THE UNDERGROUND OIL SPILL AT KOTZEBUE, ALASKA: UNKNOWN CAUSE, ELUSIVE CURE

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 593-597
Author(s):  
John H. Janssen ◽  
Douglas L. Kane
Keyword(s):  
State Legislature ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Groundwater Aquifer ◽  
Pressure Tests ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

ABSTRACT In 1980, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) became aware of a problem with oil seeping into the elementary school basement of the northwest Alaska coastal community of Kotzebue. After initial investigation, it was determined that 100,000 to 200,000 gal (378,000 to 756,000 L) of #1 fuel oil (diesel) was contaminating an underground area estimated at up to 10 acres (4 ha). The fuel had been in the ground for 25 to 30 years, and may have been associated with fuel storage or handling in the 1950s. ADEC learned that many local residents had been collecting fuel from backyard sumps for years. Many gathered enough to heat their homes, and others sold their excesses of recovered oil. More recently, oil has been observed leaching into Kotzebue Sound from time to time, posing a potential threat to local fisheries. ADEC has since been involved in recovering the oil, using the limited funds available to mitigate the potential environmental and safety problems. Problems experienced in collection of the fuel included a seasonally frozen groundwater aquifer above the permafrost and inconsistent monitoring of the primary collection sump in the school basement. By the fall of 1984, about 40,000 gal (151,000 L) of fuel had been recovered by a variety of methods. A large quantity of oil remains underground, but recovery has been severely reduced, mainly by recent funding constraints and sporadic collection conditions associated with the cold climate and permafrost. The 1986 Alaska state legislature appropriated $50,000 so that ADEC could install monitoring and collection wells and conduct pressure tests of all fuel lines that might be still contributing to the problem. Continuing this cleanup depends on future funding.

scholarly journals Sustainable Trail Design, Not Hiker Permits, is Necessary for Environmental Preservation in New York State’s Adirondack Park High Peaks

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khang T. Huynh ◽  
Christopher M. Koudelka
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
State Legislature ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Adirondack Park ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Severe Erosion ◽  
Trail Design ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

The High Peaks of the Adirondack Park in New York is home to many of the state’s precious natural resources and is a favorite destination for hikers. Severe erosion on trails threatens the region’s environmental health. Most conservation groups advocate for reducing the number of hikers as the primary solution to combatting erosion; however, the scientific literature indicates that reduction of foot traffic is ineffective at combatting already deteriorating trails. Instead, we recommend the state legislature and Department of Environmental Conservation pursue a plan to rebuild these trails using sustainable design principles, which more effectively ensures their longevity. We outline the research and expertise required to successfully rebuild these trails as well as a mechanism to fund this expensive endeavor.

scholarly journals Pengolahan Sampah Plastik Memakai Teknologi Pirolisis Untuk Pembelajaran dan Konservasi Lingkungan di Pondok Pesantren Al-Anwar Sarang Rembang, Jawa Tengah

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Fadli Kasim ◽  
Mohammad Kholid Ridwan ◽  
M. Yayan Adi Putra
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Engine Oil ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Waste Production

