Impervious Surface Analysis for Durham Under Current and Build-Out Conditions In Support of Stormwater Management

An analysis was performed to determine current and projected impervious surface areas in the Town of Durham, New Hampshire with the purpose of generating data to guide the adoption of stormwater management practices in the Town. Because impervious surfaces affect stormwater runoff peak flows and volumes significantly, it is critical to understand the Town’s impervious area characteristics (and the resulting stormwater management implications) under current conditions in order to develop appropriate stormwater management policies

The formation of [M–H]+ ions in N-alkyl-substituted thieno[3,4-c]-pyrrole-4,6-dione derivatives during atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE The formation of ions during atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) mass spectrometry in the positive mode usually provides radical cations and/or protonated species. Intriguingly, during the analysis of some N-alkyl-substituted thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) derivatives synthesized in our laboratory, unusual [M–H]+ ion peaks were observed. In this work we investigate the formation of [M–H]+ ions observed under APPI conditions. METHODS Multiple experimental parameters, including the type of ionization source, the composition of the solvent, the type of dopant, the infusion flow rate, and the length of the alkyl side chain were investigated to determine their effects on the formation of [M–H]+ ions. In addition, a comparison study of the gas-phase tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fragmentation of [M + H]+ vs [M–H]+ ions and computational approaches were used. RESULTS [M–H]+ ions were observed under APPI conditions. The type of dopant and the length of the alkyl chain affected the formation of these ions. MS/MS fragmentation of [M–H]+ and [M + H]+ ions exhibited completely different patterns. Theoretical calculations revealed that the loss of hydrogen molecules from the [M + H]+ ions is the most favourable condition under which to form [M–H]+ ions. CONCLUSIONS [M–H]+ ions were detected in all the TPD derivatives studied here under the special experimental conditions during APPI, using a halogenated benzene dopant, and TPD containing substituted N-alkyl side chains with a minimum of four carbon atoms. Density functional theory calculations showed that for [M–H]+ ions to be formed under these conditions, the loss of hydrogen molecules from the [M + H]+ ions is proposed to be necessary

Improving Water Quality in Four Austin Area Streams

This Working paper provides brief information on a project to improve the water quality of four Austin creeks, including Waller Creek, by reducing the amount of bacteria in the water. The aim of this project is to protect contact recreation in the creeks.Waller Creek Working Grou

Portsmouth Vernal Pool Inventory

West Environmental, Inc. (WEI) conducted a city-wide Vernal Pool Inventory to locate, document and map vernal pools in Portsmouth. This effort was coordinated with the Portsmouth Planning Department and Conservation Commission to help the City of Portsmouth in vernal pool identification and mapping. The goal of this project was to locate isolated wetlands that provide vernal pool habitat. Currently the City of Portsmouth’s wetland regulations exempt wetlands less than 5,000 square feet from the local 100’ buffer zone. This study identified smaller wetlands which have the potential to provide vernal pool habitat that may deserve the 100 foot buffer protection. It should be noted that vernal pool habitat can exist in a variety of freshwater wetlands including larger red maple swamps. These areas were also mapped when encountered. A field workshop was held for the Conservation Commission members to give them hands-on training in vernal pool ecology. The results of this Vernal Pool Inventory were presented to the Portsmouth Conservation Commission in July of 2008. Based on the results of this study and the recent revisions to the NHDES Wetlands Bureau regulations which added rules for vernal pool protection, the Portsmouth Conservation Commission has recommended a change to the Article 8 - Environmental Protection Standards of the City of Portsmouth to include vernal pool identification and protection with a 100’ buffer

Carbon-Tuning New York’s Electricity System: Uncovering New Opportunities for CO2 Emissions Reductions

