The Oak Ridge National Security Complex: Human Health and the Environment as Casualties of Hot and Cold Wars

This report reviews lingering and emerging dangers at the largest NWC site, the Oak Ridge National Security Complex in Tennessee. The Oak Ridge site is both a high- value target for terrorist attack, a source of environmental contamination, and a potential public health threat. This report examines the nexus between environment, health and security at Oak Ridge, and discusses known and potential dangers in each of these areas. This research was completed money allocated during Round 5 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at [email protected]://commons.clarku.edu/globalgreen/1001/thumbnail.jp

The Death of a Nuclear Warhead: The Environmental and Health Impacts of Nuclear Weapons Complex Activities

Global Green USA is committed to the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction, and urges the government to continue disarmament efforts. The disassembly of nuclear weapons must, however, be conducted in a manner that minimizes danger to human health and the environment. There are a number of risks involved in disassembly, some unique, others similar to the dangers of the production of these weapons. Even low doses of fissile and other materials used in nuclear weapons, for instance, have been shown to pose serious risks to human health and the environment. This report examines these and other dangers, taking a particularly close look at the NWC’s Pantex Plant (Amarillo, Texas), where nuclear weapons slated for removal from the stockpile are disassembled. This research was completed money allocated during Round 4 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at [email protected]://commons.clarku.edu/globalgreen/1000/thumbnail.jp

Economic Aspects of Food Waste-to-Energy System Deployment

Economic barriers are major considerations for the successful implementation and deployment of food waste-to-energy systems, along with technical, operational, and management aspects. For cities, municipalities, and medium and small food-related businesses in urban and semiurban areas that currently landfill the majority of food scraps and food-related waste, it would require the involvement of multiple stakeholders such as municipal decision makers, haulers, investors, and business managers to overcome challenges on costs, financing, revenue streams, and end-market development for energy and by-products. A project-specific financial feasibility analysis should incorporate a budget of all expenditures, including start-up capital costs and operating expenses, revenues, sources of funds, loan and interest repayments on borrowed capital, and investor income and disbursements. Anaerobic digesters, often suitable for high moisture-content organic wastes, have been commercially successful for food waste-to-energy applications and have potential for wider deployment for municipal and business waste generators. Digester systems codigesting food waste with other organic waste, such as livestock manure or wastewater sludge, are operational in large and medium scales at single-site livestock farms, centralized locations for multiple farms, and wastewater treatment plants or water resource recovery facilities. Systems operating solely on mixed food waste at centralized locations and at large food waste generators are increasing