Improving Voluntary Environmental Management Programs: Facilitating Learning and Adaptation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Genskow, Kenneth D.; Wood, Danielle M.
2011-05-01
Environmental planners and managers face unique challenges understanding and documenting the effectiveness of programs that rely on voluntary actions by private landowners. Programs, such as those aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution or improving habitat, intend to reach those goals by persuading landowners to adopt behaviors and management practices consistent with environmental restoration and protection. Our purpose with this paper is to identify barriers for improving voluntary environmental management programs and ways to overcome them. We first draw upon insights regarding data, learning, and adaptation from the adaptive management and performance management literatures, describing three key issues: overcoming information constraints, structural limitations, and organizational culture. Although these lessons are applicable to a variety of voluntary environmental management programs, we then present the issues in the context of on-going research for nonpoint source water quality pollution. We end the discussion by highlighting important elements for advancing voluntary program efforts.
Covenants with Weak Swords: ISO 14001 and Facilities' Environmental Performance
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Potoski, Matthew; Prakash, Aseem
2005-01-01
Voluntary environmental programs are codes of progressive environmental conduct that firms pledge to adopt. This paper investigates whether ISO 14001, a voluntary program with a weak sword--a weak monitoring and sanctioning mechanism--can mitigate shirking and improve participants' environmental performance. Sponsored by the International…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Henriques, Irene; Husted, Bryan W.; Montiel, Ivan
2013-01-01
We compare the environmental performance of voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) with different attributes. Using club theory, we argue that the differential performance of VEPs is due in part to their specific design attributes that will either enhance or diminish their ability to improve both targeted and untargeted environmental impacts. We…
Voluntary Environmental Programs: A Comparative Perspective
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Prakash, Aseem; Potoski, Matthew
2012-01-01
Voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) are institutions for inducing firms to produce environmental goods beyond legal requirements. A comparative perspective on VEPs shows how incentives to sponsor and participate in VEPs vary across countries in ways that reveal their potential and limitations. Our brief survey examines conditions under which…
Ohio`s Voluntary Action Program: An economic development tool or a subtle environmental loophole?
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Akinmoladun, T.M.; Lewis, R.A.
In an effort to remediate and reuse abandoned or contaminated industrial properties, the Ohio State legislature passed a law in 1994 that created the Ohio Voluntary Action Program (VAP). VAP consists of a series of incentives for property owners and prospective buyers to accelerate cleanup and reuse of abandoned sites or brownfields. This paper examines the essence of this unconventional approach to socio-economic development and environmental restoration. The weaknesses of the program are discussed, and recommendations are made to make the program more workable, more realistic, and conducive to environmental protection and public health.
40 CFR 305.25 - Informal settlement; voluntary agreement.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 27 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Informal settlement; voluntary...) SUPERFUND, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE... Prehearing Procedures § 305.25 Informal settlement; voluntary agreement. (a) Settlement policy. The Agency...
Voluntary program to reduce soot
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Showstack, Randy
2013-01-01
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on 17 January that it has formulated a voluntary clean air program, Particulate Matter (PM) Advance, to help communities develop strategies to reduce fine-particle emissions, often called soot or particulate matter, that can be harmful to human health.
40 CFR 90.1203 - Voluntary Manufacturer In-Use Testing Program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2014-07-01 2013-07-01 true Voluntary Manufacturer In-Use Testing Program. 90.1203 Section 90.1203 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR... encountered with typical use of the equipment as described in the owner's manual or other literature sold with...
40 CFR 85.1904 - Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports. 85.1904 Section 85.1904 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM MOBILE SOURCES Emission Defect Reporting Requirements § 85.1904 Voluntary emissions...
40 CFR 85.1904 - Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports. 85.1904 Section 85.1904 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM MOBILE SOURCES Emission Defect Reporting Requirements § 85.1904 Voluntary emissions...
40 CFR 85.1904 - Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 18 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports. 85.1904 Section 85.1904 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM MOBILE SOURCES Emission Defect Reporting Requirements § 85.1904 Voluntary emissions...
40 CFR 85.1904 - Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall report; quarterly reports. 85.1904 Section 85.1904 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM MOBILE SOURCES Emission Defect Reporting Requirements § 85.1904 Voluntary emissions...
Workshop: Benefits of Environmental Information Disclosure (2011)
Benefits of Environmental Information Disclosure on how to improve or create effective information disclosure policies in the context of government-based environmental programs. Research on labels, voluntary reporting, greenwashing, surveys and audits.
40 CFR 157.30 - Voluntary use of child-resistant packaging.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... packaging. 157.30 Section 157.30 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) PESTICIDE PROGRAMS PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS FOR PESTICIDES AND DEVICES Child-Resistant Packaging § 157.30 Voluntary use of child-resistant packaging. A registrant whose product is not required to be in child...
Green Power Partnership Program Overview
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page provides a brief program overview, including vision and accomplishments.
Green Power Partnership Related Programs & Organizations
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page provides a brief program overview, including vision and accomplishments.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
DeFries, Ruth S.; Fanzo, Jessica; Mondal, Pinki; Remans, Roseline; Wood, Stephen A.
2017-03-01
Over the last several decades, voluntary certification programs have become a key approach to promote sustainable supply chains for agricultural commodities. These programs provide premiums and other benefits to producers for adhering to environmental and labor practices established by the certifying entities. Following the principles of Cochrane Reviews used in health sciences, we assess evidence to evaluate whether voluntary certification of tropical agricultural commodities (bananas, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, and tea) has achieved environmental benefits and improved economic and social outcomes for small-scale producers at the level of the farm household. We reviewed over 2600 papers in the peer-review literature and identified 24 cases of unique combinations of study area, certification program, and commodity in 16 papers that rigorously analyzed differences between treatment (certified households) and control groups (uncertified households) for a wide range of response variables. Based on analysis of 347 response variables reported in these papers, we conclude that certification is associated on average with positive outcomes for 34% of response variables, no significant difference for 58% of variables, and negative outcomes for 8% of variables. No significant differences were observed for different categories of responses (environmental, economic and social) or for different commodities (banana, coffee and tea), except negative outcomes were significantly less for environmental than other outcome categories (p = 0.01). Most cases (20 out of 24) investigated coffee certification and response variables were inconsistent across cases, indicating the paucity of studies to conduct a conclusive meta-analysis. The somewhat positive results indicate that voluntary certification programs can sometimes play a role in meeting sustainable development goals and do not support the view that such programs are merely greenwashing. However, results also indicate that certification is not a panacea to improve social outcomes or overall incomes of smallholder farmers. Rigorous analysis, standardized criteria, and independent evaluation are needed to assess effectiveness of certification programs in the future.
Green Power Partnership Requirements
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. To join, organizations must meet EPA's program requirements.
The Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program is a voluntary membership program that promotes the adoption of innovative, alternative pest control practices such as Integrated Pest Management. PESP has three membership tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold.
The Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) is a voluntary membership program that promotes the adoption of innovative, alternative pest control practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Learn about membership benefits and how to join.
Green Power Partnership Glossary
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page provides a brief program overview, including vision and accomplishments.
75 FR 48329 - Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-08-10
... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-9186-8] Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program... details of EPA's voluntary Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program, effective October 1, 2010. The program enables qualified drinking water operators at public water systems in Indian country to be...
76 FR 7844 - Notice of Open Meeting of the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB)
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-02-11
... environmental programs, projects, and activities. The purpose of the meeting is to hear from informed speakers... work projects under EFAB's current Strategic Action Agenda. Environmental Finance topics expected to be discussed include: Financing Clean Air Technology; Voluntary Environmental Improvement Bonds (VEIB)/Property...
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Little, Christopher M.; Needham, Mark D.
2011-11-01
Many alpine ski areas have recently adopted voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) such as using recycling, renewable energy, and biofuels to help reduce their environmental impacts. Studies have addressed the performance of these VEPs in mitigating environmental impacts of this industry, but little is known about visitor awareness and perceptions of these programs. This article addresses this knowledge gap by exploring skier and snowboarder knowledge of VEPs at a ski area and the influence of these programs on their motivations to visit this area currently and behavioral intentions to visit again in the future. Data were obtained from an onsite survey at the Mt. Bachelor ski area in Oregon, USA ( n = 429, 89.7% response rate). Few skiers and snowboarders were knowledgeable of VEPs at this area and fewer than 20% were motivated to visit on their current trip because of these programs. Other attributes such as scenery, snow conditions, and access were more important for influencing visitation. Up to 38% of skiers and snowboarders, however, intend to visit this ski area more often if it adopts and promotes more VEPs. Managers can use these results to inform communication and marketing of their environmental programs and performance to visitors. Additional implications for management and future research are discussed.
Little, Christopher M; Needham, Mark D
2011-11-01
Many alpine ski areas have recently adopted voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) such as using recycling, renewable energy, and biofuels to help reduce their environmental impacts. Studies have addressed the performance of these VEPs in mitigating environmental impacts of this industry, but little is known about visitor awareness and perceptions of these programs. This article addresses this knowledge gap by exploring skier and snowboarder knowledge of VEPs at a ski area and the influence of these programs on their motivations to visit this area currently and behavioral intentions to visit again in the future. Data were obtained from an onsite survey at the Mt. Bachelor ski area in Oregon, USA (n = 429, 89.7% response rate). Few skiers and snowboarders were knowledgeable of VEPs at this area and fewer than 20% were motivated to visit on their current trip because of these programs. Other attributes such as scenery, snow conditions, and access were more important for influencing visitation. Up to 38% of skiers and snowboarders, however, intend to visit this ski area more often if it adopts and promotes more VEPs. Managers can use these results to inform communication and marketing of their environmental programs and performance to visitors. Additional implications for management and future research are discussed.
Green Power Partnership Basic Program Information
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Partners commit to procuring green power that meets EPA's requirements and receive recognition.
Green Power Partnership Program Success Metrics
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. EPA evaluates partnership metrics annually to determine progress toward programmatic goals.
Green Power Partnership Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page provides a brief program overview, including vision and accomplishments.
Environmental liability protection and other advantages of voluntary cleanup programs
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bost, R.C.; Linton, K.E.
Historically, regulatory agencies have required that contaminated sites be returned to pristine conditions, often at very high costs. Fear of these enormous environmental liabilities has resulted in abandonment of many industrial and commercial properties, referred to as brownfields. The development of Risk-Based Corrective Action programs has provided a means for regulatory agencies to evaluate contaminated sites based on risk to human health and the environment, resulting in more reasonable remedial measures and costs. Governmental bodies have created a more flexible means of addressing contaminated sites using Risk-Based Corrective Action and other incentives to encourage the redevelopment of sites through Voluntarymore » Cleanup Programs. This study describes the development of Voluntary Cleanup Programs, and the successful implementation of Risk-Based Corrective Action with a focus on the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Samantha, Mosier; Jonathan, Fisk
2013-05-01
Previous research on voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) frequently assesses the effectiveness of federal, state, and third party programs and why organizations seek to join such programs. Yet, research has yet to evaluate the effectiveness or firm motivation relative to local VEPs. Recognizing this gap, our paper examines the structure and organization of Fort Collins' Climate Wise program, a local VEP. Using a variety of sources, we find that the program has successfully met both short- and long-term goals by persistently self-evaluating and seeking outside financial support. Findings from this analysis can aid in understanding and developing local VEPs elsewhere. Specifically, this initial research suggests that local VEPs need to consider local context and available resources when implementing such programs. Furthermore, it is possible for local VEPs to attract a diverse variety of participating firms by avoiding one-size-fits-all participation levels and by establishing a sense of ownership among partners.
Mosier, Samantha; Samantha, Mosier; Fisk, Jonathan; Jonathan, Fisk
2013-05-01
Previous research on voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) frequently assesses the effectiveness of federal, state, and third party programs and why organizations seek to join such programs. Yet, research has yet to evaluate the effectiveness or firm motivation relative to local VEPs. Recognizing this gap, our paper examines the structure and organization of Fort Collins' Climate Wise program, a local VEP. Using a variety of sources, we find that the program has successfully met both short- and long-term goals by persistently self-evaluating and seeking outside financial support. Findings from this analysis can aid in understanding and developing local VEPs elsewhere. Specifically, this initial research suggests that local VEPs need to consider local context and available resources when implementing such programs. Furthermore, it is possible for local VEPs to attract a diverse variety of participating firms by avoiding one-size-fits-all participation levels and by establishing a sense of ownership among partners.
Economic Savings from Using Economic Incentives for Environmental Pollution Control (1999)
Economic incentives, such as emission taxes, effluent trading, deposit refund systems, information reporting requirements, liability for harm caused by pollution, and voluntary programs have the potential to achieve environmental objectives at lower cost.
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-12-15
... Collection; Comment Request; Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) Please AGENCY... economic performance of building products. Known as BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic... them in a visually intuitive graphical format. BEES Please is a voluntary program to collect data from...
75 FR 59711 - Audit Program for Texas Flexible Permit Holders
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-09-28
... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-R06-OAR-2010-0510; FRL-9207-4] Audit Program for Texas... Act (CAA) voluntary audit compliance program for flexible permit holders in the State of Texas (hereinafter ``Audit Program''); response to public comments. SUMMARY: EPA is offering holders of Texas...
DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR METALS RISK ASSESSMENT
Many EPA programs are faced with deciding whether and how to regulate toxic metals. These decisions range from setting regulatory standards for environmental releases, to establishing safe levels in different environmental media, to setting priorities for regulatory or voluntary...
Evaluating the Georgia Master Naturalist Program
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hildreth, Lauren; Mengak, Michael T.
2016-01-01
We evaluated the Georgia Master Naturalist Program using an online survey. Survey participation was voluntary, and the survey addressed areas such as satisfaction, volunteerism, and future training. The program received high scores from survey respondents. They appreciated training on native plants, environmental awareness, and ecological…
40 CFR 305.25 - Informal settlement; voluntary agreement.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
...) SUPERFUND, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE SUPERFUND...
40 CFR 305.25 - Informal settlement; voluntary agreement.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
...) SUPERFUND, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE SUPERFUND...
40 CFR 305.25 - Informal settlement; voluntary agreement.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
...) SUPERFUND, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT (CERCLA) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE SUPERFUND...
Nanotechnology, voluntary oversight, and corporate social performance: does company size matter?
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kuzma, Jennifer; Kuzhabekova, Aliya
2011-04-01
In this article, we examine voluntary oversight programs for nanotechnology in the context of corporate social performance (CSP) in order to better understand the drivers, barriers, and forms of company participation in such programs. At the theoretical level, we use the management framework of CSP to understand the voluntary behavior of companies. At the empirical level, we investigate nanotech industry participation in the Environmental Protection Agency's Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) as an example of CSP, in order to examine the effects of company characteristics on CSP outcomes. The analysis demonstrates that, on the average, older and larger companies for which nanotech is one of the many business activities demonstrate greater CSP as judged by company actions, declarations, and self-evaluations. Such companies tended to submit more of the requested information to the NMSP, including specific information about health and safety, and to claim fewer of the submitted items as confidential business information. They were also more likely to have on-line statements of generic and nano-specific corporate social responsibility principles, policies, and achievements. The article suggests a need to encourage smaller and younger companies to participate in voluntary oversight programs for nanotechnology and presents options for better design of these programs.
Climate benefits of U.S. EPA programs and policies that reduced methane emissions 1993-2013
The United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established voluntary programs to reduce CH4 emissions, as well as regulations that provide co-benefits of reducing CH4 emissions while controlling for other air pollutants. These programs and regulations address ...
76 FR 78814 - National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program; Operating Procedures
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-12-20
... requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. The change will allow NVLAP... the human environment. Therefore, an environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement is not..., Laboratories, Measurement standards, Testing. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, title 15 of the Code...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ghosh, Soma
2011-01-01
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze those US colleges and universities that are participating in the Green Power Partnership (GPP). GPP is a voluntary environmental program initiated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001 to help increase the use of green power (electricity produced from solar, wind,…
Liu, Ning; Tang, Shui-Yan; Zhan, Xueyong; Lo, Carlos Wing-Hung
2018-08-01
This study combines insights from the policy uncertainty literature and neo-institutional theory to examine corporate performance in implementing a government-sponsored voluntary environmental program (VEP) during 2004-2012 in Guangzhou, China. In this regulatory context, characterized by rapid policy changes, corporate performance in VEPs is affected by government surveillance, policy uncertainty, and peer pressures. Specifically, if VEP participants have experienced more government surveillance, they tend to perform better in program implementation. Such positive influence of government surveillance is particularly evident among those joining under high and low, rather than moderate uncertainty. Participants also perform better if they belong to an industry with more certified VEP firms, but worse if they are located in a regulatory jurisdiction with more certified VEP firms. At a moderate level of policy uncertainty, within-industry imitation is most likely to occur but within-jurisdiction imitation is least likely to occur. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Report #2005-P-00007, February 17, 2005. We asked stakeholders to define stewardship, list motivators and obstacles to participating in stewardship programs, and outline key roles for EPA to play to foster participating in environmental stewardship.
