Browsing by Author "Kramer, Randall A"

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Open Access
A Comprehensive Needs Assessment to Identify Priority Program Targets for Mosquito Vector Control and related Diseases in Belmopan, Belize
(2017) Schooler, Mary Elizabeth
This was a mixed-methods study aimed to comprehensively assess factors associated with mosquito control in Belmopan, Belize, in order to better inform stakeholders on the effectiveness of their efforts. A knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) survey was employed within the four target communities of San Martin, Salvapan, Maya Mopan, and Las Flores. Additional epidemiological and entomological data was provided by relevant stakeholders. A total of 228 households were surveyed among the four target communities. Only 1/3 of respondents were able to demonstrate proficient knowledge. Knowledge was attained mostly through TV, Ministry of Health, hospital, and radio sources. Over 90% of respondents believed that mosquitos and the diseases they carry were a real issue for the community. Respondents living in Salvapan and Las Flores were more likely to have contracted Dengue Fever, Malaria, Chikungunya, or Zika than in other areas. Fan usage and regularly cleaning the yard were the two most employed practices for preventing mosquito bites and breeding. Approximately 85% of those surveyed viewed insecticide spraying to be effective. This assessment provides valuable insight into the needs of at- risk communities in regards to vector control. An increased focus on community outreach, education, and behavioral change can greatly impact the effectiveness of current vector control efforts. Stakeholders must work together and pool resources in order to effectively employ control interventions. Continued evaluation and community involvement is necessary to control mosquitos and prevent disease outbreaks.
Open Access
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting
(2008-04-24T23:31:40Z) Hicks, William D
Rainwater harvesting has provided a water source for communities around the world dating back to circa 1500 B.C. This ancient technology continues to serve populations today, mainly in poor, rural or dry regions of the world and island communities. Contemporary green building and stormwater management programs (e.g., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – LEED, Low Impact Development – LID, Better Site Design) suggest that rainwater harvesting can serve as a valuable stormwater management tool even in areas where municipal water supplies are readily available. Regardless, private developers are most apt to incorporate these systems into commercial development designs if the benefits justify the costs. Analyses of local rainfall data and predicted potential water usage at commercial facilities in Arlington County, Virginia reveal that rainwater harvesting systems conserve potable water, protect surface water quality and minimize flood risk. However, economic analyses from the perspective of a private developer using two case studies of commercial developments in Arlington suggest that the benefits of incorporating rainwater harvesting into building designs do not justify the cost of implementing this technique. Notwithstanding, results from a sensitivity analysis indicate that charging tenants a modest price premium of one percent or less for the privilege of occupying a “green” building yields a positive return to investing in rainwater harvesting.
Open Access
A Generalized Framework for CBA of Asbestos Bans with Case Study in Colombia
(2019-04-26) Gerbode, Christine; Sun, Guangji; Wang, Ai; Wang, Xuhao
Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals that can cause serious cancers and other negative health effects, usually decades after exposure. While the future health impacts of today’s asbestos use have become clear over the past century, this industrially-valuable substance is still commonly used in many countries for economic reasons, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We explore a general framework for conducting cost-benefit analysis of banning asbestos on the whole country scale, then apply this framework to the nation of Colombia. Through this case study application, we highlight some of the challenges related to data quality and the need for proxy methods to estimate important CBA components in data-limited environments. Our analyses indicate that a full ban on asbestos would result in a net benefit for Colombian society and economy, with the value of health benefits dependent upon the details of the selected policy alternative. While avoided health impacts comprise much of the evaluated benefits, significant financial benefits would likely also result, though these would be concentrated among producers of asbestos substitute products. The limitations of our model and available data suggest that more clearly quantifying the link between national asbestos trade values, occupational exposures, and society-wide disease incidence would be a valuable area of future research to prioritize. The general framework and our sensitivity analysis of the applied case study model highlight important areas for future research and data collection efforts to improve future CBA of asbestos bans.
