PLANET EARTH

Most Recent Global Update

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:00:00 -0700

Global Update: June 24, 2010

Contact Marri Carrow at 202-789-0789
Download the PDF United States Risks Losing Export Market to Colombia --Canada Ratifies FTA with Colombia-- While the United States sits on the sidelines, competition for market share in Colombia heats up as U.S. competitors negotiate free trade agreements (FTA). This week, Canada ratified an FTA with Colombia and the European Union is expected to complete an agreement this summer. According to the U.S. Grains Council, the continued delay in ratifying the U.S-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) is having a profound impact on U.S. agriculture. “Despite the fact that Colombia has been the largest market for U.S. agriculture exports in South America and the third-largest market in the Western hemisphere, behind only Canada and Mexico, we have lost significant market share in just a short period,” said USGC Chairman Rick Fruth. U.S. exports of agricultural commodities declined sharply from $1.6 billion in 2008 to $907 million in 2009, a 46 percent decline.
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Global Update: June 17, 2010

Contact Marri Carrow at 202-789-0789
Download the PDF Ambassador Yeutter to Speak at USGC Annual Meeting The Honorable Clayton Yeutter, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, is scheduled to speak at the U.S. Grains Council’s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting next month. The meeting, to be held July 18-21, 2010, will celebrate the Council’s 50 years of international market development for U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products. Ambassador Yeutter’s affiliation with the Council began in the 1960s when he returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and became involved in international affairs. “I was impressed that [the Council] had already established a number of offices and had excellent people doing a superb job of getting the recipient companies interested in feed grains; not an easy task at the time,” Ambassador Yeutter said.
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Global Update: June 10, 2010

Contact Marri Carrow at 202-789-0789
Download the PDF USGC’s Spring China Crop Tour Concludes Huge US Corn Potential Opportunity exists for China to import a “huge” amount of U.S. corn to meet its current market demand, before the 2010 crop enters the market, said U.S. Grains Council Assistant Director in China Sam Niu Yishan. This observation came subsequent to the Council’s spring tour of Northeast China’s corn crop production and supply, which concluded June 3, 2010. Separated into three groups, nine experts in the international grains trading field, including members of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, traveled more than 3000 kilometers (1,864 miles) throughout the Chinese Provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin. The team also met with officials from Heilongjiang Grains Bureau and Jilin Agricultural Committee to exchange opinions on China’s crop production as well as its 2010 planting adversities. “China’s 2010 corn planting acreage is lower than expected, due to abnormal rains, snow and temperatures this spring,” said Yishan. While planting corn is more desirable due to current corn market conditions, Yishan said 2 to 3 percent of intended corn planting did not occur. Instead, farmers planted other crops such as green beans, sunflowers and corn silage.
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Global Update: June 3, 2010

Contact Marri Carrow at 202-789-0789
Download the PDF Pearson to Keynote at U.S. Grains Council 50th Anniversary Meeting The Honorable Daniel R. Pearson, vice chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission, is slated to deliver the keynote address July 20 at the U.S. Grains Council’s 50th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting. The meeting, to be held July 18-21, 2010, will celebrate the Council’s 50 years of international market development for U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and their co-products. Pearson intends to look to the future and echo the meeting’s theme, "50 Years of Leadership, Acting on Opportunity," while his remarks will be heavily influenced by the lessons learned through active U.S. agricultural engagement in the global marketplace. He will also cover the challenges that lie ahead in the U.S. feed grains sector.
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Global Update: May 27, 2010

Contact Marri Carrow at 202-789-0789

Download the PDF
Independent Study Highlights Success of USDA, FAS Market Development Programs
From the facilitation of a buyer’s conference in Southeast Asia to spearheading feeding trials in Jordan, the U.S. Grains Council aligns its strategies with goals outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) as part of a shared effort to increase export opportunities for U.S. producers. Through FAS-administered programs, such as the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, the Council is able to increase U.S. market opportunities for U.S. grains and co-products.
But just how effective are such programs and do they contribute to the U.S. farmer’s bottom line? A recent independent study led by IHS Global Insight Inc. reveals that USDA’s international market development programs have a positive and significant impact on U.S. agricultural trade and the work done by agricultural cooperatives like the U.S. Grains Council.
According to the study:
• For every additional $1 expended by government and industry on market development, U.S. food and agricultural exports increased by $35;
• Without the increased investment in market development since 2002, U.S. agricultural exports would have been $6.1 billion lower in 2009;
• Export gains associated with the programs increased the average annual level of U.S. farm cash receipts by $4.4 billion and net cash farm income by $1.5 billion. At the same time, U.S. domestic support payments were reduced by roughly $54 million annually due to higher prices from increased demand abroad, thus reducing the net cost of the programs.

Some Pollution Images

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:29:00 -0700

How to reduce pollution (air, water, and land) 93

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:26:00 -0700

Air pollution

Garbage family

Landfill and methane

Noise pollution

Smoker's hand

Pollution is a major concern

Abating pollution is an exceptionally important concern because of pollutions’ harmful effects on the person’s health, on climate and on the environment. Everybody is a stakeholder as we are all inhabitants of this one and only mother earth. Caring for the environment is caring for ourselves, loving our children and ensuring a good future for generations to come,
Everyone should therefore be personally responsible for the upkeep of the environment through cooperation and active participation in making the atmosphere pollution free. Although individual people can help to combat pollution in their own immediate environment, efficient control can be best achieved by legislation. Thus, most countries have passed a set of anti pollution measures
In general, averting the onset of pollution in any area, i.e. be it on air, water or land, could be the start, the simplest and the most rational solution to the problem. This calls for a conscientious efforts to adopt good practices or the conscious practice of good habits by the people, the passage and the proper implementation of appropriate government laws and the strict compliance especially by potential industrial pollutants.
If there are no pollutants, there will be no pollution. And yet, this is easier said than done. Certain bad habits are entrenched and industrial development somehow carries with it the concomitant burden of pollution. The cost to business and its commercial ramifications make this rather simple preventive approach, quite complicated and more difficult to implement.

Street trash

Drinking polluted water

Stop global warming

Clean earth

Happy family

Happy family, too!

How can we help?

Yet this seemingly difficult situation should not deter environmental protection advocates to pursue their dream of a more pollution free world. Kudos to Greenpeace and all similar organizations all over the world bearing for us the torch of campaign on environmental issues
Everyone can of course help through self education and good practice of a healthy living. Engaged others by raising awareness about the significance of environmental issues, their consequences and what can be done.
Every action or inaction of man in regard to her or his surroundings has an effect, good, neutral or bad, on the environment.. Let us, therefore, do our part and choose to practice good habits. What comes to mind now to serve as a reminder includes the following:

Stop smoking or at least follow the “No Smoking” sign.
Use unleaded gasoline in your cars
Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition to avoid smoke emissions
Never use open fires to dispose of wastes
Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes
Take very good care of your pets and their wastes.
Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any substance in solid, liquid or gaseous form that shall cause pollution.
Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds to avoid noise pollution.
Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns can educate the populace.
Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content
Industries should monitor their air emissions
regularly and take measures to ensure compliance with the prescribed emission standards.
Industries should strictly follow applicable government regulations on pollution control
Organic waste should be dumped in places far from residential areas
Inorganic materials such as metals, glass and plastic, but also paper, can be reclaimed and recycled

Green tips for everyday

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:01:00 -0700

Water

Fix any leaky faucets, toilets or water pipes. Even a small drip can add up to a lot of water over time.
Wash your car the natural way - wait until it rains.
Install water saving faucets.

