Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (M.E.S.)--Evergreen State College, 2009. / "June, 2009." Title from title screen (viewed 3/16/2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-171).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 231-239). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2002. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 231-239). Also available on the Internet.

Compared to the relative wealth of information surrounding design in the context of system-of-systems there has been little research surrounding policy making in system-of-systems. While the adoption of a formal approach and lexicon for system-of-systems problems has been proposed by researchers, the specific inclusion of regulatory policies in system-of-systems is still largely absent or underdeveloped. Typically, there is no distinction between internal policies of an organization and exogenous policies coming through regulatory channels. Further, researchers have yet to formally employ a standardized framework to regulatory policy problems in the context of a system-of-systems. As international regulatory bodies are calling on world States to identify and select “baskets of measures” to address CO2 emissions from civil aviation, there is a growing recognition that doing so will require a framework for policy identification and selection. Despite this recognition, such a framework has yet to be established. This research develops a formal lexicon for public policy as a part of system-of-systems, and employs a formalized process to explore multiple established, planned, and potential policies in the context of the global civil aviation system. Existing architectures and lexicons will be expanded to include regulatory policies that have often been treated as exogenous forcing functions in system-of-systems problems. Ultimately, a process for informed quantitative decision making to support concurrent CO2 regulatory policy analysis and design in the civil aviation system-of-systems is established. The developed methodology will allow policy makers to systematically identify effective policy space, while maintaining the objectivity of the analyst.

Stormwater pollutants originating from industrial facilities can lead to degraded water quality, even in residentially dominated regions of the country. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program regulates stormwater pollutants generated at industrial sites using Multi-Sector General Permits (Generic permits) for industrial facilities and a permit requirement for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) operators. All industrial facilities within 11 broad categories of industry are responsible for self-identifying the need to comply with the Generic permit, and subsequently, implementing self-selected pollution prevention strategies. MS4 operators are required to identify and inspect high risk industrial and commercial facilities that may be contributing substantial pollutant loads to the MS4, in addition to other requirements. This is partially in recognition that compliance with the Generic permit has been poor. This dual level of regulations is designed to enhance water quality protection, however, the reliance on local inspectors to develop a definition of high risk has led to irregular implementation. This research developed a methodology to identify industrial facilities and then screen out facilities that may not require inspection by the MS4 operator. Phone questionnaires were administered to 250 industrial facilities. Results were validated using fenceline visits and on-site inspections with local inspectors. Overall compliance by participating facilities with the Generic permit was approximately 10%. Neither the Generic permit nor the MS4 permit has been effective because numerous facilities have gone unregulated. Currently, the Generic permit has attempted to regulate too many facilities, many of which may not be affecting water quality. MS4 high risk inspections have not improved compliance with Generic permit either because of the prioritization of facilities. The reliance on local interpretation, which requires MS4 operators to select a definition of high risk based on their desired level of water quality protection and available resources, can potentially exclude many facilities from inspection. Adopting a definition of intensity for regulating industry may both improve compliance with the General permit, ensure water quality protection, and improve resource usage.

Stormwater pollutants originating from industrial facilities can lead to degraded water quality, even in residentially dominated regions of the country. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program regulates stormwater pollutants generated at industrial sites using Multi-Sector General Permits (Generic permits) for industrial facilities and a permit requirement for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) operators. All industrial facilities within 11 broad categories of industry are responsible for self-identifying the need to comply with the Generic permit, and subsequently, implementing self-selected pollution prevention strategies. MS4 operators are required to identify and inspect “high risk” industrial and commercial facilities that may be contributing substantial pollutant loads to the MS4, in addition to other requirements. This is partially in recognition that compliance with the Generic permit has been poor. This dual level of regulations is designed to enhance water quality protection, however, the reliance on local inspectors to develop a definition of “high risk” has led to irregular implementation. This research developed a methodology to identify industrial facilities and then screen out facilities that may not require inspection by the MS4 operator. Phone questionnaires were administered to 250 industrial facilities. Results were validated using fenceline visits and on-site inspections with local inspectors. Overall compliance by participating facilities with the Generic permit was approximately 10%. Neither the Generic permit nor the MS4 permit has been effective because numerous facilities have gone unregulated. Currently, the Generic permit has attempted to regulate too many facilities, many of which may not be affecting water quality. MS4 “high risk” inspections have not improved compliance with Generic permit either because of the prioritization of facilities. The reliance on local interpretation, which requires MS4 operators to select a definition of “high risk” based on their desired level of water quality protection and available resources, can potentially exclude many facilities from inspection. Adopting a definition of intensity for regulating industry may both improve compliance with the General permit, ensure water quality protection, and improve resource usage.

Despite federal, state, and local efforts to combat environmental injustices resulting from heavy industrial activity and high air pollution levels, there is a widespread tendency for hazardous industrial activities to locate near low-income, underrepresented ethnic populations in the United States. The Houston Ship Channel, a port containing the largest concentration of Petrochemical Facilities in the United States, evidences this tendency and provides a stellar example of the nexus between poverty, race, industrial location, and air pollution levels. As a result of the heavy industrial activities in the East Houston area adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel, the surrounding residential area’s air quality levels are significantly poor in relation to federal, state, and local standards. Not coincidentally, these neighborhoods are predominantly low-income and Hispanic in makeup. Unfortunately, there exist few or no federal or state accountability and enforcement mechanisms to resolve this serious problem. In addition, Houston’s lack of zoning and weak land use regulations provides little opportunity for the situation to improve. Although community organization efforts have succeeded in terms of mobilization, education, and consensus building, more effective local planning tools, supported by federal regulations and applied research, would serve to remove the roadblocks that have hindered the advancement of policies promoting enhanced air quality controls, and thus improve the quality of life of the residents of East Houston. / text

The State of Florida ranks fifth in the world's production of phosphate. The phosphate industry relies on surface mining to withdraw the phosphate ore, and this process can devastate the natural environment. One of the most impacted natural resources is wetlands. Federal laws permit the legal destruction of wetlands providing their loss is compensated by the mitigation (i.e., the restoration, creation, or enhancement) of other wetlands, but the complexity of wetland ecosystems makes the mitigation process difficult. One of the goals of this thesis is to review the established Federal, State and non-regulatory guidelines for the development and maintenance of mitigated wetlands, evaluate their efficacy and present some underlying reasons for successful versus unsuccessful mitigation projects.The environmental repercussions of phosphate mining are not only pertinent to Florida or the United States. Wetland mitigation has become a global issue. Laws and programs that facilitate specific countries do not benefit wetland ecosystems on a landscape level. It is important to remain cognizant of the ramifications of wetland destruction and avoid piecemeal solutions to a wide-spread problem. Thus, my second objective is to investigate the progress and status of international wetland preservation. I will examine how different countries and international organizations are addressing the environmental impacts of mining, and underscore the relevant methods and protocols. I will also supplement this review by proposing the use of soil microbial communities as bioindicators of wetland development and sustainability. I will describe the laboratory and field procedures necessary to evaluate the various biological and physical aspects of mitigated wetlands, thereby offering mangers an effective monitoring technique. My intention is to confirm that microorganism development and preservation are critical to wetland health and longevity. My final objective is to document the relevant literature on environmental policy, and provide current scientific and policy review for researchers, managers and legislators. This thesis will synthesize the diverse and often contradictory theories, and suggest possible methodologies to bridge the science-policy gap.Overall, I intend to supply researchers, managers, and government agencies with a source of publications that can assist in evaluating, managing and monitoring wetland mitigation projects.

Not available / text