Open Access
African Parks. African People. An Economic Analysis of Local Tourism in Arusha National Park
(2013-04-18) Van Winkle, Christina
Protected areas are an important part of our society. They provide ecosystem services such as climate regulation and water filtration; they secure critical habitat for wildlife, including many threatened and endangered species; and they also provide a form of recreation through wildlife viewing, photographing, hiking, and camping. Eliciting the economic benefits of these protected areas is important to ensure they are properly considered in policy and decision making. But because no markets for these services currently exist, protected areas are often undervalued when compared to alternative land use policies. As lands are put under more pressure from population and economic growth, it is critical that the benefits derived from protected areas are fully understood. Therefore, non-market valuation techniques have been developed to estimate these benefits. Relatively few environmental valuation studies, however, have been conducted in developing countries to date. Here, I apply one such valuation method, the travel cost method (TCM) to estimate the recreational benefits of Tanzania’s protected areas to East African citizens. Data were collected from visitors through an on-site intercept survey in Arusha National Park (ANP) during the summer of 2012 . The recreational value, or consumer surplus, of ANP was found to be $13.28 - $37. 88 per person per day spent in the park. One-half of all visitors to ANP are East African citizens, representing an annual recreational value potential of $0.9 - $2.7 million. Recognizing that this is only one of many parks in Tanzania, this study shows that National Parks provide a significant source of revenue and social utility. The results of this study will better inform government officials making decisions about economic development and environmental protection in Tanzania.
Open Access
Agricultural Drivers of Children’s Nutrition and Food Security in Mvomero, Tanzania
(2017-04-26) Lamy, Jennifer
The main research question assessed in this paper is: What land use and agricultural practices most significantly influence nutritional and food security outcomes? In particular, are there specific crop growing or selling or irrigation practices that, when performed by a household, help to reduce the risk that children under five years old in that household are stunted or anemic or help to increase perceived food security by the household head? I use data collected in 2011 and 2013 in the Mvomero district of Tanzania in order to answer these questions. Using a combination of data at the household level on land use practices and on the individual level for health measures, I perform logit and linear regression analysis to identify any consistent significant associations between the two groups. My results are varied: some agricultural practices are associated with stunting or anemia, while others are more strongly associated with measures of food security. The number of children in a household is negatively associated with both food security measures, implying that larger households in the region have difficulty keeping up with food demands. My findings point to the fact that there is no silver bullet in the quest to improve childhood nutrition and food security in Mvomero, Tanzania and worldwide.
Open Access
AN ANALYSIS OF A CARBON OFFSET PROGRAM FOR THE UNITED STATES
(2007-05) Uchida, Ryoto
In the current absence of the federal government’s strong leadership to address climate change in the United States, mandatory regional tradable permit programs for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions are being planned by several state governments. A carbon offset program, combined with a tradable permit program, induces a wider range of entities to implement offset projects that reduce GHG emissions within a wider range of industries than the industries regulated by the tradable permit program. An offset project has to be additional, meaning that it generates emission reductions as compared to the baseline emissions. Therefore, the additionality assessment is the most important element of a carbon offset program, but it is complicated because it requires estimating a counterfactual baseline scenario. For a carbon offset program in the United States, energy efficiency projects to reduce GHG emissions on the demand-side of energy are important. However, energy efficiency projects are prevented from being undertaken due to the high transaction costs of the project-specific additionality assessment method adopted by the Clean Development Mechanism. In this paper, a policy analysis is conducted to produce recommendations to solve this problem. First, along the rationally selected evaluative criteria, a qualitative comparative assessment is made on the policy alternatives implementing different additionality assessment methods as a definitive test. Then, based on the assessment, this paper discusses how to more flexibly implement and combine the different methods to address the problem. Finally, the recommendation is made for a comprehensive, simple and practical policy to assess additionality for a carbon offset program in the United States.