Energy

Conserve fuel by turning down the heat at night and while you are away from your home — or install a programmable thermostat.
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Insulate your home against heat loss and periodically check insulation.
Fix air leaks with weather stripping and caulking.
In the winter, change your furnace air filters once a month. The heater uses more energy when it is full of dust.
Insulate your electric hot water heater and pipes. Do not, however, insulate gas heaters and only start insulating gas heater pipes about six inches away from the heater.
Avoid using cars — walk, cycle or use public transportation whenever possible.
Avoid anything battery operated (or use rechargables or solar rechargables if batteries are unavoidable).
Buy locally — not only is it good for the local economy, it will save energy because products haven’t traveled across the globe to get to you.

Toxics

Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives in your home, such as the ones listed in the booklet.
Furnish your home with furniture made out of natural fibres, wood, metal and glass.
Avoid the use of polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC or vinyl) in your home. The entire life cycle of products made from PVC pollutes the environment and your home. PVC items include shower curtains, flooring, even some children’s toys.
Avoid the use of aerosols.
Use castor or mineral oils to lubricate switches and hinges instead of lubricants containing solvents.
Choose water based latex paints over solvent based paints when painting your home. Never use lead based paints.
If you have a furnace, fireplace or gas heater, have them serviced regularly to prevent deadly fumes and install a carbon monoxide detector.
Ensure you have good ventilation and balanced humidity in your home to prevent the growth of mould and mildew, which can be harmful to your health.

Waste

Do not throw out your toxic household wastes, such as paint, paint thinner, and car fluids, in the garbage or down the drain. Check with your local facilities for proper disposal and avoid these products in the future.
Take your own bags to the grocery store. If you take plastic bags, use them until they are worn out.
Compost your food waste and use as nutrient rich soil for your lawn.
Avoid excess packaging.
Always use reusables mugs, lunch containers, batteries, pens, razors, etc.
Replace paper products with reusable ones (use recycled, non-chlorine bleached paper when you do have to use paper).

Environmental Issues: Health & Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:13:00 -0700

Learn about environmental factors and conditions that affect human health, what is being done nationally and internationally to mitigate those problems, and how you and your family can lower the risks to your health from environmental hazards.

Does Sunscreen Really Protect Your Skin?

Sunscreen is supposed to let you get enough sunshine for good health while shielding you from harmful rays that can cause sunburn and skin cancer. Does your sunscreen offer the protection you need, or leave you exposed to UV radiation and harmful chemicals?

Life is Short: Life Expectancy Declines for American Women
Life expectancy for American women is declining for the first time since the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918, according to a new study. Life expectancy is going down or failing to improve for nearly 1 in 5 U.S. women. Smoking and obesity are seen as major causes for the loss of life expectancy among American women.

Smoking Expected to Kill 1 Million People Annually in India by 2010
Smoking kills 900,000 people every year in India, and unless corrective action is taken soon that number will increase to 1 million smoking-related deaths annually by 2010 and beyond, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and conducted by scientists from India, Canada and the UK. According to the World Health Organization, smoking-related deaths are increasing worldwide, with the majority occurring in developing nations.
Reusing Plastic Bottles Can Pose Serious Health Hazards
Reduce, reuse and recycle is the mantra of environmentalists everywhere, but reusing plastic bottles can do more harm than good by releasing toxic chemicals that may cause a host of serious health problems. Learn the dangers of reusing plastic bottles as well as some safe alternatives.
Malnutrition, Pollution and Population Growth Spur Increase of Deadly Diseases
Global pollution combined with population growth is leading to widespread malnutrition and making billions of people more susceptible to a range of infectious diseases--from measles and influenza to malaria--according to researchers at Cornell University. Malnutrition currently kills 6 million children annually, and affects 57 percent of the world's people.
How Safe is Tap Water?
Bottled water companies would have you believe that tap water is unsafe to drink, but many experts say that most tap water is actually pretty safe--especially compared to the alternatives. How safe is tap water?
Are You Getting the Right Amount of Fluoride for Good Dental Health?
Are you getting enough--or too much--fluoride for good dental health? While the right amount of fluoride can prevent tooth decay, too much can lead to serious health issues, including eczema, osteoporosis, and even bone cancer.
Cleaning Up the Environment Could Save 13 Million Lives Annually, Report Shows
Reducing environmental risks worldwide could save 13 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization. An analysis of health conditions in 192 countries showed that every nation in the world is affected by environmental risks that lead to a variety of health problems that could be prevented.
Tropical Rainforests: Nature’s Medicine Cabinet
Tropical rainforest plants have produced thousands of lifesaving drugs, yet the potential of rainforest medicinals has only barely been tapped. Rainforest lands are disappearing at an alarming rate, due to development and deforestation, but preserving rainforests may be a life and death issue for untold numbers of people--now and in the future.
9/11 Terrorist Attack Left Rescue Workers with Chronic Health Problems
The largest study ever conducted of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers show widespread, persistent and, in many cases, chronic problems that are unlikely to improve, according to doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Global Warming May Kill Billions This Century
Writing in The Independent newspaper, James Lovelock warns that the world has already passed the point of no return with global warming, and that climate change will kill billions of people in this century as the Earth reaches a “coma'' state from which it may not recover for 100,000 years.
Common Household Chemicals Linked to Cancer
Fluorinated polymers may not be a household name, but they show up in a lot of household products—from microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers to stain-free carpets and windshield washer fluid. Unfortunately, they are also showing up in the blood of human beings all over the world after degrading to become a group of toxic chemicals called perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs).
Environmental Protection is Essential to Long-Term Economic Growth
On his first day in office, the new head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) called on all nations to put the environment at the heart of their economic policies. "Care for the environment is often portrayed as detrimental to economic growth. We hope to lay that myth to rest in the 21st century.”
Poverty and Environment - Poverty & the Environment
Consider this central paradox of U.S. environmentalism: In much of popular and political culture, the movement is dismissed as the pet cause of white, well-off Americans -- people who can afford to buy organic arugula, vacation in Lake Tahoe, and worry about the fate of the Pacific pocket mouse. And yet, the population most affected by environmental problems is the poor.

How to Recycle Different Types of Plastic

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:11:00 -0700

Dear EarthTalk: What is the deal with plastics recycling these days? Can you explain what the different numbers molded onto the bottom of plastic containers stand for? –Tom Croarkin, Fairfield, CT

The confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are especially troublesome, as different types of plastic require different processing to be reformulated and re-used as raw material. Some municipalities accept all types of plastic for recycling, while others only accept jugs, containers and bottles with certain numbers stamped on their bottoms.

Recycling by the Numbers
The symbol code we’re familiar with—a single digit ranging from 1 to 7 and surrounded by a triangle of arrows—was designed by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988 to allow consumers and recyclers to differentiate types of plastics while providing a uniform coding system for manufacturers.

The numbers, which 39 U.S. states now require to be molded or imprinted on all eight-ounce to five-gallon containers that can accept the half-inch minimum-size symbol, identify the type of plastic. According to the American Plastics Council, an industry trade group, the symbols also help recyclers do their jobs more effectively.

Easy Plastics to Recycle
The easiest and most common plastics to recycle are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and are assigned the number 1. Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine containers, and many other common consumer product containers. Once it has been processed by a recycling facility, PETE can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. It can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, other plastic bottles.

Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics. These include heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like plastic designated number 1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.

Plastics Less Commonly Recycled
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly used in plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, vinyl dashboards, and even some baby bottle nipples, gets number 3. Like numbers 4 (wrapping films, grocery and sandwich bags, and other containers made of low-density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene containers used in Tupperware, among other products), few municipal recycling centers will accept it due to its very low rate of recyclability.

Another Useful Plastic to Recycle
Number 6 goes on polystyrene (Styrofoam) items such as coffee cups, disposable cutlery, meat trays, packing “peanuts” and insulation. It is widely accepted because it can be reprocessed into many items, including cassette tapes and rigid foam insulation.

