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NEMWI's Great Ships Initiative Reports on Chlorine-Based Ballast Water Treatment System
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Last week, NEMWI posted a Great Ships Initiative report on the biological and operation performance of a chlorine-based emergency ballast water treatment system (BWTS) proposed for use in the Great Lakes and elsewhere. GSI already undertook bench scale tests on the BWTS, showing the need to adjust the dose of chlorine and neutralizer with the "chlorine demand" characteristics of the water subject to treatment. In nature, the amount of chlorine consumed by the receiving water chemistry and made unavailable for treatment purposes (chlorine demand) varies unpredictably in and across many locations where ballast is taken up. The chlorine-based emergency BWTS, proposed by the National Park Service and Michigan Technological University, involves manual or automated application of chlorine as bleach in amounts exceeding natural chlorine demand by a set dose. To use this BWTS on an operating ship, technicians would measure chlorine demand of the ballast water prior to applying treatment, and following a retention period, assess residual chlorine to apply appropriate amounts of neutralizer. Once no residual chlorine is detectable, ballast water would be discharged. See results of the tests on the Great Ships Initiative website.
For more information, contact Nicole Mays, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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USDA Announces New National Water Quality Initiative: Over Five Dozen Watersheds Targeted in Mississippi Basin
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On May 8, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the launch of the agency's new National Water Quality Initiative, a program that USDA describes as an effort to improve between one and seven "impaired watersheds in every U.S. state and territory." Under the Initiative, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will make at least $33 million in financial assistance available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners during the current (2012) Fiscal Year to implement conservation practices that help improve water quality in targeted watersheds. The funding that will defer part of the landowner's cost of the conservation practices will be made available through NRCS's Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a Farm Bill Conservation Title program. Nationally, a total of 157 watersheds in 44 states have been selected by USDA for the grant money under the Initiative. Sixty-two of those watersheds are located within the Mississippi River basin and Coastal Louisiana region. Read more detail here, in USDA's National Water Quality Initiative press release, and the program web site.
For more information, contact Mark Gorman, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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2012 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference: Early Registration Ends May 20
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The Center for Community Progress will host the 2012 Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference in New Orleans from June 20 to June 22. The conference will explore the strategies and tools that neighborhoods, cities, and states are using to turn the challenge of vacant land and buildings into a foundation on which to build the future. It will consist of a mix of breakouts, specialized trainings, plenaries, and coordinated peer-to-peer learning and networking activities. Registration is open and more information about the conference can be found here. Early registration rates are available until May 20.
For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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