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A 360-degree View

January 1, 2007By Angela Neville

Our panel of experts provides a well-rounded analysis of where the environmental field stands today

Our first annual roundtable is a no-holds-barred forum exploring issues affecting the environmental industry. From trends in regulations to developments in the job market, our panelists offer their insights. This roundtable is a must-read for every environmental professional who wants to be on top of new directions in our industry.

Red State, Blue State, Internet State

January 1, 2007By Lawrence Goldenhersh

Were he alive today, Thomas Jefferson would have sage advice for all us in the wake of the midterm elections.

Sustainable Development

January 1, 2007By Richard MacLean

The emerging backlash surrounding the concept of "sustainable development"

Sustainable development and green marketing have become the darlings of the corporate world. But far off the radar scope of most environmental professionals, there is an emerging debate that these efforts might be nothing more than a sophisticated form of greenwash. Is this a bogus issue and nothing more than the rantings of extremists? What are the dynamics in play and what should you do?

Time for Some Fresh Air

January 1, 2007By Bill S. Forcade

The top air quality management issues in 2007

Change is in the air. Congress changed in November from Republican to Democratic leadership. A pending U.S. Supreme Court case and new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules probably will change the New Source Review requirements. These and other changes may affect how you operate your facility in 2007.

A Sensitive Electronic Nose

November 1, 2006By Edward J. Staples

Gas chromatograph device speeds up VOC identification in air, water, soil samples

A new type of electronic nose, based on ultra-fast gas chromatography, can perform analytical measurements of volatile organic vapors in near real-time with part-per-trillion sensitivity.

At the Tipping Point

November 1, 2006By Richard MacLean

A new wave of environmentalism is upon us

In the first eight months of this year, there were 10 national magazines with environmental cover stories. I lost track of the front-page and feature articles in other major print media sources.

Conquering Corrosion

November 1, 2006By Andrea Kinney

Advances offer better performance, less down time

ESA Rules: Explored and Explained

November 1, 2006By Nick Albergo, PE

Examining the new standards related to Phase 1 environmental site assessments

The following is the second of a two-part series that analyzes new Phase 1 ESA requirements and their impact on consultants and their clients. The first part, ESA Rules: Plain English Version (Part 1) was published in the October 2006 issue of Environmental Protection.

Preparing For a Rainy Day

November 1, 2006By Matthew Van Patten, PE, CHMM, Michael E. Yost

A guide to stormwater maintenance, inspection, and regulatory compliance

When we think of pollution, most of us conjure up images of smokestacks or drums of hazardous waste. But one of the most significant sources of water pollution in the United States today is stormwater runoff, and it merits the full attention of industrial and commercial facilities alike.

The Great Green Hope

November 1, 2006By Katie McCarthy

Biofuels continue to gain critical attention as ethanol use grows

With the demand for oil growing and our resources dwindling, new technologies will certainly help fuel our future. A variety of energy sources are competing to ease the demand and to move us forward to greener, cleaner automobiles.

ESA Rules: Plain English Version (Part 1)

October 1, 2006By Nick Albergo, PE

An explanation of the new standards related to Phase 1 environmental site assessments and the necessity for an opinion regarding additional investigations

The following is the first of a two-part series that analyzes new Phase 1 ESA requirements and their impact on consultants and their clients. The second part is scheduled to be published in the November/December 2006 issue of Environmental Protection.

Metrics, Las Vegas Style

October 1, 2006By Richard MacLean

Instead of betting on the numbers, develop a metrics strategy

For the past 30 years, environmental, health, and safety (EHS) professionals have struggled to find the definitive set of performance metrics. The reality is that, while there is no universal set, there definitely is a group of key performance indicators for your company to use in order to win the competition game.

On Golden Swamp

October 1, 2006By Katie McCarthy

Rebuilding Gulf Coast wetlands means enhanced protection from future storms and healthier ecosystems

Hurricane Katrina left a wake of devastation in its path -- thousands dead, New Orleans flooded, a whole population displaced, and billions of dollars in destruction all along the Gulf Coast. A true national disaster, Katrina revealed the coast's vulnerability.

The Scoop on Sensor Selection

October 1, 2006By David I. Katz

Tips on how to pick sensors that accurately measure wind speed, vertical temperature differences, and solar radiation

Meteorological monitoring for air quality studies has evolved over the past four decades. During the summer of 1956 an experimental program to study micrometeorology and dispersion from near-surface releases was conducted near the town of O'Neil in north-central Nebraska.

Wildcatting In Wastewater

October 1, 2006By Tom Hobson

Record high oil prices are causing manufacturers to seek profitable ways to extract oil from their wastewater

Since last year, when crude oil prices soared and gasoline topped $3 per gallon, requests for skimmers to be used for recycling oil from plant wash water, municipal wastewater, machine shop coolant, and contaminated groundwater have increased 25 percent according to one major supplier of oil skimming equipment.