Environment

It is a fair assessment to say that as a race we humans have not really cared for our environment as well as we could have. As a world we face some major changes to the environment, which can be looked at in three main reason.

1. Increases in the World’s population.

There has been a major increase in the amount of people who live on the planet. It is estimated that the population has increased by over 75 million per year. That means that it has been predicted that by 2050 the world population is expected to be at 9 billion.

2. The increased use of natural resources, which cannot be replaced.

Due to advances in technology we are becoming more reliant on them. We are using up natural resources (like coal, oil and wood) to turn them into energy (like electricity). When these resources are used, they change the environment. They are making by ~ products like carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals.

3. People want more material things than ever before.

People who live in countries like ours have a higher standard of living and expect to have a comfortable lifestyle. People who live in less economically developed countries want the same lifestyle.

How are people interacting with the environment?

If we all lived with the same attitudes to the world, we would not be facing the issues we are today. But we know that every one of us has a different set of priorities and as such are exploiting the environment to achieve our own aims. If we look at the Tropical rainforests we can see this in action.

The tropical rainforests cover up to a third of the world’s surface. My species of animals live there and many of them are unique to that area. If one area is changed / damaged this will have a knock on effect to the rest of the world. If you like it is a kind of jigsaw that fits together. When one piece is missing, the eco system is not complete.

The trees in the rainforests are important for a number of reasons:

1. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

2. Without forests radiation bounces back into the atmosphere raising the temperatures.

3. This could alter the air circulation (convection).

4. It is also involved in recycling the water in the earth to return as rainfall in other parts of the world.

5. Streams will disappear if the forests are not there to store the water. This is happening now in parts of Africa!

It is imperative that commanders and leaders possess a thorough understanding of their respective dynamic Operational Environment (OE) in order to efficiently utilize available resources to achieve the desired end state. Understanding the physical environment, the state of governance, technology, local resources and the culture of the local populace is absolutely vital and failure to do so leaves little chance for success. When considering the OE the following factors need to be examined; ideology, religion, race, ethnicity, nationalism and physiological needs.

Obtaining the necessary information will only be achieved as a result of a time consuming process that entails speaking with members of the local governance and the local populace of which patience is paramount. Given our current Contemporary Operational Environments (COE) of Iraq and Afghanistan probably the most important factor to understand is religion. It is imperative that commanders have a thorough understanding of the desired end state which is to rebuild the country and not force western culture upon them in the process. Agreeing with their culture or beliefs is inconsequential.

Commanders at all levels are obligated to ensure that this end state is clearly stated and understood by everyone at all levels in order to show the local populace that are intentions are clear and that our efforts are sincere. According to FM 3-0 the OE should be analyzed utilizing the following interrelated operational variables; political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment and time (PMESII-PT). These variables provide a view of the operational environment that emphasizes its human aspects.

It is suggested that whenever possible commanders and staff utilize specialists in each variable in order to improve analysis. The political analysis also addresses the effect of will. Will is the primary intangible factor it motivates participants to sacrifice to persevere against obstacles. The military variable includes the military capabilities of all armed forces within the OE. The economic variable encompasses individual and group behaviors related to producing, distributing and consuming resources.

Cultural awareness falls within the social variable and helps identify points of friction within populations, helps build rapport and reduces misunderstandings. Ensuring that the importance of cultural awareness is emphasized at all levels can improve a force’s ability to accomplish its mission and provide insight into individual and group intentions. The information environment is the aggregate of individuals, organizations and systems that collect, process, disseminate or act on information. Commanders use information to shape the operational environment.

The infrastructure comprises the basic facilities, services and installations needed for a society to function and it is imperative that commanders understand that degrading the infrastructure will have an affect upon the entire OE. The physical environment includes the geography and man-made structures within the OE. The enemy understands that less complex and open terrain often exposes their military weaknesses. Therefore, they may try to counteract US military advantages by operating in urban or other complex terrain and during adverse weather conditions.

In regards to the time variable an enemy with limited military capability usually views protracted conflict as advantageous. They avoid battles and only engage when conditions are overwhelmingly in their favor. Given our COE the enemy is well aware that Americans are impatient and demand a decisive victory without delay and are not willing to wage a long drawn-out conflict that places a heavy financial burden upon the country. Colin S. Gray states that, “COIN is about the control of people and territory. I submit that it is virtually impossible to gain control in any region without a thorough understanding of the many different facets that the OE is comprised of. Given the fact that we have moved away from fighting “regular” wars and find our selves submerged in “irregular” warfare knowledge of the operational environment is essential because the United States is already ill prepared to fight such a war. It has taken us the last 10 years to start to change our training and techniques allowing us to achieve success.

The United States was stuck in the “cold war” era and our training and techniques were antiquated. Even so during the cold war era it was still vital to possess a thorough understanding of the respective operational environment in order to be successful. However, given the fact that we find ourselves in these “irregular” wars against religious extremists it seems to be exponentially important to know your OE. It seems as though that today’s operational environments are much more elaborate and complex.

Today we face a more “guerilla” style combatant as opposed to having clearly drawn lines on the battle field during the cold war era. Today we find ourselves more in need of intelligence in order to determine who are enemy is and in order to obtain such elusive information it is essential to befriend the local populace which can only be accomplished by becoming educated on the aforementioned vital aspects of the OE itself. Mr. Gray also states that, “the decisive combat occurs in and about the minds of civilians, not on the battlefield.