Hazardous waste sites: voluntary industry cleanup proposed
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Not Available
1984-02-27
A proposal that calls for the chemical industry to undertake voluntary cleanup of hazardous waste sites was presented recently to the Environmental Protection Agency and on Capitol Hill. And although still in draft form, the proposal has elicited a very favorable response. In its present form, the proposal calls for setting up a nonprofit holding company, supported by donations from the chemical industry, to plan and carry out cleanup operations. It is the result of nine months of discussion among representatives of industry, environmental groups, and former government personnel, carried out under the auspices of the Conservation Foundation to assessmore » what could be done to speed the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Although still in draft form, the proposal already is getting excellent reviews. One Congressional staff member says that the idea of a voluntary program is excellent. And EPA sees it as a real opportunity to supplement its funds - which it has been saying are nowhere near adequte to clean up all the sites that it expects eventually to be placed on the national priorities list - and get the work done. All this, of course, would occur under the agency's watchful eye. Some in the environmental community fear that the mere discussion of a private cleanup exercise might be used as an argument for not reauthorizing Superfund or for not expanding the size of the fund. However, most see the voluntary cleanup as a supplement to, not a replacement for, the Superfund program.« less
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Partners support the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide.
2008 Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee Letters
These letters to and from Administrator Johnson address chemicals assessment and management, Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program, regulating greenhouse gases, perchlorate, lead NAAQS, and Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units.
An Overview of Exposure Assessment Models Used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Models are often used in addition to or in lieu of monitoring data to estimate environmental concentrations and exposures for use in risk assessments or epidemiological studies, and to support regulatory standards and voluntary programs (Jayjock et al., 2007; US EPA, 1989, 1992)....
Green Power Community Benefits
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Learn more about becoming a Green Power Community, including recognition opportunities.
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. EPA evaluates partnership metrics annually to determine progress toward programmatic goals.
Partnership Green Power Use Requirements
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This pages details green power use requirements for Partnership.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Generation Dates
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. EPA requires that Partners meet GPP's vintage requirement.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Resources
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page details the resources EPA considers eligible green power.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Supply Options
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page details the resources EPA considers eligible green power.
Green Power Partnership New Renewable Requirements
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. All Partners must meet GPP's new renewables requirement to join.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Organizations
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Many different types of organizations are eligible to become Partners.
Benefits of Green Power Partnership
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Learn about the benefits of becoming a Green Power Partner.
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Learn more about becoming a Green Power Partner, including recognition opportunities.
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. In return for technical assistance and recognition, partners commit to purchasing a percent
Green Power Partnership Top 10 Federal Government
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page highlights federal agency efforts in procuring green power.
Green Power Partnership Top 30 Retail
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This list represents the largest green power users among retail partners within the GPP.
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. There are thousands of Green Power Partners, all listed on this page.
Green Power Partnership Top Partner Rankings
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Top Partner Rankings highlight the annual green power use of leading Green Power Partners.
Problems and limitations of voluntary cleanup programs
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Johnson, S.F.
1995-12-31
At least a dozen states have already implemented voluntary cleanup programs (VCPs). Provisions to promote state VCPs were prominent in the EPA`s 1994 proposed revisions to CERCLA and in current legislative initiatives. Under the VCP, property owners voluntarily enroll to investigate and remediate contaminated sites with the aegis of a state agency and thus avoid involvement with the federal Superfund program. When the state agency is satisfied with the condition of the site, it issues a certificate to the owner. The VCP is meant to mitigate unintended consequences of CERCLA such as the economic abandonment of urban industrial sites inmore » favor of unpolluted suburban sites. The VCP concept has been combined with other reforms including cleanup standards, financial incentives, and independent action. The effectiveness of voluntary cleanup programs is limited by the costs of investigation and cleanup relative to the value of the property in question. It is also limited when property has environmental problems outside the traditional focus of state Superfund agencies on soil and groundwater contamination. VCPs also have potential unintended consequences of their own. The VCP concept is consistent with a 15 year trend of increasing government attention and involvement with sites of diminishing health and environmental significance. VCP may reinforce the perception of liability and unwittingly raise the standard of due diligence in property assessments, especially if combined with generic cleanup standard.« less
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule representing the next step in establishing a voluntary nationwide program to make new cars significantly cleaner burning than today’s current cars.
Final voluntary release assessment/corrective action report
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
NONE
1996-11-12
The US Department of Energy, Carlsbad Area Office (DOE-CAO) has completed a voluntary release assessment sampling program at selected Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). This Voluntary Release Assessment/Corrective Action (RA/CA) report has been prepared for final submittal to the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, Hazardous Waste Management Division and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Hazardous and Radioactive Materials Bureau to describe the results of voluntary release assessment sampling and proposed corrective actions at the SWMU sites. The Voluntary RA/CA Program is intended to be the first phase in implementing the Resourcemore » Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation (RFI) and corrective action process at the WIPP. Data generated as part of this sampling program are intended to update the RCRA Facility Assessment (RFA) for the WIPP (Assessment of Solid Waste Management Units at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant), NMED/DOE/AIP 94/1. This Final Voluntary RA/CA Report documents the results of release assessment sampling at 11 SWMUs identified in the RFA. With this submittal, DOE formally requests a No Further Action determination for these SWMUs. Additionally, this report provides information to support DOE`s request for No Further Action at the Brinderson and Construction landfill SWMUs, and to support DOE`s request for approval of proposed corrective actions at three other SWMUs (the Badger Unit Drill Pad, the Cotton Baby Drill Pad, and the DOE-1 Drill Pad). This information is provided to document the results of the Voluntary RA/CA activities submitted to the EPA and NMED in August 1995.« less
Steps to Join Green Power Partnership
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page details steps organizations should take to join the Partnership.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Scope of Green Power Use
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. EPA requires that Partners meet GPP's vintage requirement.
Green Power Partnership Annual Reporting Requirements
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Partners commit to submitting a report on their green power use annually.
Green Power Partnership Top 30 On-site Generation
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. These partners are generating and consuming the most green power on-site within the GPP.
Green Power Partnership Eligible Scope of Participation
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary partnership program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Organizations can elect to join organization-wide or at the facility level.
Green Power Partnership National Top 100
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. The National Top 100 lists the largest green power users within the Green Power Partnership.
Green Power Partner Mark Use and Display Guidelines
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page contains the guidelines for use of the Green Power Partnership mark.
Philibert, Ingrid; Beernink, John H; Bush, Barbara H; Caniano, Donna A; Chow, Andrea; Coyle, John J; Gilhooly, Joseph; Kraybill, Donald E; Larson, David; Moran, Sarah; Nace, Mary Catherine; Robertson, William W; Rubin, Judith D; Sanford, Theodore
2017-12-01
In 2013, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) transitioned into a new accreditation system to reduce burden, focus on outcomes, and promote innovation and improvement. One component is a self-study that includes aims, an environmental assessment, and setting improvement priorities. The ACGME initiated voluntary site visits following the self-study. We explored common themes in program aims and assessment of their environment. Using grounded theory, inductive and deductive qualitative methods, and truth grounding, we analyzed data from voluntary site visits of 396 core and subspecialty programs between June 2015 and September 2017, with a focus on common themes. We report common themes for aims and the dimensions of the environmental assessment. Themes for strengths include a collegial, supportive learning environment; responsive leaders; and experiences that prepare residents for unsupervised practice. Improvement priorities encompass low learner engagement and "content mismatch" in didactic education, balancing education and service at a time of growing clinical volumes, and improving the utility of assessment systems. Common opportunities encompass collaborations that improve education, involving alumni and harnessing technology to enrich education, while threats include an unsustainable effort for many program leaders, clinical pressures on faculty, and loss of external sites important for education. Linked dimensions of the environmental assessment suggest benefit in a growing focus on learners, and approaches to ensure a humanistic learning environment that allows for growth, self-determination, and inclusion. The findings highlight actionable themes for the environmental assessment. We discuss implications for programs, institutions, and the ACGME.
Green Power Partnership Top 30 College & University
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. The Top 30 College & University list details the largest higher ed green power users in GPP.
Green Power Partnership Top 30 Local Government
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page lists the largest green power users among local government partners within the GPP.
Green Power Partnership Long-term Contracts
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This page lists Partners that signed a contract to purchase green power for 5 years or more.
Green Power Partnership 100 Green Power Users
EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. Partners on this list use green power to meet 100 of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bennear, Lori S.; Lee, Jonathan M.; Taylor, Laura O.
2013-01-01
When policies incentivize voluntary activities that also take place in the absence of the incentive, it is critical to identify the additionality of the policy--that is, the degree to which the policy results in actions that would not have occurred otherwise. Rebate programs have become a common conservation policy tool for local municipalities…
Green Power Partnership Top 30 Tech & Telecom
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. On this list are the largest green power users among tech and telecom partners within the GPP
Green Power Partnership Top 30 K-12 Schools
The U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. On this list are the largest green power users among K-12 school partners within the GPP.
Green Power Partnership Fortune 500® Partners List
U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program designed to reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation by promoting renewable energy. This Top Partner list presents Green Power Partners that also appear on the Fortune 500® list.
Farmer Participation in U.S. Farm Bill Conservation Programs
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Reimer, Adam P.; Prokopy, Linda S.
2014-02-01
Conservation policy in agricultural systems in the United States relies primarily on voluntary action by farmers. Federal conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, offer incentives, both financial and technical, to farmers in exchange for adoption of conservation practices. Understanding motivations for (as well as barriers to) participation in voluntary programs is important for the design of future policy and effective outreach. While a significant literature has explored motivations and barriers to conservation practice adoption and participation in single programs, few studies in the U.S. context have explored general participation by farmers in one place and time. A mixed-methods research approach was utilized to explore farmer participation in all U.S. Farm Bill programs in Indiana. Current and past program engagement was high, with nearly half of survey respondents reporting participation in at least one program. Most participants had experience with the Conservation Reserve Program, with much lower participation rates in other programs. Most interview participants who had experience in programs were motivated by the environmental benefits of practices, with incentives primarily serving to reduce the financial and technical barriers to practice adoption. The current policy arrangement, which offers multiple policy approaches to conservation, offers farmers with different needs and motivations a menu of options. However, evidence suggests that the complexity of the system may be a barrier that prevents participation by farmers with scarce time or resources. Outreach efforts should focus on increasing awareness of program options, while future policy must balance flexibility of programs with complexity.
Clean Agriculture Clean Agriculture is a voluntary program that promotes the reduction of diesel cleaner fuels. Clean Agriculture is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean information, see the Clean Agriculture website. Point of Contact Jennifer Keller National Clean Diesel
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
None
The aim of the program is to improve the utilization of fuel by commercial trucks and buses by updating and implementing specific approaches for educating and monitoring the trucking industry on methods and means of conserving fuels. The following outlines the marketing plan projects: increase use of program logo by voluntary program members and others; solicit trade publication membership and support; brief Congressional delegations on fuel conservation efforts; increase voluntary program presence before trade groups; increase voluntary program presence at truck and trade shows; create a voluntary program display for use at trade shows and in other areas; review voluntarymore » program graphics; increase voluntary program membership; and produce placemats carrying fuel conservation messages; produce a special edition of Fuel Economy News, emphasizing the driver's involvement in fuel conservation; produce posters carrying voluntary program fuel conservation message. Project objectives, activities, and results for each project are summarized.« less
75 FR 60773 - Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-10-01
...] Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program AGENCY: Federal Emergency... concerns in the Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program (PS-Prep...-53 (the 9/11 Act) mandated DHS to establish a voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and...
5 CFR 630.1014 - Movement between voluntary leave bank programs.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Movement between voluntary leave bank programs. 630.1014 Section 630.1014 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1014 Movement between voluntary leave bank...
40 CFR 86.1708-99 - Exhaust emission standards for 1999 and later light-duty vehicles.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... and later light-duty vehicles. 86.1708-99 Section 86.1708-99 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL... VEHICLES AND ENGINES (CONTINUED) General Provisions for the Voluntary National Low Emission Vehicle Program for Light-Duty Vehicles and Light-Duty Trucks § 86.1708-99 Exhaust emission standards for 1999 and...
How effective is mandatory building energy disclosure program in Australia?
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, S.; Lim, B. T. H.
2018-04-01
Mandatory green building regulations are often considered as the most effective tool to promote better energy efficiency and environmental protection. Nevertheless, its effectiveness compared to the voluntary counterpart has not been fully explored yet. In addressing this gap, this study aims to examine the environmental performance of green building stocks affected by the Australian mandatory building energy disclosure program. To this, this study analysed energy savings and carbon reduction efficiencies using the normalisation approach. The result shows that mandatory energy disclosure program did contribute to the reduction in energy usage and carbon emissions from the affected building stocks. More specifically, affected green building stocks showed a good efficiency especially in carbon reductions. The research results inform policymakers the possible improvement required for the mandatory disclosure program to increase the effectiveness towards dealing with the contemporary environmental issues aroused from the building sector, especially in energy savings perspective.
10 CFR 431.176 - Voluntary Independent Certification Programs.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... Water Heating Products § 431.176 Voluntary Independent Certification Programs. (a) The Department will approve a Voluntary Independent Certification Program (VICP) for a commercial HVAC and WH product if the... Section 431.176 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN...
75 FR 34148 - Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-06-16
...] Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program AGENCY: Federal Emergency...) announces its adoption of three standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification... DHS to develop and implement a Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-12-15
...] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Voluntary Cosmetic... associated with the Agency's Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program (VCRP). DATES: Submit either electronic... appropriate, and other forms of information technology. Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program--21 CFR Parts...
Which Factors Contribute to Environmental Behaviour of Landowners in Southwestern Ontario, Canada?
Nebel, Silke; Brick, Jeff; Lantz, Van A; Trenholm, Ryan
2017-09-01
Loss of natural heritage is a problem that is particularly prevalent in areas of high population density. We used a survey to understand the factors that drive environmental behavior of landowners in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The survey, which contained questions about environmental attitude, pro-environmental behavior and demographics, was mailed to 18,090 rural route addresses, and we received 3256 completed surveys (18% response rate). Two types of environmental behavior, namely voluntarily increasing the area of land set aside for conservation, and enrollment in a conservation stewardship program, were significantly correlated with a positive attitude towards conservation. Financial considerations also played a role. We showed that the biggest motivator to enroll in a wetland enhancement program was access to 'more information on how the decline in wetland area affects them personally', while 'public recognition' was the least motivating factor. We suggest that enrollment in voluntary land stewardship programs might be increased by providing information about the effects of ecosystem loss, and by providing financial incentives for participation. In a larger social context, outreach programs by government agencies could focus on improving pro-environmental attitudes, which in turn is likely to result in more pro-environmental behavior of landowners.
Which Factors Contribute to Environmental Behaviour of Landowners in Southwestern Ontario, Canada?
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nebel, Silke; Brick, Jeff; Lantz, Van A.; Trenholm, Ryan
2017-09-01
Loss of natural heritage is a problem that is particularly prevalent in areas of high population density. We used a survey to understand the factors that drive environmental behavior of landowners in southwestern Ontario, Canada. The survey, which contained questions about environmental attitude, pro-environmental behavior and demographics, was mailed to 18,090 rural route addresses, and we received 3256 completed surveys (18% response rate). Two types of environmental behavior, namely voluntarily increasing the area of land set aside for conservation, and enrollment in a conservation stewardship program, were significantly correlated with a positive attitude towards conservation. Financial considerations also played a role. We showed that the biggest motivator to enroll in a wetland enhancement program was access to `more information on how the decline in wetland area affects them personally', while `public recognition' was the least motivating factor. We suggest that enrollment in voluntary land stewardship programs might be increased by providing information about the effects of ecosystem loss, and by providing financial incentives for participation. In a larger social context, outreach programs by government agencies could focus on improving pro-environmental attitudes, which in turn is likely to result in more pro-environmental behavior of landowners.
2016-01-01
Workforce Downsizing and Restructuring in the Department of Defense The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Program Versus Involuntary...Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP). The purposes of this research are to place VSIP in context relative to involuntary separation, determine...5 CHAPTER TWO Review of Severance Pay, Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay, and Voluntary
The parallel programming of voluntary and reflexive saccades.
