The American Initiative to Manage Earth’s Resources

摘要

Ash from coal-f i red power pl ants and industry, sewage and animal manure, sediment from our waterways, soils that are i'n the way," debris from mining, const r uct i on, andstorms -some, if not most of these are i n most communities. Yet, even when (a)cti vists"protest polluti on i n a community, most people knowso little that they dont even thi nk about being part of deci si on-making, from the start to the fi ni sh of how these materi al s are created. When taught in a tone of the future, "i ssues such as economi cs, uses, and di sposal are accepted, and blame i s avoi ded by increasing awareness and public involvement.To illustrate the i mportance of big materi al s and f ul I er publ i c understandi ng of them, Managing Earth'e Resources (MER), a research, education, and project-guidance nonprofit organi zati on, has begun a movement to i mprove how these materi al s are pi anned and manage. Called The American Initiative to Manage Earth'e Resources, it has carefully developed three model projects to i 11 ustrate that communities can be informed enough to search for technologies, uses and educational tool s to pi an and manage large-volume materi al s. Thelowa I nitiati ve, Vnefif ri ca-Partner Ini ti ati ve and The Massachusetts Initiati ve range from a best case, "whi ch focuses on usable, uncontaminated materi al s that promi se many benefits, toa "Worst case,"whi ch focuses on unusable, contaminated materi al s that bri ngs noti ceabl e damage to a communi ty and focuses on people helping to decide the kind of power they will use and howt hei r sewage will be treated.The Iowa Initiati ve is the best case'tnodel project. Benefits start with saving two major I akes, that are dyi ng because they are filling with eroded silt. By using sediment dredged from the lakes to make high quality, proven products, the expense of critically-needed dredging is lowered, "green"industry i s started and the envi ronment and agriculture are improved. Blending sediment with ash and bio solids and other "wastes"is key.Saylorvi 11 e Lake, aflood-control I ake near Des Moines, was to last 100 years, whi ch was typical of dams built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1950 and 1970. Yet, it is silting in 42% faster than expected. Benef i ts to savi ng the I ake are preventi ng floods and drought, keeping water quality high, and saving recreational facilities, reducing the cost raise the level of the I ake, safety.Storm Lake, a glacial lake in Northwest Iowa, i s vi al to the well-being of the city of Storm Lake's 10,000 people. Citizens are doing all they can to finance dredgi ng and to reduce the cost of sedi ment storage. Benef i ts to savi ng the I ake are protecti on of fish, recreati on, and property and, most of al I, the cul ture of the communities, whi ch developed around the lake.Benefits of using sediment go far beyond saving lakes. High-quality products include soils that do not need chemical fertilizers, compressed blocks and molded concrete-like products. Beneficial uses include landscaping, erosi on control, agriculture, golf courses, creating wet I ands and wildlife habitat, statues, restori ng brownfield and superfund, homes and buildings, si ed si opes, pri vacy and snow wa lls, garden ornaments, I evi es and breakwaters, highway uses of many kinds, and filling abandoned m ines to prevent cave-ins. Transfer of technology improves many water ways and creates jobs. Using excess materials in sediment blends often reduces landfills Erosion control education keeps soil on the land.