Mine reclamation is a long-term process but few long-term (> 15 years) assessment studies are carried out. Considerable effort has gone into test-plot experiments to design revegetation programs prior to termination of mine production but little is known from the results of this work of the long-term effect of competitive interactions between seeded species themselves and between seeded and immigrating native species during the progression to a natural vegetation for that site. The present study revisited and repeated benchmark scientific studies carried out at five mine-sites during the period 1973-1978. The mine-sites were Bull River mine, Coal Creek mine, Cumberland No. 4 mine, Pinchi Lake mine and Texada Iron mines. They were in different biogeoclimatic locations and at each mine, sample sites were located on different waste materials. On-site studies carried out during the 1993 field season included substrate observation and sampling, and visual observation of plant species and percent cover. Substrate samples were later analysed in the laboratory for soil nutrients. The graphical presentation of data honours the original data and is an effective way of assessing the development of substrate health and plant succession. Results show that if sufficient attention is paid to improving land-form then over a long period natural regenerative processes can accomplish remarkable results. Moisture deficiency will restrict growth to deep rooting, drought tolerant species and result in slow encroachment. This may require intensive management if erosion is likely. This type of study performed by staff with interdisciplinary training or experience can be used to make economical long-term assessments of site rehabilitation. They would not in any way replace the detailed quantitative monitoring conducted at critical phases early in the decommissioning process. However, as a complement, such studies could provide data for predicting long-term development on newer sites. In addition, they are an ecologically acceptable alternative to assessments of "productivity" on sites where rehabilitation is slow.

The objectives of the research are to: (1) Model and analyse the unique risk relationship between senior management and labour in environmental management; (2) Analyse various contractual mechanisms and compensation schemes that reduce the human resource management risk and minimise the dissonance between profit and stewardship goals; (3) Analyse the implications of the performance measurement problem on the principal-agent contract and the efficient delivery of abatement. / Chapter 2 reviews literature pertinent to environmental management and the application of principal-agent theory. Chapter 3, entitled "Environmental Management Systems and the Intra-Firm Risk Relationship" is an analysis of the role of these incentives and risk-sharing mechanisms in decreasing environmental risk exposure and achieving stewardship. Chapter 4, entitled "Incentive Contracts and Environmental Performance Indicators" focuses on the problem of environmental performance measurement and its impact on the P-A contract and on the efficient delivery of abatement. In chapter 5, general conclusions and suggestions for further research are discussed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This study is aimed at developing policies for energy efficiency by observing the past changes of energy use in Indonesia???s manufacturing sector over the period 1980???2000, and to investigate mitigation options for energy-related CO2 emissions in the sector. The first part of the study uses decomposition analysis to assess the effect of the changes in energy consumption and the level of CO2 emissions, while the second part investigates energy efficiency improvement strategies and the use of economic instruments to mitigate CO2 emissions in the manufacturing sector. Economic activity was the dominant factor in increasing energy consumption over the whole period of analysis, followed by the energy intensity effect and then the structural effect. The increase in aggregate energy intensity over the period 1980-2000 was mainly driven by the energy intensity effect. In turn, the technical effect was the dominant contributor to changes in energy intensity effect, with the fuel-mix effect being of lesser importance. Changes in CO2 emissions were dominated by economic activity and structural change. Sub-sectors that would benefit from fuel switching and energy efficiency improvements are the textile, paper, and non-metal sub-sectors. Three main options for reducing CO2 emissions from the manufacturing sector were considered: the imposition of a carbon tax, energy efficiency initiatives, and other mitigation measures. A carbon tax was found to reduce sectoral emissions from the direct use of oil, gas and coal, but increased the demand for electricity. At the practical level, energy efficiency improvements can be implemented by adopting energy efficient technologies that can reduce aggregate energy intensity up to 37.1 per cent from the base-year level, estimated after imposition of a carbon tax at $30 per tonne of carbon. A major priority for energy efficiency improvements was found to be in the textile and the paper and chemical sub-sectors. A mitigation measure such as the Clean Development Mechanisms could be encouraged in order to reduce projected emission levels. The preferred option would be the adoption of energy efficient technologies in the textile, chemical, paper and non-metal sub-sectors.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The oil industry has been a major contributor to economic development in many countries; providing jobs, revenue, infrastructure and businesses to third parties. However, this development has also come with adversity on the physical environment. The oil industry accounts for the highest Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in the world, making it the number one polluter. In addition, South Africa has been regarded as the biggest polluter in Africa, with fossil-based fuel cited as the major cause of environmental degradation. South Africa’s physical environment is also cited as having degraded more than most countries in Africa. This proposition requires players in the oil industry to urgently address this situation. As the future of economic development is likely to be spearheaded by the oil industry, concerns have been raised at the slow rate of addressing oil companies’ operations which causes the environment to be less sustainable. This study uses a qualitative content analysis to explore the oil companies’ actions towards addressing environmental adversity caused by their unsustainable operations. In order to be environmental sustainable, oil companies must; incorporate environmental sustainability into missions and visions, financial investment into sustainable initiatives, involve top management in environmental programs, engage stakeholder, comply and align organisational processes and operations with environmental legislations and introducing renewable energy.

