CAPES; CNPq; PAE / A presente pesquisa objetivou propor ações de melhoria do desempenho ambiental associado ao ciclo de vida da produção do painel de madeira MDF, através da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV). A consecução deste estudo acompanhou as diretrizes normativas das normas NBR ISO 14040 e 14044. Para procedimentos de cálculos e modelagem de cenários da produção do painel, utilizou-se o software Umberto® v.5.6, junto à base de dados de inventários do ciclo de vida Ecoinvent v.2.2. A proposta de ações de melhoria do desempenho ambiental da produção do painel MDF foi formulada com base nos resultados obtidos na aplicação da ACV. Diante do exposto, construiu-se o Inventário do Ciclo de Vida (ICV) para a produção do painel de madeira MDF, em condições da cadeia produtiva brasileira. A partir dos dados do ICV, avaliaram-se os impactos do ciclo de vida da produção do painel, através dos métodos CML (2001), EDIP (1997) e USEtox (2008). As categorias de impactos avaliadas foram: potencial de acidificação, aquecimento global, depleção da camada de ozônio, depleção de recursos abióticos, formação fotoquímica de ozônio troposférico, ecotoxicidade, eutrofização, e toxicidade humana. Os resultados apontaram seis pontos potenciais contribuidores às categorias de impactos (hotspots): consumo de gás natural utilizado na planta térmica, resina UF (ureia formaldeído), consumo de energia elétrica, consumo de resíduos de madeira na planta térmica, consumo de cavacos de madeira e o transporte dos cavacos de madeira até a fábrica. De acordo com os hotspots identificados formularam-se as ações para melhoria do desempenho ambiental do produto. As ações foram analisadas sensitivamente em diferentes cenários a fim de verificar a eficiência na redução dos impactos potenciais observados. A proposta de melhoria do desempenho ambiental compreendeu as seguintes ações: extinção do consumo de gás natural na planta térmica, redução proporcional de combustíveis de madeira que não receberam tratamento químico prévio, realização de análise especializada para verificação de eficiência de combustão em planta térmica, redução do consumo de energia elétrica, redução no consumo da resina UF, redução no consumo de madeira e minimização de distância dos fornecedores de madeira. Quanto às analises sensitivas de cenários alternativos que podem incorporar a proposta, destaca-se o fato da extinção do consumo de gás natural na planta térmica, onde se tem uma redução de aproximadamente 30% nos impactos potenciais de depleção de recursos abióticos e da camada de ozônio. A proposta formulada nesta dissertação subsidia e orienta ações estratégicas sustentáveis que, por serem avaliadas em uma abordagem de ciclo de vida, não se limitam somente ao processo produtivo ou a uma única atividade operativa. / The present research aims to propose actions in order to improve the environmental performance associated with the MDF production life cycle, by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) application. This study was conducted following the guidelines of regulatory standards ISO 14040 and 14044. In order to calculations procedures and panel production scenarios modeling was used the Umberto® software v.5.6, with the life cycle inventory database entitled Ecoinvent v.2.2. The actions proposed in order to improve the environmental performance of the MDF production were formulated based on the LCA results. Faced with these peculiarities, was constructed the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for MDF production, under the Brazilian production chains conditions. Based on LCI data, was evaluated the impacts of panel production life cycle by the methods CML (2001), EDIP (1997) and USEtox (2008). The categories of impacts assessed were: acidification potential, global warming, ozone layer depletion, abiotic resource depletion, photochemical formation of tropospheric ozone, ecotoxicity, eutrophication and human toxicity. The results showed six potential contributors to impacts categories (hotspots): consumption of natural gas in the thermal plant, resin UF (urea formaldehyde), electricity consumption, consumption of wood waste in thermal plant, consumption of wood chips, and transportation of wood chips to industry. According to the hotspots identified were formulated actions in order to improve the environmental performance of the product. The actions were sensitively analyzed in different scenarios in order to verify the effectiveness in reducing potential impacts. The proposal for improving the environmental performance was included the following actions: extinction of natural gas used in the thermal plant, proportional reduction of wood fuel that not have been chemically treated, accomplish specialized analysis to check the efficiency of combustion in thermal plant, reduction the electricity consumption, reduction of resin UF consumption, reduction of wood consumption and minimize the distances of wood suppliers. As regards the sensitive analysis of alternative scenarios that can incorporate the proposal, we highlight the fact that the extinction of natural gas consumption in the thermal plant can reduce approximately 30% of the potential impacts of depletion of resources abiotic and ozone layer. The proposal presented in this research subsidizes and guides sustainable strategic actions that, by virtue of being evaluated on a life cycle approach, are not only limited to the production process or a single operational activity.

