A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Environmental Contamination and Positive Amenities on Residential Real Estate Values

This paper addresses the effects of environmental contamination and positive amenities on proximate residential real estate property values in the United States. Contamination sources include leaking underground storage tanks, superfund sites, landfills, water and air pollution, power lines, pipeline ruptures, nuclear power plants, animal feedlots and several other urban nuisance uses. The study summarizes a literature review of 75 peer-reviewed journal articles and selected case studies, and generates a data set of about 290 observations that contain information about each study’s loss (the dependent variable), with the independent variables being distance from the source, type of contamination, urban or rural environment, geographic region, market conditions and several other variables. Ordinary least squares is used to determine the effect of the contamination variables on reduction in property value. Broad contamination types, amenities, selected economic regions, distance from the source, information, research method and several other variables are statistically significant.

Determining Off-Site Damages to Non-Residential Property from Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Using Contingent Valuation Analysis

This research evaluates the effect of leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) from gas stations on nearby commercial property when the existing data is incomplete or imperfect. While methodologies such as hedonic regression may be preferred for evaluating the effects of LUSTs on property values, the rigorous data requirements of these methodologies often cannot be met. Contingent valuation analysis is one method that enables estimation of losses when the data available is incomplete. A contingent valuation analysis of real estate professionals in South Carolina and Ohio provides estimates of commercial property losses, which ranges from 0-40%, depending on environmental conditions and proximity to the source. This research has developed a methodology for estimating real estate property value losses when data requirements cannot be fulfilled based on the best available data.Environmental contamination; Commercial property; Underground storage tanks; Contingent valuation analysis

Use of Contingent Valuation Analysis in a Developing Country: Market Perceptions of Contamination on Johannesburg’s Mine Dumps

This study reports the results of a contingent valuation (CV) survey that was carried out in Johannesburg, South Africa. Students at Wits University conducted more than 300 face-to-face interviews with Africans living and/or working in Soweto, an African township located on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and nearby areas. The questions they asked were designed to determine the perceptions of risk regarding airborne mine dust and radon, a naturally occurring gas, and the effect that these perceptions had on the valuation of residential properties impacted by these substances. A probit model was used to evaluate the determinants of bidder behavior, using respondent demographics and other characteristics as independent variables. Residential property discounts for potentially contaminated housing sites by marginal bidders at the top of the market varied from -24% to -50%. Research issues in developing countries were addressed. Contingent valuation results in South Africa were compared to published results in the United States.

Middle to Late Miocene Contractional Deformation in Costa Rica Triggered by Plate Geodynamics

Contractional deformation in Costa Rica is usually attributed to the subduction of the aseismic Cocos Ridge. In this work, we review the evidences for contraction in the middle to late Miocene, prior to the arrival of the Cocos Ridge at the Middle America Trench. We find that the Miocene phase of contractional deformation is found in all of Costa Rica, probably extending to Nicaragua as well. The widespread distribution of this event requires a regional or plate geodynamic trigger. We analyze the possible mechanisms that could produce the onset of contractional deformation, using the better known case of subduction orogeny, the Andes, as an analog. We propose that a change in the direction of the Cocos plate since ∼19 Ma led to a change from oblique to orthogonal convergence, producing contractional deformation of the upper plate.Fil: Mescua, Jose Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Porras, Hernan. Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Duran, Patrick. Universidad de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Giambiagi, Laura Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: de Moor, Maerten. Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Cascante, Monserrat. Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Salazar, Esteban. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería; ChileFil: Protti, Marino. Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica; Costa RicaFil: Poblete, Fernando. Universidad de O’Higgins; Chil

Late Cenozoic tephrostratigraphy offshore the southern Central American Volcanic Arc: 2. Implications for magma production rates and subduction erosion

Pacific drill sites offshore Central America provide the unique opportunity to study the evolution of large explosive volcanism and the geotectonic evolution of the continental margin back into the Neogene. The temporal distribution of tephra layers established by tephrochonostratigraphy in Part 1 indicates a nearly continuous highly explosive eruption record for the Costa Rican and the Nicaraguan volcanic arc within the last 8 M.y. The widely distributed marine tephra layers comprise the major fraction of the respective erupted tephra volumes and masses thus providing insights into regional and temporal variations of large-magnitude explosive eruptions along the southern Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA). We observe three pulses of enhanced explosive magmatism between 0-1 Ma at the Cordillera Central, between 1-2 Ma at the Guanacaste and at >3 Ma at the Western Nicaragua segments. Averaged over the long-term the minimum erupted magma flux (per unit arc length) is ∼0.017 g/ms. Tephra ages, constrained by Ar-Ar dating and by correlation with dated terrestrial tephras, yield time-variable accumulation rates of the intercalated pelagic sediments with four prominent phases of peak sedimentation rates that relate to tectonic processes of subduction erosion. The peak rate at >2.3 Ma near Osa particularly relates to initial Cocos Ridge subduction which began at 2.91±0.23 Ma as inferred by the 1.5 M.y. delayed appearance of the OIB geochemical signal in tephras from Barva volcano at 1.42 Ma. Subsequent tectonic re-arrangements probably involved crustal extension on the Guanacaste segment that favored the 2-1 Ma period of unusually massive rhyolite production

