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Environment Quick News
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| A
Monthly Report on EPRI's Environmental Research Programs |
March
2010 |
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Program members can use their epri.com ID and password to download
Acrobat PDF files of EPRI technical reports. For assistance, contact
the EPRI Customer Assistance Center at (800) 313-3774. |
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Dear Environment Sector members:
As we write this letter we are preparing for the advisory meetings in Orlando,
Florida, where we will provide you with a summary of our key achievements in 2009
(including the Annual Overview document), finalize our 2010 program, and seek your
input on research priorities for 2011. For those of you unable to attend, please
voice your opinions to the respective program managers, as everyone's input is important.
Given the many environmental regulatory and policy issues on the table today, it is critical
that we spend your investments wisely to maximize impact and provide decision makers with
the best possible science and technology information.
Among the issues we have dealt with recently are environmental
implications of the Smart Grid and the new Smart Meters. Concern
has been raised by some of your customers with regard to the
radio frequency energy emitted by the meters and their potential
health impacts. Working jointly with our colleagues in the
Power Delivery Sector, we prepared a White
Paper that discusses how these meters operate, their duty
cycles, the level of RF energy associated with them, and how
those energy levels compare with established standards. The
bottom line is that the meters operate well below existing
health thresholds. However, we need to be alert to new research
and will be performing our own independent studies of these
meters and other facets of the Smart Grid.
One message from the Smart Meter example is that new technology needs to be carefully examined
for environmental issues that may arise. Our Technology Innovation project managed by Annette Rohr
is examining the health and environmental impacts of new fossil-based generation, including carbon
capture and storage. We are also starting a new body of work on environmental aspects of renewable energy.
It is critical that we get out in front of these issues early and make any necessary changes now before a
technology or process reaches commercial operation.
We hope most of you were able to join us in Orlando. If not,
we hope you have the opportunity to join us in San Antonio
in September or participate in our ongoing series of webcasts.
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| Air Quality Area News |
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Three posters describing EPRI research findings
were presented at the Society of Toxicology’s 49th
Annual Meeting, held in Salt Lake City in early March. |
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| Program 42: Air Toxics Health and Risk
Assessment |
| . This research uses mercury
sounding data collected from 16 hydrographic stations
in the North Pacific and regional results from EPRI global
mercury deposition modeling to develop patterns of oceanic
mercury transport between hemispheres. |
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| . This book offers a state-of-the-art
overview of major issues related to the interaction of
mercury with terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. |
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| Program 91: Assessment Tools for Ozone,
Particulate Matter, Regional Haze and Atmospheric Deposition |
| . EPRI’s Advanced Visibility
Measurements Experiment completed its measurement phase
last summer, and several analyses are now under way. |
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| Visit
the Global Climate Webpage |
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| Global Climate Change Area News |
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EPRI’s global climate research was presented
at the EUEC 2010 Energy and Environment Conference, held
Feb. 1–3 in Phoenix, AZ. |
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| Program 102: Global Climate Policy Costs
and Benefits |
| . At the invitation of the National
Academy of Sciences National Research Council (NRC), EPRI’s
Steven Rose participated in the NRC’s Feb. 4–5
workshop, Describing Socio-Economic and Environmental
Futures for Climate Change Research and Assessment. |
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EPRI’s Steven Rose and colleagues from Purdue
University have completed a preliminary non–CO2
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dataset for the Global
Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) version 7 global economic
and energy activity database. |
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| Program 103: Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Options |
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On Feb. 25, EPRI hosted the seventh workshop in
its EPRI Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Offset Policy
Dialogue project, held in Washington D.C. |
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| . As of Feb. 1, EPRI had
received sufficient funding commitments to begin this
project. |
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| Program 49: Coal Combustion Products—Environmental
Issues |
| . Working toward increasing
the use of spray dryer absorber (SDA) products, researchers
characterized their physical, chemical, and mineralogical
properties. |
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| Program 50: Manufactured Gas Plant Site
Management |
| . EPRI’s
MGP Symposium, held Jan. 27–29 in San Antonio, TX,
was rated as a great success by the attendees. |
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| Feasibility Study Illustrates Effectiveness
of In Situ Thermal Stabilization to Remediate MGP Site.
Evaluation
of In Situ Thermal Stabilization at a Former Manufactured
Gas Plant (EPRI Product 1020425). Researchers
used TARGOST® to delineate the subsurface extent of
coal tar at a former MGP site and treated site soil samples
in the laboratory to determine that in situ thermal stabilization
would remediate site contaminants without causing soil
subsidence under a nearby railway. These emerging
technologies will play an increasingly important role
in MGP site remediation near buildings and other infrastructure
that cannot be disturbed. For more information,
contact Jeff Clock, (845) 608-0642, jclock@epri.com. |
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The Model for the Assessment and Remediation of
Sediments was used to predict and compare the long-term
effectiveness of several active sediment caps in the Anacostia
River, which flows through the District of Columbia. |
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| Program 59: Power Plant Toxics Characterization |
| Iron Addition to FGD Scrubber Tested for
Mercury and Selenium Removal. Demonstration
Test of Iron Addition to an FGD Absorber to Enhance Mercury
Removal (EPRI Product 1017975). In a full-scale
evaluation at a power plant burning low-sulfur eastern
bituminous coal, researchers added iron to a limestone,
forced-oxidation flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber
to potentially minimize mercury flue gas re-emissions.