Jumlah santri yang mencapai 4.986 orang di ketiga Pondok Pesantren Al-Anwar menyebabkan produksi sampah di lingkungan pondok lebih dari satu ton per harinya. Sejumlah 239,93 kg sampah merupakan sampah plastik yang tidak mudah terurai di lingkungan karena sifatnya yang nonbiodegradable. Hal ini menimbulkan pencemaran lingkungan, terlebih ketika sampah dibakar di udara terbuka dan dibuang ke laut seperti metode penanganan sampah yang dilakukan oleh pengurus pondok saat ini. Dalam penelitian ini diharapkan menjadi langkah awal pembelajaran pelestarian lingkungan dengan teknologi pirolisis. Penelitian dilakukan dengan membuat model mesin pirolisis Plastic to Oil Machine (PeTOM), berkapasitas 30 liter. Dengan mesin ini, minyak mulai dihasilkan pada menit ke-45 yang mana setiap 1 kg sampah plastik menghasilkan 0,4-0,49 kg minyak bakar. Potensi minyak bakar yang dihasilkan di Pondok Pesantren Al Anwar adalah 239,33 liter per hari dengan potensi ekonomi setara dengan Rp. 35.899.200,00 per bulan.[The number of students who reached 4,986 people in the three Pondok Pesantren Al Anwar cause waste production in the cottage neighborhood more than one ton per day. A total of 239.93 kg of waste is a plastic waste that is not easy to decompose in the environment because it is nonbiodegradable. This causes environmental pollution, especially when garbage is burned in the open air and discharged into the sea such as methods of handling waste made by the current cottage board. In this study is expected to be the first step of environmental conservation learning with pyrolysis technology. The research was done by making the model of pyrolysis machine of Plastic to Oil Machine (PeTOM), with 30 liters capacity. With this engine, oil began to be produced in the 45th minute of which every 1 kg of plastic waste produced 0.4-0.49 kg of fuel oil. The potential of fuel produced at Pondok Pesantren Al Anwar is 239.33 liters per day with economic potential equivalent to Rp. 35.899.200,- per month.]

Alaskan North Slope Legacy Wells: Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 697-710
Author(s):  
Jessica Starsman ◽  
Ashley Adamczak ◽  
Tom DeRuyter
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Navy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diesel Oil ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
United States Geological Survey ◽  
Bureau Of Land Management ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation ◽  
Alaskan North Slope

ABSTRACT Various State of Alaska agencies, including the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), are currently investigating 136 legacy wells within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) and surrounding lands. These legacy wells were drilled between 1944 and 1981 by federal agencies, including the United States Navy and United States Geological Survey, to explore oil reserve potential and to develop drilling techniques for Alaska's arctic. In 2004, 2010 and 2013 the Bureau of Land Management released preliminary studies describing potential environmental risks at each site. Many wells include historic reserve pits, flare pits, crude and diesel oil releases, and discarded solid waste. Tundra damage and potential residual contamination are of great concern. Due to their remote locations, information on the current status of waste is limited. Regulatory agencies are developing a cleanup plan that is appropriate for their remote, Arctic environment.

scholarly journals Two-Volume Contingency Plans in Alaska Provide Focused Information for Responders & Regulators

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 299651
Author(s):  
Lydia Miner ◽  
Robert Klieforth ◽  
Eppie Hogan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Contingency Plans ◽  
Volume Response ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

Oil discharge prevention and contingency plans (ODPCPs) have been required under Alaska statutes and regulations for oil exploration, production, storage, and transportation facilities since 1992. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (BPXA) has prepared and submitted their North Slope ODPCPs (Milne Point, Endicott, Greater Prudhoe Bay, and Northstar) as a single volume for each facility under these requirements. However, in 2011, when the four plans were renewed, BPXA elected to present their ODPCPs in two volumes for each facility. The purpose of this organizational change from one to two volumes was to focus information in each volume; the first volume is a stand-alone Emergency Action Plan for spill responders, dedicated to spill response planning and preparedness, and the second volume is dedicated to spill prevention requirements and procedures. The 2-volume edition allows BPXA's plan writers, operators, and regulators to concentrate on specific response or prevention topics and regulatory compliance. The 2-volume plan is easier to use and revise through the amendment process. This approach is allowed under Alaska regulations and was embraced by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. Federal regulators (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Coast Guard, and US Department of Transportation) have reviewed and approved the 2-volume response plans as well. According to regulators, with such large ODPCPs, the effort to maintain publication efficiency during public review creates a potential risk of confusion or lack of sufficient detail, which may lead to comments that focus on form or style, rather than content. Working with two volumes circumvented this potential problem. Due to the size and lengthy history of the facilities, an comprehensive Alaska regulations governing the contents of ODPCPs, two volumes allowed BPXA to include all of the necessary information for the plans without creating a storage or ergonomic problem for the reviewers. Regular users of the ODPCPs at the BPXA facilities have found that working with a smaller, more focused volume is more efficient.

