Gold mining generates large quantities of tailings waste. These tailings can have a significant negative impact on the surrounding environment, with concomitant effects on local ecosystems, as well as on human health and quality of livelihoods. The latter is a concern in the Witwatersrand goldfields of South Africa, where communities are located in close proximity to gold mining operations and/or both current and defunct tailings dumps. This research project was, therefore, aimed at developing a better understanding of the facts, perceptions, concerns, and expectations associated with Witwatersrand gold mine tailings storage facilities, and how these are related. In order to fulfil this aim, a desktop study was conducted which involved a detailed review of published academic literature, company reports, newspaper articles, gold mining magazines, and specialist reports with specific emphasis placed on the Central Rand goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with representatives from the community, civil society organisations and independent experts, using the defunct Princess gold tailings dump in Davidsonville Suburb (West of Johannesburg) as a case study. The literature review of the study has shown that there is environmental pollution (air, water and soil) due to gold tailings dumps in current and historic gold mining areas. These findings were found to be largely consistent with perceptions and concerns of the community members, civil society organisations and subject matter experts. The long-term impacts of this pollution are not only environmental but cause a huge social burden on health and quality of livelihoods. Not only is dust considered a nuisance, particularly in the windy season, but the dust has been proven to contain crystalline silica and radionuclides. The long-term exposure to this dust can lead to skin problems and respiratory illnesses. There is higher exposure of ambient particulate matter (PM10) in areas around tailings even at distances up to 2 km downwind from the tailings dumps. Acid mine drainage, on the other hand, increases metal load in watercourses and soils, ultimately affecting the ecosystems as the metals are toxic to plants. Metal contamination has adverse impacts on animal and human health. In addition to literature survey, results from the semi-structured interviews revealed that there are conflicts between the communities, government and mining companies, with communities associating their health problems with gold mine tailings. This has led to court cases and gained media attention. The complex relationships between mine waste, the environment, and community health and livelihoods are still not well understood, making it difficult to justify and motivate the implementation of meaningful interventions to mitigate risks associated with gold tailings dumps. To date, little attempt appears to have been made to support community concerns and perceptions with factual evidence and information. Overall, this study has demonstrated the existence of longstanding issues associated with defunct gold tailings dumps and the communication gab that existing between various stakeholders, i.e. community, government and mining houses. These emphases the importance of having adequate remedial actions to prevent further pollution, the need to engage all relevant stakeholders when dealing with gold tailings and implementation of regulatory frameworks associated with gold tailings reclamation and rehabilitation.

No description available.

Mining, by its nature, provides enormous investment to the mining nations and by extension contributes to the socio-economic development of the host communities. Where these communities exist, they remain a cause of concern since they are predominantly dependent on the economic opportunities generated by the mine. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) functions in mining are somewhat of a risk reduction activity, even though the potential of halting projects is comparatively rare in situations where proposals are deemed to be of national interest and politically significant. This study highlights the environmental and socio-economic impact of lack of land use planning in host communities where the phenomenon of mine closure is a lived reality and evaluates alternative post-mining land use. In this study a case study, qualitative research approach is used to comparatively evaluate three mining EIA reports (EIA on the extension of mining operations at the Vlakvarkfontein Coal Mine; consolidation of high extraction mining impacts in the Trichardtsfontein; and rail loop, road diversion and pipeline project associated with Temo Coal) on the extent of post-mine land use consideration in the EIA process. Furthermore, the study, inter alia, assessed the extent to which the interested and affected parties' input was considered in EIA reports. In rehabilitation, the applicant is only reinstating the area, as closely as possible, to that which existed pre-mining, and should not be confused as post-mining land use. There is nothing new in providing for rehabilitation in EIA – it is a standard practice. However, the mining EIA reports extensively covered the environmental components, particularly the specialist studies, as they assessed whether projects conformed with the regulatory requirements. The emphasis of the mining EIA reports was mainly on the environmental component with – other than employment and economic benefits – no post-mining land use and socio-economic impact indicators. These trends were found to be further reinforced when the input of the interested and affected parties (I&APs) was analysed. In view of the findings of this study, the main recommendations to improve the EIA systems would be to clarify and simplify the mandates of the several institutions involved in the EIA process and system; and to improve and increase public access to EIA reports, including electronic means. This is pertinent due to the conspicuous absence of EIA reports in the public domain, which contributed to the limited number of EIA reports that were reviewed in this dissertation. In addition, public participation processes (PPP) should be conducted in most common languages of the stakeholders; and specialist social impact assessment should go beyond the traditional socio-economic issues faced by I&APs to include post-mining land use, as well as sustainable post-mining economy.

Natural survivorship for the South African west coast rock lobster resource, Jasus lalandii, is estimated at two locations, Robben Island and Hout Bay. A size-based modelling approach is used, in which the model is fitted, to pristine catch size frequencies. The natural survivorship value for lobsters in the Robben Island region is estimated to be 0.94. The natural survivorship value for Hout Bay lobsters is estimated to be 0.87. The natural survivorship estimates are found to be very sensitive to rock lobster growth rate. The Robben Island estimate decreases from 0.968 for a decrease of 40% in the growth rate, to 0.9 7 for a increase of 40% in the growth rate. These estimates.are compared with those made for lobsters in more northern areas. The implications of these natural survivorship estimates are discussed. A simple, direct method is used to estimate natural survivorship for Robben Island and Hout Bay, and the results are compared to those obtained with the model. Includes bibliographical references (pages 64-68).