CAPES; CNPq; PAE / A presente pesquisa objetivou propor ações de melhoria do desempenho ambiental associado ao ciclo de vida da produção do painel de madeira MDF, através da Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV). A consecução deste estudo acompanhou as diretrizes normativas das normas NBR ISO 14040 e 14044. Para procedimentos de cálculos e modelagem de cenários da produção do painel, utilizou-se o software Umberto® v.5.6, junto à base de dados de inventários do ciclo de vida Ecoinvent v.2.2. A proposta de ações de melhoria do desempenho ambiental da produção do painel MDF foi formulada com base nos resultados obtidos na aplicação da ACV. Diante do exposto, construiu-se o Inventário do Ciclo de Vida (ICV) para a produção do painel de madeira MDF, em condições da cadeia produtiva brasileira. A partir dos dados do ICV, avaliaram-se os impactos do ciclo de vida da produção do painel, através dos métodos CML (2001), EDIP (1997) e USEtox (2008). As categorias de impactos avaliadas foram: potencial de acidificação, aquecimento global, depleção da camada de ozônio, depleção de recursos abióticos, formação fotoquímica de ozônio troposférico, ecotoxicidade, eutrofização, e toxicidade humana. Os resultados apontaram seis pontos potenciais contribuidores às categorias de impactos (hotspots): consumo de gás natural utilizado na planta térmica, resina UF (ureia formaldeído), consumo de energia elétrica, consumo de resíduos de madeira na planta térmica, consumo de cavacos de madeira e o transporte dos cavacos de madeira até a fábrica. De acordo com os hotspots identificados formularam-se as ações para melhoria do desempenho ambiental do produto. As ações foram analisadas sensitivamente em diferentes cenários a fim de verificar a eficiência na redução dos impactos potenciais observados. A proposta de melhoria do desempenho ambiental compreendeu as seguintes ações: extinção do consumo de gás natural na planta térmica, redução proporcional de combustíveis de madeira que não receberam tratamento químico prévio, realização de análise especializada para verificação de eficiência de combustão em planta térmica, redução do consumo de energia elétrica, redução no consumo da resina UF, redução no consumo de madeira e minimização de distância dos fornecedores de madeira. Quanto às analises sensitivas de cenários alternativos que podem incorporar a proposta, destaca-se o fato da extinção do consumo de gás natural na planta térmica, onde se tem uma redução de aproximadamente 30% nos impactos potenciais de depleção de recursos abióticos e da camada de ozônio. A proposta formulada nesta dissertação subsidia e orienta ações estratégicas sustentáveis que, por serem avaliadas em uma abordagem de ciclo de vida, não se limitam somente ao processo produtivo ou a uma única atividade operativa. / The present research aims to propose actions in order to improve the environmental performance associated with the MDF production life cycle, by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) application. This study was conducted following the guidelines of regulatory standards ISO 14040 and 14044. In order to calculations procedures and panel production scenarios modeling was used the Umberto® software v.5.6, with the life cycle inventory database entitled Ecoinvent v.2.2. The actions proposed in order to improve the environmental performance of the MDF production were formulated based on the LCA results. Faced with these peculiarities, was constructed the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for MDF production, under the Brazilian production chains conditions. Based on LCI data, was evaluated the impacts of panel production life cycle by the methods CML (2001), EDIP (1997) and USEtox (2008). The categories of impacts assessed were: acidification potential, global warming, ozone layer depletion, abiotic resource depletion, photochemical formation of tropospheric ozone, ecotoxicity, eutrophication and human toxicity. The results showed six potential contributors to impacts categories (hotspots): consumption of natural gas in the thermal plant, resin UF (urea formaldehyde), electricity consumption, consumption of wood waste in thermal plant, consumption of wood chips, and transportation of wood chips to industry. According to the hotspots identified were formulated actions in order to improve the environmental performance of the product. The actions were sensitively analyzed in different scenarios in order to verify the effectiveness in reducing potential impacts. The proposal for improving the environmental performance was included the following actions: extinction of natural gas used in the thermal plant, proportional reduction of wood fuel that not have been chemically treated, accomplish specialized analysis to check the efficiency of combustion in thermal plant, reduction the electricity consumption, reduction of resin UF consumption, reduction of wood consumption and minimize the distances of wood suppliers. As regards the sensitive analysis of alternative scenarios that can incorporate the proposal, we highlight the fact that the extinction of natural gas consumption in the thermal plant can reduce approximately 30% of the potential impacts of depletion of resources abiotic and ozone layer. The proposal presented in this research subsidizes and guides sustainable strategic actions that, by virtue of being evaluated on a life cycle approach, are not only limited to the production process or a single operational activity.

