The Use of National Pollutant Inventory Data on Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling

Atmospheric dispersion modelling can be used to estimate the environmental impact of releases to air. The purpose of this paper is determine whether the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), Australia's national database of pollutant releases, can be used for atmospheric dispersion modelling and, if so, the conditions that must be satisfied for it to be used effectively. The selection of emission estimation techniques (EETs) significantly affects the reliability of reported NPI emissions. The reliability of NPI data has improved as facilities gain a better understanding of the reporting process, as Industry Handbooks are reviewed and as facilities find beneficial uses for NPI data within their organisations. Although NPI data in isolation do not satisfy dispersion modelling requirements, it is likely that the necessary supporting information relating to variation in emissions and source characteristics will be obtained or calculated by industry as part of the NPI reporting process. Regulatory authorities may be able to obtain these data through other regulatory requirements. To lessen the burden on industry in collecting the necessary supporting information for regional dispersion modelling, environmental regulatory authorities could consider the coordinated collection, storage and updating of the necessary information. Dispersion modelling using NPI data may be associated with relatively large uncertainties. However, provided that the uncertainty in NPI emissions estimates is recognised and depending on the end use of the modelling, predictions based on these data could provide the basis for effective decision makin

Site Investigation and Waste Analysis of the Runnels County SWD Site, Runnels County, Texas

The Runnels County Salt Water Disposal (SWD), Inc., site is an abandoned commercial saltwater disposal facility in Runnels County (Figure 1). The facility was permitted around 1976 and operated for approximately 16 years. The site, located on the W. J. Poe Lease and approximately [number] acres in area, contains three permitted lined pits. In February 1992, the pit permits were terminated after several notices to cease operation. The permits were revoked because of excess pit fluid levels, overflow from the pits, and excess oil and basic sediment in the pits. Site operations have ceased. Although a closure order was finalized, the site has not been closed as specified. In addition to the three lined pits, the site contains one unlined "trash" pit, 13 metal storage tanks, and an oil overflow area. All four pits and five tanks contain varying quantities of oil, fluid, and sludge. The remaining tanks are abandoned and have no contents. The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has used state funds to perform repeated emergency abatement actions to remove and dispose of pit fluids in efforts to prevent the pits from overflowing. Also at this site, the RRC has plugged two abandoned salt-water disposal wells, sampled and analyzed some of the wastes, and supervised some surface cleanup work, including limited backfill of the trash pit. The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) investigated this site on behalf of the RRC to determine the composition and volume of the waste fluids at the site, consider the potential for subsurface contamination, and evaluate remedial options.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Concerted adoption as an emerging strategy for digital transformation of healthcare - lessons from Australia, Canada, and England

Objectives: With an increasing focus on the digitalization of health and care settings, there is significant scope to learn from international approaches to promote concerted adoption of electronic health records. Materials and methods: We review three large-scale initiatives from Australia, Canada, and England, and extract common lessons for future health and social care transformation strategy. Results: In doing so, we discuss how, despite differences in contexts, concerted adoption enables sharing of experience and learning to streamline the digital transformation of health and care. Discussion and conclusion: Concerted adoption can be accelerated through building communities of expertise and partnerships promoting knowledge transfer and circulation of expertise, commonalities in geographical and cultural contexts, and commonalities in technological systems

Aquaculture Law in the North Central States: A Digest of State Statutes Pertaining to the Production and Marketing of Aquacultural Products

One of the barriers to the growth and development of the aquaculture industry in the 12-state North Central region is a lack of comprehensive information on the state laws and regulations that affect the industry. The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center and its advisory committees quickly recognized this problem and made it one of their highest priorities for research. Among the factors that cause the confusion are the many aspects or stages of producing and marketing aquacultural products. The long and complex chain of production, transportation and marketing may include issues such as land use planning and zoning, water pollution and state fisheries regulations, transportation requirements and food quality standards. Many public policies and a wide variety of public agencies are involved in regulating these aspects of aquacultural production and marketing

Anogenital Distance and Phthalate Exposure: Swan et al. Respond

Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives. DOI:10.1289/ehp.114-a20Swan et al. respond to several points made by McEwen and Renner regarding their recent study comparing anogenital distance (AGD) as a measure of androgen action in humans

Demonstration of Cooperative Transport Interface using open-source 5G OpenRAN and virtualised PON network

We demonstrate a real-time, converged 5G-PON through the Cooperative Transport Interface, synchronising 5G and PON-DBA upstream schedulers. This innovative approach, implemented using 5G and PON open network implementations, significantly enhances network resource allocation, reducing latency

Review of Natural Phenomena Hazard (NPH) Assessments for the Hanford 200 Areas (Non-Seismic)

The purpose of this review is to assess the need for updating Natural Phenomena Hazard (NPH) assessments for the Hanford 200 Areas, as required by DOE Order 420.1B Chapter IV, Natural Phenomena Hazards Mitigation, based on significant changes in state-of-the-art NPH assessment methodology or site-specific information. The review includes all natural phenomena hazards with the exception of seismic/earthquake hazards, which are being addressed under a separate effort. It was determined that existing non-seismic NPH assessments are consistent with current design methodology and site specific data