Protection of the people must be job one. ” I believe that it is overtly obvious that in order to determine what is on the minds of the civilians and what their individual concerns are we need to get intimately familiar with them and earn their trust. I submit that this can not be accomplished until a thorough study of the complete operational environment has been completed and the US armed forces possess a firm grasp of what is important to the local populace. We will be ill prepared to protect them if we don’t understand what their concerns and fears are.

They have to be willing to place a tremendous amount of trust in our armed forces to provide them with the information of whom they fear and why. I say this because we can’t really protect them until they provide the information but then again once they do they know that they will be targeted for reprisals. This is why I can not over emphasize how important it is to gain substantial knowledge of the local people and their respective culture within these complex environments.

I would like to use the following quote from Colin Gray’s Irregular Warfare to bolster my argument, “If we do not know much about those beliefs and values, we are unlikely to register much progress in persuasion, except by accident. Indeed, by behaving like strangers in a strange land—true aliens—our regular soldiers and officials are as likely to do more harm than good to their mission. ” Irregular warfare is complex and thus far has been fought in extremely complex environments. It is a fact that the United States is not well suited or well prepared to engage in such battles.

We can not longer rely on our size and strength in order to ensure victory. It is through technology, special operations and vital information obtained from the local people that enable us to achieve any success at all in these complex, hostile operational environments. I submit that obtaining a thorough and complete knowledge of the individual operational environment to include the physical environment, the state of governance, technology, local resources, the culture of the local populace, ideology, religion, race, ethnicity, nationalism and physiological needs is absolutely essential in order to have any chance of success.

According to FM 3-0 we should analyze the operational environment utilizing the following variables, political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, physical environment and time (PMESII-PT). Utilizing this method should yield a fairly complete understanding of the respective operational environment. Remember that according to Colin Gray, Irregular Warfare is about protecting the civilians and gaining their trust. How can we expect to accomplish this task if we behave like strangers in a strange land—true aliens?

Environment Policy & Environment Management System Driven by Its commitment for sustainable growth of power, NNTP has evolved a well defined environment management policy and sound environment practices for maligning environmental impact arising out of setting up of power plants and preserving the natural ecology. National Environment Policy: At the national level, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had prepared a draft Environment Policy (NEAP) and the Ministry of Power along with NNTP actively participated in the deliberations of the draft NEAP. The NEAP 2006 has since been approved by the Union Cabinet In May 2006.

NNTP Environment Policy: As early as In November 1995, NNTP brought out a comprehensive document entitled “NNTP Environment Policy and Environment Management System”. Amongst the guiding principles adopted in the document are company’s proactive approach to environment, optimum utilization of equipment, adoption of latest technologies and continual environment improvement. The policy also envisages efficient utilization of resources, thereby minimizing waste, maximizing ash utilization and providing green belt all around the plant for maintaining ecological balance.

Environment Management, Occupational Health and Safety Systems: NNTP has actively gone for adoption of best international practices on environment, occupational health and safety areas. The organization has pursued the Environmental Management System (EMUS) ISO 14001 and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment System SHOOS 18001 at its deferent establishments. As a result of pursuing these practices, all NNTP power stations have been certified for ISO 14001 & SHOOS 18001 by reputed national and International Certifying Agencies.

Pollution Control Systems While deciding the appropriate technology for its projects, NNTP integrates many environmental provisions into the plant design. In order to ensure that NNTP comply with all the stipulated environment norms, various state-of- he-art pollution control systems / devices as discussed below have been installed to control alarm and water pollution. Electrostatic Precipitation: The ash left behind after combustion of coal Is arrested In high efficiency Electrostatic Precipitation (Esp.) and particulate emission is controlled well within the stipulated norms.

The ash collected in the Esp. is disposed to Ash Ponds in slurry form. Flue Gas Stacks: Tall Flue Gas Stacks have been provided for wide dispersion of the gaseous emissions (SOX, KNOX etc) into the atmosphere. LOW-KNOX Burners: In gas based NNTP power stations, Knox missions are controlled by provision of Low-Knox Burners (dry or wet type) and In coal fired stations, by adopting best combustion practices. Naturalization Pits: correction of the effluents before discharge into Effluent Treatment Plant (DEPT) for further treatment and use.

Coal Settling Pits / Oil Settling Pits: In these Pits, coal dust and oil are removed from the effluents emanating from the Coal Handling Plant (CHIP), coal yard and Fuel Oil Handling areas before discharge into DEPT. DE & ADS Systems: Dust Extraction (DE) and Dust Suppression (ADS) systems have been installed in all AOL fired power stations in NNTP to contain and extract the fugitive dust released in the Coal Handling Plant (CHIP). Cooling Towers: Cooling Towers have been provided for cooling the hot Condenser cooling water in closed cycle Condenser Cooling Water (OCW) Systems.

This helps in reduction in thermal pollution and conservation of fresh water. Ash Dyke’s & Ash Disposal Systems: Ash ponds have been provided at all coal based stations except Adair where Dry Ash Disposal System has been provided. Ash Ponds have been divided into lagoons and provided with garlanding arrangements for change over of the ash slurry feed points for even filling of the pond and for effective settlement of the ash particles. Ash in slurry form is discharged into the lagoons where ash particles get settled from the slurry and clear effluent water is discharged from the ash pond.

The discharged effluents conform to standards specified by CB and the same is regularly monitored. At its Adair Power Station, NNTP has set up a unique system for dry ash collection and disposal facility with Ash Mound formation. This has been envisaged for the first time in Asia which as resulted in progressive development of green belt besides far less requirement of land and less water requirement as compared to the wet ash disposal system. Ash Water Recycling System: Further, in a number of NNTP stations, as a proactive measure, Ash Water Recycling System (EARS) has been provided.