Open Access
An Evaluation of Ranch and Farm Operator Attitudes towards Emerging Ecosystem Service Markets in California and Eastern North Carolina
(2011-04-29) Parkhurst, Ben
This master’s project adds to the body of research on potential participation in emerging markets for ecosystem services. In particular, it addresses two questions: 1) Are ranch and farm- operators interested in new payments for ecosystem service (PES) programs in California? 2) Are there differences in rancher and farm-operator attitudes between California and North Carolina? To answer these questions, a survey with156 responses was analyzed to examine the similarities and differences in attitudes towards past, current, and future payments for ecosystem service programs in California. The survey examined the potential use of market-based incentives to encourage greater conservation efforts by private landowners. The results of this survey were then compared to the results from a similar survey in North Carolina. The results show that ranch and farm operators are interested in potential payments for ecosystem service programs and that they will be more likely to participate in programs with shorter contract lengths and higher payment levels. Specifically, for every year added to the contracts, $.81/acre should be provided in additional compensation. The conservation organization was the preferred program administrator in California, followed by a private company, a federal agency, and a state agency. In North Carolina, the preferences for contract length and payments were similar, but the preference for program administrator was the exact opposite, with the state agency being the preferred administrator. The best predictors of potential participation in new PES programs in both states were age and total number of programs currently enrolled in. Young ranchers and farmers who are already enrolled in conservation programs are most likely to participate in future programs. These results highlight the importance of understanding the preferences of potential participants before implementing new PES programs. In addition, preferences for PES programs may differ by state, and preferences for administrators may differ depending on local relationships. Lastly, outreach needs to be a significant component of payments for ecosystem service programs so that potential participants know what programs are available and how to enroll in them.
Open Access
An Investigation of Bestpractices for the Establishment and Effectiveness of Youth Garden Programs
(2010-12-06) Cooper, Gemma
An Investigation of Best-practices for the Establishment and Effectiveness of Youth Garden Programs By Gemma Cooper Urbanization and technological advancement has caused communities at large to reduce their exposure to the natural environment, contributing to a rise in lifestyle related disorders associated with inadequate nutrition and physical exercise. In an attempt to reverse this pattern, the establishment of youth gardening programs is gaining popularity throughout communities in the US. There currently is a great deal of momentum promoting the importance of the natural environment and physical activity – there are youth gardening programs being set up in locations such as local schools and local churches in an effort to help to educate the younger generation about the importance of the sustainability of natural resources and the food cycle to the continuing prosperity of Society. This master’s project examines the factors related to the establishment and effective operation of youth gardening programs. Open-ended interviews were conducted with administrators, founders and coordinators of 7 gardening programs in North Carolina and Utah that have a focus on the youth and/or community. All but one of the interviews was conducted face to face and each interview lasted between 1-2 hours. Key ideas and patterns from the interviews were identified through a standard qualitative data analysis method of classification and coding and categorizing the data. Principal themes from the interviews were recorded and cross-referenced with findings from the literature. Results highlight that gardening programs targeted at the youth population are important in promoting environmental sustainability. Program structures range from an association with a school through to entrepreneurial initiatives targeting the teen population. Funding, staffing considerations, bureaucracy, establishing community partnerships and using appropriate engagement strategies are the main challenges limiting the success of programs. These issues can be addressed through appropriate planning, community engagement and ‘learning’ through accessing publicly available resources. There is definitely a place for youth gardening programs within Society and at the end of the day the success of these programs is due to the underlying enthusiasm and passion of the coordinators and all stakeholders associated with the project.
Open Access
Assessing Surveillance Elements of the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program to Support Malaria Elimination in Zanzibar
(2016) Kincaide Godbout, Shannon
Though significant progress has been made through control efforts in recent years, malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, with 3.2 billion people at risk of developing the disease. Zanzibar is currently pursuing malaria elimination through the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP), and is working toward a goal of no locally acquired malaria cases by 2018. A comprehensive and well functioning malaria surveillance program is central to achieving this goal. Under ZAMEP’s current surveillance strategy, District Malaria Surveillance Officers (DMSOs) respond to malaria case notifications through the reactive case detection (RACD) system. Three malaria screening and treatment strategies are undertaken in response to this system, including household-level (HSaT), focal-level (FSaT), and mass-level (MSaT). Each strategy is triggered by a different case threshold and tests different-sized populations. The aims of this study were to (1) assess the cost effectiveness of three malaria screening and treatment strategies; (2) assess the timeliness and completeness of ZAMEP’s RACD system; (3) and qualitatively explore the roles of DMSOs.