The objective of this study is to look into the changes in land-use patterns on the mostly private land properties brought about by the envisaged Dinokeng Pilot Project on State-owned land properties since it was introduced in 1995. This is a critical parameter for the success of otherwise of the implementation of the broader project on the mostly private properties earmarked for inclusion in the project surrounding the pilot site. The method employed entailed analyzing progress indicators to gauge whether adequate progress was made between 1995 and 2001 in implementing the project. Indicators used were the finalization of the project process by DACEL, large scale sales and consolidation of affected properties and applications to the Metsweding District Municipality for change of land use by the present landowners. Several procedures were employed to determine whether there was adequate progress or not. The initial programme of Dinokeng Project Concept was studied and envisaged progress was compared with the implementation phase the project was in as at December 2001. The records of the Metsweding District Municipality were studied to find out the types and number of land use change applications by private landowners. The deeds records were also sampled to detect any large scale property sales and consolidations that can be ascribed to the envisaged project. The response of DACEL to criticism by affected landowners was also studied. A literature review of similar projects was undertaken to understand the methods employed to achieve desired results. The study found that there is lack of adequate progress on the finalization of the precise site for the project and agreements with present landowners on the tenure issue and other administrative matters that are a prerequisite for the proclamation of the project. Proclamation is necessary to restrict the land use activities within and around the proposed project site so as to make all affected stakeholders to be committed to the implementation of the project. The failure by the project to achieve the desired results of being in whole or partially up and running within five years of its inception is ascribed to the initial adopted strategy of depending on complementary changes in land use patterns in the privately owned land properties to consolidate the properties into a contiguous ecological area large enough to accommodate the Big Five. This shows that although the political developmental framework has changed, certain old order strategies and procedures are still as effective as ever. It is recommended that the project area be subdivided into phases without any regard to land ownership. The core area should consist of land properties ecologically suitable and forming a large enough area to contain the proposed Big Five. The total project area should be proclaimed with provision being made for a phased implementation approach with definite timetables and concrete deliverables. This will separate the totally unwilling landowners from the others who want to be part of the project on condition that that their minimal interests and requirements are met. / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Rural Development Planning))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

Social and economic impacts are often by-products of large scale resource development projects. These socio-economic impacts have become an important component of assessment and review processes during the 1970's and are beginning to attract attention as an issue within impact management. Effective measures of socio-economic impact management are being sought by industry, government and communities who wish to mitigate or avoid negative impacts and/or to enhance potential positive impacts of development. The Norman Wells Oilfield Expansion and Pipeline Project, approved by the Federal Cabinet on July 30, 1981 was formally assessed as having potentially significant socio-economic impacts. The Federal Government therefore created a number of measures that constituted a socio-economic impact management plan. One of these measures was a benefits package of $21.4 million "to ensure that the training objectives, jobs and business opportunities which we have insisted be part of this project are real and meaningful." The federal government's "coordination approach" to management