Distributed energy resources (DER), including technologies and services such as behind-the-meter generation, demand response, energy management, and energy efficiency, are touted as effective ways to improve electric system efficiencies and reduce harmful air emissions. The New York State Public Service Commission’s landmark Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding aims to unleash competitive forces that will invest in DER across the state with the explicit goal of reducing customer bills and the environmental impact of electricity production. As initiatives like New York’s REV continue, understanding the emission impacts of DER deployment becomes vital to ensure these efforts achieve the greatest environmental benefit possible. In this report, we present an analysis of the emission characteristics of New York’s electricity system. Using a linear regression model, we estimate marginal emission rates for CO2 and other pollutants from large centralized power plants. Our results show that the marginal emission rate of the State’s electricity system—and thus the emission reduction potential of DER—is dependent on both the time and location of DER operation in New York

Zoning for Solar Energy: Resource Guide

This document is designed to help New York State localities amend zoning and other land use regulations to permit the development of solar energy systems in their jurisdictions. While it applies to many types of solar energy systems, this resource guide focuses primarily on solar electric or photovoltaic (PV) systems. It begins by describing the local government’s role in land use planning and regulation. It then discusses the importance of defining all solar energy systems that a community wants to allow in existing zoning districts and shows how to incorporate those definitions in the zoning ordinance. Next, the guide explains how a municipality can amend zoning to permit these systems either as principal, secondary, accessory, or specially permitted land uses in existing zoning districts, as well as how to exempt certain systems from zoning altogether. The resource then explains how relevant bulk and area requirements must be amended to accommodate permitted solar energy systems. Subsequently, the guide discusses how to amend site plan requirements to include standards for solar energy systems, examines how local governments can modify environmental impact review under SEQRA, and considers the role of other local boards in streamlining the approval process for solar energy systems. Beyond permitting solar energy systems, the guide discusses ways to amend land use laws to either require or encourage them. Throughout, this document provides helpful resources and examples that communities can use when regulating to allow, encourage, or require various solar energy systems. Although land use terminology may vary by regional and jurisdictional practice, the examples generally represent approaches discussed throughout the guide. The examples are intended to be illustrative samples and are not intended to be an endorsement of the content

The Clean Power Plan Puzzle: The Future of Efforts to Control Climate Pollution in the Northeast

In October 2015 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first national plan to cut climate pollution from power plants. Called the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the effort requires a 32% nation-wide reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector. The CPP also gives states multiple pathways to comply. Now states are on the clock: they must submit their individual compliance plans or signal their intent to submit multi-state plans by September 2016. The nine states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the first market-based trading platform established to cut climate pollution from power plants in the Northeast, must now decide the future of the effort. This paper explores a few of the key issues for state regulators in the RGGI region with a special focus on New York State. We discuss the need to reset the RGGI cap to ensure progress toward New York’s and other state climate pollution reduction goals. We recommend a change to RGGI’s structure that will ensure compliance with the CPP. We discuss the EPA’s proposed Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP), an effort to encourage early state actions to reduce emissions. And we discuss other implementation issues with respect to linking RGGI to other mass-based state compliance plans. In brief, we recommend that the RGGI states adopt a new cap that requires at least a 2.5 percent per year reduction in region-wide GHG emissions

The nature of habitat

The protection of significant habitats of indigenous fauna is a matter recognised by the Resource Management Act 1991 as one of national importance. The aim of this article is to investigate the nature of the term habitat as applied by the RMA. The context of the enquiry is the natural and physical environment of New Zealand, with a particular focus on habitats of avian fauna. A central question raised by the research, is whether or not air space used by birds can be considered habitat in terms of s 6(c) of the RMA. This issue is of contemporary importance, due to the advent of wind farms to the New Zealand environment. The compass of the term habitat has yet to receive full scrutiny by New Zealand courts and it is timely to give consideration to the nature of habitat. International approaches to habitat are also examined. The article concludes that where a regime such as the RMA prioritises habitat protection as a national goal, a lesser result for indigenous avian species will be achieved, if areas of air space expertly identified as significant to the survival of the species, cannot be defined as constituting significant habitat within the meaning of s 6(c)