Effective communication is important, particularly for the over 26 million immigrant workers with non-English speaking backgrounds who have entered the U.S. workforce. The research problem addressed the disillusion of non-English speakers in the workplace because of the communication gap. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of non-English speaking immigrant workers in overcoming language and cultural communication challenges at work. The research question focused on how non-English speakers or English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers describe their communication experiences in the workplace. The theoretical framework was based on the cultural approach to organizations and the transactional model of communication. A qualitative narrative inquiry design was used that employed sources of information including an interview questionnaire and existing literature. The target population was immigrant employees who are managers, assistant managers, and supervisors in New York City and Long Island who work in accounting, banking, finance, information technology, and marketing with at least 5 years' experience. A purposive sampling procedure was used to select 20 participants for semistructured interviews. The qualitative data were subjectively analyzed by using member checking and triangulation. Key findings indicated 6 themes: miscommunication, lack of appropriate terms, delays in work completion, loss of respect, inability to express oneself clearly, and the need to use alternative means of communication. Opportunity for contributions to social change can include increased understanding and utilization of effective management and communication strategies for dealing with non-English-speaking and ESL workers. This can also help to bridge cultural and language gaps.

This thesis is an analysis and description of pollution problems caused by large feedlots in Utah. A description of pollution caused by cattle feedlots is undertaken as part of the study. The 26 feedlots analyzed had a capacity to/or did feed over 1,000 head. They were broken down into four groups on the basis of their pollution problems: those having no apparent pollution problem, those having minor problems, those having major problems, and those requiring relocation. The cost impact of meeting environmental standards with regard to runoff control was found to be very slight for the cattle feeding industry as a whole - only 18 cents per head fed on the average. The feedlots with minor problems averaged costs of slightly over 2 cents per head fed. The feedlots with major problems averaged costs of almost 5 cents per head fed using the least cost method of natural evaporation ponds and mechanical disposal systems. The feedlots requiring relocation were most affected, as they averaged $1.15 per head fed loss in value of assets through relocating.

This thesis considered the potential benefits of employing linear programming in cheese manufacturing plant as a decision tool for management. Its potential has been enhanced by the recent approval of acid orange 12 as a chemical for testing the percent protein in milk; therefore , a practical test is now available for monitoring protein as well as milk fat in milk manufacturing and fluid milk plants. Seven models , each one differing only in the milk fat and protein percentages or means of standardizing the cheese milk, were manipulated individually and simultaneously to test the managerial benefits of linear programming under various plant and market conditions. Each model consisted of five cheese activities or variables , two butter activities, three powder activities, and a selling activity for each product produced. The maximum price that could be paid the farm producer per hundred weight of milk and the minimum wholesale price per pound of manufactured product , to cover variable costs were determined for each variety of cheese and composition of milk. 7nere ·~as a cie;'ini t.e int.eract.ion between eacn of the activities. ~n~s causea the cos~ to nroduce a pound of cneese to vary according to t.ne alternative uses for milk, cream, ski~,ilk, and whey, ,J,ocn the simulated plant was beinl' utilized at or near full capacity and the cheese milk was standardized with non fat dry milk powder , total cheese yield increased as did tot.al profits , Wnen the plant was not beinl' utilize to :ull capacity, profits were hi~ner by not standardizing.

This study estimated the 1972 costs and returns, and analyzed the physical response and economic relationships of corn hybrids for silage and grain production in some counties of Utah. Average size of enterprise, land value and equipment value were estimated for silage and grain corn production in Utah. Labor requirements for land preparation, growing and harvesting of silage and grain corn production were averaged. Net returns a nd costs (variable and fixed) for s ilage and grain corn production were computed in 30 farms of 15 counties of Utah to find the total production cost. Yields, total cost, total revenue and economic profit for the hybrid seed varieties for silage and grain corn trials established in 1971 and 1972 are presented in the corresponding tables.

Through the use of a regionalized Linear Programming model, a profit maximized optimal solution was obtained for livestock feed and product production for a selected base year (1979). Production data, seasonality, transfer activities, and herd liquidation are developed for ten feeds and seven livestock products and incorporated within the model. Two drought induced simulations were imposed affecting feed production and feed prices, procuring new optimal results. Drought is simulated by the use of crop-weather indexes and range response equations. Results are discussed and presented in tables for the base year and drought simulations. Results include profits, costs, feed and livestock production, transfer activities , and herd liquidation. Seasonality of feeds, allocation of f eeds, and shadow prices are also analyzed. Policy implications and recommendations are presented.

Cattle finishing is an enterprise involving the feeding of cattle to improve their slaughter condition. This can be accomplished by gazing cattle on pasture alone, by supplementing pasture with concentrated feeds, and by feeding harvested crops to cattle in yards. The latter method is one commonly used in Utah.