Environment Publications
2009 Publications
Black to Green: Carbon Debate and Beyond
Published in
HIMAL Southasian , June 2009. Ananth Chikkatur of ICF International and Sunita Dubey of GroundWork USA provide a broad overview of the energy challenges in South Asia in the context of a changing climate due to global warming. They explain that South Asia’s energy consumption will rise in the future, but that an energy-secure future involves not only getting access to energy resources, but also dealing with a whole spectrum of increasingly pressing environmental and ecological issues. Climate change impacts such as alterations in the Himalayan system and increasing severe weather events (floods, droughts, coastal inundation) could be severe and will adversely affect the large population in South Asia. The article concludes by providing a range of policy options and recommendations, and notes that rather than the current piecemeal approach, an integrated energy and environment policy needs to be devised and implemented. By getting the energy policy ‘right,’ the authors expect that the policies in other spheres will also fall into place.
CEQA Findings Can Make or Break a Project
August 2009. Over the past few years, project opponents have begun to focus their litigation on the findings adopted by agencies under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Specifically, litigants are pointing to the alleged failure of the lead agency to adequately dismiss project alternatives. These cases point out the importance of preparing solidly defensible findings when approving a project on the basis of an EIR.
Chemical Restriction - REACHing New Processes
In this 2009 presentation, David Hobson with SH&E, an ICF International Company, introduces
REACH , presents key business considerations for business that will be impacted by REACH, describes ICF’s integrated approach to REACH, and highlights how some organizations are already responding to REACH.
Community Planning
The Community Planning Team combines experience and expertise to help agencies solve complex land use, urban and land planning, development, and environmental challenges. We specialize in providing sustainable, innovative, integrated, "real world" planning solutions that are tailored to each community's needs and conditions.
Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) Webinar
In this July 2009 webinar, ICF International's Greg Blair presented an overview of the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) model. EDT is a decision support tool that allows resource managers to examine stream conditions from the perspective of the fish. EDT is used to develop ESA species recovery plans, complete project impact analyses, evaluate habitat enhancement benefits, and identify mitigation priorities.
Engaging Employees in Corporate Environmental Performance Improvement Programs
Webinar Presentation, April 2009, Energy and Environmental Intelligence Briefing. ICF International's Jeff Gibbons presents specific tactics for engaging employees and building engineering staff in sustainability initiatives, and the importance of having a formalized program to help ensure behavioral and cultural change. Along with best practices in training and change management, ICF demonstrates the benefits of tools such as
Do Your Part! , deployed to expedite program implementation and measurable achievement as part of corporate sustainability programs.
From Main Street to Green Street: LEED Certification for Sustainable Neighborhoods
Published in Main Street News , April 2009, by Therese Dorau of ICF International. One of the U.S. Green Building Council’s newest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs, LEED for Neighborhoods (ND) combines aspects of green construction practices and community development theories to encourage the creation of mixed-use, livable, environmentally sustainable neighborhoods. This article discusses the LEED-ND certification program and its specific relevance to small businesses and existing “main street” commercial districts. Specific opportunities and challenges of implementing certification are addressed, and the LEED-ND program is seen in action through two case studies.
Green Building Funding and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
August 2009. With the enactment of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act in early 2009, the federal government embarked on a massive effort to put jobs back into the struggling economy. This article highlights several provisions in the Recovery Act that present opportunities for green building.
ICF Overview of Proposed EPA GHG Reporting Rule
July 2009 Webinar, ICF Energy and Environmental Intelligence Briefing. On March 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the signed proposed rule for Monitoring and Reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this webinar, Joel Bluestein of ICF International provided an overview of the proposed requirements, what facilities will be affected, what gases will be included, and what measurement protocols will be required or available.
Keeping Page Counts Manageable in Environmental Documents
August 2009. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and many state “mini-NEPAs,” such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), require detailed and often highly technical studies to document that potential impacts on the environment have been considered prior to approving a project. NEPA and CEQA regulations recommend page limits for these environmental compliance documents, but the limits are often not observed, resulting in long, cumbersome documents. This article presents five practical ways in which document preparers can shorten their documents and thereby save time and money.
Local Agencies Collaborate in Response to AB 2270
May 2009. This article discusses Assembly Bill 2270’s focus on the effects on water quality of self-regenerating water softeners, and details a successful collaboration between two local government agencies to help solve salt-related water problems.
New Measurement Data Has Implications for Quantifying Natural Gas Losses from Cast Iron Distribution Mains
Co-authored by Carey Bylin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Luigi Cassab, Comgas; Adilson Cazarini, Comgas, Danilo Ori, Comgas; and Don Robinson and Doug Sechler of ICF International. Featured in the August issue (Vol. 236 No. 8) of Pipeline & Gas Journal , this article discusses the gas leakage measurement study undertaken by Comgas, Brazil’s largest distributor of gas in metropolitan San Paulo, to replace cast iron pipe that had been in service more than 50 years. To evaluate gas leakage, Comgas tested over 900 segments of cast iron pipe establishing a leakage factor of 800 thousand cubic feet of natural gas per mile of pipe per year. This average leakage factor is about double of that in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency report, Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks . The article discusses how Comgas measured these emission factors and several methods to reduce emissions ranging from inserting plastic pipe inside the cast iron (which Comgas has done in 155 miles of pipe) to robots that travel inside the cast iron pipe sealing joints.
REACH: It's Not Too Late to Get It Right
In this July 2009 webinar, Mike Penman, a recognised REACH and chemical industry expert from Penman Consulting, discussed the current state of affairs regarding the REACH regulation, as well as challenges in SIEF participation and management and solutions. Baxter Jones, from ICF International, a senior risk assessment professional currently supporting four REACH consortia, presented scientific and technical challenges and solutions. Professor Lucas Bergkamp, a chemical industry legal expert and lawyer with Hunton & Williams, provided insights into the legal challenges surrounding REACH and SIEF facilitation and participation.