Screening disposition and budget information for 2014 screening and treatment strategies was analyzed to determine prevalence rates in screened populations and the cost effectiveness of each strategy. Prevalence rates within the screened population varied by strategy: 6.1 percent in HSaT, 1.2 percent in FSaT, and 0.9 percent in MSaT. Of the various costing scenarios considering cost per person screened, MSaT was the most cost-effective, with costs ranging from $9.57 to $12.57 per person screened. Of the various costing scenarios considering cost per case detected, HSaT was the most cost-effective, at $385.51 per case detected.
Case data from 2013 through mid-2015 was used to assess the timeliness and completeness of the RACD system. The average number of RACD activities occurring within 48 hours of notification improved slightly between 2013 and the first half of 2015, from 90.7 percent to 93.1 percent. The average percentage of household members screened during RACD also increased over the same time period, from 84 percent in 2013 to 89.9 percent in the first half of 2015.
Interviews with twenty DMSOs were conducted to gain insights into the challenges to malaria elimination both from the health system and the community perspectives. Major themes discussed in the interviews include the need for additional training, inadequate information capture at health facility, resistance to household testing, transportation difficulties, inadequate personnel during the high transmission season, and community misinformation.
Zanzibar is now considered a low transmission setting, making elimination feasible, but also posing new challenges to achieving this goal. The findings of this study provide insight into how surveillance activities can be improved to support the goal of malaria elimination in Zanzibar. Key changes include reevaluating the use of MSaT activities, improving information capture at health facilities, hiring additional DMSOs during the high transmission season, and improving community communication.
Open Access
Assessing the competency needs in the Green Technology Industry
(2011-04-29) McMahon, Rosemarie
This study reviews the technical and interpersonal competencies of professionals in the Green Technology industry. This industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Europe. This growth trend is expected to continue and is largely due to global environmental issues and energy requirements. Ambitious European targets to reduce dependency on fossil fuels provide the ideal political framework for the expansion of this industry. In light of this development, an important consideration is the availability of skilled professionals in the workforce. This research examines the competencies of professionals based in Scandinavia (regions of Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Information for this study has been gathered from a number of Green Technology companies. This was managed through a series of interviews, focus group discussions and an online survey. Professionals involved in this study concur that education is invaluable to the development of this sector. Many of these professionals have already acquired university level education in disciplines such as engineering. According to the feedback, engineering skills in the Green Technology sector will continue to be important for the next 5 to 10 years. However, supplementary technical (e.g. project management, accounting) and interpersonal (e.g. leadership) skills are also relevant for the development of Green Technology. As this industry grows such competencies will inevitably increase in importance. Professional development thus needs to be designed effectively and in accordance with industrial requirements and the training preferences of professionals.
Open Access
BioTools: Developing and Investing in Biodiversity Responsible Business
(2010-09-03) Sater, Mary
The objective for these tools is to encourage the conservation of biodiversity through private sector investment in biodiversity business. The tools seek to enable both investors and business developers to create viable business models that are biodiversity responsible, either through the use and consumption of biodiversity within the space that the project occupies or through the responsible management of biodiversity within the project space. The long-term objective of the Tools is to harness private capital to create green ventures that achieve the objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. To develop the BioTools, a review of academic business and scientific literature was conducted, as well as a review of current developments in the grey literature of international policy organizations. These sources provided background on the current efforts to conserve biodiversity, the juncture between business and policy to conserve biodiversity, and tools for all facets of business operations. During the development of the tools, both business frameworks and applications to environmental problems were researched and adopted and modified to fulfill the objectives of BioTool development. The Convention on Biological Diversity has three objectives in its mandate: the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits. Within the work program the Convention has identified businesses as a key constituency to aid the goal of slowing the loss of biodiversity. Given these tools, businesses and investors can develop and invest in projects that seek to employ biodiversity resources in a sustainable and equitable fashion.