Hardest Plastics to Recycle
Last, but far from least, are items crafted from various combinations of the aforementioned plastics or from unique plastic formulations not commonly used. Usually imprinted with a number 7 or nothing at all, these plastics are the most difficult to recycle and, as such, are seldom collected or recycled. More ambitious consumers can feel free to return such items to the product manufacturers to avoid contributing to the local waste stream, and instead put the burden on the makers to recycle or dispose of the items properly.

Recycle

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:40:00 -0800

* Get Ready to Recycle--Set up your household to make recycling easy. Keep recycling waste containers or baskets in strategic locations in your house along with ordinary waste baskets. It is easier to toss recyclables in a separate container than it is to rummage through the trash later to separate everything. Use the same types of containers for recyclable trash as you would for any other trash throughout the house.

Having only one container for recyclable trash in the kitchen or garage is not likely to foster participation in household recycling, because few people would want to walk to the other end of house to dispose of every piece of paper.

Bathrooms can generate a fair amount of recyclable waste, shampoo bottles, empty facial tissue boxes, and empty toilet paper tubes.

Any home office or room where students study is a place where a container for recyclable material would be useful. Alternately, a bathroom recycle container of sufficient size could be used to accommodate the recyclable waste generated in nearby rooms.

Find a place in or near the kitchen for either an organic waste tote (for carrying food waste out to the compost bin) or for a worm compost bin as described below. Some of the companies listed here in Waste Prevention World manufacture organic waste totes as big as a few gallons, and as small as 1.5 liters designed for your kitchen counter top. Alternately, you can just use a diaper pail or any container with a lid.

* Curbside Pickup--If you have curbside recycling pickup, you might be surprised at the variety of things they recycle. To find out what they accept, look on the Web or in the government section of your telephone directory for your City or County public works refuse department. The following is a list of items commonly accepted, but check first. Your curbside pickup might accept fewer items, or more items than these:
o Metal
+ Steel and Aluminum Cans--Beverage cans, food cans, aerosol cans.
+ Clean Aluminum Food Packaging--Pie plates, dinner trays, foil.
o Paper--newspaper, magazines, catalogs, phone books, bulk mail, office paper, computer paper, envelopes, gift wrapping paper, cardboard, food boxes, shoeboxes, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, paper egg cartons.
o Plastic--Plastic that bears the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) plastic resin codes#1 plastic recycling symbolor#2 plastic recycling symbol.
* Recycling Centers--Find the nearest recycling centers in your area for many if not all of the items below at Earth 911, and at the additional links as indicated below. Here are the types of household items that can be recycled fairly conveniently in most parts of California:
o Batteries--Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, Battery Drop-off Locator.
o Demolition Debris--The Construction and Demolition Debris Recyclers Database lists places where you can bring demolition debris for recycling.
o Electronics--The Electronic Product Management Directory is a database of facilities that collect specific types of electronic equipment and equipment related parts for reuse or recycling. Please note that televisions and cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitors should not be placed in the household trash.
o Hazardous Waste--Household hazardous waste that must be recycled or disposed at household hazardous waste collection facilities or other authorized collection facilities include, acids, antifreeze, household batteries, car batteries, brake and transmission fluid, household cleaners, pool chemicals, gasoline and other flammables, mercury thermometers, motor oil, oil-based or latex paint, paint thinners, pesticides and herbicides, barbecue style propane tanks, solvents.
+ Fluorescent lamps and tubes can be taken to household hazardous waste collection facilities. They can also be placed in household trash for now in California. However, after February 9, 2006, California households and some businesses will no longer be allowed to dispose fluorescent lamps and tubes in the household trash. Most businesses in California are already prohibited from disposing of fluorescent lamps and tubes in the trash. Read more.
+ Home generated medical waste, such as pharmaceuticals and syringes might be accepted at your household hazardous waste facility, but check first. Visit the Waste Prevention Information exchange to learn what other options you have for home generated medical waste.
+ Other Hazardous Waste disposal and recycling locations can be found at Earth 911.If this option does not work, ask your Local Contact for Waste Prevention and Recycling.
o Metal
+ Steel and Aluminum Cans—Beverage cans, food cans, aerosol cans.
+ Clean Aluminum Food Packaging—Pie plates, dinner trays, foil.
o Motor Oil--Find used motor oil and oil filter recycling locations using CIWMB’s used motor oil recycling page.
o Paper--newspaper, magazines, catalogs, phone books, bulk mail, office paper, computer paper, envelopes, gift wrapping paper, cardboard, food boxes, shoeboxes, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, paper egg cartons.
o Plastic--Plastic that bears the #1 plastic recycling symbolor#2 plastic recycling symbolplastic resin codes, also called SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry) codes.

* Recycle On Your Own
o Food Waste--When we count only the uneaten portions of meals and waste from food preparation, such as trimming produce, Americans throw away 163 pounds of food per person per year. (See Estimating and Addressing America's Food Loses, from the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Portable Document Format (PDF), 104 KB.)
+ Compost--To learn how to compost, see the CIWMB home composting page or contact your city or county government. If you prefer to compost in a bin instead of an open pile, or if compost bins are required in you community, see the CIWMB compost bin resource list.
+ Vermicomposting--Get a worm bin and some worms and practice vermicomposting. Download The Worm Guide (PDF, 1.2 MB) to read all you need to know about starting a small worm bin.
o Yard Waste--Leaves and grass account for about 8% of the waste discarded to landfills in California. But in a landfill they generate significantly more greenhouse gas than they would in compost piles or bins.
+ Compost--To learn how to compost on see the CIWMB home composting page or contact your city or county government. If you prefer to compost in a bin instead of an open pile, or if compost bins are required in you community, see the CIWMB compost bin resource list.
+ Grass Cycle--What could be easier? Set your mower to cut a little long, and leave the clippings on the lawn. No bags to empty when you mow, reduce the water needed on your lawn, reduce the need to fertilize and thereby reduce toxic runoff to creeks and lakes via the storm drains. Read more. Alternately, compost your grass clippings or use them as mulch directly from the lawn mower bag, and be miserly with your watering and fertilizing.

Substitute Reusable Items for Consumables

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:38:00 -0800

Use towels, rags, and sponges for most cleaning and wipe-ups. Keep a large enough supply of rags and wash cloths so you will always have some clean ones. Even if you need to buy a supply of small towels and wash cloths to get yourself started, the initial cost will be quickly offset by your reduced need to buy disposable substitutes, and you might think they work better than disposables. (See the Reuse Products page.) If you frequently need a damp rag or wash cloth close at hand, just find an ordinary old plastic bottle or old spray bottle and fill it with your own home-made cleaning solution. You could mix up a mild cleaner of one part vinegar to seven parts water, or something much stronger with diluted alcohol, bleach, or ammonia. (Do not mix bleach and ammonia. The combination creates an asphyxiating gas.) See the Cleaning and Custodial Supply page of the Waste Prevention Information Exchange for ideas.
Use cloth napkins. Buy a large supply of inexpensive cotton napkins to use every day, the initial cost will be quickly offset by your reduced need to buy disposable paper substitutes. See the Reuse Products page.
Invest in a set of cloth grocery bags. They hold more, are easier to carry, protect glass jars and bottles better, last seemingly forever, and save energy and resources. Even if you recycle your paper or plastic grocery bags, you consume some energy and resources. See the Reuse Products page.
Collect and use plastic food storage containers. More durable than plastic bags, leak less, reduce odors in the refrigerator, keep moths out of dry goods in the cupboard.
Invest in rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. You can run almost anything, from flashlights to digital cameras, with rechargeable batteries. In the long run it is cheaper and better for the environment..