In the EARS, the effluent from ash pond is circulated back to the station for further ash sluicing to the ash pond. This helps in savings of fresh water requirements for transportation of ash from the plant. The ash water recycling system has already been installed and is in operation at Ramadan, Similar, Errand, Tattler Kantian, Tattler Thermal, Gallon, CORBA and Vindicating. The scheme has helped stations to save huge quantity of fresh water required as make-up water for disposal of ash.

Dry Ash Extraction System (DATES): Dry ash has much higher utilization potential in ash based products (such as bricks, aerated autoclaves concrete blocks, concrete, Portland poignant cement, etc. ). DATES has been installed at Unchain, Adair, Similar, Ramadan, Singulars, Gallon, Freak, Tattler Thermal, CORBA, Vindicating, Tattler Kantian and BETS. Liquid Waste Treatment Plants & Management System: The objective of industrial liquid effluent treatment plant (DEPT) is to discharge lesser and cleaner effluent from the power plants to meet environmental regulations.

After primary treatment at the source of their generation, the effluents are sent to the DEPT for further treatment. The composite liquid effluent treatment plant has been designed to treat all liquid effluents which originate within the power station e. G. Water Treatment Plant (WET), Condensate Polishing Unit (COP’) effluent, Coal Handling Plant (CHIP) effluent, floor washings, service water drains etc. The scheme involves collection of various effluents and their appropriate treatment centrally and re- circulation of the treated effluent for various plant uses.

Ramadan, Similar, Kampala, Singulars, Errand, Vindicating, CORBA, Johann Kandahar, Abridged, Freak, Gallon and Tattler Kantian. These plants have helped to control quality and quantity of the effluents discharged from the stations. Sewage Treatment Plants & Facilities: Sewage Treatment Plants (Steps) sewage treatment facilities have been provided at all NNTP stations to take care of Sewage Effluent from Plant and township areas.

In a number of NNTP projects modern type Steps with Clarifications, Mechanical Agitators, sludge drying beds, Gas Collection Chambers etc have been provided to improve the effluent quality. The effluent quality is monitored regularly and treated effluent conforming to the prescribed limit is discharged from the station. At several stations, treated effluents of Steps are being used for horticulture purpose. Environmental Institutional Set-up Realizing the importance of protection of the environment with speedy development of the power sector, the company has constituted different groups at project, regional and

Corporate Centre level to carry out specific environment related functions. The Environment Management Group, Ash Utilization Group and Centre for Power Efficiency & Environment Protection (CANTEEN) function from the Corporate Centre and initiate measures to mitigate the impact of power project implementation on the environment and preserve ecology in the vicinity of the projects. Environment Management and Ash Utilization Groups established at each station, look after various environmental issues of the individual station.

Environment Management During Operation Phase Antic’s environment friendly approach to power has already gun to show results in conservation of natural resources such as water and fuel (coal, oil & gas) as well as control of environmental pollution. As already mentioned earlier, NNTP has chalked out a set of well defined activities that are envisaged right from the project conceptualization stage so that during the entire life cycle of the power plant, NNTP is fully compliant with various environment regulations and a pristine environment and ecological balance is maintained in and around its power station and townships.

Following is brief description of some of the measures taken urine the operation phase of the stations. Performance enhancement and up- gradation measures are undertaken by the organization during the post operational stage of the stations. These activities have greatly helped to minimize the impact on environment and preserve the ecology in and around its power projects. These measures have been enumerated as follows. Monitoring of Environmental Parameters: A broad based Environment Monitoring Programmer has been formulated and implemented in NNTP.

All pollutants discharged from the power plant such as stack emission, ash pond effluent, main Lana effluent, domestic effluent and Condenser Cooling Water (OCW) effluent are monitored at the stipulated frequency at the source itself and at the points of discharge. In addition to the above, ambient air, surface water and ground water quality in and around NNTP plants are regularly monitored to assess any adverse impacts as a result of operation of the power plant.

On-Line Data Base Management: In order to have better control on pollution and to achieve effective environment and efficient environment information system on the plant operational and environmental performance parameters at all three levels I. Generating Stations, Regional Headquarters and Corporate Centre. In consideration of the above, a computerized programmer, namely “Paraguayan Monitoring System” – MS, which could provide reliable storage, prompt and accurate flow of information on environmental performance of Stations was developed and installed in NNTP.

This software facilitates direct transfer of environment reports and other environment related information from stations to the Regional Headquarters and Corporate Centre. The MS has already been implemented at Corporate Centre, the Regional Headquarters and most of the Stations. This system has helped in achieving continuous improvement in Antic’s environment performance through improved monitoring and reporting system by using the trend analysis and advanced data management techniques.

Environment Reviews: To maintain constant vigil on environmental compliance, Environmental Reviews are carried out at all operating stations and remedial measures have been taken wherever necessary. As a feedback and follow-up of these Environmental Reviews, a number of retrofit and up-gradation measures have been undertaken at different stations. Such periodic Environmental Reviews and extensive monitoring of the facilities carried out at all stations have helped in compliance with the environmental norms and timely renewal of the Air and Water Consents.

Upgrading & Retrofitting of Pollution Control Systems: In order to keep pace with the changing norms and ensure compliance with statutory requirements in the field of pollution control, NNTP keeps an open mind for Renovation and Modernization (R & M) and Retrofitting and Upgrading of pollution monitoring and control facilities in its existing stations. It is important to mention that such edification/retrofit programs not only helped in betterment of environment but also in resource conservation.