Open Access
CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM IN A POST-KYOTO FRAMEWORK
(2010-04-30T15:07:00Z) Kashikura, Shinsuke
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) offset mechanism which is a part of the Kyoto Protocol. It allows developed countries to reduce GHGs in developing countries. Since the marginal cost of GHG reduction is lower in developing countries, this mechanism contributes to effective GHG reduction for developed countries. At the same time, according to the Kyoto Protocol, it should assist sustainable development in developing countries. However, many argue that this potential win-win mechanism is not working effectively, and will need some improvement after Kyoto expires. Given GHG emissions from developed countries will surpass those from developing countries around 2015, it is important for CDM not only to retain an offset scheme, but to also assist in decarbonization of developing countries. In this project, current CDM projects which have already been registered or rejected by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as of January 4th, 2010 are examined by using linear and logistical regression models to detect significant factors with respect to successful registration, project duration, project scale and project efficiency. Each analysis is conducted for all CDM projects and for Japanese CDM projects. The results from the models show CDM projects with particular characteristics (sector, host countries, validator) are less risky in terms of investment. This means research and development for CDM schemes are beneficial for improvement of GHG reduction in developing countries. However, it is still difficult to assess how much each CDM project contributes to the sustainable development of a given host country.
Open Access
Coexisting with Carnivores: A cost-benefit analysis of non-lethal wolf-depredation management in central Idaho
(2011-04-28) Abernethy, Ashley L.
The purpose of this masters project is to estimate the social net value of a non-lethal, wolf-depredation management strategy in central Idaho. The strategy was developed by Defenders of Wildlife to reduce sheep depredation by gray wolves (Canis lupus). Defenders of Wildlife worked with three of the largest sheep producers in Idaho between 2008 and 2010 to demonstrate and test the effectiveness of non-lethal predation-management tools in central Idaho. While the Defenders project is preventative in nature, the status quo project is reactive -- Wildlife Services, a division of USDA Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS), responds to depredation events using mainly lethal strategies of control. Using a cost-benefit analysis model, this study calculates the incremental net value of the Defenders of Wildlife demonstration project. A benefit transfer is used to derive the non-market value of wolves. By including this estimate in the analysis, the results show that using non-lethal, preventative tools can yield greater benefits to society than the reactive status quo program. The social benefits derived from the demonstration project are estimated to range from approximately $80,000 to $4.66 million ($2011). The results have important implications for the future of the Defenders of Wildlife project and depredation management strategies utilized in the ranching industry. Perhaps more important is the example it provides of stakeholders with different priorities working together for the greater good of society.
Open Access
Commute Sheds as a Regional Water Management Decision Tool
(2009-04-23T23:51:14Z) Landis, Benjamin Young
In international water management, “virtual water” analysis has been a useful tool for discussing the flow of water resource benefits amongst nations. Conceptually, an analogy can be made with “commute shed” research – the geospatial analysis of workers and where they travel to for work, created for regional developers and labor economists. Based on the rationale that clean water supply and infrastructure “produce” healthy, able workers that can generate economic output, I argue that flows of labor are thus also flows of water supply benefits. Subsequently, workers who work outside of their water utility service area are exporting these embedded economic benefits. Commute sheds can thus represent the transfer of water supply benefits within a region. Using OnTheMap 3, a recently developed software from the United States Census Bureau, I compile commute sheds for municipalities within and neighboring the Upper Neuse River Basin, North Carolina. I interpolate the water supply benefits embedded in these commute sheds, using estimated annual earnings as a proxy for economic output. Results show that within the Upper Neuse, there is a net flow of benefits from other cities into Durham. Also, there is a net flow of benefits into the Upper Neuse from cities supported by neighboring water systems, particularly by Jordan Lake. To my knowledge, this is a novel demonstration of applying OnTheMap to regional water supply management and virtual water flows. OnTheMap can be used to illustrate aspects of interdependence amongst regional water users, improving decision making in water supply management efforts and help forecast future water demand by location. Complemented with benefit valuation research, commute shed analysis can inform negotiations on water transfer agreements and collaborative infrastructure financing.
