XML FeedsMarket-based approaches and tools for improving water and air quality
By CostBenefit on Nov 8, 2009 | In General, Air, Water, Land + Water, U.S., Academic Study/Journal Article, Groundwater, Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Nitrogen/Nitrates, Regulatory Analysis, Costs and Benefits, Wastewater | Send feedback »
Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2009.05.003
Abstract: Nitrogen (N) losses from agriculture are negatively impacting groundwater, air, and surface water quality. National, state, and local policies and procedures that can mitigate these problems are needed. Market-based approaches where waste treatment plants (point sources) can purchase nutrient credits from upstream agricultural operations (non-point sources) to meet their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements within the Clean Water Act are being explored. This paper reviews these market-based approaches for enhancing air and water quality at a lower cost than simple command-and-control regulation, and describes new tools that are being developed, such as Nitrogen Trading Tool (NTT), that can be used to assess nitrogen losses to the environment under different management scenarios. The USDA-NRCS, EPA and several other state and local agencies are interested in these new tools. The NTT, though primarily designed for water quality markets, also estimates savings in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions that can be traded in carbon markets. For example, an analysis using NTT shows that for 100 ha of crop land, a C sequestration equivalent of approximately 25–38 Mg C y−1 for a farm in Ohio, and 13–21 Mg C y−1 for a farm in Virginia could be achieved with better nitrogen management practices. These numbers across a watershed could be much larger with improved N and conservation management practices that contribute to better water quality and lower global warming potential. There is a need to further develop, calibrate, and validate these tools to facilitate nitrogen and carbon trading future markets around the globe to increase environmental conservation across agro-ecosystems worldwide.
by Harbans Lala 1 Jorge A. Delgado 2, Christoph M. Gross 3, Eric Hesketh 4, Shaun P. McKinney 1, Harris Cover 5 and Marv Shaffer 6
1. USDA-NRCS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. #1000, Portland, OR 97232, USA
2. USDA-ARS-SPNR, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building D, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
3. USDA-NRCS, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 1-2150C, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
4. USDA-NRCS, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
5. Vistronix, Inc., 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. #1000, Portland, OR 97232, USA
6. USDA/ARS (Retired), 2150 Centre Avenue, Building D, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
Environmental Science & Policy via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 12, Issue 7; November, 2009; pages 1028-1039
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