Summary of CEQ's First Two Status Reports to Congress on NEPA Compliance for Economic Recovery Projects
August 2009. Section 1609 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) requires that the President report to Congress on the status of Recovery Act-funded projects and activities that deal with compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Two such quarterly reports have been submitted. This article summarizes and assesses the results of the first and second quarterly status reports.
Take Action for the Environment! Facing Global Sustainability Challenges, Can Law Firms Lead the Way?
In the Summer 2009 edition of
The American Trial Lawyer , ICF International’s Micah Brill advocates that law firms become leaders in the movement toward environmental sustainability among professional services firms. Not only can the law firms themselves become more sustainable enterprises, but lawyers can introduce sustainability to their clients, creating a ripple effect of companies working together to lessen their environmental impact.
The Impact Report - September 2009
September 2009. Stay up to date on the latest developments in environmental and planning law and regulation through our quarterly newsletter The Impact Report. In comprehensive articles, our author-experts review regulatory developments, summarize agency guidance, discuss court decisions, and offer expert opinion on real-life application of this information. Keep current with us through The Impact Report.
The Impact Report is an ICF Jones & Stokes quarterly publication and is available through subscription and on our website at icfi.com/impactreport . The authors, all experts in their fields, are available to answer questions about the subjects covered in the articles.
The Impact Report - May 09
May 2009. Stay up to date on the latest developments in environmental and planning law and regulation through our quarterly newsletter
The Impact Report . In comprehensive articles, our author-experts review regulatory developments, summarize agency guidance, discuss court decisions, and offer expert opinion on real-life application of this information. Keep current with us through
The Impact Report .
The Impact Report is an ICF Jones & Stokes quarterly publication and is available through subscription and on our website at icfi.com/impactreport . The authors, all experts in their fields, are available to answer questions about the subjects covered in the articles. Contact information follows each article.
2008 Publications
2008 CEQA Bills Legislation Update
November 2008. This article summarizes the bills related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that were considered by the State Legislature in 2008. The summaries are presented in three categories:
bills that have been enacted bills that have been vetoed by the governor, and bills that are dead
A New Era for Regional Planning in California: A Look at Senate Bill 375
November 2008. On September 30, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg; Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008) which ushers in a new era for regional planning in California. Senate Bill (SB) 375 is an ambitious bill that combines regional transportation planning with sustainability strategies in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California's urbanized areas. It also establishes new streamlining opportunities for compatible projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The result of 2 years of intensive negotiations among business, development, housing, and environmental groups, this legislation represents a delicately balanced and complex set of compromises. This article summarizes the main provisions of the bill.
Addressing Water Supply in CEQA Documents: Coping with Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth, Inc. v. City of Rancho Cordova
January 2008. Earlier this year, in Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth, Inc. v. City of Rancho Cordova (40 Cal. 4th 412), the California Supreme Court spelled out new principles regarding how agencies should evaluate water supply impacts for land development projects. Specifically, the court ruled that the City’s evaluation of short-term water supply for a large land development project was adequate, but that the evaluation of long-term water supply was inadequate. The court also found that new information about the effects of groundwater withdrawals on steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in a nearby river warranted recirculation of the EIR. The lessons learned in this decision should provide useful guidance as agencies throughout California cope with the difficult task of balancing land development and water supply in the context of CEQA.
Brownfield Financing: Propelling Brownfield Projects Through Local Governments and Tools
Summer 2008. Redeveloping brownfield sites can be a costly proposition. In many situations, the private development and financial sectors are not able or willing to act on their own to ensure that the full economic potential of site reuse will be achieved. Critical funding gaps are, in fact, the primary deterrent to site and facility reuse. For decades, local governments have used or sponsored public finance mechanisms to stimulate economic activity in certain geographic areas or industries. Now, publicly driven economic development initiatives are reaching into new sectors and incorporating new concerns, such as environmental improvement. Local brownfield reuse strategies and financing techniques are rapidly evolving across the country.
Case Study of State Incentives: Proposals to Make Strategic Investments in Brownfields Redevelopment
January 2008. The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMW) partnered with ICF International to create this study, which advises a state on the potential to modify and expand its brownfields incentives. Many states have rather modest brownfields incentives, usually a grant-loan program to fund site assessments and cleanups, and usually under-funded relative to needs. Some of these states may be considering proposals to improve, expand or modify these incentives in order to get more mileage out of limited funds and accelerate cleanup and redevelopment activity. The report offers program proposals and recommendations, and includes a table detailing current State Brownfields Income Tax Credit Programs.
CEQA Legislation for 2007
January 2008. In 2007, several CEQA-related bills were introduced in the Legislature; three bills that amend CEQA were signed by the Governor. Most of the bills introduced, however, did not receive legislative approval and are being held over as "two year bills." The Legislature may choose to hear these bills again when it reconvenes in 2008.
Climate Change and CEQA in 2007: Lots of Heat, but Only a Little Light
January 2008. In the January 2007 edition of The Impact Report, Terry Rivasplata reviewed the passage of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) and asked "Does it Herald Major Challenges for CEQA?" The answer in 2007 was a resounding "Yes!" However, there is still a lack of consensus amongst CEQA practitioners on how to address climate change in CEQA documents, and the ultimate efficacy of the various approaches is still unknown.
Climate Change: Beyond the Low-Hanging Fruit
By Elliot Roseman and Kimberly Richardson, ICF International, and published in
World-Generation , Sept/Oct 2008. The world is waiting to see what the new United States administration will do to secure our energy future and mitigate the negative impacts of fossil fuel emissions on our global environment. Are there existing policies that could provide inspiration for new carbon legislation? Have other countries begun to tackle this complicated issue? Indeed, the United Kingdom has designed a very innovative approach to targeting carbon emissions that would otherwise go unnoticed in the eyes of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme. The program is called the Carbon Reduction Commitment, and by targeting this emissions gap, the UK has taken a significant step in combating climate change; one the U.S. might consider as the new administration crafts its own initiatives. This article investigates the most salient points of the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment and discusses the program’s applicability to the U.S., including necessary modifications, industry compliance issues, and funding implications. With the U.S. administration promising new carbon legislation, why not take a few cues from our friends across the pond?