High efficiency Electro-static Precipitation (Esp.) of the order of 99. 5% and above have been provided at NNTP stations for control of stack particulate emissions. However, the Esp. of a number of stations were built prior to the promulgation of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and notification of emission control standards under this Act. Remedial measures have already been taken up and implemented to improve the efficiency of the existing Esp. at various NNTP stations.

ESP. performance enhancement programmer by adopting advanced microprocessor based Electrostatic Precipitated Management System (MOMS) was installed at its power stations at Singulars, Ramadan, CORBA, Freak, Errand, Vindicating and Unchain. Additional Esp. were retrofitted in the older power stations, namely at Updater and Tattler Thermal. As a result of the above retrofits, the emission of Suspended Particulate Matter (SUM) has been brought down appreciably at the above stations and is maintained within the present statutory limit of 150 MGM/NM.

In new projects, the Esp. have been designed for a maximum remissive outlet dust emission of 50 MGM/NM to meet the likely stringent emission norms in the near future. Resources Conservation With better awareness and appreciation towards ecology and environment, the organization is continually reduce wastes. Some of the measures include. ; Reduction in land requirements for main plant and ash disposal areas in newer units. Capacity addition in old plants, within existing land. Reduction in water requirement for main plant and ash disposal areas through recycle and reuse of water.

Efficient use of Fuel (Coal, Natural gas and Fuel oil) and Reduction in fuel requirement through more efficient combustion and adoption of state-of-the-art technologies such as super critical boilers Waste Management Various types of wastes such as Municipal or domestic wastes, hazardous wastes, Bio-Medical wastes get generated in power plant areas, plant hospital and the townships of projects. The wastes generated are a number of solid and hazardous wastes like used oils & waste oils, grease, lead acid batteries, other lead bearing wastes (such as garrets etc. , oil & clarifier sludge, used resin, used photochemical, asbestos packing, e-waste, metal scrap, wastes, electrical scrap, empty cylinders (refillable), paper, rubber products, canteen (bio-degradable) wastes, budding material wastes, silica gel, glass wool, fused lamps & tubes, fire resistant fluids etc. These wastes fall either under hazardous wastes category or non-hazardous wastes category as per classification given in Government of Indian’s notification on Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 (as amended on 06. 1. 2000 & 20. 05. 2003). Handling and management of these wastes in NNTP stations have been discussed below. Municipal Waste Management: Domestic or municipal waste is generated in households at townships. This waste is segregated into bio-degradable and nonprogrammable wastes at source itself in different colored containers and thereafter the two types are disposed separately. Bio- degradable waste is spread uniformly in identified low lying areas and thereafter it is covered with soil for use later as manure after composting.

The segregated non bio- degradable waste is disposed off separately in other identified low lying areas and is spread out uniformly. Hazardous Waste Management: NNTP being a proactive organization, the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes are done as per the Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules 1989 (as amended in 2003) guidelines issued by Government of India for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. Scientific study on management and handling of hazardous wastes was carried out at a few NNTP stations to adopt the best practices so that there is a complete compliance with statutory requirements.

In NNTP stations, the Hazardous Wastes (Recyclable) are sold / auctioned to registered recyclers / refiners. The other hazardous wastes such as the activated carbon resins, used drums hazardous) chromium (Cry-all electrolytes, used petrol-chemicals, asbestos packing, used torch batteries, ribbon, toners / cartridges, mixed wastes (waste oil, water & cotton) filters, earth contaminated with synthetic oil (FAQ) glass used & sodium silicate, lamps & tubes etc. Fall under the category of Hazardous Wastes (Non- Recyclable).

These wastes are small in quantity and are stored in properly identified locations. As per the notification, hazardous wastes (non-recyclable) are to be sent to State Pollution Control Board (SPEC) approved common treatment storage and sates get generated from hospitals and they include urine bags, human anatomical wastes, plaster of Paris waste, empty plastic bottles of water & glucose, blood & chemical mixed cotton, blood & urines tubes etc. These wastes are segregated and are placed in buckets of different colors as per the notification for Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules.

The segregated bio-medical wastes are either disposed through the SPEC approved agency or they are treated in autoclaves before disposal into bio- medical waste disposal pits. The treated bio-medical waste is spread uniformly and overfed with 10 CM thick soil in bio-medical waste disposal pits. Land Use / Bio- diversity As a policy, NNTP lays special emphasis on land use and Bio-diversity by way of development of green belts, energy plantations, reclamation of abandoned Ash Ponds and EIA and ecological monitoring in the project areas and its surroundings.

Reclamation of Abandoned Ash ponds: The reclamation of abandoned ash pond sites is a challenging task. NNTP has reclaimed temporary ash disposal areas at some of its projects namely Ramadan, Tattler Thermal, Errand, Singulars and Unchain wrought plantation and converted these sites into lush green environments. Extensive plantations have also been undertaken on dry ash mound at NNTP-Adair. It is planned to reclaim all the abandoned ash disposal areas by plantation.

Green Belts, Forestation & Energy Plantations: What’s more, in a concerted bid to counter the growing ecological threat, NNTP is undertaking forestation programmer covering vast areas of land in and around its projects. Appropriate forestation programmer for plant, township and green belt areas of the project have been implemented at all projects. In order to enhance green cover in the areas around our projects, as a responsible corporate citizen, NNTP till date has planted more than 18 million trees at its projects throughout the country.

The forestation has not only contributed to the aesthetics but also has been serving as a ‘sink’ for the pollutants released from the station and thereby protecting the quality of ecology and environment in and around the projects. Thrust has also been given to bio-diesel plantation and around 4. 8 lake energy plants including Panorama and Catastrophe have already been planted. A pilot project for extraction of seeds from these bio-diesel plants has also been set up.

