Samuel F. Atkinson

Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia spp. in Ticks Removed from Persons, Texas, USA

Some tick-borne agents may pose yet-unknown public health risks.

Treatment of biodiversity impacts in a sample of US environmental impact statements

The objectives of the project discussed here were to identify the level of documentation in US environmental impact statements dealing with biodiversity impact assessment, determine whether, in the years following release in 1993 of US Council on Environmental Quality guidelines on biodiversity, the treatment of the subject has changed, and identify deficiencies. A systematic review process examined 35 US impact statements using a ‘biodiversity assessment index’ based on 19 review questions to score each statement. While our project examines a relatively small sample, data indicate that biodiversity assessment is lacking in US environmental impact statements. As a result, we have formulated a series of recommendations and tools for improving the treatment of biodiversity impact assessment.

Environmental audits: Proposed terminology.

This paper presents a review of the fast developing subject of environmental auditing with the authors proposing a series of definitions. Of particular concern is a move towards the development of an accepted vocabulary for environmental impact assessment, even though the international dimension of the subject makes this a difficult task. Use of the word ‘audit’ has become an accepted part of EIA vocabulary, however there are several types of audits being undertaken today. Presently, there are no commonly accepted definitions, consequently this paper will attempts to address this issue. Definitions for seven types of environmental audits are suggested, derived from the experience of the authors and from a review of the current literature. It is hoped that by the presentation of these definitions that such terms will be advocated for future EIA work, and thereby reducing confusion that otherwise may occur. The paper concludes with a brief review of the status of auditing.

Environmental audits: A literature review

This paper presents a literature review focused on predictive technique audits, one of the types of audit considered to have the greatest potential role in improving environmental impact assessment practice. The literature review is limited to US literature with the exception of a few UK audits, one undertaken by Tomlinson at the University of Aberdeen. The authors are, however, aware that literature from other countries exists on this subject, for example from Canada and South Africa.In the review, predictive technique audits performed for or by the US Bureau of Land Management, the Electric Power Research Institute, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Corps of Engineers, together with the Wisconsin Power Plant Impact Study are described. In addition, articles describing the auditing of models designed to predict environmental change are reviewed, before details of auditing activity in the UK are presented.

Adaptive management with integrated decision making: an emerging tool for cumulative effects management

Adaptive management (AM) is being used as a follow-up tool within EIA/CEAM. Such uses include reducing cumulative effects uncertainties, and informing decision making on practices to minimize the incremental effects of proposed actions and the management of regional cumulative effects resulting from multiple contributors. Based upon a review of fundamental concepts, practices and case studies, the following key lessons have been identified: (1) AM can be a useful tool for coping with uncertainty in CEAM, improving the knowledge base and enhancing the effectiveness of cumulative effects mitigation and management at the project and regional level respectively; (2) decision flowcharts can facilitate the learning and necessary adaptations associated with AM programs, and such flowcharts should be both understandable and integrative in relation to developing an holistic perspective on management choices and their environmental implications; and (3) there is a primary need for comparative case studies illustrating how AM has been incorporated in NEPA compliance documents which address cumulative effects management.

Nonpoint Pollution and Watershed Management: A Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) Approach

ABSTRACT Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) uses Landsat multispectral remote sensing data for determining historical land use changes in watersheds and identifing critical areas where water quality protection efforts should be maximized. Water quality monitoring data are used to document actual impacts to reservoirs from areas predicted by remote sensing analyses to be adversely affected. Additionally, DWU monitors ail National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Texas Water Commission waste discharge permit applications and plant performance histories. This ensures that DWU reviews point source discharges and assists the Texas Water Commission in their monitoring functions. DWU cooperates with other area agencies to promote regional wastewater treatment as an alternative to numerous package plants which have a history of poor wastewater management. Point source management should result in lower total nutrient loads to reservoirs. Remote sensing technology provides one of the most efficient meth...

Introduction to a special issue on cumulative effects assessment and management

This issue of Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal focuses on recent developments in cumulative effects assessment and management (CEAM). It brings together selected papers on this approach from the special topic meeting of the International Association for Impact Assessment (Calgary, 8-11 November 2008) held to take stock of the effectiveness of current approaches. At the meeting, over 400 members and other interested practitioners reviewed North American and international experience in addressing cumulative effects. More than 130 papers were presented in some 20 sessions, covering many aspects and issues of CEAM practice and with particular attention to the procedures, methods and tools that are used in environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA). This issue contains six papers that were developed out of the discussions held during the Calgary conference.

ON‐ROAD REMOTE SENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS: ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN EXHAUST POLLUTANT LEVELS AND VEHICLE YEAR

On‐road remote sensing operates in real‐time, under real world conditions, making it ideal for detecting high pollution emitters on roads and highways. Remote sensing measurements of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxide (NO) were compiled from study sites in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Utah. Collectively, the studies took place from 1989 to 1999, producing 278,642 measurements from vehicles manufactured between 1926 and 2000. Median emissions of five‐year categories peaked in the 1950s and decreased steadily thereafter, with steepest declines from the late 1970s to early 1980s. Observed emissions decreases coincide with advances in emissions control technology, oxygenated gasoline, more fuel‐efficient engines (up to 1988), and emissions testing.

A comparison of least squares regression and geographically weighted regression modeling of West Nile virus risk based on environmental parameters

Background The primary aim of the study reported here was to determine the effectiveness of utilizing local spatial variations in environmental data to uncover the statistical relationships between West Nile Virus (WNV) risk and environmental factors. Because least squares regression methods do not account for spatial autocorrelation and non-stationarity of the type of spatial data analyzed for studies that explore the relationship between WNV and environmental determinants, we hypothesized that a geographically weighted regression model would help us better understand how environmental factors are related to WNV risk patterns without the confounding effects of spatial non-stationarity. Methods We examined commonly mapped environmental factors using both ordinary least squares regression (LSR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). Both types of models were applied to examine the relationship between WNV-infected dead bird counts and various environmental factors for those locations. The goal was to determine which approach yielded a better predictive model. Results LSR efforts lead to identifying three environmental variables that were statistically significantly related to WNV infected dead birds (adjusted R2 = 0.61): stream density, road density, and land surface temperature. GWR efforts increased the explanatory value of these three environmental variables with better spatial precision (adjusted R2 = 0.71). Conclusions The spatial granularity resulting from the geographically weighted approach provides a better understanding of how environmental spatial heterogeneity is related to WNV risk as implied by WNV infected dead birds, which should allow improved planning of public health management strategies.

Distinguishing between chlorophyll-a and suspended solids in lake water using hyperspectral data

Classifying surface water bodies according to trophic status by remote sensing techniques has had limited success in lakes with relatively high nonalgal turbidity levels. Since the trophic status of a lake is typically defined based on its chlorophyll-a concentration, and since relatively high suspended solids concentrations masks chlorophyll absorption and reflectance peaks, determining trophic status remotely is typically only partially successful. Hoer, we were interested in exploring hyperspectral data analysis for estimating trophic status. Hyperspectral data (10 nm resolution between 262 and 850 nm) of light attenuation were measured in Lake Texoma (USA) at the surface, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 meters in depth, while simultaneously analyzing the water column for chlorophyll-a and suspended solids concentration. Data were collected at five sampling stations, each representative of a major zone in the 36,000 hectare lake, approximately monthly, during 1996/97 hydrologic year. Downwelling and upwelling vertical attenuation coefficients were calculated using Bouger-Lamberts law. First and second order derivatives, as well as higher order derivatives were applied to the spectral data. The results showed a clear correlation between first order derivatives and turbidity, while the second order derivatives were correlated to chlorophyll-a concentrations.