Environmental Quality Program Research Articles

Sampling and quantification methodology for floating solid wastes in beaches

The suggested methodology aims to typify the solid waste found on the aquatic surface of the touristic beaches in Cartagena de Indias. In addition, it was designed and implemented water samplers for floating solid waste to evaluate, in a wide swath, the composition of the waste that is cast into the seawaters and affects the quality of the beach as a touristic attraction as well as disturbing a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Such developed methodology comprises both the optimal samplers size based on information from the waste accumulation curves, plus the samples size standardization for estimations of total waste content through statistical sampling techniques such as MAS and MSL. This sampling was performed in parallel and perpendicular to the coastline by using devices with specifications of 1.0 m, 0.75 m and 0.5 m width; therefore the 0.75 m width device came to be the most efficient one, whereas the movement is perpendicular due to the variety of solid waste collected. The results, along with the process of the Project implementation, provide valuable information for the development of protocols and new parameters according to environmental quality index for touristic beaches up-to-date; thus abiding by the environmental quality program framework for beaches in the Colombian Northern Caribbean area.

The benefits of proactive environmental quality: Tips from a successful small business

Who says environmental quality has to cost a bundle? Or that it's out of reach of the typical smaller company? In fact, says this article, a proactive environmental quality program offers significant cost-avoidance opportunities and can allow a company to reap positive public relations rewards. The combination of a total quality production program and a proactive environmental quality program is a formidable force for success. And you don't have to be a big company to be an environmental leader.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Federal Ground‐Water Protection Program — Today's Hopea

ABSTRACTThe necessary administrative mechanisms for protection of our underground drinking water sources, and coordination of natural resource and energy development and environmental quality programs, should be provided by a federal ground‐water control program, else today's underground contaminant disposal activities will be tomorrow's undoing. Federal regulations, however, must provide flexibility to States and industry to find the least costly means of meeting national environmental goals.A growing body of literature clearly documents cases of underground drinking water source contamination, sometimes severe, from a large variety of conditions and practices. Existing studies also indicate that this problem is pervasive: aquifers have been adversely affected in every region of the country.A federal ground‐water protection program which (1) reflects consideration of total long‐range natural resource protection and environmental quality benefits, (2) regulates in a manner so that the benefits to the environment generally exceed the regulatory costs and (3) encourages more efficient ways of meeting environmental goals in the least costly manner can and must be developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Without an effective Federal ground‐water protection program, the underground contamination problem will likely worsen.

Multiple objectives in environmental protection programs

This research demonstrates the need for and the usefulness of a multi-dimensional approach to the management of environmental programs. While the thrust of the paper is toward environmental quality programs the conceptual development is appropriate for many public sector programs. The paper describes an experiment in the determination of multi-dimensional objectives within three programs in a state environmental quality program. In addition, measures of effectiveness, based on the multi-dimensional objectives, are proposed as relevant measures of program effectiveness.

Research Natural Areas: Contributors to Environmental Quality Programs

AbstractResearch programs on environmental quality will require studies of conditions in natural environments. Numerous protected natural ecosystems, known as Research Natural Areas, are available for such studies. The Research Natural Area concept and history and scope of present programs are outlined. These tracts are particularly valuable sites for baseline and monitoring programs, for ecosystem studies, as in situ preserves of gene pools, and for selected educational purposes.

Scientists finds DDT and other pollutants in Atlantic plants and animals

Scientists have found concentrations of DDT in most specimens, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in practically all specimens of plants and animals they collected on extensive cruises throughout the Atlantic Ocean.The cruises, by vessels of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, were part of the continuing United States program for the International Decade of Ocean Exploration. Scientists aboard the vessels were conducting projects designed to obtain baseline data for the study of marine pollution as part of the Environmental Quality Program of the IDOE.