact of golf courses on the environment. The process of assessing the impact of project on the environment (EIA) is an integral part of the permission procedures for building permits. Each intention is different and must be assessed differently. Because of all the sports that have their sphere of activity on the free surface of the earth has golf probably the strongest interaction with the environment, the construction of golf courses is very hot topic among experts and the general public. This study aims to evaluate of EIA process at the two golf courses and the experience gained from the EIA process to formulate principles for the assessment of golf courses on the environment. An integral part of the work is an analysis of the EIA notification and control in unity of prediction in notification with the actual situation. On the based of achieved experience and the gained data it is possible to generalize the principles of EIA process for similar intention.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T17:41:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo6642_1.pdf: 3735399 bytes, checksum: 00659421ee03232e27b0419aae07b24e (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / O trabalho visa analisar os estudos relacionados ao meio ambiente contratados pela empresa Suape, de modo a avaliar a contribuição efetiva dos mesmos na questão ambiental. Para isso, foram analisados os documentos disponíveis elaborados desde a implantação do Complexo Industrial Portuário. A análise realizada constatou que a preocupação com o meio ambiente pela empresa Suape ocorreu desde a concepção do empreendimento. Contudo, verificou-se que, em geral, não houve o cumprimento das recomendações e conclusões dos estudos contratados, isto é, não houve a sua efetiva utilização. Também percebeu-se uma falta de continuidade desses estudos ao longo do tempo. De uma forma geral, percebeu-se que a falta de uma política ambiental orientadora das ações da empresa Suape prejudica a eficiência nessa área. No que diz respeito aos estudos ambientais exigidos pela legislação, constatou-se que, apesar de terem cumprido as exigências de conteúdo estabelecidas por lei, e de terem sido aprovados pelo órgão ambiental, esses instrumentos ainda precisam de fortalecimento político-institucional para que atuem efetivamente na melhoria da qualidade ambiental

Orientador: José Arnaldo Frutuoso Roveda / Resumo: A Avaliação do Impacto Ambiental tornou-se obrigatória para atividades consideradas efetivas ou potencialmente poluidoras. A experiência e o conhecimento de agentes técnicos para direcionar estudos e medidas para minimizar e / ou mitigar os impactos causados ao meio ambiente é fundamental em um processo que envolve muitas variáveis, como o licenciamento ambiental. O processo de licenciamento ambiental recebe muitas críticas devido a burocracia e morosidade. Estudos e pesquisas para melhorar as etapas do processo vêm sendo apresentados ao longo dos anos, mas ainda há muito a ser investigado e compartilhado, sendo pouco o que é encontrado na literatura que enfoque o desenvolvimento de um procedimento lógico estruturado para apoiar a definição do escopo do estudo mais apropriado caso a caso. Aqui, propõe-se uma metodologia baseada em modelagem fuzzy para apoiar a fase de triagem com intuito de minimizar o tempo e a burocracia existente dentro do processo. Contou-se com a colaboração de especialistas do setor de licenciamento para a construção do modelo e para sua avaliação. Foi utilizado um conjunto de dados com trinta e dois projetos rodoviários, disponibilizados pelo setor de protocolos da Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo. O sistema foi aplicado em processos de licenciamento de empreendimentos rodoviários (construção, ampliação e manutenção de rodovias, além de dispositivos, como trevos e alças de acesso) e os resultados obtidos pelo modelo foram comparados com análi... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

The aim of the thesis is to propose a methodical approach that would include aspects of visual landscape assessment, emphasis on historical and perceptual values of the area and was applicable in the EIA process. The aim is the applicability of the proposed methodology in the assessment of new projects by the management of heritage care, especially in the process of environmental impact assessment (where the management of heritage care is concerned by the state administration body concerned), but also in other proceedings. The procedure should not replace subjective assessment or landscape survey, but create objective evidence for the decision and serve to negotiate between the investor and the state administration bodies concerned. The procedure should use geographic information systems, including current data bases and functionalities.

El problema de investigación que sustenta esta tesis por compendio de publicaciones gravita en la idea de que el influjo del enfoque tecnocrático y positivista dominante en el ejercicio de las EIA y EIS actuales – y que la perspectiva constructivista no ha logrado resolver-, provoca una serie de profundas carencias en la gestión social de las intervenciones planificadas como planteamiento. A partir del establecimiento de las dificultades subyacentes al enfoque tecnocrático como problema de investigación, esta subyacentes al enfoque tecnocrático como problema de investigación, esta tesis trata de afrontar desde la reflexividad sociológica los siguientes objetivos: 1.-Realizar un análisis crítico de la aproximación a la dimensión social del enfoque dominante de las EIS y EIA de las intervenciones sobre el medio desde una perspectiva paradigmática (axiología, ontología, epistemología y metodología). Concretamente aspira a: 2.- Establecer un diagnóstico de las consecuencias que posee la realización de los procesos de evaluación de las intervenciones desde el enfoque tecnocrático y positivista en relación con el tratamiento a través del análisis crítico de la aproximación a la dimensión social realizada desde el enfoque tecnocrático de la evaluación de impacto. 3.-Resolver las limitaciones detectadas mediante el desarrollo de propuestas teórico-conceptuales y metodológicas en el marco de varios casos de estudio. Específicamente pretender ahondar en las causas profundas generadoras de la desigual distribución de los riesgos e impactos entre los grupos humanos afectados a través de la introducción sistemática del enfoque de la vulnerabilidad social EIS. Asimismo, la introducción de este enfoque perseguirá proporcionar elementos conceptuales y metodológicos que faciliten la integración de la dialéctica entre procesos estructurales y capacidad de agencia en el análisis de impacto. Articular una propuesta metodológica que permita el análisis de las complejas relaciones de casualidad e interdependencias entre las redes sociales, económicas y ambientales desde el enfoque holístico y sistémico. Desarrollar, desde el marco de la transdisciplinariedad, una propuesta metodológica que posibilite la adecuada integración de la dimensión social de los procesos de evaluación.