Reuse

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:37:00 -0800

Find uses for things you discard. Consult your phone directory to see if your community has a reuse center. Other options for reuse are as indicated below:
- Computers
  - Consult the Electronic Products Management Directory.
- Demolition Waste from Remodeling and Construction
  - Consult the Construction and Demolition Debris Recyclers Directory for facilities that collect specific types of construction and demolition debris for reuse or recycling.
- Electronics
  - Consult the Electronic Products Management Directory.
- Everything Else
  - List your reusable items in a Materials Exchange.
  - Consult the CIWMB Reuse Website.
  - Donate to charity.

Reduce

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:36:00 -0800

Packaging
- Buy food in large quantities or in bulk. Grains and cereal are especially easy to purchase this way. Avoiding small individual packages of any product or consumable greatly reduces the amount of paper or boxboard that you buy and throw away. Of course, don't buy large quantities if the food would spoil before it is used.
- Vote with your dollars. When comparing products of different manufacturers, consider giving preference to those that use less packaging.
Unwanted Mail
- Fight back! You can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive.

Waste Prevention and Recycling at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:35:00 -0800

The waste management hierarchy--reduce, reuse, recycle--actually expresses the order of importance of these ideas:

Reduce needless consumption and the generation of waste.
Reuse any item that can be reused or give it to a person or charity that can reuse it.
Recycle whatever discards remain if you can and only dispose what you must.

Please keep in mind that recycling is your least preferred option. Reducing the generation of waste so there is no waste left to recycle would be the ideal. Make it your goal. Also keep in mind the concept of "cycle" in the term "recycle". For there to be a complete cycle, the things you send to be recycled must come back to you. So, look for recycled content products whenever you buy, otherwise you are not truly recycling.
The terms reuse and recycle have specific meanings, but they are often confused, switched, and misused, especially in commerce. Just so you know which is which, you might want to review the definitions of these terms on the definitions page.

What Causes Earthquakes: Information about Faults, Plate Tectonics and Earth Structure

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:10:00 -0800

Q: What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?
Ans: An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up and the rocks slips suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. An EQ occurs when plates grind and scrape against each other. In California there are two plates the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate consists of most of the Pacific Ocean floor and the California Coast line. The North American Plate comprises most the North American Continent and parts of the Atlantic Ocean floor. These primary boundary between these two plates is the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault is more than 650 miles long and extends to depths of at least 10 miles. Many other smaller faults like the Hayward (Northern California) and the San Jacinto (Southern California) branch from and join the San Andreas Fault Zone. The Pacific Plate grinds northwestward past the North American Plate at a rate of about two inches per year. Parts of the San Andreas Fault system adapt to this movement by constant "creep" resulting in many tiny shocks and a few moderate earth tremors. In other areas where creep is NOT constant, strain can build up for hundreds of years, producing great EQs when it finally releases.
Q: Can we cause earthquakes? Is there any way to prevent earthquakes?
Ans: Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations in the United States, Japan, and Canada. The cause was injection of fluids into deep wells for waste disposal and secondary recovery of oil, and the use of reservoirs for water supplies. Most of these earthquakes were minor. The largest and most widely known resulted from fluid injection at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, Colorado. In 1967, an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 followed a series of smaller earthquakes. Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established. (Nicholson, Craig and Wesson, R.L., 1990, Earthquake Hazard Associated with Deep Well Injection--A Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1951, 74 p.) Other human activities, even nuclear detonations, have not been linked to earthquake activity. Energy from nuclear blasts dissipates quickly along the Earth's surface. Earthquakes are part of a global tectonic process that generally occurs well beyond the influence or control of humans. The focus (point of origin) of earthquakes is typically tens to hundreds of miles underground. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. We cannot prevent earthquakes; however, we can significantly mitigate their effects by identifying hazards, building safer structures, and providing education on earthquake safety.

Q: What do we know about the interior of the Earth?
Ans:
Five billion years ago the Earth was formed by a massive conglomeration of space materials. The heat energy released by this event melted the entire planet, and it is still cooling off today. Denser materials like iron (Fe) sank into the core of the Earth, while lighter silicates (Si), other oxygen (O) compounds, and water rose near the surface. The earth is divided into four main layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. The core is composed mostly of iron (Fe) and is so hot that the outer core is molten, with about 10% sulfur (S). The inner core is under such extreme pressure that it remains solid. Most of the Earth's mass is in the mantle, which is composed of iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and oxygen (O) silicate compounds. At over 1000 degrees C, the mantle is solid but can deform slowly in a plastic manner. The crust is much thinner than any of the other layers, and is composed of the least dense calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) aluminum-silicate minerals. Being relatively cold, the crust is rocky and brittle, so it can fracture in earthquakes. (Univ. of Nevada).
Q: What are plate tectonics?
Ans: Plate tectonics is the continual slow movement of the tectonic plates, the outermost part of the earth. This motion is what causes earthquakes and volcanoes and has created most of the spectacular scenery around the world.
Q: What is a fault and what are the different types?
Ans: A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other. This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Most faults produce repeated displacements over geologic time. During an earthquake, the rock on one side of the fault suddenly slips with respect to the other. The fault surface can be horizontal or vertical or some arbitrary angle in between.
Earth scientists use the angle of the fault with respect to the surface (known as the dip) and the direction of slip along the fault to classify faults. Faults which move along the direction of the dip plane are dip-slip faults and described as either normal or reverse, depending on their motion. Faults that move horizontally are known as strike-slip faults and are classified as either right-lateral or left-lateral. Faults, which show both dip-slip and strike-slip motion are known as oblique-slip faults.
The following definitions are adapted from The Earth by Press and Siever.
Normal fault- a dip-slip fault in which the block above the fault has moved downward relative to the block below. This type of faulting occurs in response to extension and is often observed in the Western United States Basin and Range Province and along oceanic ridge systems.
Thrust fault- a dip-slip fault in which the upper block, above the fault plane, moves up and over the lower block. This type of faulting is common in areas of compression, such as regions where one plate is being sub ducted under another as in Japan. When the dip angle is shallow, a reverse fault is often described as a thrust fault.
Strike-slip fault - a fault on which the two blocks slide past one another. The San Andreas Fault is an example of a right lateral fault.
A left-lateral strike-slip fault is one on which the displacement of the far block is to the left when viewed from either side.
A right-lateral strike-slip fault is one on which the displacement of the far block is to the right when viewed from either side.
Q: At what depth do earthquakes occur?
Ans: Earthquakes occur in the crust or upper mantle, which ranges from the earth's surface to about 800 kilometers deep (about 500 miles).
Q: What is "surface rupture" in an earthquake?
Ans: Surface rupture occurs when movement on a fault deep within the earth breaks through to the surface. NOT ALL earthquakes result in surface rupture.
Q: What is the relationship between faults and earthquakes? What happens to a fault when an earthquake occurs?
Ans: Earthquakes occur on faults - strike-slip earthquakes occur on strike-slip faults, normal earthquakes occur on normal faults, and thrust earthquakes occur on thrust or reverse faults. When an earthquake occurs on one of these faults, the rock on one side of the fault slips with respect to the other. The fault surface can be vertical, horizontal, or at some angle to the surface of the earth. The slip direction can also be at any angle.
Q: How do we know a fault exists?
Ans:

if the EQ left surface evidence, such as surface ruptures or fault scarps (cliffs made by EQs).
if a large EQ has broken the fault since we began instrumental recordings in 1932.
if the faults produces small EQs that we can record with the denser seismographic network established in the 1970s.