I consider the influence of foreign environmental policy on domestic manufacturing activity using theory and empirics. A tractable three-country spatial model yields a theory of locational com- parative advantage in the production of pollution-intensive manufactured goods: greater market access to countries with stringent environmental policy encourages output in the polluting sector. Operationalizing the model empirically, I find robust evidence that high market access to countries with stringent environmental policy increases manufacturing value added. Both the theoretical and empirical analyses suggest that estimates of the Pollution Haven Effect that ignore third country environmental policy - yet make the stable unit treatment value assumption - can be misleading. Chapter Two We investigate the impact of short-term weather and long-term climate on self-reported life satisfaction using panel data. We find robust evidence that day-to-day weather variation impacts life satisfaction by a similar magnitude to acquiring a mild disability. Utilizing two sources of variation in the cognitive complexity of satisfaction questions, we present evidence that weather bias arises because of the cognitive challenge of reporting life satisfaction. Consistent with past studies, we detect a relationship between long-term climate and life satisfaction without individual fixed effects. This relationship is not robust to individual fixed effects, suggesting climate does not directly influence life satisfaction. Chapter Three This chapter considers the related policy challenges of deindustrialisation and 'leakage' which can arise when environmental regulation is differentiated across regions. A dynamic two-region 'New Economic Geography' (NEG) model is adopted in which agglomeration forces may make firms tolerant of regulatory disadvantage. Each region ratifies an international environmental agreement (IEA) requiring it to tax transboundary pollution created by local firms. In contrast to previous NEG studies, the model adopted is considerably more tractable, enabling comparative static analysis to be conducted analytically rather than through computer simulation. The model is extended to consider the relationship between the prescribed tax rates and deindustrialisation caused by the relocation of firms. Firm relocation in response to a given tax differential depends crucially on trade costs and the initial location (configuration) of industry. For some industry configurations, agglomeration forces are strong and a set of tax differentials exist which cause no international relocation of polluting firms. For other initial industry configurations in which agglomeration forces are weaker, the same set of tax differentials may cause complete inter-national relocation to the less stringently regulated region. Trade liberalization can actually make industry less likely to relocate in response to a regulatory disadvantage. The model is further extended to consider the issue of carbon leakage, which arises in the regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For relatively low tax differentials, agglomeration forces create rents which tend to anchor industry in the higher taxing region, avoiding carbon leakage. If the tax differential is too great, however, agglomeration forces cause all firms to relocate to the lower taxing region where they optimally emit more GHGs. Environmental outcomes may therefore be improved by reducing the tax rate in the higher taxing region in order to discourage industry relocation. When industry is diversified between regions, firms respond to higher (lower) relative domestic taxes by increasing (decreasing) output and polluting more (less).

Ph.D. / This study evaluates the environmental impacts of platinum mining in the Rustenburg region and the development of the region into a sustainable society, post the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in 2002. The region has been the location of intensive mining and metallurgical processing of platinum group minerals and chromium for more than three decades. Many studies have focused on the impacts of individual mines on their immediate environment and the sustainability of their operations. This study takes an holistic approach, looking at environmental changes across a larger area and the evaluation of the implementation of sustainable development principles in the region in the decade following the Johannesburg WSSD summit, using a multi-disciplinary approach. The debate concerning a suitable definition for sustainability within the mining context was followed through a literature review. In a strict sense, there is a paradox - mining is inherently unsustainable because of the finite, non-renewable nature of mineral resources. To resolve this paradox, two concepts of sustainability emerged: weak sustainability, in which economic capital replaces natural capital; and strong sustainability, prevention and minimising any environmental damage. These two concepts of sustainability were examined within the mining context, and the conclusion reached in this study is that the weak sustainability concept is more realistic and useful in the mining industry, since diverse environmental impacts cannot be avoided during mineral extraction. However, this does not mean that the environmental impacts should be neglected; instead they should be minimised. Sustainability is then achieved when the total amount of capital (i.e. both natural and economic) is constant or increases. Medium-resolution satellite data (Landsat and ASTER images) were used to map land cover/use to quantify the changes between 1973 and 2007, over 205 209 hectares of the Rustenburg region. The most important land cover/use change was the conversion of grassland to agricultural lands and mining areas. Changes in mine tailings storage facilities in terms of size and vegetation status were analysed. Landscape metrics (fragmentation index) were used to interpret the statistics derived from the land cover/use change to give an indication of the functioning of the ecosystem. Tailings samples were collected from two tailings storage facilities. Grain size analysis of the tailings samples was conducted to determine the percentage of particles with diameter ≤2.5 μm and ≤10 μm. Chemical analyses of samples were performed to determine elements of major concern because of their enrichment in the tailings and their potential toxicity. An analysis of the weather data acquired from the weather station located within the area was presented in the form of wind roses. Information on particle-size distributions obtained from the tailings samples and local meteorological data were used to carry out a detailed dispersion model of fugitive dust from mine tailings storage facilities.