Walker, Robin; McSorley, Eugene
2006-06-01
A novel two-step paradigm was used to investigate the parallel programming of consecutive, stimulus-elicited ('reflexive') and endogenous ('voluntary') saccades. The mean latency of voluntary saccades, made following the first reflexive saccades in two-step conditions, was significantly reduced compared to that of voluntary saccades made in the single-step control trials. The latency of the first reflexive saccades was modulated by the requirement to make a second saccade: first saccade latency increased when a second voluntary saccade was required in the opposite direction to the first saccade, and decreased when a second saccade was required in the same direction as the first reflexive saccade. A second experiment confirmed the basic effect and also showed that a second reflexive saccade may be programmed in parallel with a first voluntary saccade. The results support the view that voluntary and reflexive saccades can be programmed in parallel on a common motor map.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wiser, Ryan Hayes
This dissertation explores the role of consumer purchasing behavior in providing public, environmental goods. It does so by empirically evaluating one market---voluntary demand for renewable energy. The dissertation addresses the following five research questions: (1) What does early experience with green power marketing tell us about the prospects for this market to deliver environmental benefits? (2) What product design and marketing approaches might be used to increase voluntary demand? (3) What motivates non-residential customers to voluntarily purchase green power? (4) What role might public policy play in the creation of the green power market? (5) What preferences do individuals hold on the most appropriate forms of support for renewable energy? By helping to answer these questions, this dissertation seeks to better understand the gap between widespread positive attitudes for the environment and an often-anemic response to green product offerings. It contributes to not only the public goods and environmental marketing literatures, but also to contingent valuation methodology and to an emerging literature on the motivations of firms to contribute to environmental causes. The analysis performed is diverse, and includes: a literature review, a mail survey of green power marketers, a mail survey of non-residential green power customers, and contingent valuation and opinion surveys of U.S. residents. Detailed statistical analysis is performed on the data collected from the residential and non-residential surveys. The analysis reveals that customer participation in green power programs to date has been weak. The possibility that the traditional economic concept of "free riding" may explain this low response is raised, and the dissertation identifies a number of marketing approaches that might be used to partially combat this problem. Analysis of survey data shows that non-residential green power purchases have been motivated principally by altruistic concerns; this finding differs substantially from the extant literature on firm motivations to pursue environmental initiatives. Meanwhile, a mail survey of marketers illustrates the importance of policy in stimulating the green power market. Finally, responses to contingent valuation and opinion surveys show that U.S. residents prefer collective payments for renewable energy over voluntary programs. Overall, this analysis presents a more nuanced understanding of the "green" market than traditionally offered by neoclassical economics and environmental marketing. Some evidence of free riding is found, but this work also identifies other barriers to the development of the green market. The study concludes that green power marketing may increase renewables supply, but that traditional public policy supports should not be abandoned in the hope that customer-driven markets will take up the slack.
Canada's Voluntary ARET Program: Limited Success Despite Industry Cosponsorship
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Antweiler, Werner; Harrison, Kathryn
2007-01-01
The Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxins (ARET) Challenge was a voluntary program initiated in 1994 by the Government of Canada. Unlike the U.S. 33/50 Program, ARET involved industry partners in negotiation and cosponsorship of the program, with the intention that early involvement would yield stronger commitment to voluntary reductions. We…
78 FR 51678 - Voluntary Education Programs; Correction
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-08-21
... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 32 CFR Part 68 [Docket No. DOD-2013-OS-0093] RIN 0790-AJ06 Voluntary Education Programs; Correction AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness...), the Department of Defense published a proposed rule titled Voluntary Education Programs. Subsequent to...
Voluntary Industry Distributor Accreditation Program
DOT National Transportation Integrated Search
1996-09-05
This advisory circular (AC) describes a system for the voluntary accreditation of civil aircraft parts distributors on the basis of voluntary industry oversight and provides information that may be used for developing accreditation programs. The Fede...
5 CFR 630.1015 - Movement between voluntary leave bank and leave transfer programs.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Movement between voluntary leave bank and leave transfer programs. 630.1015 Section 630.1015 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1015 Movement...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ross, J. Michael
A careful review of the literature and an examination of desegregation programs in Los Angeles, show that the claim that voluntary programs produce almost no desegregation, and certainly less than mandatory programs, is open to question. Most comparisons between voluntary and mandatory programs have been between cities and have not taken into…
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
NONE
1989-09-01
The objective of this environmental assessment (EA) is to identify the potential environmental impacts that could result from the proposed voluntary residential standard (VOLRES) on private sector construction of new residential buildings. In this report, the scope, objectives, and approach of this EA are presented.
Progress Cleaning the Air: Voluntary Partnership Program Accomplishments
EPA voluntary clean air partnership programs work in tandem with regulatory programs to protect public health and the environment. This page highlights accomplishments of selected partnership programs.
1983-05-01
mat of the voluntary standards thean in existence (JASI and NVA standards, for wcmmle). fwue affected the broad spectrum of Nm rican industry. As OBIA ...have been funded. As OMA matured, programs, standards, and inspections were significantly improved and gained industry aeptance. OBIA has deleted many
Chemical Industry Security: Voluntary or Mandatory Approach?
2007-03-01
reasonably ask ourselves whether we run the risk of comparing apples and oranges when trying to learn something new from them.35 The main...Myriam Dunn’s caution of comparing apples and oranges in CIP strategies. The European Union strategy of classifying CI information does not appear...level to establish an effective oversight program. SWOT Analysis – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Strengths: • Existing
Corporate environmentalism and environmental innovation.
Chang, Ching-Hsing; Sam, Abdoul G
2015-04-15
Several papers have explored the effect of tighter environmental standards on environmental innovation. While mandatory regulation remains the central tenet of US environmental policy, the regulatory landscape has changed since the early 1990s with the increased recourse by federal and state agencies to corporate environmentalism--voluntary pollution prevention (P2) by firms--to achieve environmental improvements. We therefore estimate the effects of voluntary P2 activities on the patenting of environmental technologies by a sample of manufacturing firms. With our panel data of 352 firms over the 1991-2000 period, we adopt an instrumental variable Poisson framework to account for the count nature of patents and the endogeneity of the P2 adoption decision. Our results indicate that the adoption of voluntary P2 activities in the manufacturing sector has led to a statistically and economically significant increase in the number of environmental patents, suggesting that corporate environmentalism can act as a catalyst for investments in cleaner technologies. Our findings are internationally relevant given the increasing ubiquity of corporate environmentalism in both developed and developing economies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
75 FR 67992 - Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-11-04
... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID FEMA-2008-0017] Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program AGENCY: Federal Emergency... on an initial small business plan to address small business concerns in the Voluntary Private Sector...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Goodwin, Rosalyn Harper
2013-01-01
This study investigated the perspectives of four students and 6 parent participants of the Voluntary Student Transfer program, an inter-district desegregation program that involves transporting African American students from urban area schools to surrounding county schools. Due to limited and dated research related to the Voluntary Student…
40 CFR 92.404 - Voluntary emissions recall reporting.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall reporting... Defect Reporting Requirements, Voluntary Emission Recall Program § 92.404 Voluntary emissions recall reporting. (a) When any manufacturer or remanufacturer initiates a voluntary emissions recall campaign...
40 CFR 94.404 - Voluntary emissions recall reporting.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Voluntary emissions recall reporting... Reporting Requirements, Voluntary Emission Recall Program § 94.404 Voluntary emissions recall reporting. (a) When any manufacturer initiates a voluntary emissions recall campaign involving an engine, the...
Should mandatory energy reporting be eliminated
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kendall, R.
1981-08-01
Energy users report problems with the Industrial Reporting Program (IRP), a joint voluntary energy-efficiency program which began in 1975. Since energy-intensive industries were already organizing voluntary reporting, the new program required unnecessary expenditures. The Reagan administration's plan to eliminate the program by not funding it is opposed by many energy managers who want the data collected to help them with their management programs. Their interest is primarily in a data base because energy costs provide adequate incentives to conserve. They also want interaction (preferably voluntary) between industry and goverment on efficiency-improvement opportunities. (DCK)
Psychosocial assistance after environmental accidents: a policy perspective.
Becker, S M
1997-01-01
There is a substantial body of literature on psychosocial impacts of chemical and nuclear accidents. Less attention, however, has been focused on the program and policy issues that are connected with efforts to provide psychosocial assistance to the victims of such accidents. Because psychosocial assistance efforts are certain to be an essential part of the response to future environmental emergencies, it is vital that relevant program and policy issues by more fully considered. This article discusses the highly complex nature of contamination situations and highlights some of the key policy issues that are associated with the provision of psychosocial services after environmental accidents. One issue concerns the potential for assistance efforts to become objects of conflict. In the context of the intense controversy typically associated with chemical or nuclear accidents, and with debates over the causation of illness usually at the center of environmental accidents, psychosocial assistance services may themselves become contested terrain. Other significant program and policy issues include determining how to interface with citizen self-help and other voluntary groups, addressing the problem of stigma, and deciding how to facilitate stakeholder participation in the shaping of service provision. This article offers a series of policy proposals that may help smooth the way for psychosocial assistance programs in future environmental emergencies. PMID:9467082
Voluntary Environmental auditing in light of EPA`s criminal enforcement initiatives
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Buehler, D.C.; Sarlo, C.H.
1995-12-01
With the advent and encouragement of recent initiatives by EPA and state environmental regulators for the development and use by business entities of voluntary environmental compliance and audit programs has come an increased concern over the potential for criminal prosecution of individuals charged with the responsibility for ensuring environmental compliance. With the EPA avoiding the issue of whether audit findings will be used as evidence in a joint civil and criminal investigation (i.e., multi-media inspection), a sense of heightened concern has been prevalent in the regulated community. This paper will address the use of audit methodologies that incorporate law enforcement/criminalmore » investigatory techniques as well as suggested attorney-client reporting structure that should be applied in auditing in order to prevent/mitigate the potential for criminal enforcement actions. The goals of the paper are to enable both corporate compliance managers and environmental auditors to be aware of the potential pitfalls and/or liabilities associated with compliance audit findings. Additionally, to educate auditors on when and how to take further steps, through the use of investigatory interviewing techniques, in order to develop answers to questionable data and/or confirm findings of the environmental audit to avoid civil and criminal penalties. The goals of an environment audit should be to avoid both civil and criminal prosecution through the advanced identification of liabilities and the subsequent development of protocols to achieve compliance. However, oftentimes the use of a pre-established {open_quotes}checklist.« less
Behavioral Effects of Enrichment and Nicotine in Male Sprague Dawley Rats
2008-10-01
activity, increased habituation to a novel environment, decreased voluntary exercise. Rats in the physically-enriched group had increased voluntary ... voluntary exercise. Environmental enrichment prolonged nicotine’s effects through nicotine cessation. Enrichment’s effects on body weight could not...68 Euthanasia ................................................................................................... 68 DATA ANALYTIC STRATEGY FOR
76 FR 72766 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8952
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-11-25
... 8952, Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program. DATES: Written comments should [email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement... Classification Settlement Program. To participate in the program, taxpayers must meet certain eligibility...
Organizational and environmental effects on voluntary and involuntary turnover.
Donoghue, Christopher; Castle, Nicholas G
2007-01-01
There are few studies of voluntary and involuntary turnover in the nursing home literature. Previous research in this area has focused mainly on the linear effects of individual and organizational characteristics on total turnover. The purpose of this study was to examine both linear and nonlinear effects of organizational and environmental conditions on voluntary and involuntary nursing home staff turnover. We analyzed both primary and secondary data on 854 nursing homes in six states. A negative binomial regression model was used to study both linear and curvilinear effects of organizational and environmental factors on voluntary and involuntary turnover among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. Staffing levels and deficiency citations were the organizational characteristics most consistently linked with turnover among all nurse types. Links were also found between unemployment and type of location (urban or rural) and turnover, indicating that the economic environment is influential for retention. The results of this study support the notion that policy makers need to consider both the organization and the environment when evaluating the nature of nursing home staff turnover. The findings also offer further evidence that the antecedents of voluntary and involuntary turnover are not necessarily the same.
Redefining RECs: Additionality in the voluntary Renewable Energy Certificate market
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gillenwater, Michael Wayne
In the United States, electricity consumers are told that they can "buy" electricity from renewable energy projects, versus fossil fuel-fired facilities, through participation in a voluntary green power program. The marketing messages communicate to consumers that their participation and premium payments for a green label will cause additional renewable energy generation and thereby allow them to claim they consume electricity that is absent pollution as well as reduce pollutant emissions. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and wind energy are the basis for the majority of the voluntary green power market in the United States. This dissertation addresses the question: Do project developers respond to the voluntary REC market in the United States by altering their decisions to invest in wind turbines? This question is investigated by modeling and probabilistically quantifying the effect of the voluntary REC market on a representative wind power investor in the United States using data from formal expert elicitations of active participants in the industry. It is further explored by comparing the distribution of a sample of wind power projects supplying the voluntary green power market in the United States against an economic viability model that incorporates geographic factors. This dissertation contributes the first quantitative analysis of the effect of the voluntary REC market on project investment. It is found that 1) RECs should be not treated as equivalent to emission offset credits, 2) there is no clearly credible role for voluntary market RECs in emissions trading markets without dramatic restructuring of one or both markets and the environmental commodities they trade, and 3) the use of RECs in entity-level GHG emissions accounting (i.e., "carbon footprinting") leads to double counting of emissions and therefore is not justified. The impotence of the voluntary REC market was, at least in part, due to the small magnitude of the REC price signal and lack of long-term contracts that would reduce the risk of relying on revenue the voluntary green power market. Although no simple solutions are identified, a proposal for integrating RECs into a load based cap-and-trade system is presented. Keywords: Renewable Energy Certificate (REC); Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS); emission offset; additionality; attributes
42 CFR 460.162 - Voluntary disenrollment.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-10-01
... (CONTINUED) PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) Participant Enrollment and Disenrollment § 460.162 Voluntary disenrollment. A PACE...
42 CFR 460.162 - Voluntary disenrollment.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... (CONTINUED) PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) PROGRAMS OF ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) Participant Enrollment and Disenrollment § 460.162 Voluntary disenrollment. A PACE...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-03-22
... management programs including how the programs successfully address management leadership and employee...] Voluntary Protection Programs Information; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's... concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of the information...
Development and Operation of a Voluntary Audit Program.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Murphy, Jerome R.
This report describes a voluntary audit program implemented by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The comprehensive audit program was developed to assure that all corporate programs adhere to the ETS Standards for Quality and Fairness. The standards address issues which relate to all ETS activities such as accountability, confidentiality of…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
MAXIMA Corp., Silver Spring, MD.
Building on the findings of a survey of potential users and a descriptive review of five existing information networks, the present study represents an attempt to characterize several options for a voluntary confederation of participants in operating the National Environmental Data Referral Services (NEDRES) being developed by the Assessment and…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Grote, N. P.; Baumhover, L. A.
The relationship between life satisfaction and voluntary association membership is passing through its descriptive phases and is now being examined in depth. As part of a three-year longitudinal study to evaluate a Title VII program, this data reports on an analysis of life satisfaction, voluntary association membership, health status, and SES…
Gasoline toxicology: overview of regulatory and product stewardship programs.
Swick, Derek; Jaques, Andrew; Walker, J C; Estreicher, Herb
2014-11-01
Significant efforts have been made to characterize the toxicological properties of gasoline. There have been both mandatory and voluntary toxicology testing programs to generate hazard characterization data for gasoline, the refinery process streams used to blend gasoline, and individual chemical constituents found in gasoline. The Clean Air Act (CAA) (Clean Air Act, 2012: § 7401, et seq.) is the primary tool for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate gasoline and this supplement presents the results of the Section 211(b) Alternative Tier 2 studies required for CAA Fuel and Fuel Additive registration. Gasoline blending streams have also been evaluated by EPA under the voluntary High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program through which the petroleum industry provide data on over 80 refinery streams used in gasoline. Product stewardship efforts by companies and associations such as the American Petroleum Institute (API), Conservation of Clean Air and Water Europe (CONCAWE), and the Petroleum Product Stewardship Council (PPSC) have contributed a significant amount of hazard characterization data on gasoline and related substances. The hazard of gasoline and anticipated exposure to gasoline vapor has been well characterized for risk assessment purposes. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Decontamination systems information and research programs. Quarterly report, July 1--August 31, 1996
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
NONE
1997-07-01
The US contains numerous hazardous waste sites. Many sites are on private land near operating units of various companies. An effort is being made to determine the conditions under which such sites can be remediated voluntarily. The objective of the project will be to first assess the interest and willingness of industry in the Kanawha River Valley, WV to participate in discussions that would lead toward voluntary cleanup activities. The second will be to implement the activities agreed upon by the interested parties. The project will first involve individual discussions with the industrial, government, and other organized groups in themore » area. These discussions will help determine the feasibility of organizing voluntary efforts. If the discussions indicate that conditions may be favorable for developing individual or group voluntary cleanup projects, a working group will be convened to establish the environmental goals of the project as well as the technical approach for achieving those goals. The projects for the 1996 WVU Cooperative Agreement are categorized into three task focus areas: Task 1.0 Contaminant Plume Containment and Remediation, Task 2.0 Cross Cutting Innovative Technologies, and Task 3.0 Small Business Support Program. Summaries of the accomplishments for the subtasks reporting under these categories during the third quarter, 1 July 96 through 30 September 96, are presented.« less
Voluntary Mobile Source Programs: Crediting Innovation and Experimentation Brochure
This EPA document provides guidance on Voluntary Mobile Source Emission Reduction Programs (VMEPs) that could be implemented and credited with emission reductions for State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related purposes.
15 CFR 9.4 - Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Development of voluntary energy... PROCEDURES FOR A VOLUNTARY LABELING PROGRAM FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT TO EFFECT ENERGY CONSERVATION § 9.4 Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications. (a) The Secretary in...