Corps of Engineers Issues Regulatory Guidance Letter 08-02 on Jurisdictional Determinations
November 2008. On June 26, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) released Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) No. 08-02, which provides information on the subject of approved and preliminary jurisdictional determinations (JDs) for Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Sections 9 and 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. RGL No. 08-02 is intended to clarify differences between an "approved" JD and a "preliminary" JD when the Corps is evaluating whether it has jurisdiction for wetland delineation reports and permitting processes. This RGL has also been referred to as the "opt-in" or "conceding jurisdiction" RGL because the guidance clarifies the suitability for use of both JD types, and it may save time in the Corps' reviewing and permitting process. This article summarizes the main differences between approved and preliminary JDs and provides guidance on appropriate timing for their use.
Economic Evaluation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise Program: Sun Protection Education for Young Children
Prepared by ICF International, along with co-authors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Ford Hospital, and Harvard, Boston, George Washington, and George Mason Universities, 2007. Published in
Pediatrics , the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Vol. 121, No. 5, May 2008. ICF prepared an economic analysis of the U.S. EPA’s SunWise Program by translating self-reported changes in student sun safety behaviors into reductions in skin cancer incidence and mortality using the U.S. EPA’s Atmospheric and Health Effects Framework (AHEF) model maintained by ICF. Although a number of studies have evaluated the behavioral impacts of school-based and community sun safety education programs, few have evaluated the economics of skin cancer prevention programs. The study, possibly the first to review the cost-benefit of a school-based sun safety program, found that using SunWise to teach children about sun safety saves lives and money.
End of the 110th Congress: How Did Brownfields Fare?
During its two-year term, the 110th Congress did not finalize very much with direct application to the brownfield marketplace. However, Congress continued to fund brownfield programs. In addition, the two bailouts that passed in 2008—the foreclosure assistance and the Wall Street rescue plan—provide opportunities for creative state, local, and private brownfield reuse to promote brownfield revitalization efforts. The Wall Street rescue plan even includes significant new incentives for “green” construction and development that could play a critical role in brownfield projects. One of the 111th Congress’s first major tasks will be to finalize appropriations for FY09, deferred by the outgoing Congress.
Evaluating Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change Impacts under NEPA: Ten Steps to Taking a Hard Look
November 2008. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to take a hard look at the environmental consequences of their proposed actions; however, many agencies are preparing NEPA documents with little or no analysis of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) or the impacts of global climate change. As policy makers continue to debate how agencies should address GHG emissions and climate change impacts under NEPA, lead agencies cannot afford to wait for answers. This paper briefly explains why GHG/climate change impacts must be evaluated under NEPA and includes a recommended ten-step approach for minimizing the risk of legal jeopardy.
Hawai'i Cruise Industry Study: Module 7—Cost-Benefit Analysis
December 2008. This report by ICF International contains analyses evaluating the economic impacts incurred on the State of Hawaii by the cruise industry. These impacts can be benefits, such as increased consumer spending and regional economic activity, or costs, such as the degradation of air quality from cruise ship pollution and automobile use. The study incorporates impacts on the economy, the transportation infrastructure, the port infrastructure, utilities, community services, the environment, and cultural heritage sites. Over the next ten years, the cruise industry is expected to create significant net economic benefits to the State of Hawaii. The net benefits vary among the different islands in the Hawaii archipelago due to different rates of land-based tourism and time spent by visitors on each island. The study also examines the taxes and fees generated by the cruise industry and how they compare to the costs the cruise industry imposes.
OPR Issues Interim Guidance on How to Address Climate Change under CEQA
November 2008. The California Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has issued a Technical Advisory memorandum providing interim guidance on how lead agencies should address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change impacts in CEQA documents. The advisory, entitled "CEQA and Climate Change: Addressing Climate Change through California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review" provides OPR’s current perspectives on this important and rapidly evolving topic. The advisory, which is available at OPR's web site, will serve as provisional guidance until the Resources Agency adopts formal amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines in early 2010.
Overview of HCFC Consumption and Available Alternatives For Article 5 Countries
Prepared by ICF International, April 2008, for the European Commission DG-Research and Development. ICF developed a white paper for developing countries that graphically depicts the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) under the Montreal Protocol phaseout schedules and summarizes the various alternatives in the refrigeration and air conditioning end uses. This white paper is intended to serve as a quick, easy-to-use reference for developing countries in planning and implementing their phaseout of HCFCs.
Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources (SAP 4.4)
Prepared by ICF International for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 2008. ICF International provided support to EPA in developing Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.4, one of 21 Synthesis and Assessment Products (SAPs) called for in the strategic plan of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP). The report is designed to help reduce the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other sensitive ecosystems, by identifying strategies to protect the environment as these changes occur. ICF assisted in developing the content and substance of the report, identified and analyzed key climate change impacts and adaptation, developed supporting maps and graphics, and planned and assisted in facilitating six 3-day stakeholder workshops.
Summary of Guidance Related to the U.S. Supreme Court Decisions from Rapanos and Carabell
January 2008. The following describes issues related to the U.S. Supreme Court consolidated decisions in the Rapanos and Carabell cases. They both focus on the extent of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (USACE's) jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Section 404 requires that a permit be obtained from USACE for discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has oversight authority on Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
2007 Publications
AB 32—California's Landmark Global Warming Bill
January 2007. AB 32, California's landmark global warming bill, will require the state Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt regulations to require the reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance with that program. As part of this effort, ARB will adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions levels in 1990, to be achieved by 2020. The ARB will adopt rules and regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions. These are expected to include market-based compliance mechanisms. The statute would further require the ARB to monitor compliance with and enforce any rule, regulation, order, emission limitation, emissions reduction measure, or market-based compliance mechanism that it adopts.
