TU system environmental research program

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:613869

White, R L; Smith, S F; Miller, P J ^[1]

---

1. TU Services, Dallas, TX (United States)

Texas Utilities Company`s Environmental Research Program, begun in 1971, is unlike any other--financed by a private company and directed by an independent advisory committee with the research conducted by the most qualified graduate students to be found. The company has no review, editing or publishing rights to the program`s findings and all of the work is published by the research fellows in open literature. The original Environmental Research Steering Committee included five members from various universities, and these five remain active on the committee today. The number of professors on the committee has been increased to thirteen over the years in order to address new environmental issues such as wetlands. Over the past twenty-five years, the committee has designated over $3 million to fund graduate students in research--unguided by the Company--on the environmental effects of surface mining and power generation. To date, eighty-one theses or dissertations have been completed on geology, hydrology, soils, forage/crop plants, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecosystems, and wetlands. The results of the work have been utilized by the Company, the regulatory agencies, and other industries in protection of the environment in the development utilization of Texas lignite. A significant benefit of the process is the worldwide placement of the graduates in key positions--federal/state regulatory agencies, the academic world, industry--wherein they can continue application of the knowledge and training achieved through this program.

• OSTI ID: 613869
• Report Number(s): CONF-9705128--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINES
DATA COMPILATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REMEDIAL ACTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SURFACE MINING
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TEXAS
TRAINING