15 CFR 9.4 - Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Development of voluntary energy... PROCEDURES FOR A VOLUNTARY LABELING PROGRAM FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT TO EFFECT ENERGY CONSERVATION § 9.4 Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications. (a) The Secretary in...
15 CFR 9.4 - Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Development of voluntary energy... PROCEDURES FOR A VOLUNTARY LABELING PROGRAM FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT TO EFFECT ENERGY CONSERVATION § 9.4 Development of voluntary energy conservation specifications. (a) The Secretary in...
Decontamination systems information and research program. Quarterly report, April--June 1996
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
NONE
This report contains separate reports on the following subtasks: analysis of the Vortec cyclone melting system for remediation of PCB contaminated soils using CFD; drain enhanced soil flushing using prefabricated vertical drains; performance and characteristics evaluation of acrylates as grout barriers; development of standard test protocol barrier design models for desiccation barriers, and for in-situ formed barriers; in-situ bioremediation of chlorinated solvents at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant; development of a decision support system and a prototype database for management of the EM50 technology development program; GIS-based infrastructure for site characterization and remediation; treatment of mixed wastes via fluidized bed steammore » reforming; use of centrifugal membrane technology to treat hazardous/radioactive waste; environmental pollution control devices based on novel forms of carbon; development of instrumental methods for analysis of nuclear wastes and environmental materials; production and testing of biosorbents and cleaning solutions for D and D; use of SpinTek centrifugal membrane and sorbents/cleaning solutions for D and D; West Virginia High Tech Consortium Foundation--Environmental support program; small business interaction opportunities; and approach for assessing potential voluntary environmental protection.« less
Back, David Alexander; Haberstroh, Nicole; Sostmann, Kai; Schmidmaier, Gerhard; Putzier, Michael; Perka, Carsten; Hoff, Eike
2014-01-01
Within the last decade, e-learning has gained a consistent place in surgical teaching. However, as the use of new programs is often voluntary, more information on the implications of the data regarding user acceptance and knowledge with mandatory use is desirable, especially in the context of the long-term developments of courses. Starting in 2009, the e-learning program Network for Students in Traumatology and Orthopedics was offered in a voluntary blended learning context. Students' satisfaction and increase in knowledge were evaluated using questionnaires and written tests. With proven effectiveness, the program became a mandatory part of the curriculum, and students' attitudes and gain of knowledge were re-evaluated in 2010 and 2011 to detect differences in voluntary vs mandatory use. In the evaluation questionnaires (n = 108 voluntary vs n = 361 mandatory), the overall appreciation regarding the offerings remained high. Significantly more students felt better prepared for clinical situations (p < 0.001) and asked for e-tutoring (p = 0.025) with mandatory use. In written tests, both voluntary (n = 70) and mandatory (n = 147) users showed significantly increased knowledge (p < 0.001). Starting with a lower base level (p < 0.001), mandatory users had a significantly higher absolute increase compared with voluntary users (p = 0.015), leading to a similar final level. The presented blended learning concept was an efficient way to teach students orthopedics and traumatology. Data can support the assumption that even if the voluntary evaluation of e-learning offerings might be subject to a selection bias, the results can serve as a representative impression for the students' overall mood and their gain in knowledge. However, as changes would have to be anticipated when shifting to mandatory use, users' perceptions should be constantly evaluated. © 2013 Published by Association of Program Directors in Surgery on behalf of Association of Program Directors in Surgery.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Plante, Catherine; Moreau, Nicolas; Jaimes, Annie; Turbide, Carole
2016-01-01
Recruitment is known to be a challenge for intervention programs targeting youths, including sports programs. Following the popularity of the "Alter-Action" program of the Montreal-based organization "DesÉquilibres", we wanted to understand the motivations and barriers to youths' recruitment in this voluntary sports community…
Voluntary environmental agreements: Good or bad news for environmental protection?
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Segerson, K.; Miceli, T.J.
1998-09-01
There has been growing interest in the use of voluntary agreements (VAs) as an environmental policy tool. This article uses a simple model to determine whether VAs are likely to lead to efficient environmental protection. The authors consider cases where polluters are induced to participate either by a background threat of mandatory controls (the stick approach) or by cost-sharing subsidies (the carrot approach). The results suggest that the overall impact on environmental quality could be positive or negative, depending on a number of factors, including the allocation of bargaining power, the magnitude of the background threat, and the social costmore » of funds.« less
38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...
38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...
38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...
38 CFR 18.406 - Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
..., voluntary action and self-evaluation. 18.406 Section 18.406 Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief... Basis of Handicap General Provisions § 18.406 Remedial action, voluntary action and self-evaluation. (a... treatment within the program or activity. (b) Voluntary action. A recipient may take steps, in addition to...
Do Payments Pay Off? Evidence from Participation in Costa Rica’s PES Program
Arriagada, R. A.; Sills, E. O.; Ferraro, P. J.; Pattanayak, S. K.
2015-01-01
Payments for environmental services (PES) are often viewed as a way to simultaneously improve conservation outcomes and the wellbeing of rural households who receive the payments. However, evidence for such win-win outcomes has been elusive. We add to the growing literature on conservation program impacts by using primary household survey data to evaluate the socioeconomic impacts of participation in Costa Rica’s PES program. Despite the substantial cash transfers to voluntary participants in this program, we do not detect any evidence of impacts on their wealth or self-reported well-being using a quasi-experimental design. These results are consistent with the common claim that voluntary PES do not harm participants, but they beg the question of why landowners participate if they do not benefit. Landowners in our sample voluntarily renewed their contracts after five years in the program and thus are unlikely to have underestimated their costs of participation. They apparently did not invest additional income from the program in farm inputs such as cattle or hired labor, since both decreased as a result of participation. Nor do we find evidence that participation encouraged moves off-farm. Instead, semi-structured interviews suggest that participants joined the program to secure their property rights and contribute to the public good of forest conservation. Thus, in order to understand the social impacts of PES, we need to look beyond simple economic rationales and material outcomes. PMID:26162000
77 FR 72941 - Voluntary Education Programs
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-12-07
... education programs offered on a military installation at no cost to the individual Service TA programs. Sec... voluntary education and training of active duty Service members during their off-duty periods, each Military... training for which the Service member is enrolled. (B) When an institution's charges exceed the per...
78 FR 6208 - Voluntary Education Programs
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-01-30
... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary 32 CFR Part 68 [Docket No. DOD-2009-OS-0034] RIN 0790-AI50 Voluntary Education Programs AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel... Education Programs. Subsequent to the publication of that rule, the Department discovered that the effective...
EPA Finalizes Voluntary Quality Assurance Plan for Renewable Fuel Standard Program
The rule finalizes a voluntary third-party quality assurance program option for RINs that regulated parties may exercise as a supplement to the “buyer beware” liability as prescribed under existing regulations.
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-07-11
...; Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY... ``Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget [[Page...
Schools and Programs of Choice: Voluntary Desegregation in Massachusetts.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Missal, Gerald E., Ed.
Described in this document are a number of magnet school programs developed and operating in Massachusetts as part of a voluntary school desegregation plan. A historical perspective of magnet school development is provided along with definitions and guidelines of both magnet schools and magnet education programs. These definitions and guidelines…
7 CFR 766.114 - State-certified mediation or voluntary meeting of creditors.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 7 Agriculture 7 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false State-certified mediation or voluntary meeting of... Programs § 766.114 State-certified mediation or voluntary meeting of creditors. (a) A borrower who is...) State-certified mediation; or (2) Voluntary meeting of creditors when a State does not have a certified...
Spreading the word: A process evaluation of a voluntary AOD prevention program.
Edelen, Maria Orlando; Tucker, Joan; D'Amico, Elizabeth
2015-06-01
Research on voluntary after-school alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention programs is limited. It is important to increase understanding of students' motivation to attend these types of programs and their tendency to transfer program information to peers. This paper summarizes efforts to evaluate process information for CHOICE, a voluntary after-school AOD prevention program for middle-school youth. A survey administered to 1899 students aged 10-16 in seven schools assessed: (1) why students choose to attend CHOICE (2) barriers to attendance; and (3) how program information is disseminated to non-participants. Frequencies of responses from participants and non-participants were compared. Participants were motivated by several features, most notably, the demeanor of the group leaders and enjoyable curriculum content. Barriers to attendance were primarily logistic, but results also suggest that the promotion message should more effectively emphasize that CHOICE is appropriate for everyone. The majority of students knew about CHOICE, both through advertising and conversations with friends. Non-participants' detailed reports of what they heard from friends corresponded closely with what participants reported sharing. The use of dynamic group leaders is critical to engaging students in voluntary programs. Offering the program on different days of the week or at different times (e.g., before school) may improve attendance rates. Peer networks represent a critical pathway for prevention information that can help increase program impact. These results can be used to inform modifications to existing voluntary after-school AOD prevention programs to obtain higher attendance rates and more widespread dissemination of the intervention message. © American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.
EPA Releases Guidance on a Voluntary Pilot Program to Reduce Animal Testing
EPA is announcing the start of a voluntary pilot program to evaluate the usefulness and acceptability of a mathematical tool that estimates the toxicological classification of a chemical, which is used in the GHS.
Multicriteria mapping of stakeholder preferences in regulating nanotechnology
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hansen, Steffen Foss
2010-08-01
In order to facilitate stakeholder discussions on how to regulate nanotechnology, the opensource program multicriteria mapping (MCM) was used to structure 26 interviews with stakeholders in the USA. MCM offers a systematic part quantitative, part qualitative approach to clarify why some regulatory options (bans, moratoriums, voluntary measures, etc.) were deemed to be acceptable/unacceptable by various stakeholders and which criteria stakeholders used to evaluate the different regulatory options. Adopting an incremental approach and implementing a new regulatory framework was evaluated as the best options whereas a complete ban and no additional regulation of nanotechnology were found to be the least favorable. Criteria applied differed substantially among stakeholders and included social, ethical, regulatory, environmental, and health issues. Opinions on future regulation seem far less polarized than expected and it seems that stakeholders would welcome a combination of voluntary measures, an incremental approach and forming of a new regulatory framework.
Chapter 636, Voluntary Integration in Massachusetts. Successful Programs of Choice.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Spier, Adele W.; And Others
A statewide study was conducted to identify and describe successful voluntary school desegregation programs funded under Chapter 636, a 1974 amendment to Massachussets' Racial Imbalance Law. Programs selected were of four types: (1) school-based (elementary, middle, and high); (2) school system- or district-wide; (3) part-time and full-time…
DOT National Transportation Integrated Search
2008-11-01
In 2003, Congress established a program to reduce airport ground emissions at commercial service airports in areas failing to meet or maintain air quality standards. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administers the Voluntary Airport Low Emis...
Scott, Sheryl A; Proescholdbell, Scott
2009-01-01
Health promotion professionals are increasingly encouraged to implement evidence-based programs in health departments, communities, and schools. Yet translating evidence-based research into practice is challenging, especially for complex initiatives that emphasize environmental strategies to create community change. The purpose of this article is to provide health promotion practitioners with a method to evaluate the community change process and document successful applications of environmental strategies. The community change chronicle method uses a five-step process: first, develop a logic model; second, select outcomes of interest; third, review programmatic data for these outcomes; fourth, collect and analyze relevant materials; and, fifth, disseminate stories. From 2001 to 2003, the authors validated the use of a youth empowerment model and developed eight community change chronicles that documented the creation of tobacco-free schools policies (n = 2), voluntary policies to reduce secondhand smoke in youth hangouts (n = 3), and policy and program changes in diverse communities (n = 3).
This EPA memorandum provides guidance and sets forth policy and interpretation regarding the granting of explicit State Implementation Plan (SIP) credit for Voluntary Mobile Source Emission Reduction Programs (VMEPs) under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.
Protecting workers and the environment: An environmental NGO's perspective on nanotechnology
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Balbus, John M.; Florini, Karen; Denison, Richard A.; Walsh, Scott A.
2007-01-01
Nanotechnology, the design and manipulation of materials at the atomic scale, may well revolutionize many of the ways our society manufactures products, produces energy, and treats diseases. New materials based on nanotechnology are already reaching the market in a wide variety of consumer products. Some of the observed properties of nanomaterials call into question the adequacy of current methods for determining hazard and exposure and for controlling resulting risks. Given the limitations of existing regulatory tools and policies, we believe two distinct kinds of initiatives are needed: first, a major increase in the federal investment in nanomaterial risk research; second, rapid development and implementation of voluntary standards of care pending development of adequate regulatory safeguards in the longer term. Several voluntary programs are currently at various stages of evolution, though the eventual outputs of each of these are still far from clear. Ultimately, effective regulatory safeguards are necessary to provide a level playing field for industry while adequately protecting human health and the environment. This paper reviews the existing toxicological literature on nanomaterials, outlines and analyzes the current regulatory framework, and provides our recommendations, as an environmental non-profit organization, for safe nanotechnology development.
Greening, H; DeGrove, B D
2001-11-14
Participants in the Tampa Bay Estuary Program have agreed to adopt nitrogen-loading targets for Tampa Bay based on the water-quality and related light requirements of underwater seagrasses. Based on modeling results, it appears that light levels can be maintained at necessary levels by "holding the line" at existing nitrogen loadings; however, this goal may be difficult to achieve given the 20% increase in the watershed"s human population and associated 7% increase in nitrogen loading that are projected to occur over the next 20 years. To address the long-term management of nitrogen sources, a nitrogen management consortium of local electric utilities, industries, and agricultural interests, as well as local governments and regulatory agency representatives, has developed a consortium action plan to address the target load reduction needed to "hold the line" at 1992 to 1994 levels. To date, implemented and planned projects collated in the Consortium Action Plan meet and exceed the agreed-upon nitrogen-loading reduction goal. An example of the success of the private partnership aspect of this program can be seen in three phosphate fertilizer mining and manufacturing companies with facilities located on Tampa Bay. These companies are participants in the Estuary Program and the Nitrogen Management Consortium to provide support and input for a program that advocates voluntary, nonregulatory cooperation to reach environmental goals.
Analysis of industrial pollution prevention programs in selected Asian countries
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Chiu, S.Y.
1995-05-01
Industrialization in developing countries is causing increasing environmental damage. Pollution prevention (P2) is an emerging environmental concept that could help developing countries achieve leapfrog goals, bypassing old and pollutive technologies and minimizing traditional control practices. The current P2 promotion activities in Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand are discussed. These programs, generally initiated in the last 5 years, are classified into five categories: awareness promotion, education and training, information transfer, technical assistance, and financial incentives. All important at the early stages of P2 promotion, these programs should inform industries of the benefits of P2more » and help them identify applicable P2 measures. Participation in these programs is voluntary. The limited data indicate that adoption of P2 measures in these countries is not yet widespread. Recommendations for expanding P2 promotion activities include (1) strengthening the design and enforcement of environmental regulations; (2) providing P2 training and education to government workers, nongovernmental organizations and labor unions officials, university faculties, and news media; (3) tracking the progress of P2 programs; (4) implementing selected P2 mandatory measures; (5) identifying cleaner production technologies for use in new facilities; (6) implementing special programs for small and medium enterprises; and (7) expanding P2 promotion to other sectors, such as agriculture and transportation, and encouraging green design and green consumerism.« less
Voluntary Professional Credentialing Programs. A Resource Handbook for Continuing Educators.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hanniford, Barbara, Ed.
This handbook describes 77 voluntary programs offering professional credentialing for people in a wide range of professional and occupational fields. Each description lists credentials, organization offering credentials, initial credentialing requirements, credential renewal requirements (if any), continuing education approval process, and other…
Continuing Professional Education Programs of Voluntary Health Agencies.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
American Medical Association, Chicago, IL.
Organizational objectives and professional continuing education programs of ten voluntary health agencies--Allergy Foundation of America, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation, National Association for Mental Health, National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, National Society for the Prevention of Blindness,…
76 FR 41861 - Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-07-15
... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of open season for enrollment in the VISA program. Introduction The VISA program was established pursuant to section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as...
75 FR 52594 - Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-08-26
... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of open season for enrollment in the VISA program. Introduction The VISA program was established pursuant to section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as...
77 FR 53963 - Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-09-04
... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Maritime Administration Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of open season for enrollment in the VISA program. Introduction The VISA program was established pursuant to section 708 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-01-29
... Directorate; Assessment Questionnaire--Voluntary Chemical Assessment Tool (VCAT) AGENCY: National Protection... Directorate is soliciting comments concerning new collection request, Assessment Questionnaire--Voluntary... will be prompted with the VCAT Assessment questionnaire and will answer various questions to input the...
36 CFR 906.9 - Voluntary compliance.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Voluntary compliance. 906.9 Section 906.9 Parks, Forests, and Public Property PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY AND PROCEDURE Development Program § 906.9 Voluntary compliance. The Corporation will...
vehicles. The Program will be focused on funding projects for the voluntary early retirement and . Eligible applicants that have received funding for voluntary vehicle retirement under the California Bureau of Automotive Repair's Consumer Assistance Program are eligible for vehicle replacement funding under
76 FR 17367 - National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program; Operating Procedures
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-03-29
... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology 15 CFR Part 285 [Docket No: 110125063-1062-02] RIN 0693-AB61 National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program; Operating Procedures AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of proposed...