Air Quality Issues in School Site Selection
Prepared by ICF, June 2005 (revised May 2007). Local air quality is an important factor to consider in the selection of a location for a new school. For California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), ICF developed a guidance document to assist school districts in the selection of locations for new schools with respect to local air quality. The guidance document synthesizes and references a variety of scientific literature and other guidance to provide easy to understand steps that can minimize exposure of school children and school personnel to air pollution and toxic emissions at school sites.
New Law Changes Procedures When Native American Remains Are Found on Private Land
January 2007. On September 30, 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger approved AB 2641, introduced by Assembly Member Coto (D-San Jose), which modifies consultation procedures when Native American burials are discovered on private lands in California. The new bill also changes protection measures, including changes to timing regarding notification of likely descendants when Native American remains are found on private land.
Proposition 84—A $5.4 Billion Cornucopia of Water- and Resources-Related Projects
January 2007. California voters clearly demonstrated strong support for the environment in the recent general election when they voted 53.8% to 46.2% to approve Proposition 84, the $5.38 billion Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Initiative. A yes vote was by no means a sure thing, particularly because a set of so-called infrastructure bonds totaling $37.3 billion was also on the ballot.
Resurrection of the Lake Michigan Eutrophication Model
Published in the
Journal of Great Lakes Research, October 2007, by James J. Pauer and Amy M. Anstead of
Z-Tech, an ICF International Company , and co-authored by research scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Large Lakes Research Station, Grosse Ile, Michigan. This article discusses the resurrection, evaluation and application of a historical water quality model to provide estimates of the future trophic status in Lake Michigan. It is also shown how a relative simple mathematical modeling framework can be used as a diagnostic tool to guide scientists in developing the next generation of models for Lake Michigan and the other Laurentian Great Lakes.
Transportation Demand Management Programs as an Emissions Reduction Strategy: New Challenges and Opportunities
February 2007. ICF International releases analysis highlighting the potential role of transportation demand management (TDM) strategies in reducing multiple air pollutants. TDM strategies reduce motor vehicle emissions primarily by decreasing vehicle travel and encouraging the use of other transportation modes, such as transit, bicycling, or walking; increasing vehicle occupancy through carpooling or vanpooling; eliminating vehicle trips, through strategies such as telecommuting and compressed work weeks; reducing vehicle trip lengths through better urban design and land use mixing; and linking vehicle trips. In addition, TDM strategies also can encourage shifts from peak periods to less congested periods, thereby reducing travel delay and idling.
U.S. Forest Service Categorically Excludes Forest Plans from NEPA
January 2007. The Bush Administration, through the Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service (USFS), has issued a Final Directive that categorically excludes the adoption, amendment, and revision of national forest land management plans from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The new directive was announced in the Federal Register in mid-December and is reflected in revisions to the USFS’s Handbook (71 Fed. Reg. 241, December 15, 2006; FSH 1909.15). Prior to this rule, to comply with NEPA the USFS typically prepared a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) parallel to the development of the forest management plan to comply with NEPA. Such an EIS typically evaluates impacts within a broad geographic area and compares policy-level alternatives.
Water - Trading: Testing the Limits of Trade
Environmental Finance , July/August 2007. James Bentley of ICF International analyzes how Australia’s water rights trading scheme has helped farmers cope with drought—up to a point. Australia’s Murray Darling Basin irrigation sector has faced extreme drought the last few seasons. In this article, James Bentley examines how water trade has functioned throughout the drought. The benefits of trade in serving to redistribute water and reduce the impacts of drought are discussed.
Water Markets Perspective: Privatisation and Regulation of China’s Water Sector
China is currently the most active emerging market for public-private partnerships in the water sector. However, the government faces a familiar tension between ensuring sufficient capital investment to improve service quality and keeping tariffs for consumers affordable. In China, distinctive contract models and characteristics of the institutional environment pose particular challenges for establishing a sound regulatory regime. The existing system is complicated by the overlapping layers of rules issued by different government bodies and by limited transparency in processes for regulatory decision making. In this January 2007
Water Markets Perspective , Olivia Jensen of ICF International discusses how China can draw on regulatory theory and international experience to develop economic regulations for its water sector.
Water Markets—Regulation Matters
January 2007.
Regulation Matters is the regular digest of water markets news and views from the
London office of ICF International. It provides coverage of topical issues in
water markets and the latest ICF International insights and perspectives into regulatory developments.
2006 Publications
2006 CEQA Bills
June 2006. The Legislature’s 2005-2006 session is now over. Here are the CEQA-related bills that have been either signed into law or vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. For more information about any of these bills, please visit the Legislative Counsel’s website at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html .
The rumors of massive changes to CEQA, and the discussions over flood control and CEQA did not result in any legislation that reached the Governor’s desk. Although the Legislature passed more CEQA bills in 2006 than in recent years, they do not seem to have made any significant changes.
2006 CEQA Court Cases
June 2006.
City of Marina: Cal State Universities and Offsite Mitigation ECOS: Mitigation Ratios and Defining "Reasonably Foreseeable" Joy Road: Timber Harvest Plans and CEQA PAC: Toward Defining "Infeasible"
Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Analysis Techniques for Transportation Projects
Prepared for American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) by ICF under NCHRP Project 25-25 Task 17, May 2006. This report identifies a total of 17 tools or methods that can be used to analyze the GHG implications of transportation projects. Existing tools are categorized into three groups: transportation GHG calculation tools, transportation/emissions strategy analysis tools, and energy/economic forecasting tools. These tools are designed to estimate travel and emissions impacts of specific types of transportation strategies, based on inputs about transportation programs or strategies (e.g., type of strategy, other parameters of specific strategies). Most of the analytical strength of these tools is in the estimation of travel impacts; the CO
2 calculation procedures are generally very simple, and often do not account for complex implications of vehicle operating characteristics on emissions. These tools include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Commuter Model and the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Intelligent Transportation Systems Deployment Analysis System (IDAS).