Q: Where can I go to see the/a fault?
Ans: The closest fault depends on where you live. Some earthquakes produce spectacular fault scarps, and others are completely buried beneath the surface. Sometimes you may not even know that you are looking at a fault scarp.
Q: What does an earthquake feel like?
Ans: Generally, during an earthquake you first will feel a swaying or small jerking motion, then a slight pause, followed by a more intense rolling or jerking motion. The duration of the shaking you feel depends on the earthquake's magnitude, your distance from the epicenter, and the geology of the ground under your feet. Shaking at a site with soft sediments, for example, can last 3 times as long as shaking at a stable bedrock site such as one composed of granite. If the site is in a building, then the height of the building and type of material it is constructed from are also factors. For minor earthquakes, ground shaking usually lasts only a few seconds. Strong shaking from a major earthquake usually lasts less than one minute. For example, shaking in the 1989 magnitude 7.1 Loma Prieta (San Francisco) earthquake lasted 15 seconds; for the 1906 magnitude 8.3 San Francisco earthquake it lasted about 40 seconds. Shaking for the 1964 magnitude 9.2 Alaska earthquakes, however, lasted three minutes.
Q: Foreshocks, aftershocks - what is the difference?
Ans: "Foreshock" and "aftershock" are relative terms. Foreshocks are earthquakes, which precede larger earthquakes in the same location. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes, which occur in the same general area during the days to years following a larger event or "mainshock", defined as within 1-2 fault lengths away and during the period of time before the background seismicity level has resumed. As a general rule, aftershocks represent minor readjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the main shock. The frequency of these aftershocks decreases with time. Historically, deep earthquakes (>30km) are much less likely to be followed by aftershocks than shallow earthquakes. (Univ. of Washington).
Q: Two earthquakes occurred on the same day. Are they related?
Ans: Often, people wonder if an earthquake in Alaska may have triggered an earthquake in California; or if an earthquake in Chile is related to an earthquake that occurred a week later in Mexico. Over these distances, the answer is no. Even the Earth's rocky crust is not rigid enough to transfer stress fields efficiently over thousands of miles.

Earthquake Preparedness

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:29:00 -0800

Q: During an Earth Quake (EQ), should you head for the doorway?
Ans: Yes, only if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe. In modern homes, doorways are no stronger than any other parts of the house and usually have doors that will swing and can injure you. You are safer practicing the duck, cover, and hold under a sturdy piece of furniture.
Q: What emergency supplies do I need?
Ans:

Fire extinguisher
Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking.
Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies.
First-aid kit and handbook.
Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries.
Portable radio with extra batteries.
Water for each family member for at least 3 days (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day) and purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources.
Canned and package foods, enough for several days and MECHANICAL can opener. Extra food for pets if necessary.
Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out of the reach of children).
Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposal.

Q: How can I plan ahead for an Earth Quake?
Ans:

Make sure each member of your family knows what to do no matter where they are when EQs occur:
- Establish a meeting place where you can all reunite afterward.
- Find out about EQ plans developed by children's school or day care.
- Remember transportation may be disrupted, keep some emergency supplies--food, liquids, and comfortable shoes, for example--at work.
Know where you gas, electric and water main shutoffs are and how to turn them off if there is a leak or electrical short. Make sure older members of the family can shut off utilities.
Locate your nearest fire and police stations and emergency medical facility.
Talk to your neighbors--how could they help you, or you them after an EQ.
Take Red Cross First Aid and CPR Training Course.

Q: What should I do during an EQ?
Ans:

If you are indoors--stay there! (Get under a desk or table and hang on to it, or move into a hallway or get against an inside wall. Stay clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. Get out of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). Do not run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.
If you are outside--, get into the open, away from building, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.
If you are driving--stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. Do not stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. Stay inside your car until the shaking stops. When you resume driving watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road at bridge approaches.
If you are in a mountainous area--watch out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes.

Q: Things Not to do during an EQ?
Ans:

Do not turn on the gas again if you turned it off; let the gas company do it.
Do not use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, appliances until you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may create a spark that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion and fire.
Do not use your telephone, except for a medical or fire emergency. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response. If the phone doesn't work send someone for help.
Do not expect firefighters, police or paramedics to help you. They may not be available.

Q: What can I expect in my house when an EQ occurs? How do I identify it? What can be done?
Ans: The contents of your home may be damaged and can be dangerous:

Shaking can make light fixtures fall, refrigerators and other large items move across the floor, and bookcases and television sets topple over. Identify: Look around your house for things that could fall or move.
Ask yourself if your cupboard doors fly open (allowing dishes to shatter on the floor)

What Can Be Done: You can install door latches, braces and fasteners to fix most of these hazards yourself.
Q: What do I do after an earthquake?
Ans:

Wear sturdy shoes to avoid injury from broken glass and debris. Expect aftershocks.
Check for injuries (if a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound, use clean gauze or cloth if available; If a person is not breathing administer CPR; Do not attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in further danger of injury; cover injured persons with blankets to keep warm; seek medical help for serious injuries.
Check for hazards (Fire hazards--put out fires in your home or neighborhood immediately, call for help; Gas leaks--shut off main gas valve only if you suspect a leak because of broken pipes or odor; Damaged electrical wiring--Shut off power at the control box if there is any danger to house wiring; Downed or damaged utility lines--do not touch downed power lines or any objects in contact with them; spills--clean up any spilled medicines, drugs, or other harmful materials such as bleach, lye, gas; downed or damaged chimneys--Approach with caution--don't use damaged chimney (it could start fire or let poisonous gases into your house; fallen items--beware of items tumbling off shelves when you open doors of closets and cupboards; (4) check food and water supplies--Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass; If power is off, plan meals to use up foods that will spoil quickly or frozen foods (food in the freezer should be good for at least a couple of days; Don't light your kitchen stove if you suspect a gas leak; Use BBQ or camp stoves, outdoors only for emergency cooking; If your water is off you can drink supplies from water heaters, melted ice cubes or canned vegetables (Avoid drinking water from swimming pools or especially spas--it may have too many chemicals in it to be safe.) .

Q: What are the steps to EQ safety/awareness?
Ans:

Estimate what EQ of what size are likely to occur (geology).
Given the EQ size we then estimate what the shaking will be (seismology).
Given the shaking, we estimate the response of different types of buildings (EQ engineering). Only with all these steps can we take steps as society to enact bldg. codes and retrofitting programs to make our community safer.

Q: What are part of the earthquake Supplies and Equipment Checklist?
Ans: When organizing supplies for an earthquake, remember that you need to get to them after an earthquake has turned your house into mess. Store supplies in an easy to find location that has a minimal chance of being buried under falling objects. If you are short on space, a large trashcan makes an excellent storage container. If you live in an apartment, the container can be hidden under a decorative tablecloth. Earthquakes can happen at any time. Are you prepared right now? Have you rotated your food supplies in the last six months? If not, make time on your calendar. Do it now!

Work Gloves.
Ax / Maul (min. 6 lb.).
Shovel (flat head and pointed).
Broom.
Hammer and Nails.
Screwdrivers.
Crowbar or Claw Tool (36" or Longer).
Plastic Sheeting Rolls (4 Mil. IO' X 25').
Plastic Garbage Bags (Heavy Duty, 30 Gal. or Larger).
Small and Large Plastic Bags.
Coils of Rope 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" (25' - 50').
Coil of Wire.
Tent (Family or Tube Type).
Tarp (PVC or Canvas, Minimum Two, 8' X IO').
Sleeping Bags, Blanket, or Space Blanket.
Cheese Cloth (To Strain Particles From Water).
CASH MONEY (Small Denominations & Coin).
Dry Food.
Water.
Clothing.
Walking Shoes and Socks Local Road Map.
Fire Extinguisher (We recommend a dry chemical type with a minimum size rating of 2A -IOBC, with an earthquake restraining strap, a hose type nozzle, and a metal head).
Compass.
Flashlight With Batteries, Chemical Light Sticks and Matches, In Waterproof Container.
Small Radio (Battery Powered Portable).
Entertainment Pack - Family Photos, Notebooks, Literature, and Games.