Induction of prolonged natural lifespans in mice exposed to acoustic environmental enrichment.
Yamashita, Yuichi; Kawai, Norie; Ueno, Osamu; Matsumoto, Yui; Oohashi, Tsutomu; Honda, Manabu
2018-05-21
We investigated the effect of acoustic environmental enrichment (EE) on the lifespans and behaviours of mice to the end of their natural lifespan in different acoustic environments. Acoustic EE induced a significantly prolonged natural lifespan (nearly 17% longer) and was associated with increased voluntary movements. However, no correlation between lifespan and voluntary movements was detected, suggesting that increased voluntary movements are not a primary cause of lifespan prolongation. Analyses of individual differences in lifespan demonstrated that lifespan extension induced by acoustic EE could be related to changes in social relationships (e.g., reduction of social conflict) among individuals kept within a cage. Therefore, an acoustic component may be an important factor inducing the positive effects of EE.
Treatment of Depression in Voluntary Versus Mandated Physicians.
Johnson, R Scott; Fowler, J Christopher; Sikes, Kristi A; Allen, Jon G; Oldham, John M
2015-12-01
Few if any publications discuss the effectiveness of voluntary versus mandated treatment for impaired physicians. This retrospective case-control study compared the recovery rates of physicians whose treatment was mandated or coerced by either licensure boards or employers (mandated physicians) with the rates for physicians admitted voluntarily (voluntary physicians) to the Menninger Clinic's Professionals in Crisis program from 2009 through 2012. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II scores served as the primary outcome measure. At the time of admission, voluntary physicians were more depressed, but the improvement rates in the voluntary and mandated groups did not differ significantly. In addition, the two groups differed neither in rates of return to the healthy range of BDI-II scores, nor in whether BDI-II scores had decreased by at least two standard deviations by the time of discharge. These findings suggest that state physician health programs can continue to mandate physicians into treatment despite concerns that mandatory treatment may be less efficacious than voluntary treatment. © 2015 American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
Supporting voluntary faculty members in departments of psychiatry.
Magen, Jed; Ley, Alyse
2011-01-01
Unpaid voluntary faculty members do substantial amounts of teaching in medical schools. This article discusses strategies for recruitment, retention, and development for these individuals. The authors describe a compendium of literature searches and their own experience administering a large medical student education program and residency programs. Voluntary faculty members are internally motivated to teach. Concrete or monetary compensation is much less valued than simple acknowledgment and teaching-excellence awards. Departments should thoughtfully decide how they wish to reward voluntary faculty members for their contributions. Small gestures of gratitude generally are appreciated out of proportion to their intrinsic value. Departments can successfully retain excellent teachers who contribute to the educational mission without spending scarce resources. Copyright © 2011 Academic Psychiatry
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Grehan, Anna; Cavalluzzo, Linda; Gnuschke, John; Hanson, Ryan; Oliver, Simon; Vosters, Kelly
2011-01-01
This study examines the first four years of Tennessee's Voluntary Prekindergarten program, directed to four-year-olds eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. It reviews participation levels and trends for the program as a whole, for collaborative partner classrooms, and for student and district subgroups and discusses the geographic distribution…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Lipsey, Mark W.; Hofer, Kerry G.; Dong, Nianbo; Farran, Dale C.; Bilbrey, Carol
2013-01-01
In 2009, Vanderbilt University's Peabody Research Institute, with the assistance of the Tennessee Department of Education's Division of Curriculum and Instruction, initiated a rigorous, independent evaluation of the state's Voluntary Prekindergarten program (TN- VPK). TN-VPK is a full-day prekindergarten program for four-year-old children expected…
Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
2011-01-01
The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program was suspended May 2011. It was a mechanism by which corporations, government agencies, individuals, voluntary organizations, etc., could report to the Energy Information Administration, any actions taken that have or are expected to reduce/avoid emissions of greenhouse gases or sequester carbon.
16 CFR 1031.6 - Extent and form of Commission involvement in the development of voluntary standards.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
..., engineering support, and information and education programs) and administrative assistance (e.g., travel costs... SAFETY COMMISSION GENERAL COMMISSION PARTICIPATION AND COMMISSION EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT IN VOLUNTARY... goals and objectives with regard to voluntary standards and improved consumer product safety; responding...
Nnawulezi, Nkiru; Godsay, Surbhi; Sullivan, Cris M; Marcus, Suzanne; Hacskaylo, Margaret
2018-01-18
The purpose of community-based domestic violence crisis housing programs (e.g., shelters) is to provide a safe setting that promotes empowerment for survivors of intimate partner violence. For staff to reach this aim, the program must have formal structures and processes in place to support such efforts. This study explored how low-barrier and voluntary service policies influenced staff practices and survivor empowerment. Low-barrier policies require that programs remove barriers that prevent survivors, particularly those who have mental health concerns and/or addictions, from being able to access services. A voluntary service policy states that survivors have the right to choose which services, if any, they would like to engage in during their stay at the program. Survivors' ability to stay at the housing program is not contingent on their participation in program services. This exploratory-sequential (QUAL→ quan) mixed-method study examined how low-barrier and voluntary service policies influenced staff behavior and how these behaviors then related to survivor empowerment. Qualitative results revealed that low-barrier and voluntary service were guided by cultural values of justice and access, encouraged survivor-centered practices among staff, and were believed to promote survivor autonomy. Quantitative results suggested that when survivors perceived they had a choice to engage in program services or meet with an advocate, their empowerment increased. This study has implications for domestic violence organizational practice and provides evidence about the contextual factors that support individual empowerment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Office of Economic Opportunity, Washington, DC. Community Action Program.
Published to stimulate local, state, and national groups to develop programs to assist the aged, this catalog presents information about federal grants-in-aid and basic service programs that serve the old, and about foundations and trusts, and national voluntary agencies supporting programs for the aged or willing to assist local groups organizing…
5 CFR 630.1003 - Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... boards. 630.1003 Section 630.1003 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1003 Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards. (a) Each agency that participates in the voluntary leave bank program shall, in accordance with...
5 CFR 630.1003 - Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... boards. 630.1003 Section 630.1003 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1003 Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards. (a) Each agency that participates in the voluntary leave bank program shall, in accordance with...
5 CFR 630.1003 - Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... boards. 630.1003 Section 630.1003 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1003 Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards. (a) Each agency that participates in the voluntary leave bank program shall, in accordance with...
5 CFR 630.1003 - Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... boards. 630.1003 Section 630.1003 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS ABSENCE AND LEAVE Voluntary Leave Bank Program § 630.1003 Establishing leave banks and leave bank boards. (a) Each agency that participates in the voluntary leave bank program shall, in accordance with...
School Desegregation in Seattle: A Historical and Contemporary Synopsis.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rice, Constance
1977-01-01
Seattle's voluntary desegregation plans have included a voluntary racial transfer program, a plan to improve middle schools in the central area, and a magnet school program. Their ineffectiveness has led civil rights organizations to complain to the federal government. Community sentiment against court-ordered desegregation revolves around the…
A Strong Start for Families: Voluntary Home Visiting in California
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Children Now, 2016
2016-01-01
Home visiting programs are voluntary, family-centered programs that match new and expectant parents with trained professionals who provide ongoing, individualized support during critical points throughout pregnancy and a child's first year(s) of life. By reaching families early in their transition into parenthood, and linking them with needed…
Compliance with a Voluntary Hepatitis B Vaccination Program.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rowe, Todd K.; Douglass, Chester W.
1988-01-01
Three years after the introduction of a voluntary hepatitis B vaccination program, the Harvard School of Dental Medicine has achieved a high vaccination rate among predoctoral students and a moderate rate among postdoctoral students and faculty. However, an unexpectedly low immunity was achieved, even among vaccinated individuals. (MSE)
13 CFR 108.585 - Voluntary decrease in NMVC Company's Regulatory Capital.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
...'s Regulatory Capital. 108.585 Section 108.585 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NEW MARKETS VENTURE CAPITAL (âNMVCâ) PROGRAM Managing the Operations of a NMVC Company Voluntary Decrease in Regulatory Capital § 108.585 Voluntary decrease in NMVC Company's Regulatory Capital. You must...
40 CFR 600.509-12 - Voluntary submission of additional data.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Voluntary submission of additional data. 600.509-12 Section 600.509-12 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) ENERGY POLICY FUEL ECONOMY AND GREENHOUSE GAS EXHAUST EMISSIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Procedures for...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-10-28
... Reports and Voluntary Emission Recall Reports (Renewal) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA... request (ICR), Engine Emission Defect Information Reports and Voluntary Emission Recall Reports (EPA ICR... recall the engines. Engine manufacturers are required to submit Defect Information Reports (DIRs) if...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC. National Security and International Affairs Div.
Since 1982, the Congress has expressed concerns regarding voluntary agency use of an accountability for Federal refugee reception and placement grant funds. The Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986 requires increased financial and program reporting by the voluntary agencies. An assessment undertaken to evaluate the adequacy of this reporting…
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... involuntary separation, voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational..., voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. An.... (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3018B) (d) Alternate eligibility requirements for participants in the Post-Vietnam Era...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... involuntary separation, voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational..., voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. An.... (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3018B) (d) Alternate eligibility requirements for participants in the Post-Vietnam Era...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... involuntary separation, voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational..., voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. An.... (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3018B) (d) Alternate eligibility requirements for participants in the Post-Vietnam Era...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... involuntary separation, voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational..., voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. An.... (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3018B) (d) Alternate eligibility requirements for participants in the Post-Vietnam Era...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... involuntary separation, voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational..., voluntary separation, or participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. An.... (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3018B) (d) Alternate eligibility requirements for participants in the Post-Vietnam Era...
9 CFR 352.18 - Cooperation of States in Federal programs.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY ORGANIZATION AND TERMINOLOGY; MANDATORY MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS INSPECTION AND VOLUNTARY INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION EXOTIC ANIMALS AND HORSES; VOLUNTARY INSPECTION Exotic...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McCombs, Jennifer Sloan; Pane, John F.; Augustine, Catherine H.; Schwartz, Heather L.; Martorell, Paco; Zakaras, Laura
2014-01-01
Prior research has determined that low-income students lose more ground over the summer than their higher-income peers. Prior research has also shown that some summer learning programs can stem this loss, but we do not know whether large, district-run, voluntary programs can improve students' outcomes. To fill this gap, The Wallace Foundation…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McCombs, Jennifer Sloan; Pane, John F.; Augustine, Catherine H.; Schwartz, Heather L.; Martorell, Paco; Zakaras, Laura
2014-01-01
Prior research has determined that low-income students lose more ground over the summer than their higher-income peers. Prior research has also shown that some summer learning programs can stem this loss, but we do not know whether large, district-run, voluntary programs can improve students' outcomes. To fill this gap, The Wallace Foundation…
EPA enforcement at a crossroads
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Humphreys, S.L.
1994-10-15
Environmental enforcement policy in the US is at a crossroads today, faced with a choice of two competing approaches for achieving the country's environmental goals. On the one hand is the federal government's current push to beef up enforcement of environmental laws by increasing the severity of criminal sanctions and general enforcement activities. On the other hand is the growing trend in many environmental regulations to incentivize voluntary compliance by encouraging pollution prevention and self-auditing. Although these two approaches are not inherently incompatible, there is growing concern that the government's current emphasis on criminal enforcement may severely undermine the goalmore » of voluntary compliance by creating an overly adversarial relationship between government and industry and by placing corporate managers at risk of incurring personal liability when they attempt to ferret out environmental compliance problems.« less
Multicriteria mapping of stakeholder preferences in regulating nanotechnology.
Hansen, Steffen Foss
2010-08-01
In order to facilitate stakeholder discussions on how to regulate nanotechnology, the opensource program multicriteria mapping (MCM) was used to structure 26 interviews with stakeholders in the USA. MCM offers a systematic part quantitative, part qualitative approach to clarify why some regulatory options (bans, moratoriums, voluntary measures, etc.) were deemed to be acceptable/unacceptable by various stakeholders and which criteria stakeholders used to evaluate the different regulatory options. Adopting an incremental approach and implementing a new regulatory framework was evaluated as the best options whereas a complete ban and no additional regulation of nanotechnology were found to be the least favorable. Criteria applied differed substantially among stakeholders and included social, ethical, regulatory, environmental, and health issues. Opinions on future regulation seem far less polarized than expected and it seems that stakeholders would welcome a combination of voluntary measures, an incremental approach and forming of a new regulatory framework. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11051-010-0006-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
7 CFR 1455.1 - Purpose and administration.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE... definitions for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). (b) VPA-HIP provides...
7 CFR 1455.1 - Purpose and administration.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE... definitions for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). (b) VPA-HIP provides...
7 CFR 1455.1 - Purpose and administration.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE... definitions for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). (b) VPA-HIP provides...
7 CFR 1455.1 - Purpose and administration.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... OF AGRICULTURE LOANS, PURCHASES, AND OTHER OPERATIONS VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE... definitions for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). (b) VPA-HIP provides...
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Heeter, J.
This presentation highlights the status of the voluntary green power market in 2012. The voluntary green power market totaled more than 48 million MWh in 2012, with about 1.9 million customers participating. The supply continues to be dominated by wind, though solar is increasing its share of utility green pricing programs. Prices for voluntary renewable energy certificates (RECs) increased to above $1/MWh.
Recent trends at the state and federal level in accelerating CERCLA clean-ups
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Clegg, B.
Efforts at accelerating remedial action at the federal level focus on the following: the Superfund accelerated clean-up model (SCAM); Brownfields economic redevelopment initiative; guidance documents and policies; and collaboration with state voluntary cleanup programs. At the state level efforts involved in accelerating clean-ups include voluntary clean-up programs and Brownfields initiatives.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Brauchle, Kenneth C.
The relationship between servicemembers' participation in the U.S. Armed Forces' off-duty voluntary higher education programs and retention of enlisted personnel in military service was examined through a review of existing and new data. The primary data source was a 1992 Department of Defense-sponsored survey of a stratified sample of…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wiedlich, David Matthew
2017-01-01
This research study explored perceived influence of an instructional coaching program on teacher self-efficacy based on voluntary participation in comparison to mandated participation. At the time of this study, the literature on instructional coaching incorporated studies that tie instructional coaching to increases in teacher self-efficacy;…
10 CFR 209.31 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... OF ENERGY OIL INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS Carrying Out of Voluntary Agreements and Developing... standards and procedures by which persons engaged in the business of producing, transporting, refining... International Energy Program. ...
Long-term consequences of youth volunteering: Voluntary versus involuntary service.
Kim, Jinho; Morgül, Kerem
2017-09-01
Despite the renewed interest in youth volunteering in recent years, there remain major gaps in our knowledge of its consequences. Drawing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we examine the long-term effects of youth volunteering on the civic and personal aspects of volunteers' lives. Our results suggest that youth volunteering has a positive return on adult volunteering only when it is voluntary, and that net of contextual factors neither voluntary nor involuntary youth service has a significant effect on adult voting. Regarding personal outcomes, our findings indicate that the psychological benefits of youth volunteering accrue only to voluntary participants, whereas both voluntary and involuntary youth service are positively associated with educational attainment and earnings in young adulthood. Taken together, these results lend support to the case for youth volunteer programs, though the civic benefits of these programs appear to be less dramatic than generally suggested. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Components of laboratory accreditation.
Royal, P D
1995-12-01
Accreditation or certification is a recognition given to an operation or product that has been evaluated against a standard; be it regulatory or voluntary. The purpose of accreditation is to provide the consumer with a level of confidence in the quality of operation (process) and the product of an organization. Environmental Protection Agency/OCM has proposed the development of an accreditation program under National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) laboratories as a supplement to the current program. This proposal was the result of the Inspector General Office reports that identified weaknesses in the current operation. Several accreditation programs can be evaluated and common components identified when proposing a structure for accrediting a GLP system. An understanding of these components is useful in building that structure. Internationally accepted accreditation programs provide a template for building a U.S. GLP accreditation program. This presentation will discuss the traditional structure of accreditation as presented in the Organization of Economic Cooperative Development/GLP program, ISO-9000 Accreditation and ISO/IEC Guide 25 Standard, and the Canadian Association for Environmental Analytical Laboratories, which has a biological component. Most accreditation programs are managed by a recognized third party, either privately or with government oversight. Common components often include a formal review of required credentials to evaluate organizational structure, a site visit to evaluate the facility, and a performance evaluation to assess technical competence. Laboratory performance is measured against written standards and scored. A formal report is then sent to the laboratory indicating accreditation status. Usually, there is a scheduled reevaluation built into the program. Fee structures vary considerably and will need to be examined closely when building a GLP program.