Open Access
Connecting Residents to Resources for Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, and Household Level Sustainability in Flint, Michigan
(2015-04-24) Sanker, Leyla
The UM-Flint Urban Alternatives House (UAH) is a LEED Platinum certified residential property redevelopment project established in 2010 through a partnership between the Genesee County Land Bank Authority and the University of Michigan-Flint. UM-Flint with community partners seek to use the UAH as demonstration project that connects residents in Flint and Genesee County to programs and resources that support adoption of sustainability measures to increase community resilience. Population decline and economic challenges are evident in the metropolitan Flint area, and energy costs place a larger financial burden on low income households. The desire to connect residents to resources that reduce residential energy and water costs while advancing adoption of sustainable practices informed development of this study.

The objectives of the study were to identify organizations and programs in Flint and Genesee County that provided resources or support to advance household level energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable development practices, to understand how these organizations are networked together, and to understand the opportunities and barriers they perceive relative to advancing efforts in the region. To meet this objective, the study focused on gathering organization level information and perspectives. Participants were identified using a snowball sampling technique.

Stakeholder analysis and social network analysis were the methods used to inform the study. The stakeholder analysis was completed using an integrated approach, informed by semi-structured interviews with nineteen stakeholders (n=19). NVivo 10 quantitative analysis software was employed to analyze stakeholder interview responses using a strategic perspectives approach. An actor linkage survey was completed by seventeen of the participants (n=17), and the information collected from the surveys provided data for the social network analysis completed using NetMiner10 software.

Forty-eight organizations were identified as stakeholders with direct or indirect alignment with the study area. Thirty-four of these organization were active in the study region. Analytical categorizations resulted in organizations being classified in three levels: type (i.e. Government, community organization, etc.), organizational alignment identified as 1) Community Economic Development, 2) Community Education and Engagement, 3) Health, and 4) Coordination/Collaboration, and study alignment identified as 1) Energy Efficiency, 2) Water Conservation, 3) Construction (Regular and “Green”), 4) Agriculture and Food Access, and 5) Recycling and Waste Management.

The first portion of the results section explores the themes found through analysis of the stakeholder interview data. The organizational alignments provided a broad context through which the themes emerged. Community economic development examines the role of stakeholders involved in housing programs, often supported by state and federal funding aimed at low to moderate income households. Community education and engagement highlights the important role of the utility provider as well as water quality and resources management organizations, and educational institutions. Health aligned stakeholders included those that addressed household hazards and organizations engaged in local food system work. Coordination and collaboration identifies that many partnerships exist, but only one local collaboration focused primarily on household health and sustainability. Opportunities and barriers are also examined.

The second portion of the results section features the results of the social network analysis. The social network analysis focuses on measures of centrality, exploring the properties of an actor (stakeholders represented as nodes in the network) and the prominence of said actor in the network based on the ties to other actors. Measures of centrality highlighted in the analysis include in- and out-degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality which are often positively correlated. The dominant actors and the deviations from the positive correlations found between the centrality measures are identified.

The discussion and recommendations section of the study notes that a variety of programs and initiatives exist that support energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable construction, and overall household level sustainability in in the study region, but few stakeholders have a primary focus in these areas. Recommendations for ongoing stakeholder engagement with existing efforts and approaches to advance education and outreach objectives are made. The impacts of fluctuations in funding, particularly at the federal level, areas in which services are being centralized, and market gaps revealed by the study are discussed.

The study identifies several areas to advance residents’ connections to energy efficiency, water conservation, and household level sustainability, and concludes with the following:

Education is both an opportunity and a barrier to connecting residents to resources for energy efficiency, water conservation, and household level sustainability. The inventory of programs may serve as a starting point to connecting residents to these resources, and development of a social marketing campaign could advance both promotion and adoption of these resources.

Stakeholders in the Flint area are actively partnering on a number of initiatives and to advance community sustainability in a larger context. Building a shared understanding of household sustainability, understanding the strengths and limitations of partner organizations, and finding ways to creatively leverage resources through new and existing collaborations could support efforts moving forward.