Mine reclamation is a long-term process but few long-term (> 15 years) assessment studies are carried out. Considerable effort has gone into test-plot experiments to design revegetation programs prior to termination of mine production but little is known from the results of this work of the long-term effect of competitive interactions between seeded species themselves and between seeded and immigrating native species during the progression to a natural vegetation for that site. The present study revisited and repeated benchmark scientific studies carried out at five mine-sites during the period 1973-1978. The mine-sites were Bull River mine, Coal Creek mine, Cumberland No. 4 mine, Pinchi Lake mine and Texada Iron mines. They were in different biogeoclimatic locations and at each mine, sample sites were located on different waste materials. On-site studies carried out during the 1993 field season included substrate observation and sampling, and visual observation of plant species and percent cover. Substrate samples were later analysed in the laboratory for soil nutrients. The graphical presentation of data honours the original data and is an effective way of assessing the development of substrate health and plant succession. Results show that if sufficient attention is paid to improving land-form then over a long period natural regenerative processes can accomplish remarkable results. Moisture deficiency will restrict growth to deep rooting, drought tolerant species and result in slow encroachment. This may require intensive management if erosion is likely. This type of study performed by staff with interdisciplinary training or experience can be used to make economical long-term assessments of site rehabilitation. They would not in any way replace the detailed quantitative monitoring conducted at critical phases early in the decommissioning process. However, as a complement, such studies could provide data for predicting long-term development on newer sites. In addition, they are an ecologically acceptable alternative to assessments of "productivity" on sites where rehabilitation is slow. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

No description available.

Historically, the decision on whether to mine by underground or surface methods has been based on mining and economic considerations. This is rapidly changing since the environmental imperatives that have evolved over the past two decades are now a critical part of the decision process. As a result, quarry operations are increasingly considering the option of going underground. This research was carried out to identify the factors which would cause a surface quarry operator to consider the transition to underground mining. To identify the major incentives for going underground, primary factors influencing the decision for selecting underground mining over continued quarrying were investigated. Analysis of the literature and data gathered from site visits showed that significant benefits could be gained from mining underground, with respect to selected economic factors, environmental permitting and legal compliance, and post-production site usage for continued income. To determine mining characteristics of the typical surface quarry, data on the production phase (mining sequence) and environmental problems was collected from 18 quarries at various stages of their operating life spans. The data was obtained from sites in the Appalachian region of four states: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. Corresponding data was also gathered from successful underground operations to determine the values for a typical underground mine. Comparisons of this information indicated that the biggest differences between surface and underground operations existed in: the drilling and blasting phase, and in the haulage phase of the mining sequence; the size of the equipment; the extent of environmental concerns; and the potential for post-production income from the site. The process of environmental risk assessment was reviewed as a supporting tool to aid in the selection of underground over surface mining. By assigning probabilities of failure to specific, independent, environmental hazards, an operator can evaluate and compare the likelihood of success or failure operating as a quarry or underground mine. A case study from the data collected was used as an example to show how the procedure can be practically implemented. / Master of Science

Natural soils in the Appalachian coal mining region occur on steep slopes and are often thin, rocky, acidic, and/or infertile. This often makes use of natural topsoil for surface coal mine reclamation impractical. Sandstone (SS) and siltstone (SiS) topsoil substitute materials in mixed and pure treatments were compared to ascertain their effects on soil genesis and tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schrab.) growth in a rock mix study. A second surface amendment experiment with similar objectives was established and contained treatments of sawdust, topsoil, a control, and four rates of sewage sludge. Soil pH, extractable P, and coarse fragment contents decreased at the soil surface from 1982 to 1984. The CEC decreased from 1982 to 1983 due to leaching of cations solubilized from carbonates, but stabilized by 1984. Soil total-N and water availability increased from 1982 to 1984. Particle size distributions changed as sand and >2 mm sized materials weathered into silt and clay sized particles. As sand contents decreased over time, silt contents increased. Morphologically distinct A horizons developed in these soils rapidly and were formed primarily by plant rooting and organic matter additions. Treatment application, topsoil substitute placement, and grading also created morphologically distinct horizons. Fescue biomass production indicates topsoil substitutes support more vigorous vegetative growth than topsoil, especially when topsoils are mixtures of subsoil and A horizons. Biomass production was primarily limited by N, P, and water availability. Blended rock mixes consistently supported higher biomass production than pure SS and SiS treatments. Municipal sewage sludge applied at rates-56 Mg/ha equaled or exceeded inorganic fertilization for establishment and maintenance of tall fescue stands, and did not cause heavy metal phytotoxicity. / M.S.