Ecological Monitoring & Scientific Studies NNTP has been a leader in the industrial sector of India in undertaking scientific studies related to thermal power generation. NNTP has pioneered several scientific studies in collaboration with national/ international institutions to develop an environmental databanks e. G. Detailed Astrologically Studies to understand the impact of ash pond lactate on ground water and Ecological Impacts Monitoring through Remote Sensing Data have been carried out at its operating stations as issued below.

Environment Impact Assessment Studies: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Studies are inevitably undertaken to evaluate potential negative impacts as well as to formulate Environmental Management Plans to overcome the identified impacts. Based on the recommendations of Environmental Impact Assessment Study and Environmental Management Plan (MEME) and the conditions Pollution Control Boards, These studies consists of impact assessment in the area of the land use, water use, socio-economic aspects, soil, hydrology, water quality, meteorology, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecology and noise.

These studies are conducted before starting the construction as well as after operation of the plant and gives comprehensive status of the environment as existed before construction as well as in the post operational stages of the project. The EIA involves stage-by-stage evaluation of various parameters which affect the environment. Based on EIA study, wherever required, specific scientific studies are also conducted to scientifically assess the likely impact of the pollutants on the sensitive flora and fauna in the surroundings, as also, to take preventive and mitigation measures, wherever required.

Apart from project specific EIA studies, Regional Environmental Assessment studies have been conducted for Integrated Development of Singulars, CORBA and Ramadan areas. Such studies are of first of their kind in India and probably very few such studies have been undertaken in other countries. Socio-economic Studies: Detailed socio-economic studies are undertaken to establish the socio-economic status of project affected persons and rehabilitation and resettlement plans are drawn in consultation with the state government.

Rehabilitation and resettlement options include land for land (subject to availability), limited Jobs with NNTP and annotators and self employment schemes. In addition, NNTP also undertakes community development activities in the surrounding villages. Ecological Monitoring Programmer: NNTP has undertaken a comprehensive Ecological Monitoring Programmer through Satellite Imagery Studies covering an area of about 25 SMS radius around some of its major plants. The studies have been conducted through National Remote Sensing Agency (MRS.), Hydrated at its power stations at Ramadan, Freak, CORBA, Vindicating, Errand and Singulars.

These studies have revealed significant environmental gains in the vicinity areas of the reject as a result of pursuing sound environment management practices. Some of these important gains which have been noticed are increase in dense forest area, increase in agriculture area, increase in average rainfall, decrease in waste land etc. In general, the studies, as such, have revealed that there is no significant adverse impact on the ecology due to the project activities in any of these stations.

Such studies conducted from time to time around a power project have established comprehensive environment status at various post operational stages of the project. Gee-hydrological Studies: NNTP has conducted several astrologically studies of the ash disposal areas at its projects (Singulars, Errand, Vindicating, CORBA, Freak and Tattler) through reputed institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology, Rookie; Indian Institutes of Technology, Iambi, Centre for Studies on Man and Environment, Calcutta. All these studies conclude that the leaching of heavy metals from ash occurs only under pH 4 or below.

In practice, the pH of the ash water is either neutral or alkaline (7 or above) and hence the leaching of heavy metals is highly unlikely. Use of Waste Products & Services -Ash Utilization Ash is the main solid waste which is put into use for various products and services. NNTP has adopted user friendly policy guidelines on ash utilization. In order to motivate facilities and incentives. These include free issue of all types of ash biz. Dry Fly Ash / Pond Ash / Bottom Ash and infrastructure facilities, wherever feasible.

Necessary help and assistance is also offered to facilitate procurement of land, supply of electricity etc from Government Authorities. Necessary techno-managerial assistance is given wherever considered necessary. Besides, NNTP uses only ash based bricks ND Fly Ash Portland poignant cement (APPC) in most of its construction activities. Demonstration projects are taken up in areas of Agriculture, Building materials, Mine filling etc. The utilization of ash and ash based products is progressively increasing as a result of the concrete efforts of these groups.

Advanced / CEO-friendly Technologies NNTP has gained expertise in operation and management of 200 MM and 500 MM Units installed at different Stations all over the country and is looking ahead for higher capacity Unit sizes with super critical steam parameters for higher efficiencies and for associated environmental gains. At Spat, higher capacity Units of size of 660 MM and advanced Steam Generators employing super critical steam parameters have already been implemented as a green field project.

Higher efficiency Combined Cycle Gas Power Plants are already under operation at all gas-based power projects in NNTP. Advanced clean coal technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (ICC) have higher efficiencies of the order of 45% as compared to about 38% for conventional plants. NNTP has initiated a techno-economic study under SOUSED / SAID for setting up a commercial scale demonstration power plant by using ICC technology. These plants can use low grade coals and have higher efficiency as compared to conventional plants.

This Lysonski et al.’s article focuses on how an organizational structure may affect the product manager -level marketing. The article is about how a firm’s structural elements can affect the marketing effort at the product manager level. It asks if the firms take into account the uncertainty of the environment while planning their product-marketing organization structure. Nowadays organizational environment is changing rapidly, and in the future the changes will be even faster. Many marketing plans will fail because of this uncertainty.

Marketing organization structure should be flexible enough to allow product manager to react quickly to market changes. When environmental uncertainty increases, the organization’s flexibility has to grow. Traditionally organization structures have been vertical, which structure is not as well equipped to changes than organizations with lateral power-sharing. So there needs to be made some changes according to organizational models (to replace the bureaucratic hierarchical organization models). When concerning a marketing plan in firms, the key agent is usually a product manager.