A secondary objective was to increase the amount
of mercury and selenium contained in the FGD solids, thus
reducing mercury and selenium levels in the FGD purge
water. Results were promising for selenium but inconclusive
for mercury. For more information, contact Paul
Chu, (650) 855-2362, pchu@epri.com. |
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| Program 54: Fish Protection at Steam
Electric Power Plants |
| . Program presentations focused
on a review of 2008 and 2009 Ohio River monitoring results
and analysis of long-term thermal impacts. |
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| . EPRI has initiated a laboratory
effort to evaluate the performance of the Beaudrey Water
Intake Protection (WIP) fine-mesh (2.0 mm) screen, which
has a novel vacuum system for collecting fish eggs and
larvae as well as debris. |
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| . This Technical Report presents
the results of a study on the effectiveness of continuous
rotation of conventional traveling screens for reducing
impingement of freshwater organisms at a cooling water
intake structure (CWIS) located at an Alabama Power Company
plant. |
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| Program 55: Strategic Water Issues: TMDLs,
Availability, Climate |
| . The reports will be of value to
all parties interested in the water aspects of sustainable
development. |
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| Program 58: Waterpower |
| . On Mar.
16, EPRI will kick off a two-year U.S. Department of Energy
project on “Quantifying the Full Value of Hydropower
in the Transmission Grid.” |
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| . In 2009, EPRI received a grant from
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to continue the development
of what is now called the Alden Turbine—a novel
three-bladed hydropower turbine that has demonstrated
high fish survival potential in pilot-scale testing. |
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| . The U.S. Department of Energy
has awarded a three-year, $3 million grant to the Hydro
Research Foundation to fund graduate fellowships in a
broad range of topics related to conventional and pumped
storage hydropower. |
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| EPRI Research Presented at Hydropower Meeting.
On Feb. 18, Tom Key chaired a panel and presented
“Pumped Storage Applications in a Carbon-Constrained
Electricity Future” at the Northwest Hydroelectric
Association 2010 Annual Conference in Portland, OR. The
National Hydropower Association’s Pumped Storage
Council also met at the conference and announced results
of a recent survey on storage needs in U.S. energy markets.
For more information, contact Tom Key, (865) 218-8082,
tkey@epri.com. |
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| Program 60: EMF Health Assessment and
Radio-Frequency Safety |
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| Visit
the EMF Health Assessment and RF Safety Public Webpage |
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| . Dr. Rob Kavet has been appointed co-chair
of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) subcommittee charged with updating standards for
exposure to electromagnetic fields. |
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| . EPRI evaluates the strengths,
limitations, and research context of this study, whose
authors report that pine needles under AC power lines
have polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels almost twice
as high as needles from reference sites. |
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ENVIRONMENT FEDERAL
HIGHLIGHTS (Washington D.C. Office, John Novak) |
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| For more information on
the items below, contact John Novak, 202-293-6180,
jnovak@epri.com. |
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John Novak gave a presentation on the 2009 Prism/MERGE
update and participated in a panel discussion entitled
“Possibilities and Options for a Low Carbon Future”
at the Climate Action Plan Visionary Meeting held Jan.
5 at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City. |
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| . On Jan. 6, John Novak presented
the EPRI Prism/MERGE analysis, “The Value of the
Full Portfolio,” to a group of executive MBA candidates
in a panel discussion organized by the Washington Campus. |
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| IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
is preparing an IPCC Special Report on renewable energy.
John Novak and Bryan Hannegan joined a number of
industry organizations and companies in developing and
sponsoring an expert’s workshop on Feb. 1–2
to provide input on the report. EPRI also submitted comments
on the draft report to the IPCC. |
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| NEW SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT
OPPORTUNITIES |
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| For a complete list of all active Environment
Supplemental Project Opportunities, click here. |
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| NEW MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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| *
denotes EPRI sponsored or cosponsored event |
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| Environment Sector |
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Environment Sector and Area Council Advisory Meetings
Sept. 27–30, San Antonio, TX. Contact: Marsha
Grossman, (650) 855-8760, mgrossma@epri.com.
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| Energy Sustainability |
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Energy Sustainability Interest Group Workshop
May 3–4, Boston MA. Contact, Todd Maki, (650) 855-2162,
tmaki@epri.com or Kitty
Vroom, (650) 855-2255, kvroom@epri.com.
