平成27年度業務報告

Road safety has become an increasing concern in developed countries due to the significant amount of mortal victims and the economic losses derived. Only in 2005 these losses rose to 200.000 million euros, a significant amount - approximately the 2% of its GDP- that easily justifies any public intervention. One tool used by governments to face this challenge is the enactment of stricter policies and regulations. Since drunk driving is one of the most important concerns of public authorities on this field, several European countries decided to lower their illegal Blood Alcohol Content levels to 0.5 mg/ml during the last decade. This study evaluates for the first time the effectiveness of this transition using European panel-based data (CARE) for the period 1991-2003 using the Differences-in-Differences method in a fixed effects estimation that allows for any pattern of correlation (Cluster-Robust). My results show the existence of positive impacts on certain groups of road users and for the whole population when the policy is accompanied by some enforcement interventions. Moreover, a time lag of more than two years is found in that effectiveness. Finally, I also assert the importance of controlling for serial correlation in the evaluation of this kind of policies

Environmental management plan (EMP)

In order to achieve a target on resource conservation and pollution reduction thus Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was introduced. An EMP is a site or project specific plan developed to ensure that appropriate environmental management practices are followed during a project’s construction and/or operation. Use of this guideline will improve the contribution that an EMP can make to the effectiveness of the EIA process and assists in ensuring that commitments made in project’s EIA are implemented. This EMP Guideline was developed in consultation with government agencies, contractors and industry groups. The EMP improve the need for the future-monitoring programme. In implementing the EMP, the project proponents need to adhere to the Terms and Conditions of Environmental Regulation and Guidelines. The monitoring of environmental parameters during the construction and operation phases of the project enables the project development to be implemented within safe environmental conditions

Zion National Park Environment Assessment/ Assessment of Effect

This environmental assessment I assessment of effect examines in detail two alternatives: no action and the National Park Service preferred alternative. The preferred alternative considers rehabilitation of the roadway and associated structures on either side of Route 10 (Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway) tunnel. The road work would primarily occur on the east side of the tunnel in a 0.25-mile segment beginning at the east tunnel entrance. Modifications on the east side of the tunnel would include slurry sealing the road surface and scaling rock slopes on both sides of the road; re-configuring two parking areas; creating a painted center median with rumble strips; relocating the crosswalk from parking area 1 to the Canyon Overlook Trail; constructing a sidewalk from parking area 2 to the Canyon Overlook Trail; eliminating three informal pullouts, one of which would be reconfigured as a slow vehicle passing lane; establish erosion-control measures for the Pine Creek slot canyon access; and replacing and relocating the ranger kiosk. The area outside the west tunnel entrance would be modified by adding rumble strips to the existing painted center median, replacing the ranger kiosk. The proposed project would provide a safer traffic control situation for park rangers and visitors; provide visitors with safer access to the Canyon Overlook Trail; reduce the potential for rockfalls onto waiting vehicles and traffic control rangers on the east side of the tunnel; create better defined parking areas, and better defined areas within which park rangers can direct traffic; eliminate informal parking and the problems associated with traffic control for these areas; provide a slow vehicle passing lane; and minimize erosion on the Pine Creek slot canyon access. This action is needed because the east side of the tunnel is congested and traffic controls are difficult to maintain for vehicle, pedestrian, and ranger safety; informal parking areas allow vehicles to leave the road in areas not specifically designated for parking and create a safety risk; and rock slopes overhang portions of the road on the east side creating a potential for rockfalls and preventing the roadway from being widened to accommodate safety features such as a center median and a defined pedestrian sidewalk. The west side of the tunnel has a poorly defined median creating a safety risk and the potential for injury to rangers who stand in the middle of the road to direct traffic, and erosion occurring on the Pine Creek slot canyon access is creating an unstable hiking surface that allows sediment to enter into the creek below. The preferred alternative would have no or negligible impacts on air quality, water quality, floodplains, wetlands, wildlife, threatened and endangered plant species and plant species of special concern, archaeological resources, ethnographic resources, museum collections, Indian trust resources, prime and unique farmlands, ecologically critical areas, wild and scenic rivers, other unique natural areas, environmental justice, lightscapes, visual resources, transportation, and socioeconomics. The preferred alternative would have short-term, negligible, adverse impacts to vegetation, cultural landscapes, and park operations; short-term, negligible to minor, adverse impacts to health and safety; short-term, minor, adverse impacts to soils and historic structures; short-term, minor to moderate, adverse impacts to soundscapes; and short-term, moderate, adverse impacts to visitor experience. Long-term impacts would be minor and adverse for soundscapes, historic structures, and cultural landscapes. Beneficial impacts would occur to soils, vegetation, park operations, visitor experience, and health and safety. Anticipated impacts to the Mexican spotted owl would be short term, negligible, and adverse. There would be no long-term impacts to the Mexican spotted owl. There would be no short- or long-term impacts to the California condor

TOWARD AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: APPLYING LESSONS FROM CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Many business firms both in the U.S. and abroad are practicing corporate environmental management. They are committed to improving the efficiency of material use, energy use and water use; to recycle; to make safer products and processes and to reduce their overall impact on the environment. In pursuing corporate environmental management, some businesses have found that the presumed tradeoff between profits and environmental quality does not always apply. Instead, by innovating and redesigning their products, processes, corporate culture, and organizational strategy, these firms have been able to improve environmental performance and add to profits. These improved profits are sometimes referred to as "innovation offsets" because they result from technological changes to reduce pollution which also reduce production costs (and/or improve productivity) and thereby "offset" the costs of compliance. The necessary technological innovation is pursued when firms take a dynamic investment perspective rather than presume a static tradeoff between profits and environmental quality.Environmental Economics and Policy,