CEQ Proposes Guidance on Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA
March 2006. The President's Council on Environmental Quality, the agency responsible for oversight of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has released a "Deliberative Draft" of proposed guidance to federal agencies on how to establish, revise, and apply Categorical Exclusions under NEPA.
The NEPA regulations, adopted in 1978, have never been amended to clarify how federal agencies should go about determining, justifying, and using Categorical Exclusions. In 2002, recognizing that NEPA practices have changed over time, CEQ convened the federal agency NEPA Task Force, which among other things, recommended improving the process of determining Categorical Exclusions.
Challenges to Investing in Water
Evidence has shown that private sector involvement is not necessarily the key to unlocking barriers to efficiency and profitability in the water sector. Water investments face their own challenges due to the very nature of the product, which can impact the financial success or failure of the investment. In this July 2006
Water Markets Perspective , Ceema Namazie of ICF International discusses the challenges faced by investors in the water sector, and how these factors affect the overall commercial viability of these opportunities—whatever the type of investor.
Congressional NEPA Task Force Issues Final Recommendations to Improve and Update NEPA
June 2006. The United States House of Representatives, Committee on Resources Task Force on Improving/Updating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has released its final recommendations relating to NEPA. Last January, The Impact Report featured an article about the Task Force’s preliminary recommendations. During the past six months, the Task Force received and considered comments from more than 250 individual and organizations, leading to its latest recommendations.
Corps of Engineers Issues Proposal to Reissue Nationwide Permits
June 2006. On September 26, 2006 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began seeking public comment for its proposal to reissue its Nationwide Permits. The Nationwide Permits are a group of general permits that are issued by the Corps for activities with minimal adverse impact to wetlands and other waters that are regulated under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The Nationwide Permits are revised and reissued by the Corps every five years. The current set of Nationwide Permits will expire March 18, 2007.
DFG 'Streambed Alterations' Form Gets a Makeover
June 2006. The California Department of Fish and Game (Department) issued a new Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA) notification form on July 28, 2006, "to accelerate the agreement process for projects by ensuring the Department receives complete information in LSAA notifications for evaluating and developing draft agreements" (Gary Hobgood, DFG). The new notification form (FG2023), along with instructions, fee schedule, and new forms to request amendments, extensions, or to notify the Department of emergency work, is located on the Department's Lake and Streambed Alteration Program web site:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/1600/Forms.html .
Drought Floods Water Market with Opportunity
Opportunity is not a word many of the 13 million water customers facing water restrictions would associate with England’s worst drought in 100 years. However, the current drought highlights more than ever the true value of this essential resource and the need for new thinking on how water can be used and managed more wisely. In this May 2006
Water Markets Perspective , Scott Reid of ICF International identifies four practical market-oriented opportunities for encouraging water smart decision-making.
Economic Valuation and Public Goods
Water utilities operate for the public good, supplying essential services and protecting public health and our environment. In the context of England and Wales, the delivery of this public good has been in the hands of privately owned businesses, and regulators increasingly see tools like cost-benefit analysis as a way to align the interests of private sector businesses with the delivery of this public good. Recent work in the area of economic valuation also is suggesting that these public good characteristics may matter when it comes to measuring the economic value of improving the provision of water services. In this new
Water Markets Perspective , Scott Reid of ICF International explores the practical relevance of this recent work to the increasing use of cost benefit analysis to guide investment planning by water utilities. In particular, he investigates whether it is appropriate to ask what customers are willing to pay for service improvements or instead, what customers are prepared to accept by way of compensation for foregoing a service improvement.
Growing Toward More Efficient Water Use: Linking Development, Infrastructure, and Drinking Water Policies
Co-authored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ICF International, January 2006. The report finds that large-lot, dispersed development patterns cost more to serve and use more water and provides policy options for states, localities, and utilities to reduce the cost of and demand for water. These policies offer opportunities for more efficient water use at a time when an increasing number of communities face water shortages.
Proposition 90 – The New Trojan Horse That Attacks Land Use Planning and Regulation
June 2006. In November, California voters will have the opportunity to consider 13 initiatives on the statewide ballot. Hidden among the bond proposals and the telegenic oil company tax is Proposition 90, the selfstyled "Protect Our Homes Act." This measure has much more to it than its populist title would suggest. If passed, Proposition 90 would fundamentally change land use planning in California by severely limiting the ability of cities and counties to enact new general plan and zoning provisions, and the ability of the state to enact laws protecting the environment.
Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks
Prepared by ICF for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Solid Waste, EPA530-R-06-004, September 2006. In the 21st century, management of municipal solid waste continues to be an important environmental challenge. Climate change is also a serious issue, and the United States is embarking on a number of voluntary actions to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that can intensify climate change. This report examines how municipal solid waste management and climate change are related.
Summer Update of 2006 CEQA Bills
June 2006. This is the second year of the Legislature's 2005-2006 session. Here are the CEQA-related bills that are active as of June 2, 2006. The first bills on this list are those that are still active. The second part of the list summarizes the bills that failed to move out of their house of origin by the June 2, 2006 legislative deadline. Those bills are effectively dead. For more information about any of these bills, visit the Legislative Counsel's website at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html .
Supreme Court Rules on Wetlands
July 2006. The United States Supreme Court, on June 19, issued an important and long-awaited ruling dealing with the regulation of wetlands. The USSC decision— Rapanos v. United States consolidated with Carabell v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Rapanos et ux., et al. v. United States, 547 U.S. __ (2006)— has the potential to affect the treatment of tributaries to navigable waters, adjacent wetlands, and isolated waters throughout the United States. This
Impact Report article is designed to provide some background information about the decision, and its potential ramifications.