He/she implements and controls a plan with a management system. But in the studies (studies from 1990s) it is noticed that only 52 % of the industrial firms were satisfied with their product management concept (72 % of consumer firms were satisfied). This much unsatisfaction may be a signal, that there has been big expectations for the product management systems (implementation, coordination, structure) that have not been reached. Also the work of product managers could have sometimes been considered as a disappointment.

Organization structure The major dimensions in organization structure can be described with these three: degree of centralization of decision making, the formulation of rules and structural differentiation. Environment should affect the firm’s organizational structure. The structure-contingency paradigm offers a theory, that when uncertainty is high, the company must have a fluid structure. And also macro-organizational behavior’s empirical research has revealed that the organization structure should be dependent on the environment surrounding the firm.

The more information the managers have of their company’s stakeholders (competitors, suppliers, government etc) and sales, the more stable the company’s environment is. Less information the managers have (the more uncertain environment), harder it is to make any decisions. Not only is the understanding of the firm’s external environment important but also the understanding of internal operating environment.

This kind of understanding supports the decision making concerning external issues. Method of this study has been qualitative research. Here is one explain of the questions to measure uncertainty: “How often are you certain that a product related decision is a correct one?” The results are based on interviews of 288 product managers who reside within USA. Response rate of the survey was 55 %

Findings Product managers seem to need more authority when the marketing environment is uncertain. Authority is needed in order to adapt to the ever changing market quickly. Product managers working under high uncertainty conditions reported they had more participation. But due to this survey, they still often feel they do not have enough decision-making power. Decisions are made at a higher level which is often too slow way. But it is also noticeable that neither the other group of managers (working in certain environment) thought they had enough authority.

Concerning formalization, it seems that when environmental uncertainty arises, there are fewer rules and procedures for managers. The authors mention that the most important finding of this study is that the dimensions of organization structure in relation to manager’s activities associate with environmental uncertainty confronting the project manager.

Critique First my opinions concerning to survey. I think it is always problematic to make this kind of questionnaire because every human has one’s subjective feeling about thing so I think for example the question “How often are you certain that a product related decision is a correct one?” is very broad. People can perceive it in many different ways. And anyhow, in decision making, some people are of course more uncertain than others. So the personality should be taken into account as well.

Results In my opinion it is very logical that when it some uncertain situation and people are not so sure about their decisions, it is easier to share the authority. It gives managers more space in the situation that everything goes wrong. This survey was only made for managers working in companies in USA. If there have been product managers also from Europe, Asia and other parts, I think the results would have been different. In my opinion in USA the marketing has often the “first” role in company, but for example in northern Europe engineering is more valued. I think this would have changed at least the result concerning product managers’ authority.

“The means for the formalization score indicate that under conditions of high environmental uncertainty there seem to be significantly fewer rules and procedures for product managers.” I think this is pointing to the fact that the uncertain times there is no choice but to change the rules in some cases. I will give a radical metaphor: a war. Then people do whatever is needed to save their lives.

For me the most important finding in this survey is that product managers do not think that they have enough authority compared to their responsibility. I think this can cause some motivation problems and as it is said by Lysonski et al. (1988):” One consequence of this lack of authority may be role conflict and ambiguity for the product manager and by Lysonski et al. (1985): “Such role conflict and ambiguity can result in lower satisfaction with the job and, most importantly, lower performance”.

Environmental auditing means a systematic and documented verification process. This process obtains and evaluates evidence to determine whether an company’s management system conforms to the environmental management system criteria set by the company. It also communicates the results of this process to management (ISO, 1995). Especially, the audit process shows whether or not the management system has been properly used and maintained and whether or not the company’s environmental issues are being properly managed.

Management review

The overall management review of the management system is important for assessing the system’s ongoing adequacy, suitability and effectiveness. The management review considers the company’s performance against objectives and targets, the necessity for changes to the environmental policy or environmental objectives and targets. Effective management review is very important to continuous success of a system management. Well-orginised management reviews can ensure that the company focuses on the most important aspects of its business.

In the same time it demonstrates to the company at large that environmental management is, and will be, an organisational priority (Turner 123). Senior management commitment Senior management commitment and effective leadership are the fundamental requirements for the success of UK COAL’ mines. Because senior management of UK COAL actively supports environmental management efforts, effective environmental management ensures success within the company. The role of senior management is to give the strategic direction for the company as a whole, not just on environmental matters.

The commitment of the company to management issues is judged, by employees and middle managers, by the actions of senior management. While an environmental policy is a significant starting point, of itself, an environmental policy is only a piece of paper and will be regarded as such unless it has tangible actions and support. There is evidence that improving the environmental management of a mining operation in WELBECK is of economic benefit (UK COAL boosts its profitability).

Furthermore, environmental regulation is here to stay and bound to become more widely adopted, more stringent and better enforced. Read about benefits of environmental scanning

References

Blair, Alasdair. (2001). Environment and Business. Routledge: London. Burton, Bob. (2003). Nuclear Power, Pollution and Politics. Routledge: London.

Ekins, Paul. (2000). Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: The Prospects for Green Growth. Routledge: London. Elliott, David. (2003). Energy, Society & Environment. Routledge: New York. ‘Future Developments. ’ WELBECK website. Available at: http://www. ukcoal. com/future-developments

International Standards Organisation (ISO). (1995). International Standard ISO14004: Environmental Management Systems—General Guidelines on Principles, Systems and Supporting Techniques, ISO, Geneva.

Kingsbury, R. 1995 ‘Environmental audit in major accident assessment’, Loss Prevention Bulletin, no. 118.