Q: What are the sanitation supplies one need to carry during the EQ?
Ans.

Plastic Bags - heavy duty garbage can size and smaller zip-lock types
Powdered Chlorine Lime - (proper storage is required, it is an oxidizer and it is corrosive)
Portable Camp Toilet with Chemicals
Tissue Paper
Handi-wipes, Wet-N-Drys, etc. for water free cleanup
Toilet Supplies - Towelettes, Shampoo, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Sanitary Napkins, Etc.
Insect Sprays
- Put on a sturdy shoes and work gloves for protection against glass or other debris.
- Check exterior, roof and chimney for structural damage.
- Stay away from fallen or damaged electrical wires. They could still be alive. Do not carry lanterns or torches that could start a fire.
- If you have any doubts about safety, have your home inspected by a professional before entering.
- Keep a battery operated radio with you to hear any emergency updates
- Check for injured or trapped persons. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
- Extinguish all open flames.
- Until phone service is fully restored, use the phone only for a life-threatening emergency.
- Check utilities and appliances:
- Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids.
- Try to protect your home from further damage. Open windows and doors. Patch holes.
- Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. The mud left behind by floodwaters can contain sewage and chemicals.
- If your basement is flooded, pump it out gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid damage. The walls may collapse and the floor may buckle if the basement is pumped out while the surrounding ground is still waterlogged.
- Throw out food, cosmetics and medicines that have come into contact with flood waters.

	Strengthen the connections between ceilings, walls and floors using the appropriate hardware (image at right). Inspect all exposed framing in garages, basements, porches and patio covers. Strengthen this where necessary. Brick and Masonry Facades: Check all brick, masonry and stone facades to make sure they are securely attached to your home. Consult a structural engineer for advice on how to do this.
Chimneys:
	One of the most common types of damage suffered in earthquakes is toppled chimneys. This becomes extremely dangerous when bricks penetrate the roof and fall to the rooms below. Check the chimney for loose mortar, flue or bricks. Reinforce the ceiling surrounding the chimney with 3/4" plywood nailed to the beams. This will provide protection from failing bricks that might break through the roof.

Windows:

Inspect all large plate glass windows to make sure they are safety glass.
Consider adding a safety film to all windows. This does not prevent the window from breaking, but it does keep the glass from falling and injuring loved ones.
Homes that have been framed in wood are generally quite resistant to earthquake damage. Watching tall trees in a strong wind storm demonstrates this resistance. It is unlikely that conventionally-frame houses will collapse. This is the case only if the home remains on its foundations and the roof, ceiling and walls remain connected.

Foundation: The majority of residential structural damage is caused by homes sliding off their foundations during major earthquakes.

Check your house and garage for foundation bolts. These bolts secure the wood structure to the concrete foundation. They are placed approximately six feet apart along the sill plate and should look like the one illustrated.
Using a hammer drill and a carbide bit, drill a hole through the sill plate into the foundation. Place these holes every six feet. Drop a 1/2" X 8" expansion bolt into the holes and finish by tightening the nut and washer.

Cripple Walls:

Inspect the vertical studs that extend from the foundation to the first floor of your home. These are called cripple walls. If they are exposed on the inside, they could buckle in the severe ground motion that accompanies many large earthquakes.
Strengthen the cripple walls by nailing plywood sheeting to the vertical studs.
Inspect the garage for exposed cripple walls. This is particularly important if the garage is supporting living quarters.

Mobile Homes:

It is relatively easy for a mobile home to be thrown off its supports during an earthquake, even those that produce relatively minor shaking. Leave the wheels on the coach to limit its fall. Check the undercarriage to make sure that it has been securely tied to the foundation.
Tie double-wide mobile homes together. The two halves generally are of different weights. Because of this, they move differently in an earthquake and can easily pull apart.
Seismic bracing systems are commercially available. Be sure that any system you are interested in has been CSA (Canadian Standards Association) certified and inspected by the appropriate local authorities.

Ans:

Before entering a damaged building:

Upon entering:

Check gas supply:

Check electricity:

Check sewage and water lines:

Checking Electrical Appliances

Cleaning Up:

Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, or other flammable liquids.
Try to protect your home from further damage. Open windows and doors. Patch holes.
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. The mud left behind by floodwaters can contain sewage and chemicals.
If your basement is flooded, pump it out gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid damage. The walls may collapse and the floor may buckle if the basement is pumped out while the surrounding ground is still waterlogged.
Throw out food, cosmetics and medicines that have come into contact with flood waters.

Earthquake Facts & Statistics

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:23:00 -0800

Fact Sheet 01: Frequency of Occurrence of Earthquakes

Descriptor	Magnitude	Average Annually
Great	8 and higher	1 ¹
Major	7 - 7.9	17 ²
Strong	6 - 6.9	134 ²
Moderate	5 - 5.9	1319 ²
Light	4 - 4.9	13,000 (estimated)
Minor	3 - 3.9	130,000 (estimated)
Very Minor	2 - 2.9	1,300,000 (estimated)
¹ Based on observations since 1900. ² Based on observations since 1990.

Fact Sheet 02: Year-wise description of Earth Quakes

Number of Earthquakes Worldwide for 2000 - 2005. Located by the US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center
Magnitude	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
8.0 to 9.9	1	1	0	1	2	1
7.0 to 7.9	14	15	13	14	14	9
6.0 to 6.9	158	126	130	140	140	116
5.0 to 5.9	1345	1243	1218	1203	1509	1307
4.0 to 4.9	8045	8084	8584	8462	10894	10264
3.0 to 3.9	4784	6151	7005	7624	7937	5782
2.0 to 2.9	3758	4162	6419	7727	6317	3249
1.0 to 1.9	1026	944	1137	2506	1344	20
0.1 to 0.9	5	1	10	134	103	0
No Magnitude	3120	2938	2937	3608	2939	642

Total	22256	23534	27454	31419	* 31199	* 21390

Estimated Deaths	231	21357	1685	33819	284010	1957

Fact Sheet 03: Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900

Location	Date UTC	Magnitude	Coordinates		Reference
1.	Chile	1960 05 22	9.5	-38.24	-73.05
2.	Prince William Sound, Alaska	1964 03 28	9.2	61.02	-147.65
3.	Off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra	2004 12 26	9.0	3.30	95.78
4.	Kamchatka	1952 11 04	9.0	52.76	160.06
5.	Off the Coast of Ecuador	1906 01 31	8.8	1.0	-81.5
6.	Northern Sumatra, Indonesia	2005 03 28	8.7	2.08	97.01
7.	Rat Islands, Alaska	1965 02 04	8.7	51.21	178.50
8.	Andrean of Islands, Alaska	1957 03 09	8.6	51.56	-175.39
9.	Assam - Tibet	1950 08 15	8.6	28.5	96.5
10.	Kuril Islands	1963 10 13	8.5	44.9	149.6
11.	Banda Sea, Indonesia	1938 02 01	8.5	-5.05	131.62
12.	Chile-Argentina Border	1922 11 11	8.5	-28.55	-70.50