Terrorism and NEPA
March 2006. A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit leaves little doubt that the risk of a terrorist attack and any foreseeable environmental impacts of such an event must be considered in preparing environmental documents under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
U.S. Army Corps and EPA Propose New Regulations for Wetland Mitigation
Since the late 1970s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has been requiring mitigation for impacts to wetlands and other waters of the United States through its permitting program. Over the years, the Corps and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees the Corps’ administration of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, developed a number of mitigation policies and guidance documents for the 38 Corps district offices that actually issue the permits.
Recently, the effectiveness of the Corps' national mitigation policies has come under considerable scrutiny
Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices
Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ICF International, January 2006. To comply with the Clean Water Act, more than 6,000 communities are developing municipal stormwater permitting programs. Many of these communities also are redeveloping vacant properties, promoting transportation options, and facilitating efficient use of land and infrastructure. This report reviews common smart growth techniques and examines how they can be used to prevent or manage stormwater runoff. This publication will help communities meet the new regulatory requirements.
Using Water Markets to Mitigate Drought Impacts: Learning from Australian Farmers in the Murray Darling Basin
Despite clear hardships that the irrigation community faces, the ability and willingness to trade the limited water supplies available means irrigators are better able than ever to cope with drought-related challenges. Essentially, the real value of water trade for the economy is to provide the flexibility to allow the production of water-based produce to contract in response to drought in an economically efficient manner. In the October 2006
Water Markets Perspective , James Bentley of ICF International discusses how to use current water markets to mitigate drought impacts, using Australia’s Murray Darling Basin as a prime example.
What Is the "Watershed Approach"?
March 2006. In recent years, environmental managers, regulators, and consultants alike have increasingly been developing and following a more holistic watershed approach to resource planning. But what, exactly, does a watershed approach mean?
2005 Publications
Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 2005 Update
Prepared by ICF for Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada. This 2005 report represents the culmination of a series of projects to develop and refine life-cycle GHG emission factors for specific materials commonly occurring in the Canadian residential and industrical, commercial, and institutional (IC&I) waste stream. The original report, “Determination of the Impact of Waste Management Activities on Greenhouse Gas Emissions” (ICF 2001), described the net GHG emissions for selected materials, across a partial life cycle, ending with various waste management fates. This 2005 update presents the efforts of previous work and results of research undertaken more recently. The most recent research has included the addition of several materials that are common in the residential and IC&I waste streams and where the potential of alternative waste management options are of interest to Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): electronics, white goods, copper wire, and tires. In addition, this report reflects efforts to improve the modeling of paper recycling by simulating open-loop recycling, i.e., where the second generation products differ from the product being recycled. The emission factors provided in this report also reflect the use of more recent data to calculate emissions from electricity use.
Emission Reduction Opportunities for Non-CO2 Gases in California
Prepared by ICF for California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program, July 2005. The report provides an analysis of mitigation options for sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, including natural gas and petroleum systems, landfills, manure management systems, electric power systems, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, and other sources. The purpose of this study is to provide the state with information on the costs and benefits of specific options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these sources. The results of this study are reflected in the form of marginal abatement cost curves.
Geotechnics of Waste Stabilization Ponds: An Important Piece of the Wastewater Treatment Puzzle
Published in
Environmental Science and Engineering Magazine , May 2005, by Francisco Silva-Tulla of ICF International and Raul Flores-Berrones of the Mexican Institute of Water Technology. From environmental, economic, political, and social perspectives, wastewater treatment represents one of the most pressing issues facing municipalities and industry today. Waste stabilization ponds (WSP) provide one of the simplest, lowest cost, and most efficient wastewater treatment technologies available. Experiences with WSP suggest that geotechnical engineering can correct many problems that prevent these cleverly designed systems from achieving their full potential. This article presents a geotechnical 'checklist' for preventing problems related to water leakage, geological faults, and slope failures during excavation and construction, as well as uncontrolled settlements after construction. The authors also provide guidelines to identify problematic soils (expansive, collapsible, dispersive, or highly compressible) with suggestions for their stabilization or improvement.
Neighborhood Schools and Sidewalk Connections: What Are the Impacts on Travel Mode Choice and Vehicle Emissions?
Published in
Transportation Research News 237 , March-April 2005, pp. 4-10, by William Schroeer of ICF International, Reid Ewing of the University of Maryland, and Christopher V. Forinash of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Copyright, Transportation Research Board (TRB), National Research Council, Washington, D.C. Reproduced with permission of TRB. This article is a condensed version of the
"School Location and Student Travel: Analysis of Factors Affecting Mode Choice" study , which quantifies the relationship between school location, the built environment around schools, student travel to school, and the emissions from that travel. Findings argue for neighborhood schools and improvements to sidewalk networks around schools. Centrally located schools to which students can walk or bike would reduce vehicle emissions significantly. The results have been widely cited because they confirm that the steep decrease in kids walking to school is in large part linked to trends toward giant schools in remote areas. Despite other trends and concerns (increased driving, crime), when kids can walk to school, they do.
OPS3: Progressing Toward Environmental Results
June 2005. ICF completed a study to assess the extent to which the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) has achieved, or is on its way toward achieving its main objectives, with a focus on program/project outcomes, the sustainability and replicability of those outcomes, and progress toward impacts. More specifically, through a review of existing GEF literature and data, as well as on-the-ground interviews and data collection in approximately 15 countries, the study (a) provided an overall assessment of the impacts and other results achieved since the GEF restructuring in 1994 until June 2004; (b) assessed the effectiveness of GEF policies, strategies, and programs; (c) examined the main factors influencing the achievement of GEF objectives and considered possible shortcomings to the achievement of objectives; and (d) developed key lessons and provided clear and actionable recommendations to the GEF Council on how to render GEF support more effective in contributing to global environmental benefits.
Relationship Between Motor Vehicle Emissions of Hazardous Pollutants, Roadway Proximity, and Ambient Concentrations in Portland, Oregon
Published in
Environmental Modelling & Software , Volume 20, Issue 1, January 2005, by Jonathan Cohen and Edward Carr of ICF International and by Richard Cook and Chad Bailey of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report describes the results of an ICF International project analyzing air quality predictions for Portland, Oregon from the
CALPUFF dispersion model . A regression model was developed to predict ambient concentrations of three hazardous air pollutants—benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and diesel particulate matter—based on traffic volumes and emission rates for individual roadway links, wind speeds and directions, and on the distances and directions between the roadways and the receptor points. This regression model provides a useful approximation to the more complicated CALPUFF dispersion model.
The Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA): Spurring Innovation and Growth While Cleaning the Air
For the past 15 years, ICF International has been supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Ageny (EPA) in implementing various aspects of the Clean Air Act, including provisions under the Acid Rain Program, the NO
x Budget Trading Program, the Clean Air Interstate Rule, and others. Recently, ICF International was tasked by EPA to document the success of the Amendments in spurring innovation and growth. ICF International’s findings, compiled as a white paper, also are available at the Web site for the
15th anniversary of the CAAA .
The U.S. Phaseout of HCFCs: Projected Servicing Needs in the U.S. Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Sector
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) are a class of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, leading to overexposure of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the earth’s surface. Excessive UV radiation damages biological systems and causes malignant melanoma and other skin cancers, cataracts, and harm to certain crops and marine organisms. As a Party to the Montreal Protocol, the United States is subject to a cap on the consumption of HCFCs in an international effort to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. In projecting servicing needs, ICF completed this report that examines the primary sources of HCFC-22 to service and maintain equipment after 2010, which include the amounts recovered from converted or retired equipment that are subsequently recycled or reclaimed (i.e., “recovered”) and the limited virgin production and import quantities distributed through allowances.
Ultimate Lateral Resistance to Piles in Cohesionless Soils
Published in
ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineerin g, January 2005, by Lianyang Zhang, Francisco Silva, and Ralph Grismala of ICF International. The article proposed a simple method for calculating the ultimate lateral resistance (including frontal soil resistance and side shear resistance) to piles in cohesionless soils. The calculated ultimate lateral resistance from the proposed method agrees well with that obtained from centrifugal tests of flexible model piles. Predicting the lateral load capacity of laboratory and field rigid test piles in cohesionless soils using the proposed method also yields satisfactory results.
Water Markets: Regulation Matters, October 2005
Regulation Matters is the regular digest of water markets news and views from the London office of ICF International. It provides coverage of topical issues in water markets and the latest ICF International insights and perspectives into regulatory developments.
2004 Publications
CHP Emissions Calculator
The CHP Emissions Calculator (EC), launched in August 2004 by
EEA, an ICF International Company , is a tool to estimate the net air pollution emissions from a small CHP system. The EC performs calculation for NO
x , SO
2 , CO
2 , and mercury (Hg). This
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet calculates net emissions based on information provided by the user and default information provided by the system. The net emissions are calculated from three primary components: on-site emissions from the CHP system; displaced emissions from on-site thermal production (i.e., steam boiler); displaced emissions from off-site generation of electricity. The net emissions equal the emissions from CHP minus the displaced emissions from thermal production and electricity production.
Drilled Shafts in Rock: Analysis and Design
By Lianyang Zhang of ICF International. Published by
A.A. Balkema Publishers , ©Copyright May 2004 Taylor & Francis Group plc, London, UK. Drilled shafts in rock are widely used as foundations of heavy structures such as highway bridges and tall buildings. Although much has been learned on the analysis and design of drilled shafts in rock, all the major findings are reported in the form of reports and articles published in technical journals and conference proceedings. This book is the first to present and summarize the latest information in one volume, assisting the reader in the analysis and design of drilled shafts in rock. The book is a valuable tool for professionals working on the design of drilled shafts in rock. It is also a good reference for professionals working in geological engineering, rock mechanics, and foundation engineering.
The Bottomline on Buying Recycled
Published in
Inside Supply Management, March 2004, Vol. 15, No. 3, by Jan Canterbury of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Pamela Mathis of ICF International. ©Copyright Institute for Supply Management™. This article discusses the business impact of using recycled content rather than virgin materials in manufactured or purchased products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change. The article describes the EPA's ReCon spreadsheet calculator tool, which can be used to quantify the benefits of waste prevention and resource conservation efforts and show that what’s good for the environment can also be good for business in terms of bottomline profits and long-term shareholder value.
Trends in Environmentally Related Childhood Illnesses
Published in
Pediatrics , Vol. 113, No. 4, April 2004, and co-authored by ICF International's Bradford J. Hurley, and Tracey J. Woodruff, Daniel A. Axelrad, Amy D. Kyle, Onyemaechi Nweke, and Gregory G. Miller. Trends in childhood illnesses are one element of a framework for children's environmental health indicators, which also includes trends in contaminants in the environment and in concentrations of contaminants in bodies of children and their mothers. This article presents data on three groups of important childhood diseases or disorders that seem to be caused, or exacerbated, by exposure to environmental agents and for which nationally representative data are available. Funding for this research was provided by the National Center for Environmental Economics and the Office of Children’s Health Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
2003 Publications
Effect of Coast Guard Maritime Security Rules on EPA-Regulated Facilities
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) published final rules on October 22, 2003, to implement the security requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in regard to oil spill prevention and marine safety. The rules include provisions addressing Area Maritime Security (ports), vessels, and facilities. Some of these entities contain transportation-related and non-transportation-related components that are regulated by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USCG, such as a marine transfer facility (under USCG jurisdiction) with aboveground storage tanks (under EPA jurisdiction). This white paper introduces approaches that EPA can take to continue coordination with USCG and to assist regulated facilities in complying with these new requirements.
2002 Publications
Application of Chemical Tools to Evaluate Phytoremediation of Weathered Hydrocarbons
Published in the Proceedings of the 25th Arctic and Marine Oilspill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar by Henry Camp, et.al. June 2002. Phytoremediation was tested for effectiveness in treating aged petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil in a three-year study using the standarized field protocol developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Remediation Technologies Development Forum (RTDF) Phytoremediation Action Team.