McVeigh, J. C. (1999). Energy Demand and Planning. E & FN Spon: London. ‘Mining & the Environment’ WELBECK. Available at: http://ukcoal. hemscott. com/mining-environment

Peterson, D. J. (2001). New Forces at Work in Mining: Industry Views of Critical Technologies. Rand: Santa Monica, CA.

Sullivan, R. (1998) ‘Assessing the acceptability of environmental risk: A public policy perspective’, Australian Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 5, no. 2.

Turner, Royce. (2003). The British Economy in Transition: From the Old to the New? Routledge: New York. ‘Welbeck boosts its profitability’ (September 5, 2007), Proenviro. Available at: http://www. proenviro. com/UK/news/latest/archives/2007/09/uk_coal_boosts_its_profitability. htm

These social notations might be encouraged in less developed countries exposing the coo entry to more modern cultures or the distribution of and education on birth control options. 3. Early, middle, and late demographic transition map the concepts of first, SE Condo, and third world countries because early countries are usually third world and late count rye’s first. 4. The most developed countries have shapes that are more like blocks and the e least developed countries have steeper triangular shapes. 5.

If a country has a steeper triangular shape than there are more children the n those in the ‘prime of their life’ can take care of, causing the quality of life to go down. 6. The Use’s demographic pattern about 1 00 years ago would be similar to thou SE countries in the Mechanization of Agriculture/ arbitration like Mexico or Nigeria. 7 . China would be in the presidential Age because their change occurred moor e rapidly. Factors that prompt women to have few children later in life include the rise I n birth control and social equality.

Lesson 2 Responses to Questions: 1 . Population momentum is an important factor to consider when studying the demographics Of a country. The shape changes from being a steep triangle to being mostly blob click during all the generations after the change if a less developed country is given the birth rate of a more developed country. This is because the birth rates are from a more demographer hectically stable country, causing the shape to look more stable. Because of population meme mount. The change continues to affect the shape in subsequent generations.

When the average c hill bearing age is increased, the population decreased because when women start having babe later in life, they have less time to have healthy children. Conversely, when the age is decrease d, the population increased, as women have more time to have children. “First world” country’s tend to have older childbearing women do to the cultural factors of social gender equality and birth control. 2. The results from Italy were not what predicted. I thought the changes woo old have a greater effect on birth rate than they did. This is probably because the population pry amid of Italy is more stable than that of Nigeria.

Monetary incentives to employees who have ultimate children would encourage more child birth in Italy. 3. The government might want to do this because their birth rates are decree sing. This would affect their demographics because a baby boom would make Italy’s pyramid s deeper. Lesson 3 1 . Another factor that may be explored when considering the demographics o f a country is how they change when the birth and date rate are changed. 2. My prediction of how much the birth rate would have to be lowered and ho w much the death rate would have to go up to give Egypt a 0% population growth in 2050 ere far too low.

To make my prediction, I compared Egypt population growth rate in 205 O, birth rate, and death rate to other countries and then tried to gauge how much the birth rate would have to decrease and the death rate increase to achieve a 0% growth rate. Then a adjusted the values based on the results. In order to achieve a zero growth rate, Egypt would have to either lower the birth rate or increase the death rate. Obviously, decreasing the birth rate I s the logical choice as there are ethical implications of artificially increasing the death rate. However, the Egyptian government would also face ethical debates on deck reassign the birth rate if they tried to enact laws against having a certain number of children. Egg yap would need to change more than the Mexico and a lot more than the LIST to achieve a 0% p population increase in 2050 because it is further from having a 0% population growth UN deer current conditions. 4. Mexico has a higher birth rate and a lower death rate than the United State s. This is probably because the United States is further along in the transition than Mix ICC is.

The philosophy of environmentalism is grounded on the need to conserve and improve environmental integrity. The green movement is the epitome of the environmental social movement. Through activism, lobbying and education the movement seeks to involve the political class in protecting natural resource s and conserving the integrity of the ecosystem. In recognition of the human role in the efforts towards the sustainability of the ecosystem, environmentalism centers on health, human rights and ecology.

In a nutshell therefore, environmentalists are involved in the advocacy for sustainability in the management of natural resources with the goal of directing the stewardship of natural environment by changing individual behaviors and public policy. Though opinions considerably vary, environmentalists range from the reformists to the radical. In economics, consumerism is a term used to describe economic policies that supremely emphasize on consumption as a footpath to happiness.

Consumerism in its purest abstract form is founded on the belief that free choice as expressed by consumers should dictate a society’s economic structure. Many critical tests describe the phenomenon of consumerism as a tendency to strongly identify with goods or services consumed especially those products with brand names that depict and portray a status enhancing appeal. Through globalization, consumerism has necessitated the rise of consumer culture.

In the post modern society, consumerism is used a means to acquiring happiness through the accumulation of material possessions. These purchases are in excess of an individual’s basic needs. In context, consumerism is directly correlated to environmentalism in situations where the expression of consumerism through the accumulation of wealth poses a threat to environmental health. Even though consumerism is not a novel phenomenon in our societies, it’s spread during the 20th century was a product of neoliberal capitalism [1].

As these capitalistic systems continued to succeed in building an extremely wealthy populace, globalization ensured that the phenomenon of conspicuous consumption as reminiscent in the United States was spread globally such that by the dawn of the 21st century almost the whole world has espoused the consumerist culture.

Pros of Environmentalism

Environmentalism educates, creates awareness and encourages everybody to take priority in making informed decisions regarding the protection of the environment and the exploitation of natural resources.