Workshop is open to members of the Energy Sustainability Interest
Group. More information is available at the event
website.
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| Air Quality |
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| 20th CRC On-Road Vehicle Emissions
Workshop
Mar. 22–24, San Diego, CA. Contact: Stephanie
Shaw, (650) 855-2353, sshaw@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
AAAR Specialty Conference—Air Pollution
and Health: Bridging the Gap from Sources to Health Outcomes
Mar. 22–26, San Diego, CA. Contact: Naresh Kumar,
(650) 855-2990, nkumar@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
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EPRI/UARG Air Toxics Research Coordination Meeting
May 5–7, Palo Alto, CA. Contact: Leonard Levin,
(650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds
May 24–27, Monterey, CA. Contact: Leonard Levin,
(650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
* EPRI Air Quality
Summer Seminar—Particulate Matter and Health: Evaluating
Alternatives to a Mass-Based PM Standard
May 26–27, Washington, D.C. Contact: Naresh Kumar,
(650) 855-2990, nkumar@epri.com.
Goldschmidt™ 2010 – Earth, Energy and the
Environment
June 13-18, Knoxville, TN. Contact: Arnout Ter Schure,
(650) 855-2281, aterschu@epri.com.
Dr. Ter Schure will chair a session on Atmospheric Oxidation
of Mercury by Reactive Halogen Species. More information
is available at the event
website.
A&WMA 103rd Annual Conference & Exhibition
June 22–25, Calgary, Canada. Contact: Naresh Kumar,
(650) 855-2990, nkumar@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
Joint ICACGP–IGAC Conference—Atmospheric
Chemistry: Challenging the Future
July 11–16, Halifax, Canada. Contact: Eladio Knipping,
(202) 293-6343, eknippin@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
* Power Plant Air
Pollutant Control “MEGA” Symposium
Aug. 30–Sept. 2, Baltimore, MD. Contact: Leonard Levin,
(650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
A&WMA Symposium on Air Quality Measurement
Methods and Technology
Nov. 2–4, Los Angeles, CA. Contact: Naresh Kumar,
(650) 855-2990, nkumar@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
American Geophysical Union 2010 Fall Meeting
Dec. 13–17, San Francisco, CA. Contact: Stephanie
Shaw, (650) 855-2353, sshaw@epri.com.
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| Global Climate |
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15th Annual EPRI Global
Climate Change Research Seminar
May 18–19, Washington, DC. Contact: Christina
Kemp, (650) 855-2044, ckemp@epri.com.
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| Land and Groundwater |
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TRI for Power Plants (LARK-TRIPP) Training Workshop
Mar. 24–25, Charlotte, NC. Contact: Naomi Goodman,
(650) 855-2193, ngoodman@epri.com.
* EPRI/UARG Air
Toxics Research Coordination Meeting
May 5–7, Palo Alto, CA. Contact: Leonard Levin,
(650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds
May 24–27, Monterey, CA. Contact: Leonard Levin,
(650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
A&WMA 103rd Annual Conference & Exhibition
June 22–25, Calgary, Canada. Contact: Naresh Kumar,
(650) 855-2990, nkumar@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
* Power Plant Air
Pollutant Control “MEGA” Symposium
Aug. 30–Sept. 2, Baltimore, MD. Contact: Leonard
Levin, (650) 855-7929, llevin@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
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| Water and Ecosystems |
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Webcast: Ohio River Trading Project Quarterly
Update
May 19, 10 a.m. PDT. Contact Katie Vroom, (650) 855-2417,
kavroom@epri.com.
* Summer Water &
Ecosystem Area Council Meeting
June 23–25, Whitefish, MT. Contact: Katie Vroom,
(650) 855-2417, kavroom@epri.com.
* Webcast: Ohio River Trading Project
Quarterly Update
Aug. 18, 10 a.m. PDT. Contact: Katie Vroom, (650) 855-2417,
kavroom@epri.com.
* Webcast: Ohio
River Trading Project Quarterly Update
Nov. 17, 10 a.m. PDT. Contact: Katie Vroom, (650) 855-2417,
kavroom@epri.com.
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| T&D Environmental Issues |
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| The Bioelectromagnetics Society
32nd Annual Meeting
June 13–18, Seoul, Korea. Contact: Gabor Mezei,
(650) 855-8908, gmezei@epri.com.
More information is available at the event
website.
* 2010 EMF Scientific
Advisory Committee Meeting
Aug. 16–17, New York, NY. Contact: Gabor Mezei, (650)
855-8908, gmezei@epri.com.
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Together…Shaping
the Future of Electricity® |
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Electric
Power Research Institute
3420
Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94304-1338 • PO Box 10412,
Palo Alto, California 94303-0813 USA
800.313.3774 • 650.855.2121 • askepri@epri.com
• www.epri.com
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