Military conflict has led to large-scale environmental changes throughout recorded human history. Pollution from war contaminates surface water and soil, releases large volumes of greenhouse gases into the air, directly harms wildlife biodiversity. Although much is understood about toll war, numerous examples postwar reconstruction suggest that underestimating severity wartime damages ecosystems natural resources results in prolonged or incomplete recovery environment. A data-driven...

Mechanism design theory is used to develop the properties of optimal pollution control incentive schemes in presence adverse selection, moral hazard, and transaction costs. The model presented here shows (a) with no deadweight costs (transaction costs), first-best allocations are always possible; (b) (caused by raising taxes), only second-best feasible; (c) conditions under which scheme implementing will be a nonlinear tax, standard(s), or combination both taxes standard(s).

Assuming asymmetric information over farmer profits and zero transaction costs, prior literature has suggested that when regulating nonpoint source water pollution, a tax on management practices (inputs) can implement full-information allocations is superior to estimated runoff. Using mechanism design theory under information, this paper shows the same assumptions, practice taxes runoff are equally efficient.

The traditional travel cost model operates on the assumption that choices are made regarding number of trips to various sites over an entire recreation season. This paper uses actual data test consistency this with postulates rational economic choice as embodied in axioms revealed preference. assumes consumer rationality and examines effects alternative trip prices structures degree between them choice. Using tests developed by Varian Tsur, authors find site at proxied costs for most...

In a variety of environmental and natural resource policy settings, negative impacts investment projects or accidental events on resources must be mitigated offset in-kind. An important example is damage assessment (NRDA), which addresses unpermitted releases oil hazardous substances. NRDAs often include injuries from the distant past restoration benefits into future. Hence, discount rate key parameter determining scale restoration. For some types (direct human use resources) monetization...

This paper demonstrates that the number of trips a person takes to recreation site can be treated as utility index value, which has useful implications. We demonstrate trip counts, taken index, embody information about quality, cost reaching site, and substitute sites. The result practical value for assessing compensatory restoration projects conducting benefits transfer. finding is derived from linear-in-parameters random maximization (RUM) model, “workhorse” demand modeling, so inherits...

ABSTRACT A major feature of the Oil Pollution Act 1990 (OPA 90) is a requirement that compensation be resource-based. This paper discusses implications resource-based and OPA 90 preference for narrowly-defined in-kind compensation. framework developed evaluating compensatory scaling methods on basis applicability method to restoration project cost-effectiveness solution. The places potential projects along continuum, which ranges from strict applied small injuries full out-of-kind large...

ABSTRACT As a result of oil spills endangered species may be killed. This paper discusses issues associated with scaling restoration projects that would compensate for mortality an due to spill. We illustrate our concerns using hypothetical data and simple stochastic population dynamics model meant (roughly) approximate Marbeled Murrelets (a federally-listed west- coast seabird) killed as The the implications possible outcomes very long run (i.e. extinction), which conservation biologists...

Abstract This study reviews methods for assessing natural resource damages to outdoor recreation resulting from oil spills, often a substantial component of total damages. The usual approach recreational damages, called value-to-cost (VTC), is deficient. It almost always provides biased estimate because it ignores the benefits restoration projects on which damage awards must be spent. VTC least preferred method under Oil Pollution Act NRDA regulations unless alternative are cost-prohibitive....

ABSTRACT Beached bird models have been used to estimate spill induced mortality as a function of carcass recovery. The basic generate defensible estimates given the sparse data generally associated with large, infrequently searched, areas. We extended model address spills limited geographic extent and intense recovery effort. Our simulates number carcasses required re-create vector actually collected. Each simulation generates single consistent data. Monte Carlo methods facilitate mean estimate.

ABSTRACT Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) is a process used to determine amount compensation due public for natural resource injuries arising from oil spills. Two models, Equivalency Analysis (REA) and Habitat (HEA), are in essentially all OPA NRDAs compute compensatory restoration requirements. REA applied when members wildlife populations injured: usually mortality or loss reproduction among species bird, turtle, marine mammal, fish. HEA...