Energy Efficiency Strategies for Freight Trucking: Potential Impact on Fuel Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
From
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board , No.1815, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2002, pp. 11-18, by Jeffrey Ang-Olson and Will Schroeer of ICF International
. Trucking is the dominant mode of domestic freight and offers a substantial opportunity to improve transportation energy efficiency and reduce the emission of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG). This report assesses eight trucking strategies to improve efficiency and reduce emissions through voluntary actions under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Ground Freight Transportation Initiative.
Freight Activity and Air Quality Impacts in Selected North American Free Trade (NAFTA) Corridors
Published in the
Transportation Research Record, No. 1815 (2002), by Jeffrey Ang-Olson and Bill Cowart of ICF International
. This paper examines the current and future air quality impacts that occur as a result of the development of North American trade and transportation corridors, and explores strategies to mitigate these impacts. The analysis focuses on five specific bi-national corridor segments: Vancouver-Seattle, Winnipeg-Fargo, Toronto-Detroit, San Antonio-Monterrey and Tucson-Hermosillo.
Learning from the Past
By François Côté. Reprinted from the July/August 2002 issue of
Engineering Dimensions, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 36-38, by permission of the publisher. Increasingly we see organizations adopting a systematic approach for managing issues that relate to quality, environment, and health and safety by means of a management system. This article emphasizes that in such context, organizations must rely on management system integration and alignment to achieve improved business performance.
NASA Environmental Management System (EMS) Development
Published in
Federal Facilities Environmental Journal , Autumn 2002, by Michael J. Green and Michael DeWit. © 2002
Wiley Periodicals , Inc. This report, written by Michael Green of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Michael DeWit of ICF International, describes the development and implementation of
EMS procedures at three NASA pilot centers to meet the requirements of ISO 14001 and Executive Order 13148,
Greening of the Government Through Leadership in Environmental Management .
Urban Hazard Mitigation: Increasing Human Security through Re-Assessing the Steps Toward Livable Communities
By Michael Armstrong, 2002. This paper addresses the ideas and approaches that might empower those who influence the built environment to assess the types of land use, building design, and other practices in the urban environment that have increased the public's risks to death, injury, and property damage. The basic tenets of hazard mitigation have been admirably discussed in the past, and they will be restated here as part of the fundamentals of any hazard mitigation strategy. However, as we discuss the approaches and implementation of an urban application to hazard mitigation in the context of 2002, this discussion will require reassessment of how we govern and how we direct policy, from a national, state, and local level.
2001 Publications
Characterization of Off-Road Motorcycle Use
Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by ICF International, September 2001. ICF International conducted a study of off-road motorcycle uses to assist the EPA in establishing emission standards for off-highway motorcycles used in competition, which are excluded from the Clean Air Act.
Empowerment Through Risk-Related Information: EPA's Risk Screening Environmental Indicators Project
Prepared for the Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Amherst, February 2001, and co-authored by Marc D. Shapiro of ICF International, Nicolaas W. Bouwes, and Steven M. Hassur. This report discusses how risk-related information is disseminated to the public and evaluates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, a computer tool used to translate toxic chemical release data into more meaningful information that assesses risks and impacts. This information can be used to empower citizens, heighten industry accountability, and ensure environmental justice.
The NEPA Book: A step-by-step guide on how to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act
2001. The NEPA Book features easy-to-understand information about the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) including the NEPA process, important court decisions, and agency practices relating to the nation's foremost environmental law. This new edition discusses the integration of NEPA with other environmental laws, the "globalization" of NEPA, Internet resources, and much more. Written in clear, straightforward language, The NEPA Book is ideal for professionals and citizens who want to influence environmental decisions that shape their communities.
2000 Publications
Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions between Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality
Prepared for the U.S. EPA Development, Commmunity, and Environment Division, in the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation. EPA 231-R-00-005. November 2000. This report summarizes technical research on the relationship between the built and natural environments, as well as current understanding of the role of development patterns, urban design, and transportation in improving environmental quality. It is a technical reference for analysts in state and local governments, academics, and people studying the implications of development on the natural environment.
Redeveloping Brownfields with Federal Transportation Funds
Prepared for the U.S. EPA Development, Commmunity, and Environment Division, in the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation. November 2000. The guide is intended to assist brownfield developers, transportation planners, economic development professionals, policy analysts, and others interested in achieving better transportation, environmental, and community outcomes.
Use of the UAM-V Modeling System as an Air Quality Planning Tool and for Examining Heat Island Reduction Strategies
by Sharon G. Douglas, A. Belle Hudischewskij, and Virginia Gorsevski. Reprinted with permission from American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ©2000, Washington, D.C. Published in Proceedings of the ACEEE 2000 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 9.83-9.92. For information about the ACEEE proceedings, contact
http://www.aceee.org. The variable-grid Urban Airshed Model (UAM-V) is a grid-based photochemical modeling system designed to evaluate the effects of emissions changes on ozone air quality. This paper describes an application of the UAM-V for the northeastern United States to examine and quantify the effects of Heat Island Reduction Initiative (HIRI) measures on ozone concentrations for five urban areas including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
1999 Publications
Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technology
October 1999. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a report on the environmental benefits of advances in oil and gas exploration and production technology. The report was prepared by a team comprised of DOE's Office of Natural Gas and Petroleum Technology, ICF International, and Brandegee, Inc., and details the roles of oil and natural gas in our daily lives. It documents the evolution of technologies that discover, find, and produce oil and gas resources—and describes how these same technologies have dramatically reduced the impacts of industry operations on the environment.
1998 Publications
Discounting and Environmental Management
By Dr. Frances Sussman and Dr. Joel D. Sheraga (1998/1999). An overview of the discounting tool's strengths and weaknesses to ensure that the discounting tool is properly applied and the results of benefit-cost analysis are correctly interpreted. Ultimately, discounting and benefit-cost analysis provide only one set of insights; in combination with the insights gained from other analytic tools, they can help to guide environmental management decisions.
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