Nazeri, Pantea; Mirmiran, Parvin; Shiva, Niloofar; Mehrabi, Yadollah; Mojarrad, Mehdi; Azizi, Fereidoun
2015-06-01
The aim of this review is to assess data available on iodine nutrition status in lactating mothers residing in countries with mandatory and voluntary iodine fortification programs and/or iodine supplementation. A systematic review was conducted by searching articles published between 1964 and 2013 in Pub Med, ISI Web, and Cochrane Library using iodine nutrition, lactation, iodine supplementation, and iodine fortification as keywords for titles and/or abstracts. Relevant articles were included if they reported urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in lactating mothers and, if determined, the type of iodine fortification program and/or iodine supplementation. Forty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 21 studies assessed lactating mothers in countries with a mandatory iodine fortification program, 17 studies were from countries with voluntary and/or without iodine fortification programs, and four studies assessed iodine nutrition status in lactating mothers undergoing iodine supplementation. Among countries with mandatory iodine fortification programs, the range of salt iodization level in lactating mothers with a UIC <100 μg/L was between 8 and 40 ppm, whereas among lactating mothers with UIC >100 μg/L, it was between 15 and 60 ppm. Levels of UIC <100 μg/L were observed among lactating women in India, Denmark, Mali, New Zealand, Australia, Slovakia, Sudan, and Turkey, whereas in countries such as Chile, Iran, Mongolia, New Guinea, and Nigeria, the median or mean of UIC was >100 μg/L. There was a median or mean UIC <100 μg/L in nearly all lactating mothers residing in countries where implementation of universal salt iodization program was voluntary, including Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Germany. However, in some countries with voluntary iodine fortification programs, such as the United States, Spain, and Japan, a mean or median UIC of >100 μg/L has been reported. Although universal salt iodization is still the most feasible and cost-effective approach for iodine deficiency control in pregnant and lactating mothers, UIC in lactating mothers of most countries with voluntary programs and in areas with mandatory iodine fortification is still within the iodine deficiency range, indicating that iodine supplementation in daily prenatal vitamin/mineral supplements in lactating mothers is warranted. However, further investigations are still recommended in this regard.
Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market (2015 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
O'Shaughnessy, Eric; Liu, Chang; Heeter, Jenny
The voluntary green power market refers to the sale and procurement of renewable energy for voluntary purposes by residential and commercial customers. This report reviews seven green power procurement mechanisms: utility green pricing programs, utility green tariffs, voluntary unbundled renewable energy certificates, competitive supplier green power, community choice aggregations, voluntary power purchase agreements (PPAs), and community solar. This report details the status of trends of those seven green power procurement mechanisms in 2015. Three trends -- significant growth of the voluntary PPA project pipeline, innovative green power mechanisms developed by utilities, and geographic expansion of green power mechanisms -- suggestmore » that the green power market is likely to continue to grow in coming years.« less
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Good, David A.
2003-01-01
In 1997, the Canadian federal government faced a difficult policy problem. It wanted to make greater use of voluntary sector organizations to deliver government programs and to shape social policy. A first question for government was whom in the voluntary sector to engage. Unlike the United Kingdom, Canada does not have a tradition of national…
Iarushin, S V
2007-01-01
The paper describes a principal scheme of insurance protection organization due to the negative human influences of environmental factors and industrial risks as one of the most effective mechanisms responsible for controlling sanitary-and-epidemiological well-being and human health. It also considers how a voluntary medical collective insurance program and a civil responsibility insurance one are being implemented due to unforeseen damages done to the population's health and how the quality and safety of goods (work, services) are controlled. Organizational, methodic, and normative legal approaches are proposed to developing the population's insurance protection system.
Christine Vogt; Sarah M. McCaffrey; Greg Winter
2011-01-01
Our research examined homeowner responses to local efforts that encourage mitigation of wildland fire risks on private property. We were specifically interested in whether there were different attitudes toward, and different compliance responses to, voluntary versus mandatory programs aimed at managing vegetation for fire risks. We chose four sites for the diversity of...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Kim, Seunghee
2008-01-01
We investigated barriers to and facilitators of effective teacher-child interactions in voluntary pre-kindergarten programs in child care settings. An effective teacher-child interaction enables both teachers and children to actively engage in solving the problems they confront in their daily lives. The effective teacher-child interaction relies…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Vandenberg, Brian; Emery, Debra
2009-01-01
This three year longitudinal study examined the effects of IQ, age of diagnosis, school socioeconomic status (SES) and participation in desegregation programs on the remediation of learning disabilities. Participants included 176 children who were diagnosed with a learning disability, 44 of whom were participants in a voluntary transfer program.…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
White, Thomas G.; Kim, James S.; Kingston, Helen Chen; Foster, Lisa
2014-01-01
A randomized trial involving 19 elementary schools (K-5) was conducted to replicate and extend two previous experimental studies of the effects of a voluntary summer reading program that provided (a) books matched to students' reading levels and interests and (b) teacher scaffolding in the form of end-of-year comprehension lessons. Matched…
Influence of rearing conditions on voluntary ethanol intake and response to stress in rats.
Rockman, G E; Hall, A M; Markert, L E; Glavin, G B
1988-03-01
The effects of exposure to four environmental rearing conditions on subsequent voluntary ethanol intake and response to immobilization stress were examined. Male weanling rats were reared in an enriched environment, with a female partner, with a male partner, or individually, for 90 days. At 111 days of age, voluntary consumption of ethanol in increasing concentrations (3 to 9%, v/v) was assessed. Following the ethanol-exposure period, rats were randomly divided into stressed and nonstressed groups and exposed to 3 h of immobilization. Results indicated that the enriched animals consumed greater amounts of ethanol as compared to all other groups, suggesting that the enriched environment and not handling, housing conditions, or the presence of another male or female is responsible for the observed increase in ethanol drinking behavior. Ulcer data indicated that among environmentally enriched rats, ethanol attenuated stress ulcer development relative to their non-ethanol-exposed but stressed controls. In nonstressed enriched rats, ethanol alone exacerbated stomach damage. We suggest that environmental rearing conditions markedly influence the complex interaction between ethanol intake and the response to stress.
Parental Intentions to Enroll Children in a Voluntary Expanded Newborn Screening Program
Paquin, Ryan S.; Peay, Holly L.; Gehtland, Lisa M.; Lewis, Megan A.; Bailey, Donald B.
2016-01-01
Background and Objectives Nearly all babies in the United States are tested at birth for rare, serious, and treatable disorders through mandatory state newborn screening (NBS). Recently, there have been calls for an expanded, voluntary model to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of a wider range of disorders. We applied the reasoned action framework to examine parental intentions to participate in voluntary expanded screening. Methods We recruited a national cohort of recent and expectant parents living in the U.S. who completed a self-administered online survey (N = 1,001). Using a mixed-level fractional factorial experiment, we studied parental participation intentions and preferences for timing of consent, cost, consent format, and testing options. Results We conducted a hierarchical regression analysis assessing parental intentions to participate in voluntary expanded NBS. Attitudes, perceived normative influence, and perceived behavioral control explained substantial variance in intention, with perceived normative influence emerging as the strongest predictor. We found no evidence that the manipulated program features altered mean levels of intention, but timing of parental permission, cost, and permission format moderated the relative importance of reasoned action constructs on intention. Conclusion Program design features may impact the psychological mechanisms underlying parental decision making for voluntary expanded screening. These results have important implications for parent education, outreach, and informed parental permission procedures. PMID:27526258
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Egana, John Joseph
This study of the Field Trip Specialist Program (FTS) described how a professional development plan fostered change in the traditional roles of third and fourth grade teachers. Teachers that volunteered were prepared to become interpretive guides for their class on environmental field trips, integrate their basic subject areas lessons into an environmental science context, and develop their self-perception as professional educators. This qualitative study made use of quantitative data and drew on information collected over four years from surveys, interviews, classroom observations, field trip and workshop observations, focus groups, journals and assessments performed in Florida. The FTS Program attracted teachers who thought it was important for all students to understand environmental issues, and these teachers believed in integrated instruction. These beliefs were inconsistent with many aspects of school culture. FTS invited the participation of these teachers and encouraged them to take control of the program by serving as instructors and program developers. Teachers described themselves as prepared to deliver the FTS Program with a high level of motivation and relevance. They also credited the program as beneficial in preparation for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (FCAT). Teachers reported that their responsibility as field trip leaders was the primary factor motivating them to provide conscientious presentation of pre- and post-field trip lessons and thorough integration of environmental topics in basic subject area instruction. Despite the impact of the field trip leadership factor, I could not find another program in the State of Florida that required teachers to lead their own field trips. Other influential factors specific to this program were: Voluntary participation, on-site field instruction, peer instructors and program developers, high quality and task specific materials, and pre- and post-assessments for students. Factors were identified in the FTS staff development plan that could be generalized to all staff development programs. I applied the "stages of concern" from the "Concerns Based Adoption Model"(CBAM) and found FTS to be a participantcentered plan. In addition FTS set demonstrable goals that were understood and desirable for all participants. Finally FTS offered teachers opportunities to adopt leadership roles in their own staff development program.
Voluntary Hospital Coalitions to Promote Patient Safety
2005-01-01
Health and Accountability (PHA) as a comprehensive, voluntary patient safety program. With a focus on systemic prevention strategies, PHA fulfills...Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 Advances in Patient Safety: Vol. 3 494 The Partnership for Health and Accountability Background PHA, officially...Assembly recognized PHA’s Accountability and Health Safety (A&HS) Committee as a testing ground for a unique voluntary patient safety initiative
Hammami-Abrand Abadi, Arezoo; Miladi-Gorji, Hossein; Bigdeli, Imanollah
2016-04-01
This study was designed to examine the effect of environmental enrichment during morphine dependency and withdrawal on the severity of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs, anxiety, and depressive-like behaviors and voluntary morphine consumption in morphine-dependent rats. The rats were injected with bi-daily doses (10 mg/kg, 12 h intervals) of morphine for 14 days following rearing in a standard environment (SE) or enriched environment (EE) during the development of morphine dependence and withdrawal. Then, rats were tested for withdrawal signs after naloxone injection, anxiety (the elevated plus maze) and depression-related behavior (sucrose preference test), and voluntary consumption of morphine using a two-bottle choice paradigm, in morphine-dependent and morphine-withdrawn rats. The results showed that EE decreased naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs, but not anxiety or sucrose preference during dependence on morphine. The EE-withdrawn rats showed an increase in the elevated plus maze open arm time and entries and higher levels of sucrose preference than SE rats. Voluntary consumption of morphine was lower in the EE-withdrawn rats than in the SE groups in the second period of drug intake. Thus, exposure to EE reduced the severity of morphine dependence and voluntary consumption of morphine, alongside reductions in anxiety and depression-related behavior in morphine-withdrawn rats.
Site Selection for the Disposal of LLW in Taiwan
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Chuang, W.S.; Chi, L.M.; Tien, N.C.
2006-07-01
This paper presents the implementation status of the low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal program in Taiwan, including the disposal facility regulations, status of waste management, final disposal program, licensing procedures, waste acceptance criteria, site selection criteria and processes and preliminary disposal concepts. The first phase of site selection for low-level radioactive waste final disposal in Taiwan was implemented between 1992 and 2002. The site selection process adopted a Geographic Information System (GIS), Hierarchical Analysis System, Expert Evaluation System, and site reconnaissance. An incentive program for voluntary sites was also initiated. After a series of evaluations and discussion of 30 potentialmore » candidate sites, including 8 recommended sites, 5 qualified voluntary townships, and several remote uninhabited small islets, Hsiao-chiou islet was selected as the first priority candidate site in February 1998. The geological investigation work in Hsiao-chiou was conducted from March 1999 through October 2000. An Environmental Impact Statement Report (EIS) and the Investment Feasibility Study Report (IFS) were submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in November 2000 and to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in June 2001, respectively. Unfortunately, the site investigation was discontinued in 2002 due to political and public acceptance consideration. After years of planning, the second phase of the site selection process was launched in August 2004 and will be conducted through 2008. It is planned that a repository will be constructed in early 2009 and start to operate in 2014. The site selection process for the second phase is based on the earlier work and four potential candidate sites were selected for evaluation until 2005. A near surface disposal concept is proposed for a site located in the Taiwan strait, and cavern disposal concepts are proposed for three other sites located on the main island. This paper presents the implementation status of the LLW disposal program in Taiwan, including the disposal facility regulations, status of waste management, final disposal program, licensing procedures, waste acceptance criteria, site selection criteria and processes, and preliminary disposal concepts 'NIMBY' (Not in my backyard) is a critical problem for implementation of the final disposal project. Resistance from local communities has been continuously received during site characterization. To overcome this, an incentive program to encourage community acceptance has been approved by the Government. Programs for community promotion are being proposed and negotiations are also underway. (authors)« less
State of the Voluntary Green Power Market (2016 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
OShaughnessy, Eric J; Heeter, Jenny S; Cook, Jeffrey J
Annual report of sales and number of customers in voluntary green power markets, including utility green pricing programs, utility green partnerships, competitive suppliers, unbundled renewable energy certificates, community choice aggregations, power purchase agreements, and community solar.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Zheng, Fei; Zhang, Ming; Ding, Qi; Sethna, Ferzin; Yan, Lily; Moon, Changjong; Yang, Miyoung; Wang, Hongbing
2016-01-01
Mental health and cognitive functions are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Although having active lifestyle with physical exercise improves learning and memory, how it interacts with the specific key molecular regulators of synaptic plasticity is largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of voluntary running on long-term…
Su, Teh-Sheng; Tsai, Way-Yi; Yu, Yi-Chun
2005-05-01
A voluntary compliance program for occupational health and safety management, Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), was implemented with a strategy of cooperation and encouragement in Taiwan. Due to limitations on increasing the human forces of inspection, a regulatory-based guideline addressing the essence of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) was promulgated, which combined the resources of third parties and insurance providers to accredit a self-improving worksite with the benefits of waived general inspection and a merit contributing to insurance premium payment reduction. A designated institute accepts enterprise's applications, performs document review and organizes the onsite inspection. A final review committee of Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) confers a two-year certificate on an approved site. After ten years, the efforts have shown a dramatic reduction of occupational injuries and illness in the total number of 724 worksites granted certification. VPP worksites, in comparison with all industries, had 49% lower frequency rate in the past three years. The severity rate reduction was 80% in the same period. The characteristics of Taiwan VPP program and international occupational safety and health management programs are provided. A Plan-Do-Check-Act management cycle was employed for pursuing continual improvements to the culture fostered. The use of a quantitative measurement for assessing the performance of enterprises' occupational safety and health management showed the efficiency of the rating. The results demonstrate that an employer voluntary protection program is a promising strategy for a developing country.
Voluntary reporting of greenhouse gases under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Holt, E. Jr.; Vernet, J.E. Jr.
DOE is developing guidelines for the voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and their reductions, under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The establishment of this voluntary program should encourage the reduction of greenhouse gases while providing the opportunity to share innovative approaches to achieving such reductions. This social learning aspect is an important element of the program. In addition to greenhouse gas reductions achieved during a given year, reporters are encouraged to also report their actual emissions of such gases for 1987 through 1990. Due to the voluntary nature of this program, and the myriad differencesmore » among the potential reporting entities and possible uses for the data reported, the guidelines will need to be structured so as to maximize participation without compromising the usefulness of the data collected. Through a broad notice of inquiry, published in the Federal Register on July 27, 1993, the Department began seeking input into development of the guidelines. Subsequently, to gain a better understanding of the various sectors of the economy, six public workshops were held during the 1993. One workshop addressed institutional issues of potential interest to all sectors of the economy, with the other five workshops focusing more on matters of concern to specific sectors. These meetings were structured so as to provide broad representation from potential reporting entities along with public interest organizations. It is clear that there are significant variations among those reporting greenhouse information. Presently voluntary, the program will need flexibility to encourage broad participation.« less
76 FR 17989 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8951
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-03-31
... proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995... 8951, Compliance Fee for Employee Plans Voluntary Correction Program Submission. DATES: [email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Compliance Fee for Employee Plans Voluntary Correction...
