Presentations

§ Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program | Report   The Mercury Program | Report Mitigating Climate Change | Report   Safe Water Currency for Peace Act of 2005 | Report Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act 2005 | Report

Workshop in Applied Policy Analysis Final Briefings

On November 30, the MPA Program in Environmental Science and Policy concluded its semester-long projects with its final briefings for its Applied Earth Systems Management Workshop. The review had over seventy people attending, with students presenting on topics ranging from solid waste transportation to mercury emissions.

The final workshop briefings are the culmination of semester long projects on a proposed but not yet enacted environmental law or treaty with an emphasis on management issues. The purpose of the fall semester workshop is to provide students with the opportunity to manage and implement a public earth system and environmental program. Since a government agency is not likely to allow students to take over their operations for a semester, the students simulate management innovation projects, and address the management problems associated with selecting and operating program changes over a one-year period. While they are conducting the management simulation, students learn first-hand the importance of both interpersonal relations and strategic thinking to the process of completing projects in an effective manner.

Mid-way through the semester, students conducted midterm briefings, which gave an overview of each project, the current program designs, and the initial implementation of their procedures. Their final briefings finalized these original plans and provided details on organization, budget, and measurements of success.

In the program’s spring semester workshop, students undertake real-world policy and management analysis for public and nonprofit agencies. Faculty in the program are currently working with a number of public organizations to develop five new projects that will be launched in late January, 2006.

Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act 2005 – Faculty Advisor Professor Steve Cohen

The Solid Waste Interstate Transportation Act of 2005 addresses the increased amount of solid waste that is transported across state borders. Over the past fifteen years, there has been a 300% increase in waste transfer across state lines, resulting in adverse impacts to human health and the environment. Students presented the issue and policy history, then described their program goals, its implementation, and a one year outlook. The team prioritized short term goals of educating states of their rights and minimizing legal conflict, and also developed long term goals of lowering interstate transport of municipal solid waste and encouraging exporting states to deal with waste locally. In addition, they discussed how the budget would be allocated, as well as criteria to measure success at both the six month and one year mark.

Safe Water Currency for Peace Act of 2005 – Faculty Advisor Professor Blaine Pope

The lack of adequate sanitation and access to safe, clean drinking water in Asia and Africa has led to disease, unhygienic conditions, and death. Through an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, a five year pilot program was developed to promote economic development by improving safe water access and sanitation in countries of South Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa. The approach allows private investors to propose a project, and grants them economic incentives. Students analyzed the act and provided a detailed program design balancing the private investor, public sector, and the local community. The team created first year goals which included establishing the office and receiving bids, with the hope of incorporating private investors in the global effort of providing safe water and sanitation.

Mitigating Climate Change: Forestry Projects Under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism – Faculty Advisor Tanya Heikkila

Climate change can largely be seen as a man-made problem, as smoke stacks, deforestation, and car pipes lead to increased GHG Emissions. The Kyoto Protocol, calling for GHG reduction, created forestry projects as one approach to addressing the problem. Students presented the Capacitate Program, which would streamline the forestry process and facilitate NGO involvement to resolve issues locally. Students discussed the organization and staffing of the Capacitate Program, and created a performance management program that focused on measurement, data collection, reporting, and feedback. Students included a master calendar as well as a budget for the first year.

Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program – Faculty Advisor Professor Gary Weiskopf

The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act was created to address marine debris, largely land-based and plastic, which accounts for harm within coral reefs, animal entanglement and death, and harm to beach-goers, divers, and navigational safety. Each year, over fourteen billion pounds of trash enters the ocean. After explaining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration organization, students described their Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program, where the first year implementation included reporting to Congress, a grant program, and education and outreach. In the second year, a mapping program, fishing gear program, and information clearinghouse were added as goals.

The Mercury Program – Faculty Advisor Professor Tanya Heikkila

Mercury emissions into the water is an increasing problem, as waste incineration units, municipal landfills, manufacturing plants, and coal-fired power plants all contribute to this dilemma. The Mercury Emission Act of 2005 is an amendment to the Clean Air Act, and aims at a 90% reduction from 1999 emission levels by 2009. Students created the Mercury Program, with the key elements of rulemaking, technology, reporting and enforcement. They recommended an EPA staff and a budget plan, as well as created a master calendar of key deliverables and developed a performance management system, both long and short term.