associated with the Norman Wells Project has been vetted as a model for the management of future development projects. The subject of this thesis is the implementation of two of the impact funding programs within this benefits package. The thesis purpose is to assess the effectiveness of these impact funding initiatives as programs of socio-economic impact management. The descriptions of the two initiatives chosen for this analysis indicate that their general purpose was to involve the Dene Nation and the Metis Association of the Northwest Territories in the initiation of programs of community and social development and of planning support and monitoring for the communities of the Mackenzie Valley. These two programs are the subject of some debate between federal government representatives and representatives of the two native organizations involved in the Norman Wells Project. The key parties-at-interest disagree over the effectiveness of the two initiatives as instruments of socio-economic impact management for the Norman Wells Project. In preparation for the actual analysis of these programs, I first developed a process model for socio-economic impact management. This process model provides the framework within which programs of socio-economic impact management are located. Next, I examined the relationship between the socio-economic issues and anticipated problems identified during the Norman Well's Project review processes and the impact fund initiatives under study. This was achieved through a content analysis of documents produced by the Norman Wells Environmental Assessment and Review Panel (E.A.R.P.) and the National Energy Board. I then examined in full the implementation of the initiatives. This was accomplished through a review of documentation and interviews with the relevant actors associated with the two study impact funding programs. My assessment of the effectiveness of the two study initiatives as programs of socio-economic management is based on a comparison of the implementation of these programs to a set of criteria that reflect the basic requirements of programs of impact management. The two study initiatives failed to satisfy all but the program effectiveness criteria that required a relationship with the public review process concerns. The thesis conclusion, therefore, is that as programs of socio-economic impact management for the Norman Wells Project, the two study initiatives have not been effective. I discuss the basis of this conclusion and propose three recommendations toward the planning for future programs of socio-economic impact management. This thesis contributes to the assessment of the impact management efforts associated with the overall approach to management of the Norman Wells Project. It should be useful for parties involved in the determination of impact management programs in future development projects. This analysis will aid in the planning of effective procedures to reduce negative impacts, thus serving the interests of both those affected directly, and the nation at large. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

M.Sc. / Water quality management is the effort of the community to control the physical, chemical and biological qualities of water. Water quality is mainly controlled by the activities of the community and the hydrological cycle. Usually an effort is made to control only one of the two causes, namely the activities of the community. The Sasolburg industrial complex is the largest of its kind in the Free State and consists mainly of chemical industries. A large proportion of the effluent is returned to the Vaal River via the Sasol sewerage works while some industries have permission to send their effluent to the Taaibosspruit, east of Sasolburg. The most industries let their storm water flow into the Taaibosspruit The option of the location of a monitoring point should determine whether the collected data is representative of the water quality and whether it is useful to observe trends in the water quality. The reliability of the data on water quality is strongly dependent on inter alia, the frequency of monitoring, which is determined by the availibility of staff and funding. By investigating the present monitoring sytem by Rand Water, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the industries through this study it had to be determined whether the functioning of the monitoring network was optimal.Deficiencies like: unmonitored and unauthorised streams; badly contaminated areas which pollute the storm water and; the absence of retention facilities for contamninated storm water were found. Recommendations like: extra monitoring points; retention facilities for storm water and; biomonitoring for combined streams were made. Of great importance is the recommendation for the establishment of a local water quality management body to control the water quality of the water sources in the region.