SEA screening of voluntary climate change plans: A story of non-compliant discretion
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kørnøv, Lone, E-mail: lonek@plan.aau.dk; Wejs, Anja
Screening within Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the first critical stage involving considerations on whether an assessment is carried out or not. Although legislation and guidance offer practitioners a legal and logical approach to the screening process, it is inevitable that discretionary judgement takes place and will impact on the screening decision. This article examines the results of discretion involved in screening of climate change plans (CCPs) in a Danish context. These years voluntary CCPs are developed as a response to the global and local emergence of both mitigation and adaptation, and the voluntary commitment by the local authorities ismore » an indication of an emerging norm of climate change as an important issue. This article takes its point of departure in the observation that SEA is not undertaken for these voluntary CCPs. The critical analysis of this phenomenon rests upon a documentary study of Danish CCPs, interviews with a lawyer and ministerial key person and informal discussions between researchers, practitioners and lawyers on whether climate change plans are covered by SEA legislation and underlying reasons for the present practice. Based on a critical analysis of mandatory SEA and/or obligation to screen CCPs according to significance criteria, the authors find that 18 out of the 48 CCPs are mandatory to SEA and 9 would require a screening of significance and thereby potentially be followed by a SEA. In practice only one plan was screened and one was environmentally assessed. The legal, democratic and environmental consequences of this SEA practice are critically discussed. Hereunder is the missed opportunity to use the broad environmental scope of SEA to avoid a narrow focus on energy and CO{sub 2} in CCPs, and the question whether this practice in Denmark complies with the EU Directive. -- Highlights: ► It is inevitable that discretionary judgement takes place and will impact on the screening decision. ► The article hereby calls for greater awareness of the discretion and judgement involved in SEA screening. ► Practice seemingly reveals a lack of application of SEA within climate change planning and a lack of explicit screening. ► Absence of SEAs of voluntary plans such as CCPs, have legal consequences, as well as democratic and environmental consequences. ► The vague definition of ‘administrative provision’ seems to impose the lacking SEA.« less
Wiley, David N; Moller, Just C; Pace, Richard M; Carlson, Carole
2008-04-01
The use of voluntary approaches to achieve conservation goals is becoming increasingly popular. Nevertheless, few researchers have quantitatively evaluated their efficacy. In 1998 industry, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations established a voluntary conservation program for whale watching in the northeast region of the United States, with the intent to avoid collisions with and harassment of endangered whales by commercial and recreational whale-watching vessels. One important aspect of the program was the establishment of 3 speed zones within specific distances of whales. We wanted to determine the level of compliance with this aspect of the program to gauge its efficacy and gain insights into the effectiveness of voluntary measures as a conservation tool. Inconspicuous observers accompanied 46 commercial whale-watching trips from 12 companies in 2003 (n= 35) and 2004 (n= 11). During each trip, vessel position and speed were collected at 5-second intervals with a GPS receiver. Binoculars with internal laser rangefinders and digital compasses were used to record range and bearing to sighted whales. We mapped whale locations with ArcGIS. We created speed-zone buffers around sighted whales and overlaid them with vessel-track and speed data to evaluate compliance. Speeds in excess of those recommended by the program were considered noncompliant. We judged the magnitude of noncompliance by comparing a vessel's maximum speed within a zone to its maximum recorded trip speed. The level of noncompliance was high (mean 0.78; company range 0.74-0.88), some companies were more compliant than others (p= 0.02), noncompliance was significantly higher in zones farther from whales (p < 0.001), and operators approached the maximum speed capabilities of their vessel in all zones. The voluntary conservation program did not achieve the goal of substantially limiting vessel speed near whales. Our results support the need for conservation programs to have quantifiable metrics and frequent evaluation to ensure efficacy.
Incentives to improve farm management: EMS, supply-chains and civil society.
Gunningham, Neil
2007-02-01
This paper focuses on impediments to environmentally sound management practices and how these might be overcome, with an emphasis on the role of environmental management systems, supply chains and civil society. It argues that: Farmers are under increased pressure to cut costs and improve production but with little opportunity to increase prices. Commonly short-term economic interest has damaging environmental implications. Current government policy, in Australia and in many other jurisdictions, relies heavily on voluntary arrangements, education and information, as the main policy instruments through which to persuade farmers to adopt better environmental farm management - e.g. the recent push to encourage the use of voluntary environmental management systems. However, there is good evidence to suggest that these can only make a valuable contribution when combined with a range of other policy instruments, including positive and negative incentives, intervention by third parties and in some cases, an underpinning of regulation. Arguably, what is needed is a strategy that builds on the strengths of voluntary environmental management arrangements while compensating for their weaknesses by combining them with other, complementary policy instruments. If so, we must engage with a range of questions that have not so far figured substantially in the policy debate. Although the principal focus has been on the role of government in bringing about on-farm change in management practices, supply chain pressure (at least in respect of agricultural chemicals and practices which threaten food safety) and civil society action are also potentially powerful mechanisms for bringing about change. Government can and should play a role in harnessing such forces in the interests of improved environmental on-farm practices.
Pooriamehr, Alireza; Sabahi, Parviz; Miladi-Gorji, Hossein
2017-08-24
Chronic morphine exposure during puberty increased morphine-induced rewarding effects and sensitization in the next generation. Given the well-known beneficial effects of environmental enrichment on the severity of physical and psychological dependence on morphine, we examined effects of enriched environment during morphine abstinence in morphine dependent parental rats before mating on the anxiety and depressive-like behaviors, and voluntary morphine consumption in their offspring. Paternal and/or maternal rats were injected with bi-daily doses (10mg/kg, 12h intervals) of morphine for 14days followed by rearing in a standard environment (SE) or enriched environment (EE) during 30days of morphine abstinence before mating. The pubertal male and female rat offspring were tested for anxiety (the elevated plus maze- EPM) and depression (sucrose preference test-SPT), and voluntary morphine consumption using a two-bottle choice (TBC) paradigm. The results showed that EE experience in morphine-dependent both parents result in an increase in the percentage of time spent into open arms/time spent on both arms using EPM in male offspring, higher levels of sucrose preference in female offspring and lower levels of voluntary morphine consumption in male and female offspring. Thus, EE experience in morphine-dependent both parents reduced anxiety, depressive-like behavior and also the voluntary morphine consumption in their offspring during puberty which may prevent the vulnerability of the next generation to drug abuse. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
[The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in Japan].
Ihara, Toshiaki
2011-09-01
Two vaccination systems have been employed in Japan, the routine vaccination and the voluntary vaccination. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in Japan is no-fault system. Claims after the routine vaccination are demanded to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare through local governments, and compensation is more expenses. Meanwhile, claims after the voluntary vaccination are demanded to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency directly, and compensation is less compared with the routine vaccination.
The document presents information regarding a voluntary approach for listing waters impaired by mercury predominantly from atmospheric sources pursuant to Clean Water Act Section 303(d), also known as “subcategory 5m.”
77 FR 69434 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-11-19
... submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection...: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Title: National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation... National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accreditation. It is used by NVLAP to assess...
10 CFR 209.21 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... OF ENERGY OIL INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS Development of Voluntary Agreements § 209.21 Purpose... business of producing, transporting, refining, distributing. or storing petroleum products shall develop... International Energy Program. (b) This subpart does not apply to meetings of bodies created by the International...
10 CFR 209.21 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... OF ENERGY OIL INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS Development of Voluntary Agreements § 209.21 Purpose... business of producing, transporting, refining, distributing. or storing petroleum products shall develop... International Energy Program. (b) This subpart does not apply to meetings of bodies created by the International...
Howe, E. Lance; Murphy, James J.; Gerkey, Drew; West, Colin Thor
2016-01-01
Integrating information from existing research, qualitative ethnographic interviews, and participant observation, we designed a field experiment that introduces idiosyncratic environmental risk and a voluntary sharing decision into a standard public goods game. Conducted with subsistence resource users in rural villages on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Northeast Siberia, we find evidence consistent with a model of indirect reciprocity and local social norms of helping the needy. When participants are allowed to develop reputations in the experiments, as is the case in most small-scale societies, we find that sharing is increasingly directed toward individuals experiencing hardship, good reputations increase aid, and the pooling of resources through voluntary sharing becomes more effective. We also find high levels of voluntary sharing without a strong commitment device; however, this form of cooperation does not increase contributions to the public good. Our results are consistent with previous experiments and theoretical models, suggesting strategic risks tied to rewards, punishments, and reputations are important. However, unlike studies that focus solely on strategic risks, we find the effects of rewards, punishments, and reputations are altered by the presence of environmental factors. Unexpected changes in resource abundance increase interdependence and may alter the costs and benefits of cooperation, relative to defection. We suggest environmental factors that increase interdependence are critically important to consider when developing and testing theories of cooperation PMID:27442434
McClung, R Paul; Roth, David M; Vigar, Marissa; Roberts, Virginia A; Kahler, Amy M; Cooley, Laura A; Hilborn, Elizabeth D; Wade, Timothy J; Fullerton, Kathleen E; Yoder, Jonathan S; Hill, Vincent R
2017-11-10
Waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States are associated with a wide variety of water exposures and are reported annually to CDC on a voluntary basis by state and territorial health departments through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). A majority of outbreaks arise from exposure to drinking water (1) or recreational water (2), whereas others are caused by an environmental exposure to water or an undetermined exposure to water. During 2013-2014, 15 outbreaks associated with an environmental exposure to water and 12 outbreaks with an undetermined exposure to water were reported, resulting in at least 289 cases of illness, 108 hospitalizations, and 17 deaths. Legionella was responsible for 63% of the outbreaks, 94% of hospitalizations, and all deaths. Outbreaks were also caused by Cryptosporidium, Pseudomonas, and Giardia, including six outbreaks of giardiasis caused by ingestion of water from a river, stream, or spring. Water management programs can effectively prevent outbreaks caused by environmental exposure to water from human-made water systems, while proper point-of-use treatment of water can prevent outbreaks caused by ingestion of water from natural water systems.
Exploring Boaters' Environmental Views for a Marine Conservation Campaign
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
DeLorme, Denise; Neuberger, Lindsay; Wright, James
2015-01-01
This article reports on formative research as part of a broader interdisciplinary campaign to increase voluntary environmentally responsible boating in a local lagoon. A telephone survey was conducted with a sample (N = 404) of targeted boaters to explore their views on the environmental issue and motivations to perform the desired behavior.…
Ethical Issues in Volunteer Management and Accountability.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Netting, F. Ellen
1987-01-01
Examines the ethical issues surrounding President Reagan's directive to "Go back to the voluntary sector." Discusses trends which currently affect ethical issues of managing volunteer agencies/programs. Recommends proactive steps to be taken in developing the potential of voluntary organizations, identifying organizations' bases of support,…
Role of word-of-mouth for programs of voluntary vaccination: A game-theoretic approach.
Bhattacharyya, Samit; Bauch, Chris T; Breban, Romulus
2015-11-01
We propose a model describing the synergetic feedback between word-of-mouth (WoM) and epidemic dynamics controlled by voluntary vaccination. The key feature consists in combining a game-theoretic model for the spread of WoM and a compartmental model describing VSIR disease dynamics in the presence of a program of voluntary vaccination. We evaluate and compare two scenarios for determinants of behavior, depending on what WoM disseminates: (1) vaccine advertising, which may occur whether or not an epidemic is ongoing and (2) epidemic status, notably disease prevalence. Understanding the synergy between the two strategies could be particularly important for designing voluntary vaccination campaigns. We find that, in the initial phase of an epidemic, vaccination uptake is determined more by vaccine advertising than the epidemic status. As the epidemic progresses, epidemic status becomes increasingly important for vaccination uptake, considerably accelerating vaccination uptake toward a stable vaccination coverage. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Mortality Trends After a Voluntary Checklist-based Surgical Safety Collaborative.
Haynes, Alex B; Edmondson, Lizabeth; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Molina, George; Neville, Bridget A; Singer, Sara J; Moonan, Aunyika T; Childers, Ashley Kay; Foster, Richard; Gibbons, Lorri R; Gawande, Atul A; Berry, William R
2017-12-01
To determine whether completion of a voluntary, checklist-based surgical quality improvement program is associated with reduced 30-day postoperative mortality. Despite evidence of efficacy of team-based surgical safety checklists in improving perioperative outcomes in research trials, effective methods of population-based implementation have been lacking. The Safe Surgery 2015 South Carolina program was designed to foster state-wide engagement of hospitals in a voluntary, collaborative implementation of a checklist program. We compared postoperative mortality rates after inpatient surgery in South Carolina utilizing state-wide all-payer discharge claims from 2008 to 2013, linked with state vital statistics, stratifying hospitals on the basis of completion of the checklist program. Changes in risk-adjusted 30-day mortality were compared between hospitals, using propensity score-adjusted difference-in-differences analysis. Fourteen hospitals completed the program by December 2013. Before program launch, there was no difference in mortality trends between the completion cohort and all others (P = 0.33), but postoperative mortality diverged thereafter (P = 0.021). Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality among completers was 3.38% in 2010 and 2.84% in 2013 (P < 0.00001), whereas mortality among other hospitals (n = 44) was 3.50% in 2010 and 3.71% in 2013 (P = 0.3281), reflecting a 22% difference between the groups on difference-in-differences analysis (P = 0.0021). Despite similar pre-existing rates and trends of postoperative mortality, hospitals in South Carolina completing a voluntary checklist-based surgical quality improvement program had a reduction in deaths after inpatient surgery over the first 3 years of the collaborative compared with other hospitals in the state. This may indicate that effective large-scale implementation of a team-based surgical safety checklist is feasible.
Portillo, Mari Carmen; Regaira, Elena; Pumar-Méndez, María J; Mujika, Agurtzane; Vassilev, Ivaylo; Rogers, Anne; Wensing, Michel; Foss, Christina; Ruud Knutsen, Ingrid; Todorova, Elka; Roukova, Poli; Kennedy, Anne; Serrano, Manuel; Lionis, Christos; Angelaki, Agapi; Patelarou, Evridiki; Koetsenruijter, Jan
2015-10-01
The purpose of this study is to critically review the literature on the role and work of voluntary organizations and community groups and volunteers in diabetes self-management programs. It seeks to explain how these organizations are located and could be integrated further within a broader system of support. A critical interpretative synthesis of the literature was undertaken as part of the conceptual development of a European research project. Evidence (2000-November 2014) was searched in databases, with the use of key terms, and limited to the languages of the participating countries. This was supplemented by an additional hand search and snowballing technique. A total of 21 articles were included in the review. Evidence regarding the involvement of voluntary organizations in diabetes self-management programs mainly related to: the nature and remit of their work, responsibilities, and attributes; key strategies of programs accounting for success; motivations/barriers for engaging in volunteering participation; relationships between volunteers and users; and connections/tensions with formal services. This review has uncovered a range of facets of voluntary organizations and community groups relevant for supporting diabetes self-management such as the context within which they act and the nature of relationships developed with community and health services. The principles of "assistance, support, sharing, and link" seem essential for this voluntary initiative in self-management to establish effective reciprocal collaboration with health professionals. © 2015 The Author(s).
Three empirical essays on consumer behavior related to climate change and energy
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jacobsen, Grant Douglas
This dissertation consists of three essays. All of the chapters address a topic in the area of household and consumer behavior related to climate change or energy. The first chapter is titled "The Al Gore Effect: An Inconvenient Truth and Voluntary Carbon Offsets". This chapter examines the relationship between climate change awareness and household behavior by testing whether Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth caused an increase in the purchase of voluntary carbon offsets. The analysis shows that in the two months following the film's release, zip codes within a 10-mile radius of a zip code where the film was shown experienced a 50 percent relative increase in the purchase of voluntary carbon offsets. The second chapter is titled "Are Building Codes Effective at Saving Energy? Evidence from Residential Billing Data in Florida". The analysis shows that Florida's energy-code change that took effect in 2002 is associated with a 4-percent decrease in electricity consumption and a 6-percent decrease in natural-gas consumption in Gainesville, FL. The estimated private payback period for the average residence is 6.4 years and the social payback period ranges between 3.5 and 5.3 years. The third chapter in this dissertation is titled "Do Environmental Offsets Increase Demand for Dirty Goods? Evidence from Residential Electricity Demand". This study evaluates the relationship between green products and existing patterns of consumer behavior by examining the relationship between household enrollment in a green electricity program and consumption of residential electricity. The results suggest there are two different types of green consumers. One type makes a small monthly donation and partially views the donation as a substitute for a previously existing pattern of green behavior, in this case, energy conservation. The other type makes a larger monthly donation and views the donation as a way to make strictly additional improvements in environmental quality.
76 FR 4864 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-01-27
...: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Title: BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic.... Needs and Uses: Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) Please is a voluntary... may be evaluated scientifically using the BEES software. These data include product-specific materials...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-06-03
... Chemistry Council [ACC]), the Specialty Organics Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), and the... studies for existing chemical substances under sections 4, 6, and 8, and requests voluntary submission of such information under the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP). EPA typically...
Voluntary Flammability Regulations for Residential Upholstered Furniture
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Waxman, Lisa K.; Moore, Mary Ann; Fox, Amy
2008-01-01
This article provides merchandising, housing, and design professionals, as well as educators, with a clear understanding of the program objectives and development of the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC), an industry-driven voluntary product safety association. The central mission of UFAC is to conduct research on cigarette-ignition…
ROI (return on investment): its role in voluntary hospital planning.
Cleverley, W
1990-01-01
Return on investment is the primary financial criterion used to evaluate the desirability of capital investment in investor-owned firms. Voluntary health care firms need to examine more carefully their return-on-investment levels. The potential loss of capital cost payment in the Medicare program and the removal of tax-exempt financing would raise the effective cost of capital to voluntary health care firms significantly. Many health care providers might find that they are no longer going concerns if capital costs increase much more.