Ongoing engagement with stakeholders aligned with fair housing, natural resource management/water quality, and local food systems is recommended. The important role of government in connecting to resources and advancing a collective vision is recognized. Building alignments with business and economic development efforts is also suggested.
Open Access
Contamination by the Israeli Military Industry and its Impact on Apartment Sale Prices in an Adjacent Tel-Aviv Neighborhood: A Hedonic Pricing Model Study
(2008-04-23T15:48:25Z) Shelem, Itai
A window of opportunity opened to investigate present effects of past environmental policies of the Israel Defense Forces and its military industry when one of its facilities, Taas Magen, was required to close down in 1997. For decades, untreated discharge was released into absorption pits, which contaminated the soil and groundwater with many toxic compounds, including the carcinogen trichloroethylene. Surrounding the industrial facility is a housing market, consisting of more than 11,000 apartments, directly affected by the contamination. This hedonic pricing model study quantifies the effect of the environmental degradation due to the operations of Taas Magen on the nearby housing market. This was achieved by examining the effect distance away from Taas had on apartment sale prices. Results show that apartments near the facility were more negatively impacted than those further away. Next, the model was expanded to isolate the impact of the contamination from that of the facility by incorporating information regarding the public’s awareness of the degradation. The resulting regression coefficients suggest that only after public acknowledgement of the harm did distance significantly impact prices. Therefore, it is the environmental contamination and not necessarily the facility that negatively impacted prices. As a result of the contamination, the mean apartment price loss was -$24,650.74 (’06 dollars), which is approximately 14% of an apartment’s average value. Losses to the surrounding housing market are estimated at $267 to $287 million. These are only a minimum of the total social and economic costs incurred by the greater community, which are estimated to total at least $358 million. Assuming the government were to fund the estimated $33 million cleanup costs, a minute gain of 1.5% in the value of this $2.2 billion housing market would create the necessary economic benefit to offset the cost of decontaminating the site. Similarly, a more technologically advanced, yet expensive, iron nanoparticle remediation process would require a gain of 10.1% to offset its costs. Such market gains are not unreasonable given a drastic decrease in environmental harms. Furthermore, reclaiming a lost aquifer, reduction in human health risks, restoration of environmental integrity, and further increases to the housing market are all benefits of remediation that may greatly overshadow the concomitant cleanup costs. Future research should focus on quantifying all these benefits. With such information at hand, it will undoubtedly become apparent that remediation is socially and economically feasible.
Open Access
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ASEPTIC CARTON RECYCLING IN BANDUNG, INDONESIA
(2009-04-24T01:45:46Z) Dunais, Marc-Antoine
Growing populations, rising incomes, and changing lifestyles contribute to severe waste management problems in many urban centers around the world. In low-income Asian countries, a majority of municipal solid waste is inadequately processed, leading to environmental problems that affect the health of humans and animals, and cause economic and welfare losses. However, in many countries there is neither infrastructure nor market incentives for managing household waste such as aseptic cartons usefully. This research explores the costs and benefits of recycling aseptic cartons at BBPK, a recycling facility in the Indonesian town of Bandung, and provides recommendations for improving the facility’s profitability. The results of the cost benefit analysis from a business perspective demonstrate that the costs of operating the recycling facility generally exceed revenue. The negative operational cash flow occurs despite funding provided by aseptic carton-maker Tetra Pak to support BBPK’s purchase of raw materials. However, the cost benefit analysis demonstrates that under certain market conditions, recycling activities could become profitable. The prospects for such a scenario will ultimately depend on the sustained availability of external funding in the short to medium term, and capital investments in the facility’s recycling operations in the long term. Hence, it is opportune for Tetra Pak to extend financial support to BBPK for the purchase of raw materials until market conditions for recycled pulp have stabilized. Working with BBPK, Tetra Pak could develop a roadmap that would envisage a gradual phasing-out of its funding subsidy. By demonstrating that BBPK can become financially viable by operating independently, Tetra Pak can demonstrate to other recycling facilities that aseptic carton recycling, despite its challenges, is worth considering in Indonesia.