In the United States, biodiversity impact assessment has historically received little attention. Responding in 1993, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released guidelines on incorporating biodiversity into environmental impact assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The objectives of the study here were to identify the level of documentation of biodiversity impact assessment in sample Environmental Impact Statements (EISs); identify whether in the years following the release of 1993 CEQ guidelines any significant changes have taken place in assessment of biodiversity; identify deficiencies, and if the need exists, formulate appropriate recommendations and approaches for addressing biodiversity in EISs. The study involved a systematic review of 30 EISs published since the release of CEQ guidelines, and five EISs published prior to it. The review involved answering a series of standard questions, which attempted to ascertain the level of biodiversity impacts included in each impact statement. Trends in approaches to biodiversity impact assessment were investigated and deficiencies summarized. The analysis resulted in a series of recommendations for improving the manner in which biodiversity impact assessment can be approached.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Land Use Planning))--University of Pretoria, 2001. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references. / The purpose of this dissertation is to assess and evaluate various water level management options for the upgrading of Olushandja Dam in northern Namibia within the framework of the environmental impact assessment carried out for the project. This will enable the Namibian Department of Water Affairs (DWA) to improve their management of the dam for the benefit of the local communities and consumers in the Oshana Water Region (Figure 5 . 1). The dam has been in existence since 1975 and is part of the Calueque-Olushandja inter-basin water transfer scheme. A pipeline and a series of canals links Calueque Dam , on the Cunene River in Angola , with Olushandja Dam in Namibia and the urban areas to the east and south. In order to provide for the expected increase in water requirements from agricultural and rural development the scheme is presently being upgraded. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was initiated in 1994 by the DWA as a requirement of the Dutch Government who are funding the project. Biophysical studies were undertaken by staff from the DWA and private consultants from Windhoek. The socio-economic study was carried out by a study team from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, in association with a consultant from the University's Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). The EEU was appointed to compile a full EIA based on the findings of the specialist reports. This report is expected to be completed by October 1995.

Bibliography: leaves 87-91. / This dissertation aims to evaluate the environmental factors within the Liesbeeck and Black River Confluence Area (CA) and on that basis present conclusions which will inform a land-use decision for the area. It has been undertaken in partial fulfilment of the academic requirements of the M. Phil (Environmental Science) course offered by the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It also serves as a working document informing the Cape Town City Council's (CCC) land-use planning for the CA, and for that reason aims for a balance between academic rigour and the concise, pragmatic style of a report. It should also be noted that this study is almost wholly contingent on a baseline document prepared between January and March 1994 by the 1993/94 M. Phil class. That document identified the totality of environmental factors which might influence land-use planning in the CA and is the point of departure of this dissertation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2009. / Includes bibliographical references. / Driven by commercial promise, the carbon nanotube (CNT) industry is growing rapidly, yet little is known about the potential environmental impacts of these novel materials. In particular, there are no methods to detect CNTs in environmental matrices (e.g.,sediment) and thus, there is no way to study their transport or gauge ecological exposure. Thermal methods were developed to quantify CNTs in coastal sediments down to 10 ug per sample, which is sufficient to for CNTs in laboratory air, but not sufficient to measure contemporary levels of CNTs in the environment (which were estimated to be present at pg g' sediment levels using a dynamic mass balance model). In addition to the CNTs themselves, potential impacts of CNT production were assessed by monitoring emissions from a representative synthesis. An ethene-fed chemical vapor deposition process generated several compounds of environmental concern, including the greenhouse gas, methane, the hazardous pollutants, benzene and 1,3-butadiene, and toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By identifying critical CNT precursors (alkynes), I delivered these compounds without thermal pre-treatment and achieved rapid CNT growth. This approach reduced carbonaceous emissions by more than an order of magnitude, and lowered initial feedstock requirements and energetic demands by at least 20%, without sacrificing CNT yield. / by Desirée L. Plata. / Ph.D.