Late Cenozoic tephrostratigraphy offshore the southern Central American Volcanic Arc: 1. Tephra ages and provenance

We studied the tephra inventory of 18 deep sea drill sites from six DSDP/ODP legs (Legs 84, 138, 170, 202, 205, 206) and two IODP legs (Legs 334 and 344) offshore the southern Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA). Eight drill sites are located on the incoming Cocos plate and ten drill sites on the continental slope of the Caribbean plate. In total we examined ∼840 ash-bearing horizons and identified ∼650 of these as primary ash beds of which 430 originated from the CAVA. Correlations of ash beds were established between marine cores and with terrestrial tephra deposits, using major and trace element glass compositions with respect to relative stratigraphic order. As a prerequisite for marine-terrestrial correlations we present a new geochemical data set for significant Neogene and Quaternary Costa Rican tephras. Moreover, new Ar/Ar ages for marine tephras have been determined and marine ash beds are also dated using the pelagic sedimentation rates. The resulting correlations and provenance analyses build a tephrochronostratigraphic framework for Costa Rica and Nicaragua that covers the last >8 Myr. We define 39 correlations of marine ash beds to specific tephra formations in Costa Rica and Nicaragua; from the 4.15 Ma Lower Sandillal Ignimbrite to the 3.5 ka Rincón de la Vieja Tephra from Costa Rica, as well as another 32 widely distributed tephra layers for which their specific region of origin along Costa Rica and Nicaragua can be constrained

Volcanic history of western Nicaragua and geochemical evolution of the Central American volcanic front

As part of a long term study on the geochemical evolution of the Central American Volcanic Front led by my advisor, Michael Carr and colleagues at Rutgers University, my dissertation work centers around the development of a better understanding of the duration and scope of a Central America volcanic lull to better constrain and interpret possible causation. To so, I have attempted to improve our knowledge of the volcanic record during this interval by attempting to locate samples that might have erupted during this time period. This effort yielded ages on volcanic samples ranging from 1.1 to 3.6 Ma and, thus, substantially reducing the volcanic gap in Nicaragua. Thus, it may be that while Nicaraguan volcanism was reduced in volume between 7 and 3.6 Ma, activity was still occurring albeit at a substantially reduced rate. Results of this effort, has given a more complete record that permits more precise analysis of how the volcanic front has evolved since the Miocene. Geochemical analyses of the active and Miocene volcanic fronts document that U/Th values increased by nearly threefold following the Central America, Pacific Coast "carbonate crash" that has been documented at about 10 Ma, related to the closing of the Isthmus of Panama. Although this transition was considered rather abrupt, data from this study indicate that the transition was somewhat more gradual, occurring over the last 7 myr. An increase in La/Yb Since the Miocene and with increasing distance from the trench, is perhaps due to backward migration of the arc towards the trench. A systematic increase in Zr/Nb towards the trench shows no correlation with age is indicative of a stronger subduction signal near the trench. Geochemical analysis of Tertiary volcanic rocks from El Salvador to Costa Rica combined with available 40Ar/39Ar ages indicate that U/Th values along the Nicaraguan segment of the front have increased since the Miocene, while Ba/La values have not. These values have both remained the same towards the edges of the front.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-133)

Priorities for Advancing the Concept of New Ruralism

Civic expansion and land use migrations to urban peripheries can accelerate the conversion of agricultural land uses. Widespread trepidation concerning urban sprawl has led to innovative frameworks for conserving or enhancing farmland. New Ruralism is one such framework, linking farmland preservation with developmental plans to reduce farmland conversion and low density development. Although the concept is still evolving, recent support for New Ruralism has grown. One of the most important factors in creating a New Ruralism-based development is coherent policy for permanent agricultural preserves. These preserves require the simultaneous, careful planning of land preservation balanced with the location of future development. This paper discusses the current condition of farmland loss and reviews issues and challenges associated with farmland preservation with existing New Ruralism developments. The goal is to synthesize this information into recommendations for increasing farmland preservation opportunities in New Ruralism-based developments. A more comprehensive definition for New Ruralism is presented, accompanied by several priorities for maximizing the economic, environmental, and cultural viability of New Ruralism-based farmland preserves