Open Access
COST EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR HARNETT COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
(2007-05) Kusmanov, Dastan
Widespread use of electronics in business and residential settings has created a problem of electronic waste disposal, when the electronics are discarded at the end of their useful life. Recognized as hazardous waste for the heavy metals contained in them, electronic discards are managed as such only if generated by businesses. In the absence of federal regulations for household electronic waste in the United States and state regulations in North Carolina, the electronic waste problem could be addressed at the county level. One of the options a policy-maker faces is to establish an e-waste collection and recycling program at the local landfill, thus offering residents the means to recycle their e-waste. In this master’s project I estimate the costs of establishing an e-waste recycling program in Harnett County, North Carolina. The results allow a policy maker to compare the costs of a local electronic waste recycling program to the costs of current recycling programs offered by major electronics producers, or the benefits from diverting electronic waste from local landfills. The information on costs of the program also provides estimates of the amount of funds that the county would need to run the program, or the amount of tax or purchase fee that could be imposed to provide funds for the program
Open Access
Demand Management Strategies of North Carolina Public Water Systems
(2008-04-22T19:18:30Z) Childs, Rush
The traditional approach to water resources management in the Southeastern United States does not take full advantage of economic tools for managing scarcity. It fails to prevent economically inefficient uses of water, imposes additional costs to downstream users, and degrades the natural environment. The recent drought in the Southeastern United States reveals these shortcomings and indicates that water supply planners should be aware of the role of demand management in reducing waste and misallocation during times of water stress. This analysis draws on data from the State of North Carolina’s Local Water Supply Plan Database. In the absence of statewide standards for technical and economic efficiency, it examines the decision of public water systems to voluntarily adopt demand management practices. An empirical model of water use is then estimated to determine the effectiveness of current demand management strategies, as employed by North Carolina public water systems. Results of the analysis confirm the view held by experts; individual demand management strategies are context-specific and should be adopted with careful attention to local conditions. In North Carolina, the degree of demand management pursued by public systems reflects a policy choice of system managers, customers, and decision makers. River basin planning is also shown to positively affect the degree of demand management pursued by public systems. A model estimating overall system demand shows that conservation pricing can be effective at reducing levels of water use; however, estimating the effectiveness of demand management strategies is complicated by a lack of criteria for determining systems’ program participation.
Open Access
Democracy on the Commons: Political Competition and Local Cooperation for Natural Resource Management in India
(2007-05-10T16:01:44Z) Chhatre, Ashwini
This dissertation explores the effects of democratic competition among political parties in India on natural resources and the ability of local communities to cooperate for natural resource management. A significant number of decentralization policies in developing countries depend for their success on local collective action for the provision of public goods. At the same time, democratization generates multiple impulses in society, and understanding its effects on the prospects for local cooperation is important for explaining the variation in success of decentralization policies for natural resource management. I use historical and ethnographic data to understand the influence of political competition on natural resource outcomes and local collective action. The descriptive analysis draws upon theoretical and empirical literatures on political competition, collective action, and property rights, and is used as the basis for generating hypotheses as well as specifying context-specific measurements of the relevant variables for statistical analysis. I test the hypotheses on two sets of dependent variables – local cooperation and forest condition – and three datasets covering community-based irrigation and forest management systems, co-management institutions for irrigation, soil conservation, and forest management, as well as state-managed forests as the null category without decentralized management. The findings show that an inclusive pattern of political mobilization and party competition have increased the salience of environment and forests in the public domain and democratic politics, with a positive effect on resource outcomes. Further, natural resources are better managed by decentralized institutions, compared to state management. However, communities located in highly competitive electoral districts find it significantly more difficult to cooperate due to interference from political parties. Moreover, communities that are heterogeneous along the salient issue dimension in democratic politics are the worst affected. On the other hand, better representation of sub-group interests in community affairs, prevalence of democratic practices, and linkages of community leaders to multiple political parties are associated with higher levels of local cooperation. In conclusion, the findings demonstrate that communities are better at natural resource management than state agencies, but the impulses generated by democratization can constrain the ability of local communities to manage natural resources.