Fact Sheet 04: Largest and Deadliest Earthquakes by Year 1990 - 2005

	Largest Earthquakes				Deadliest Earthquake
Year	Date	Magnitude	Fatalities	Region	Date	Magnitude	Fatalities	Region
2005	03/28	8.7	1,313	Northern Sumatra, Indonesia	03/28	8.7	1,313	Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
2004	12/26	9.0	283,106	Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra	12/26	9.0	283,106	Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra
2003	09/25	8.3	0	Hokkaido, Japan Region	12/26	6.6	31,000	Southeastern Iran
2002	11/03	7.9	0	Central Alaska	03/25	6.1	1,000	Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan
2001	06/23	8.4	138	Near Coast of Peru	01/26	7.7	20,023	India
2000	11/16	8.0	2	New Ireland Region, P.N.G.	06/04	7.9	103	Southern Sumatera, Indonesia
1999	09/20	7.7	2,297	Taiwan	08/17	7.6	17,118	Turkey
1998	03/25	8.1	0	Balleny Islands Region	05/30	6.6	4,000	Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border Region
1997	10/14	7.8	0	South of Fiji Islands	05/10	7.3	1,572	Northern Iran
	12/05	7.8	0	Near East Coast of Kamchatka
1996	02/17	8.2	166	Irian Jaya Region Indonesia	02/03	6.6	322	Yunnan, China
1995	07/30	8.0	3	Near Coast of Northern Chile	01/16	6.9	5,530	Kobe, Japan
	10/09	8.0	49	Near Coast of Jalisco Mexico
1994	10/04	8.3	11	Kuril Islands	06/20	6.8	795	Colombia
1993	08/08	7.8	0	South of Mariana Islands	09129	6.2	9,748	India
1992	12/12	7.8	2,519	Flores Region, Indonesia	12/12	7.8	2,519	Flores Region, Indonesia
1991	04/22	7.6	75	Costa Rica	10/19	6.8	2,000	Northern India
	12/22	7.6	0	Kuril Islands
1990	07/16	7.7	1,621	Luzon, Philippine Islands	06/20	7.4	50,000	Iran

Fact Sheet 05: List of Some Significant Earthquakes in India

Date	Epicenter		Location	Magnitude
	Lat( Deg N )	Long( Deg E )
1819 Jun 16	23.6	68.6	Kutch,Gujarat	8.0
1869 Jan 10	25	93	Near Cachar, Assam	7.5
1885 May 30	34.1	74.6	Sopor, J&K	7.0
1897 Jun 12	26	91	Shillongplateau	8.7
1905 Apr 04	32.3	76.3	Kangra, H.P	8.0
1918 Jul 08	24.5	91.0	Srimangal, Assam	7.6
1930 Jul 02	25.8	90.2	Dhubri, Assam	7.1
1934jan 15	26.6	86.8	Bihar-Nepalborder	8.3
1941 Jun 26	12.4	92.5	Andaman Islands	8.1
1943 Oct 23	26.8	94.0	Assam	7.2
1950 Aug 15	28.5	96.7	Arunachal Pradesh-China Border	8.5
1956 Jul 21	23.3	7.0	Anjar, Gujarat	7.0
1967 Dec 10	17.37	73.75	Koyna, Maharashtra	6.5
1975 Jan 19	32.38	78.49	Kinnaur, Hp	6.2
1988 Aug 06	25.13	95.15	Manipur-Myanmar Border	6.6
1988 Aug 21	26.72	86.63	Bihar-Nepal Border	6.4
1991 Oct 20	30.75	78.86	Uttarkashi, Up Hills	6.6
1993 Sep 30	18.07	76.62	Latur - Osmanabad, Maharashtra	6.3
1997 May 22	23.08	80.06	Jabalpur, MP	6.0
1999 Mar 29	30.41	79.42	Champoli, UP	6.8
2001 Jan 26	23.40	70.28	Bhuj, Gujarat	6.9

Fact Sheet 06: Seismic Zonation Map of India

Seismic Zonation map of a country is a guide to the seismic status of a region and its susceptibility to earthquakes. India has been divided into five zones with respect to severity of earthquakes. Of these, zone v is seismically the most active where earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more could occur recent strong motion observations around the world have revolutionized thinking on the design of engineering structures, placing emphasis also on the characteristics of the structures themselves it should be realized that in the case of shield type earthquakes, historic data are insufficient to define zones because recurrence intervals are much longer than the recorded human history this may often give a false sense of security. Occurrence of the damaging earthquake at Latur, falling in zone I is a typical example of this situation.

Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:17:00 -0800

What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?

An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the sides of the fault together. Stress builds up and the rocks slips suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. An EQ occurs when plates grind and scrape against each other. In California there are two plates the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate consists of most of the Pacific Ocean floor and the California Coast line. The North American Plate comprises most the North American Continent and parts of the Atlantic Ocean floor. These primary boundary between these two plates is the San Andreas Fault. The San Andreas Fault is more than 650 miles long and extends to depths of at least 10 miles. Many other smaller faults like the Hayward (Northern California) and the San Jacinto (Southern California) branch from and join the San Andreas Fault Zone. The Pacific Plate grinds northwestward past the North American Plate at a rate of about two inches per year. Parts of the San Andreas Fault system adapt to this movement by constant "creep" resulting in many tiny shocks and a few moderate earth tremors. In other areas where creep is NOT constant, strain can build up for hundreds of years, producing great EQs when it finally releases.

Use of Waste Products & Services -Ash Utilization

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:59:00 -0800

Ash is the main solid waste which is put into use for various products and services. NTPC has adopted user friendly policy guidelines on ash utilisation.In order to motivate entrepreneurs to come forward with ash utilisation schemes, NTPC offers several facilities and incentives. These include free issue of all types of ash viz. 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, NTPC uses only ash based bricks and Fly Ash portland pozzolana cement (FAPPC) in most of its construction activities. Demonstration projects are taken up in areas of Agriculture, Building materials, Mine filling etc. The utilisation of ash and ash based products is progressively increasing as a result of the concrete efforts of these groups.

Ecological Monitoring & Scientific Studies

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:57:00 -0800

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

Environment Impact Asssement 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 (EMP) and the conditions stipulated in the clearances from Ministry of Environment and Forests and State 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 mitigatory measures, wherever required.

Apart from project specific EIA studies, Regional Environmental Assessment studies have been conducted for Integrated Development of Singrauli, Korba and Ramagundam 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 NTPC and contractors and self employment schemes. In addition, NTPC also undertakes community development activities in the surrounding villages.

Ecological Monitoring Programme:

NTPC has undertaken a comprehensive Ecological Monitoring Programme through Satellite Imagery Studies covering an area of about 25 Kms radius around some of its major plants. The studies have been conducted through National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad at its power stations at Ramagundam, Farakka, Korba, Vindhyachal, Rihand and Singrauli. These studies have revealed significant environmental gains in the vicinity areas of the project 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.

Geo-hydrological Studies:
NTPC has conducted several geohydrological studies of the ash disposal areas at its projects (Singrauli, Rihand, Vindhyachal, Korba, Farakka and Talcher) through reputed institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology, Roorkee; Indian Institutes of Technology, Mumbai, 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.

Land Use / Bio-diversity

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:32:00 -0800

As a policy, NTPC lays special emphasis on land use and Bio-diversity by way of development of green belts, energy plantations, reclmation 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. NTPC has reclaimed temporary ash disposal areas at some of its projects namely Ramagundam, Talcher Thermal, Rihand, Singrauli and
Unchahar through plantation and converted these sites into lush green environments. Extensive plantations have also been undertaken on dry ash mound at NTPC-Dadri. It is planned to reclaim all the abandoned ash disposal areas by plantation.

Green Belts, Afforestation & Energy Plantations:

What’s more, in a concerted bid to counter the growing ecological threat, NTPC is undertaking afforestation
programmes covering vast areas of land in and around its projects. Appropriate afforestation programmes 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, NTPC till date has planted more than 18 million trees at its projects throughout the country. The afforestation 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 lakh energy plants including Pongamia and Jatropha have already been planted. A pilot project for extraction of seeds from these bio-diesel plants has also been set up.

Waste Management

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:28:00 -0800

Various types of wastes such as Municilal 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 garkets etc.), oil & clarifier sludge, used resin, used photochemicals, asbestos packing, e-waste, metal scrap, C&I wastes, electricial scrap, empty cylinders (refillable), paper, rubber products, canteen (bio-degradable) wastes, buidling 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 India’s notification on Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1989 (as amended on 06.01.2000 & 20.05.2003). Handling and manegement of these wastes in NTPC stations have been discussed below.

