Features


Mercury's Rising Impact

Mercury is getting a lot of attention, both in the popular press and in state and federal regulatory agencies. Combustion systems, like coal-fired power plants, industrial boilers, incinerators, and cement kilns, are sources of mercury emissions to the air. This article outlines the mercury emission regulations that apply to different combustion systems and the best demonstrated means to control these emissions from combustion sources. This article focuses on utility and industrial combustion systems because they are the highest emitters and face the greatest reductions and tightest scrutiny.

This article originally appeared in the 06/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Lighting the Future

An analysis of the lighting industry shows a significant shift from the use of incandescent bulbs to fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs use more fossil fuel energy, cost more and are less effective than fluorescent bulbs, which produce more lumens.

This article originally appeared in the 06/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Renewable Refuse

More than 7.6 billion tons of industrial solid waste are generated annually in the United States. That’s the equivalent of more than 8,500 Golden Gate Bridges, more than 2,000 Empire State Buildings, or 1,200 Hoover Dams.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

The Greening of U.S. Industry

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Pesticide Terminator

As urban centers grow in size, substantial areas of agricultural and industrial land are being converted to residential use. One of the issues frequently encountered when such a change in land use is implemented is the presence of elevated concentrations of chlorinated pesticides and herbicides historically used in agricultural crop production.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

One Fine Mess

On Sept. 21, 2006, Stephen Johnson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), signed the latest revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM), also known as PM-2.5.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Taking Cities by Storm

If Buddy Holly, the 1950s rock musician, helped put Lubbock, Texas, on the map, heavy rains and flooding have done their best to take it off. So, when a warning like the one quoted below is published, this major city located in the Texas Panhandle takes it very seriously.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

The Path of Progress

During my confirmation hearing in the Senate in 1989, I became aware how deep were concerns in the Democratic-controlled Congress that a Republican appointee for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator would not vigorously enforce environmental laws against business.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.



The Paradox of Politics

Just as "it takes two to tango," it has taken two political parties working in tandem over the last few decades in the United States to produce the vast majority of major federal environmental laws.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Coming Into Compliance

For years, fiberglass-reinforced baths and showers have been perceived as “commodity” products. Of course -- as with any product -- there have always been quality differences between brands. Nevertheless, the manufacturing methods employed and the materials used have been roughly similar.

This article originally appeared in the 05/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

On the Road to Greater Compliance

Facilities across many industry sectors are turning to mobile technology software designed for PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) handheld devices to meet various environmental compliance demonstration requirements. This article discusses the capabilities of mobile technology in this regard and describes several situations in which facilities fulfilled regulatory requirements by utilizing software designed for handheld devices.

This article originally appeared in the 04/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Setting Up a Digital Control Center

When considering entities that manage hazardous waste generated at a large number of generating sites, most people think of billion-dollar national or multinational corporations, with factories and facilities distributed over a wide area.

This article originally appeared in the 04/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

A Cure for Healthy Computing

Did you ever notice that advertisements for environmental, health and safety (EH&S) software products sound like commercials for pain relief?

This article originally appeared in the 04/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

No Foul, No Harm

While cationic and anionic resins typically last a long time in industrial wastewater and groundwater applications, they frequently become fouled by any of several compounds. The fouling eventually will destroy the resins' capacity to adsorb metals or other materials.

This article originally appeared in the 03/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

The Protozoa Puzzle

Proliferation of certain groups provides clues for activated sludge management

This article originally appeared in the 03/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

The State of Desalination

The WHO addresses quality and environmental aspects in new guidance document

This article originally appeared in the 03/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

A Match Made at Sea

California's population is expected to increase more than 30 percent over the next 23 years. Even with aggressive reuse and conservation, that many more people will require more than 1 billion gallons of drinking water.

This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Red State, Blue State, Internet State

Were he alive today, Thomas Jefferson would have sage advice for all us in the wake of the midterm elections.

This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development and green marketing have become the darlings of the corporate world. But far off the radar scope of most environmental professionals, there is an emerging debate that these efforts might be nothing more than a sophisticated form of greenwash. Is this a bogus issue and nothing more than the rantings of extremists? What are the dynamics in play and what should you do?

This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.

City Saves With Industrial Process

This article originally appeared in the 01/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.