At the core of environmentalism is the principle of sustainability. Through calls to sustainable exploitation and management of resources environmentalism has succeeded in calling for a paradigm shift to the exploitation of environmentally friendly non renewable resources. Through education and advocacy for policy changes, environmentalism has ensured that air and water pollution is reduced through strict adherence to regulatory pollution control standards for domestic, municipal and industrial pollutant sources.

The benefits of environmental integrity are reproducible in the form of increased economic growth, well being and general good health of the general population. Preservation of all vulnerable ecosystems ensures the survival of plant and animal species. Consumerism is known to increase production outputs. Increase in production output leads to the elimination of vast amounts of waste products that are not only detrimental to all life forms but also economically unhealthy as more public resources will have to be channeled towards clean up activities before these waste find there way into ecological systems.

Cons of Environmentalism

Environmentalism has grown into a tool used by select portion of environmentalists to soot down various developmental projects that are crucial for the economic development of some regions. Since environmental audits are based on predictions of the effects projects, politically driven assessors can use environmentalism to stifle development in some regions. The zeal for a cleaner and sustainable environment has led to the creation of too much fuss sometimes over very trivial matters at the expense of real issues.

Acronyms like ‘Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything (BANANA)’ and ‘not in my backyard (NIMBY)’ are some of the manifestations of the extent to which environmentalists can go. Through these simple acronyms, projects that are considerably reasonable have been abandoned, tied up in courts or vehemently opposed for no apparent reason [1]. When these happen in the rural localities, the populace there is denied any form of income generation while the environmentalists who are considerably affluent continue to enjoy huge incomes.

Pros of Consumerism

Proponents of consumerism posit that as an expression of free choice consumerism serves to promote consumer rights and protection. With just the right amount of currency an individual is able to decide ones own fate. Because consumerism is driven along brand lines, organizations and companies cannot afford to disseminate low quality or harmful products to the general consumer because just a single complaint is enough to pull down the company. In this era of global competition, manufacturers are forced to strictly adhere to very high standards of product quality and safety [1].

No one possesses the right of prescribing which goods are for basic survival and which are classified as luxurious goods and therefore not necessary for survival. This is the libertarian thought. Libertarians believe that should environmentalism be used as an anti-consumerism movement, then the ultimate outcome would be the reemergence of a totalitarian society that that is akin to the middle Ages and the ancient Rome. Read also why manufacturers encouraged consumerism

Cons of Consumerism

Consumption choices have the capacity to mediate between economic growth and environmental degradation.

In a consumerist society where the level of happiness is directly proportional to the level of consumption, increase in the level of consumption will undoubtedly necessitate an equal level of production. Increased production can lonely be achieved through larger energy inputs. At the end of the production process are even larger quantities of waste products and by products. These wastes are detrimental to environmental integrity and sustainability. Likewise, increase in production will also increase the extraction and exploitation of natural resources.

Increase in the accumulation and concentration of wastes and pollutants cause environmental damage and consequently limit economic activity. Consumerism contributes to climate change and global warming through the use of products that increase the concentration of gases into the atmosphere. Consumerism is only perpetuated in the presence of huge purchasing power. This means that products like cars which are a detriment to environmental integrity continue to increase the concentrations of GHGs into the atmosphere.

In this era of globalization and the competition for global natural resources, consumerism advances inequality in the exploitation, distribution and use of natural resources. Dominant societies like America continually use its huge purchasing powers to siphon global resources for the consumption of its own citizenry. Alternatives or Solutions to the Conflict Between Environmentalism and Consumerism. Economic globalization and the economic forces fueling consumerism should be adjusted so as to ensure global environmental protection.

Consumerism as a culture will only be beneficial if it is practiced in a way that it sustains the fragile stratum of the environment that supports the world’s population. This is only possible if production systems fully espouse genuine sustainability. Environmental audits should be done by professional non interested third parties so as to offer an objective and well informed analysis of the effects of any development project on environmental integrity. Both the public, municipal and industrial entities have an inherent responsibility to conserve the environment as they strive to meet the production needs of the consumerist society.

Summary of the Paper for Presentation

Environmentalism is driven by the need to conserve and improve environmental integrity. Through activism, lobbying and education the movement seeks to involve the political class in protecting natural resource s and conserving the integrity of the ecosystem. As a social movement environmentalism has succeeded in educating, creating awareness and encouraging people to take informed decisions when it comes to the exploitation of renewable and non renewable resources.

Through education and advocacy for policy changes, environmentalism has ensured that air and water pollution is reduced through strict adherence to regulatory pollution control standards for domestic, municipal and industrial pollutant sources. The benefits of environmental integrity are reproducible in the form of increased economic growth, well being and general good health of the general population as well as in the preservation of species diversity. However, there have been times when favorable development projects have been shot down due to overzealous objectives.

In economics, consumerism is a term used to describe economic policies that supremely emphasize on consumption as a footpath to happiness. Proponents of consumerism posit that as an expression of free choice consumerism serves to promote consumer rights and protection. This freedom to exercise choice lies at the core of a liberal and democratic society. Anti-consumerism is but a tactical retreat to totalitarianism. In the exercise of consumer freedom, there have been increasing production levels leading to accumulation of wastes onto the environment.

Consumerism is that a threat to environmental integrity unless measures are instituted to guard between the over production of goods for the consumerist culture and the conservation of the environment. The solution is sustainability.

References

1. Carlo O, Zoppoli P. “Consumerism” and environment: does consumption behavior affect environmental quality?. Paper presented at the Environment and Society Network, 8th ESA Conference 3rd -6th , September 2007, Glasgow UK.