Municipal Waste Management:

Domestic or municipal waste is generated in households at townships. This waste is seggregated into bio-degradable and nonbiodegradable wastes at source itself in different coloured 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 seggregated non bio-degradable waste is disposed off separately in other identified low lying areas and is spread out
uniformly.

Hazardous Waste Management:

NTPC 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 NTPC stations to adopt the best practices so that there is a complete compliance with statutory requirements. In NTPC sataione, 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 (Cr-III electrolytes, used petro-chemicals, asbestos packings, used torch batteries, ribbon, toners / cartridges, mixed wastes (waste oil, water & cotton) filters, earth contaminated with synthetic oil (FQF) glass used & sodium silicate,
lamps & tubes etc. fall under the category of Hazardous Wastes (Non-Recyalable). These wastes are small in quantity and are stored in properly identified locations. As per the notification, hazardous wastes (non-recyalable) are to be sent to State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) approved common treatment storage and disposal facility (TSDF).

Bio-Medical Waste Management:

Hospital (or Bio-medical) wastes 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 colours as per the notification for Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules. The seggregated bio-medical wastes are either disposed through the SPCB 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 covered with 10 cm thick soil in bio-medical waste disposal pits.

Resources Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:14:00 -0800

With better awareness and appreciation towards ecology and environment, the organization is continually looking for innovative and cost effective solutions to conserve natural resources and 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

Environmental Institutional Set-up Continue

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:12:00 -0800

Environment Management During Operation Phase

NTPC's environment friendly approach to power has already begun 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, NTPC has chalked out a set of well defined activities that are envisaged right from the
project conceptualisation stage so that during the entire life cycle of the power plant, NTPC 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 during the operation phase of the stations. Performance enhancement and up-gradation measures are undertaken by the organisation during the post operational stage of the stations. These activities have greatly helped to minimise 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 Programme has been formulated and implemented in NTPC. All pollutants discharged from the power plant such as stack emission, ash pond effluent, main plant effluent,
domestic effluent and Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) 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 NTPC 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 management in and around NTPC stations, it is imperative to have an on-line, reliable and efficient environment information system on the plant operational and environmental performance parameters at all three levels i.e generating Stations, Regional Headquarters and Corporate Centre. In consideration of the above, a computerized programme, namely "Paryavaran
Monitoring System" - PMS, which could provide reliable storage, prompt and accurate flow of information on environmental performance of Stations was developed and installed in NTPC. This software facilitates direct transfer of environment reports and other environment related information from stations to
the Regional Headquarters and Corporate Centre. The PMS has already been implemented at Corporate Centre, the Regional Headquarters and most of the Stations. This system has helped in achieving continuous improvement in NTPC’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. Upgradation & 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, NTPC keeps an open mind for Renovation and Modernisation (R & M) and Retrofitting and Upgradation of pollution monitoring and control facilities in its existing stations. It is important to mention that such modifications/retrofit programs not only helped in betterment of environment but also in resource conservation.

High efficiency Electro-Static Precipitators (ESPs) of the order of 99.5% and above have been provided at NTPC stations for control of stack particulate emissions. However, the ESPs 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 ESPs at various NTPC stations. ESP performance enhancement programme by adopting advanced microprocessor based Electrostatic Precipitator Management System (EPMS) was installed at its power stations at Singrauli, Ramagundam, Korba, Farakka, Rihand,
Vindhyachal and Unchahar. Additional ESPs were retrofitted in the older power stations, namely at Badarpur and Talcher Thermal. As a result of the above retrofits, the emission of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) has been brought down appreciably at the above stations and is maintained within the present statutory limit of 150 mg/Nm3. In new projects, the ESPs have been designed for a maximum permissible outlet dust emission of 50 mg/Nm3 to meet the likely stringent emission norms in the near future.

Environmental Institutional Set-up

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:44:00 -0800

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 Utilisation Group and Centre for Power Efficiency & Environment Protection (CENPEEP) 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 Utilisation Groups established at each
station, look after various environmental issues of the individual station.

Pollution Control Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:40:00 -0800

While deciding the appropriate technology for its projects, NTPC integrates many environmental provisions into the plant design. In order to ensure that NTPC comply with all the stipulated environment norms, various state-of-the-art pollution control systems / devices as discussed below have been installed to control air and water pollution.

Electrostatic Precipitators: The ash left behind after combustion of coal is arrested in high efficiency Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) and particulate emission is controlled well within the stipulated norms. The ash collected in the ESPs 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, NOX etc) into the atmosphere. Low-NOX Burners: In gas based NTPC power stations, NOx emissions are controlled by provision of Low-NOx Burners (dry or wet type) and in coal fired stations, by adopting best combustion practices.Neutralisation Pits: Neutralisation pits have been provided in the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) for pH correction of the effluents before discharge into Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) 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 (CHP), coal yard and
Fuel Oil Handling areas before discharge into ETP. DE & DS Systems: Dust Extraction (DE) and Dust Suppression (DS) systems have been installed in all coal fired power stations in NTPC to contain and extract the fugitive dust released in the Coal Handling Plant (CHP).

Cooling Towers: Cooling Towers have been provided for cooling the hot Condenser cooling water in closed cycle Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) Systems. This helps in reduction in thermal pollution and conservation of fresh water
.
Ash Dykes & Ash Disposal Systems: Ash ponds have been provided at all coal based stations except Dadri where Dry Ash Disposal System has been provided. Ash Ponds have been divided into lagoons and provided with garlandin garrangements 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 CPCB and the same is regularly monitored.
At its Dadri Power Station, NTPC 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 has 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 NTPC stations, as a proactive measure, Ash Water Recycling System (AWRS) has been provided. In the AWRS, 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 Ramagundam, Simhadri, Rihand, Talcher Kaniha, Talcher Thermal, Kahalgaon, Korba and Vindhyachal. 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 (DAES): Dry ash has much higher utilization potential in ash based products (such as bricks, aerated autoclaved concrete blocks, concrete, Portland pozzolana cement, etc.). DAES has been installed at Unchahar, Dadri, Simhadri, Ramagundam, Singrauli, Kahalgaon, Farakka, Talcher Thermal,
Korba, Vindhyachal, Talcher Kaniha and BTPS.

Liquid Waste Treatment Plants & Management System: The objective of industrial liquid effluent treatment plant (ETP) 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 ETP 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 (WTP), Condensate Polishing Unit (CPU) effluent, Coal Handling Plant (CHP) 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.

Environment Policy & Environment Management System

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:56:00 -0800

Driven by its commitment for sustainable growth of power, NTPC has evolved a well defined environment management policy and sound environment practices for minimising 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 (NEP) and the Ministry of Power along with NTPC actively participated in the deliberations of the draft NEP. The NEP 2006 has since been approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2006.

NTPC Environment Policy:

As early as in November 1995, NTPC brought out a comprehensive document entitled "NTPC Environment Policy and Environment Management System". Amongst the guiding principles adopted in the document are company's proactive approach to environment, optimum utilisation of equipment, adoption of latest technologies and continual environment improvement. The policy also envisages efficient utilisation of resources, thereby minimising waste, maximising ash utilisation and providing green belt all around the plant for
maintaining ecological balance.

Environment Management, Occupational Health and Safety Systems:

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

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Brijesh Sehgal) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:50:00 -0800

Harmony between man and environment is the essence of healthy life and growth. Therefore, maintenance of ecological balance and a pristine environment has been of utmost importance to the Union Ministry of Power (MoP). NTPC being the leading organization under the ministry in the areas of power generation, has been taking various measures discussed below for mitigation of environment pollution due to power generation.