The REMEDE Project: A useful framework for assessing non-market damages from oil spills?

As vessel traffic in the Baltic increases, in particular oil transports from Russia to the international market, so too does the risk of oil spills which above the environmental impacts impose costs on society including direct costs, market costs and non-market costs (e.g., losses in welfare from a damaged environment not easily valued in a market). While financial compensation addresses direct and market costs, environmental compensation (compensatory restoration) offsets welfare declines from the loss of resources or the services they provide. Although a clear international system for recovering environmental restoration costs from oil spills is still un-established, the EU's Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) from 2007 introduces a number of useful terms and concepts that may be applicable in the Baltic context. The European Commission (EC) funded development of the REMEDE Toolkit to help Member States carry out the ELD requirements. The Toolkit provides a useful framework for assessing non-market costs associated with oil spill damages by defining the types of ecological losses suffered by the public and providing interdisciplinary methods for scaling resource-based compensation projects whose cost should be incurred by the responsible polluter(s). This paper suggests that the ELD concepts and REMEDE methods could be transferred to the Baltic to help authorities recover environmental restoration costs from responsible polluters. We illustrate application of REMEDE-like concepts and methods to oil spill damages in the context of US regulations and the UN Compensation Commission and discuss the legal acceptance of these methods. The fact that the ELD cannot legally be invoked to address an oil spill in Europe should not preclude a discussion about how these relatively new European legal concepts, including the REMEDE methodology, could be used to establish a more consistent, transparent, and replicable framework for damage assessment in the sensitive marine environment of the Baltic Sea.Equivalency Analysis; Baltic Sea; environmental valuation; Environmental Liability Directive; environmental compensation

Application of Intergroup Contact Theory to the Integrated Workplace: Setting the Stage for Inclusion

Social inclusion in community work settings remains an elusive outcome for many employees with intellectual disabilities. This study explored how the structure of work relationships with colleagues facilitates or inhibits social integration. Data were collected on 22 employees with disabilities through semi-structured interviews with six employment specialists and participant observations of six employees at their community worksites. Data were interpreted using intergroup contact theory, a longstanding theory within the intergroup relations literature that addresses the role of contact in reducing prejudice toward members of negatively stereotyped groups. As predicted by intergroup contact theory, interviews and observations revealed that coworkers were generally more accepting of an employee with a disability if (a) they had the opportunity to get to know the employee as an individual rather than as a stereotype or label, (b) they worked with the employee as an equal peer to accomplish common work goals, and (c) the employer or worksite supervisor unequivocally supported the equality and workplace inclusion of the employee with a disability. Findings suggest intervention strategies to promote inclusion in the integrated workplace

An examination of major works for wind band and brass ensemble: “Incidental suite” by Claude T. Smith, “Concerto for 23 winds” by Walter S. Hartley, and “Fanfare for la Peri” by Paul Dukas

Master of MusicDepartment of MusicFrank C. TraczThe following report is research and analysis from the comprehensive examination question based on the Graduate Conducting Recital of Andrew D. Feyes. The recital, performed by the Kansas State University Symphony Band, was given in McCain Auditorium on the campus of Kansas State University on March 13, 2007 at 7:30pm. The repertoire included Fanfare for La Peri, by Paul Dukas, Concerto for 23 Winds, by Walter S. Hartley, and Incidental Suite, by Claude T. Smith. This examination contains thorough theoretical and historical analyses of the included literature. The report also includes the procedures of planning and performing the graduate conducting recital