scholarly journals Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257675
Author(s):  
Melissa Hanson ◽  
Nicholas Hollingshead ◽  
Krysten Schuler ◽  
William F. Siemer ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
York State ◽  
State Wildlife Agencies ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Annual Reporting ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

Wildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular practice, though not without controversy. State wildlife agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. By analyzing case records, we can clarify and quantify the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, and treatment outcomes. This data would aid regulatory agencies and rehabilitators in making informed decisions, as well as gaining insight into causes of species mortality. In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has licensed rehabilitators since 1980 and annual reporting is required. In this study, we analyzed 58,185 individual wildlife cases that were attended by New York rehabilitators between 2012 and 2014. These encompassed 30,182 (51.9%) birds, 25,447 (43.7%) mammals, 2,421 (4.2%) reptiles, and 75 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation to a rehabilitation center, and animal disposition. Major causes of presentation were trauma (n = 22,156; 38.1%) and orphaning (n = 21,679; 37.3%), with habitat loss (n = 3,937; 6.8%), infectious disease (n = 1,824; 3.1%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 806; 1.4%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2% while 45.3% died or were euthanized during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity; 4.1% had unknown outcomes. A comparable evaluation in 1989 revealed that wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 12,583 vs 19,395), and are accompanied by a significant improvement in release (50.2% in the study period vs 44.4% in 1989) (χ2(1) = 90.43, p < 0.0001). In this manuscript, we aim to describe the rehabilitator community in New York State, and present the causes and outcomes for rehabilitation over a three-year period.

Urban and Community Fisheries Programs: Development, Management, and Evaluation

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Full Time ◽  
York State ◽  
Community Fisheries ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation ◽  
Sport Fish

<em>Abstract.-</em>In 2002, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) implemented the I FISH NY program in Long Island and New York City using funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program was created to ensure that anyone who has a desire to fish would have the resources and knowledge necessary to do so, and to increase stewardship by building public awareness and understanding of aquatic resources in metropolitan areas of New York State. DEC subsequently partnered with New York Sea Grant to perform activities including community fishing clinics, school programs, and day-camp programs. Numbers of people reached and quality of programming have increased since program inception, and this is attributed to creation of full-time, long-term staff positions.

scholarly journals Local Tourism Initiative in an Eastern Himalayan Village: Sustainable Ecotourism or Small-scale Nature Exploitation?

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (27) ◽  
pp. 33-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debajit Datta ◽  
Suranjana Banerji
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Scenic Beauty ◽  
Mass Tourism ◽  
Physical Infrastructure ◽  
Local Residents

Abstract Many famous tourism destinations of the eastern Himalayas have become severely polluted and environmentally vulnerable due to decades of unsustainable mass tourism practices. The recent popularization of the so called 'ecotourism destinations' as alternatives to these degraded sites have raised considerable debate among academia, planners and decision makers regarding community based development and environmental conservation. In this study, the newly initiated tourism ventures of a mountainous village named Silerigaon located in this region were evaluated as a case study through participatory appraisals among tourists and local residents to comprehend whether these ventures could truly be termed as ecotourism initiatives. Results derived from the analyses of the primary data collected through these appraisals showed that although the area possessed pristine natural environment and excellent scenic beauty, lack of proper civic amenities and physical infrastructure was hindering the development of sustainable tourism. Here, tourism activities had notably contributed to the increase in annual savings of community members but these financial gains had not equally transcended to all spheres of sustainable community based development. Till now, the activities have lacked the systematic long-term planning required for sustainable ecotourism and nature conservation. Accordingly, these could not be designated as ecotourism activities in their present orientation and capacity. In this regard, several necessary corrective measures to transform these activities into proper ecotourism ones have been suggested.

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