Market Motivations for Voluntary Carbon Disclosure in Real Estate Industry
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ufere, Kalu Joseph; Alias, Buang; Godwin Uche, Aliagha
2016-07-01
Climate change mitigation in developing economies is a balancing act, between economic development and environmental sustainability. The need for market friendly determinants for low carbon economy, without compromising economic development is of essence. The aim of the study is to determine market friendly factors, which motivates voluntary carbon information disclosure, in the real estate industry. The study modeled economic factor with three variables and financial market factor with three variables against voluntary carbon information disclosure in the real estate industry. Structural equation modeling was used for the modeling and content analysis was used to collect data on the level of voluntary carbon information disclosure, from 2013 annual reports of 126 real estate sector companies listed in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). The model achieved a good fit, and was acceptable prediction. The results show that financial market factor has a significant predictive influence on voluntary carbon disclosure. The application of the result is that financial market factor is has a significantly positive influence on companies’ willingness to make voluntary carbon disclosure in the real estate industry. The result may be limited to the real estate industry that is highly leveraged on syndicated fund.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Denison, Julie A.; McCauley, Ann P.; Dunnett-Dagg, Wendy A.; Lungu, Nalakwanji; Sweat, Michael D.
2009-01-01
This study examined how individual, relational and environmental factors related to adolescent demand for HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). A cross-sectional survey among randomly selected 16-19-year-olds in Ndola, Zambia, covered individual (e.g., HIV knowledge), environmental (e.g., distance), and relational factors (e.g., discussed…
10 CFR 300.13 - Incorporation by reference.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... 10 Energy 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Incorporation by reference. 300.13 Section 300.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.13 Incorporation by reference. The Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (1605(b...
10 CFR 300.13 - Incorporation by reference.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... 10 Energy 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Incorporation by reference. 300.13 Section 300.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.13 Incorporation by reference. The Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (1605(b...
10 CFR 300.13 - Incorporation by reference.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... 10 Energy 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Incorporation by reference. 300.13 Section 300.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.13 Incorporation by reference. The Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (1605(b...
10 CFR 300.13 - Incorporation by reference.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... 10 Energy 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Incorporation by reference. 300.13 Section 300.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.13 Incorporation by reference. The Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (1605(b...
1994-10-01
surveys on quality - of - life issues connected with voluntary college-level education, first skills training, family support programs, child-care services...skills training, Leadership training, Living conditions, Navy exchanges, Quality of life , Recreation, Training, Voluntary education
10 CFR 300.13 - Incorporation by reference.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 10 Energy 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Incorporation by reference. 300.13 Section 300.13 Energy DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.13 Incorporation by reference. The Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (1605(b...
13 CFR 120.857 - Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... of CDC certification. 120.857 Section 120.857 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Development Company Loan Program (504) Other Cdc Requirements § 120.857 Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification. A CDC may not transfer its certification or withdraw from the...
13 CFR 120.857 - Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... of CDC certification. 120.857 Section 120.857 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Development Company Loan Program (504) Other Cdc Requirements § 120.857 Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification. A CDC may not transfer its certification or withdraw from the...
13 CFR 120.857 - Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... of CDC certification. 120.857 Section 120.857 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Development Company Loan Program (504) Other Cdc Requirements § 120.857 Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification. A CDC may not transfer its certification or withdraw from the...
13 CFR 120.857 - Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... of CDC certification. 120.857 Section 120.857 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Development Company Loan Program (504) Other Cdc Requirements § 120.857 Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification. A CDC may not transfer its certification or withdraw from the...
13 CFR 120.857 - Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... of CDC certification. 120.857 Section 120.857 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LOANS Development Company Loan Program (504) Other Cdc Requirements § 120.857 Voluntary transfer and surrender of CDC certification. A CDC may not transfer its certification or withdraw from the...
Dimensions of the Independent Sector: A Statistical Profile. Second Edition.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hodgkinson, Virginia Ann; Weitzman, Murray S.
The second in a biennial series of statistical profiles of the independent sector (voluntary sector, third sector, or nonprofit sector) describes and charts the activities of groups and individuals associated with this sector. Included are voluntary organizations, foundations, the social responsibility programs of corporations, and people who…
49 CFR 27.11 - Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-10-01
... 49 Transportation 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Remedial action, voluntary action and compliance planning. 27.11 Section 27.11 Transportation Office of the Secretary of Transportation NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN PROGRAMS OR ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE General § 27...
31 CFR 103.110 - Voluntary information sharing among financial institutions.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... Information Sharing Procedures To Deter Money Laundering and Terrorist Activity § 103.110 Voluntary.... 5312(a)(2) that is required under this part to establish and maintain an anti-money laundering program... suspects may involve possible terrorist activity or money laundering. (2) Notice requirement. A financial...
75 FR 21147 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Revenue Procedure 2001-20
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-04-22
... Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Revenue Procedure 2001-20, Voluntary Compliance on Alien Withholding Program (``VCAP... internet at [email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Voluntary Compliance on Alien...
Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market (2014 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
O'Shaughnessy, Eric; Heeter, Jenny; Liu, Chang
2015-10-16
NREL's annual report on green power markets summarizes status and trends in the voluntary demand for renewable energy. U.S. green power markets have become more complex over time as state-level policies have enabled more avenues for green power purchases. In recent years, community solar, community choice aggregation (CCA), and voluntary power purchase agreements (PPAs) have significantly increased the number of U.S. voluntary green power customers. The community solar model has grown rapidly with 90 projects in 25 states by 2015. Renewable energy sales in CCAs declined slightly in 2014 in response to less favorable economic conditions in Illinois. At themore » same time, several California CCAs continued to grow, and many more communities are planning to pursue green power through aggregation. Voluntary green power purchasing through bi-lateral PPAs took off in 2014 due to several large-scale agreements signed by information and communication technology firms. Traditional green power options, such as utility green pricing programs and voluntary RECs markets, also grew in 2014. Current trends suggest strong continued growth in U.S. voluntary green power markets.« less
Staff development and secondary science teachers: Factors that affect voluntary participation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Corley, Theresa Roebuck
2000-10-01
A researcher-designed survey assessed the perceptions of Alabama secondary science public school teachers toward the need for staff development and toward certain staff development strategies and programs. Factors that encouraged or discouraged attendance at voluntary staff development programs and opinions regarding effective and ineffective features of programs were identified. Data were analyzed using descriptive techniques. Percentages and frequencies were noted. Average rankings were computed for the staff development techniques considered most and least effective and for the preferred designs of future staff development offerings. Chi squares were computed to respond to each of the 4 research hypotheses. Narrative discussions and tables were utilized to report the data and provide clarification. This study related demographic information to the research hypotheses. Analysis of the research hypotheses revealed that experienced teachers agree more strongly about the features of staff development programs that they consider effective and about the factors that may affect participation in staff development programs. Analysis of the research questions revealed that secondary science teachers in Alabama agree that staff development is a personal responsibility but that the school systems are responsible for providing staff development opportunities. Teachers believe that staff development is needed annually in both science content and teaching strategies and favor lengthening the school year for staff development. Teachers identified interest level, graduate credit, ability to implement material, scheduling factors, and the reputation of the organizer as the most important factors in determining participation in voluntary staff development programs. Hands-on workshops were identified as the most effective type of voluntary staff development and teachers requested that future staff development experiences include hands-on workshops, networking, curriculum development, mentoring, support groups, training trainers, cooperative learning groups, coaching, implementing changes, and collecting resources.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Virginia L. Finley
The purpose of this report is to provide the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the public with information on the level of radioactive and nonradioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's (PPPL) operations. The results of the 2001 environmental surveillance and monitoring program for PPPL are presented and discussed. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and programs that were undertaken in 2001. PPPL has engaged in fusion energy research since 1951. The vision of the Laboratory is to create innovations to make fusion power a practicalmore » reality--a clean, alternative energy source. The Year 2001 marked the third year of National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) operations and Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) dismantlement and deconstruction activities. A collaboration among fourteen national laboratories, universities, and research institutions, the NSTX is a major element in the U.S. Fusion Energy Sciences Program. It has been designed to test the physics principles of spherical torus (ST) plasmas. The ST concept could play an important role in the development of smaller, more economical fusion reactors. In 2001, PPPL's radiological environmental monitoring program measured tritium in the air at on- and off-site sampling stations. PPPL is capable of detecting small changes in the ambient levels of tritium by using highly sensitive monitors. The operation of an in-stack monitor located on D-site is a requirement of the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) regulations; also included in PPPL's radiological environmental monitoring program, are water monitoring--precipitation, ground-, surface-, and waste-waters. PPPL's radiological monitoring program characterized the ambient, background levels of tritium in the environment and from the D-site stack; the data are presented in this report. Groundwater monitoring continue d under a voluntary agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. PPPL monitored for the presence of nonradiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of degreasing solvents). Monitoring revealed the low levels of volatile organic compounds in an area adjacent to PPPL. In 2001, PPPL was in compliance with its permit limits for surface and sanitary discharges and had no reportable releases. Additionally, as part of DOE's program for the purchase of recycled content and other environmentally preferred products, PPPL has ranked in the excellent category of 80 to 90% of the goal.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Virginia L. Finley
The results of the 2000 environmental surveillance and monitoring program for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are presented and discussed. The purpose of this report is to provide the U.S. Department of Energy and the public with information on the level of radioactive and nonradioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of PPPL's operations. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and programs that were undertaken in 2000. The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has engaged in fusion energy research since 1951. The long-range goal of the U.S. Magnetic Fusion Energy Research Program ismore » to create innovations to make fusion power a practical reality -- an alternative energy source. The year 2000 marked the second year of National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) operations and Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) dismantlement and deconstruction activities. A collaboration among fourteen national laboratories, universities, and research institutions, the NSTX is a major element in the U.S. Fusion Energy Sciences Program. It has been designed to test the physics principles of spherical torus (ST) plasmas. The ST concept could play an important role in the development of smaller, more economical fusion power plants. With its completion within budget and ahead of its target schedule, NSTX first plasma occurred on February 12, 1999. In 2000, PPPL's radiological environmental monitoring program measured tritium in the air at on-site and off-site sampling stations. PPPL is capable of detecting small changes in the ambient levels of tritium by using highly sensitive monitors. The operation of an in-stack monitor located on D-site is a requirement of the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) regulations with limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also included in PPPL's radiological environmental monitoring program, are precipitation, surface, ground, a nd waste water monitoring. Groundwater investigations continued under a voluntary agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. PPPL monitored for the presence of nonradiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of degreasing solvents). Monitoring revealed the presence of low levels of volatile organic compounds in an area adjacent to PPPL. Also, PPPL's radiological monitoring program characterized the ambient, background levels of tritium in the environment and from the D-site stack; the data are presented in this report.« less
Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market (2012 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Heeter, J.; Nicholas, T.
2013-10-01
The "voluntary" or "green power" market is that in which consumers and institutions voluntarily purchase renewable energy to match all or part of their electricity needs. Voluntary action provides a revenue stream for renewable energy projects and raises consumer awareness of the benefits of renewable energy. There are numerous ways consumers and institutions can purchase renewable energy. Historically, the voluntary market has consisted of three market sectors: (1) utility green pricing programs (in states with regulated electricity markets), (2) competitive suppliers (in states with restructured electricity markets), and (3) unbundled renewable electricity certificate (REC) markets, where RECs are purchased bymore » consumers separately from electricity ("unbundled").« less
Status and Trends in the U.S. Voluntary Green Power Market (2016 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
O'Shaughnessy, Eric; Heeter, Jenny; Cook, Jeff
The "voluntary" or "green power" market is that in which consumers and institutions voluntarily purchase renewable energy to match all or part of their electricity needs. Voluntary action provides a revenue stream for renewable energy projects and raises consumer awareness of the benefits of renewable energy. There are numerous ways consumers and institutions can purchase renewable energy. Historically, the voluntary market has consisted of three market sectors: (1) utility green pricing programs (in states with regulated electricity markets), (2) competitive suppliers (in states with restructured electricity markets), and (3) unbundled renewable electricity certificate (REC) markets, where RECs are purchased bymore » consumers separately from electricity ("unbundled").« less
Tsuda, Yuko; Watanabe, Misuzu; Tanimoto, Yoshimi; Hayashida, Itsushi; Kusabiraki, Toshiyuki; Komiyama, Maki; Kono, Koichi
2015-03-01
This study aimed to understand the current scenario of voluntary vaccination and the factors influencing its coverage among 18-month-old children of Takatsuki City, Japan. Based on 1167 parents responses, we found that voluntary vaccination coverage rates were low when compared with routine vaccination rates. The children who were not the first born of the family and who had young and poorly educated parents were less likely to receive voluntary vaccination. Japanese government-supported vaccines, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccine, had a higher coverage than the vaccines for which parents had to bear the entire vaccination cost. Furthermore, it was found that mass communication media and family pediatricians were effective means to disseminate voluntary vaccination-related information. We envisage that an active participation of medical professionals, easy access to vaccinations, and mass awareness programs will increase voluntary vaccination coverage in Takatsuki. © 2013 APJPH.
Successful implementation of property cleanup under the Ohio and the Texas voluntary programs
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Roffman, A.
1999-07-01
Cleanups of two properties, one located in Ohio and the other in Texas were successfully implemented. The facilities were printing plants that manufactured printed material and forms for commercial and industrial use. Primary products and chemicals involved in the manufacturing of the forms included ink, petroleum products and cleaning solvents. The Ohio property underwent a successful cleanup under the Ohio EPA Voluntary Action Program (VAP). It met the Ohio EPA residential land use cleanup standards for soil and shallow groundwater. A No Further Action letter has been submitted to the state and it resulted in the issuance of a Covenantmore » Not to Sue. The Texas facility underwent a successful cleanup under the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). It resulted in the issuance of a Certificate of Completion (COC) for residential land use for soil, and a conditional COC for industrial land use for the shallow groundwater.« less
29 CFR 1952.97 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and...
29 CFR 1952.97 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and...
29 CFR 1952.97 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and...
29 CFR 1952.97 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and...
29 CFR 1952.97 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. South Carolina's “Palmetto” VPP is limited to the STAR Program in general industry, excludes the MERIT AND DEMONSTRATION Programs and...
Status of Forest Certification
Omar Espinoza; Urs Buehlmann; Michael Dockry
2013-01-01
Forest certification systems are voluntary, market-based initiatives to promote the sustainable use of forests. These standards assume that consumers prefer products made from materials grown in an environmentally sustainable fashion, and this in turn creates incentives for companies to adopt responsible environmental practices. One of the major reasons for the...
On Voluntary Organizations in Hungary and the Netherlands.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Katus, J., Ed.; Toth, Janos, Ed.
Twenty essays are provided from an educational scientific symposium organized within the frame of the Festival for Dutch Culture in Hungary. Titles and authors include "Environmental Movement and Environmental Information" J. C. Th. Alles); "Principal Educational and Self-Educational Problems of Independent Activity and Autonomy in…
78 FR 2214 - Enhanced Weapons, Firearms Background Checks, and Security Event Notifications
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-01-10
.... Voluntary Consensus Standards XI. Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact XII. Paperwork Reduction... ML110480470 of Nuclear Energy Institute, on the proposed ``Enhanced Weapons, Firearms Background Checks and... consensus standards. XI. Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact In the proposed rule published on...
Wang, Shengyu; Gong, Wei; Tian, Yao
2016-05-01
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is projected to be the third leading cause of death by 2020. Early detection and screening may alter the course and prognosis associated with lung disease. We investigated the effectiveness of a voluntary public lung function screening program and factors that had a predictive value for asymptomatic COPD in Xi'an, China. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) was conducted on volunteers recruited from four community centers in Xi'an, China, between July and August 2012. Participants underwent three forced vital capacity maneuvers. The maneuver with the best forced expiratory volume in first second was retained. Participants filled out a medical history and environmental exposure survey before undergoing the PFT. Patients who self-reported lung disease on the health survey were excluded from the analysis. Logistical regression was used to determine associations with airway obstruction. A total of 803 volunteers participated in this study, and 33 subjects were excluded as the participants did not meet the requirements of PFT. Of the 770 volunteers, 44 participants had been diagnosed with chronic respiratory diseases previously, and 144 participants (18.7%) met COPD criteria. Four hundred forty-four participants did not self-report any respiratory symptoms, and the remaining 282 participants self-reported respiratory symptoms. Of the asymptomatic participants, 98 volunteers had PFT results that were consistent with COPD and 68.1% of asymptomatic participants were undiagnosed. A greater percentage of women than men had moderate or severe airway obstruction (p = 0.004).Only smoking status (odds ratio = 2.64, 95% confidence interval 1.20-6.04) was associated with asymptomatic COPD. Voluntary public lung function screening programs in China are likely to identify a large number of undiagnosed, asymptomatic COPD. Smoking status is associated with airway obstruction and a greater percentage of women than men had moderate or severe airway obstruction. © The Author(s) 2016.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
This document provides witness testimony and prepared statements from two sessions of the congressional hearing called to consider the reauthorization of Title X of the Public Health Service Act, the Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs. Testimony is provided from the federal administration, state officials, representatives…
The CLASS Act: is it dead or just sleeping?
Wiener, Joshua M
2012-01-01
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established a voluntary public insurance program for long-term care: the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. In October 2011, the Obama Administration announced that the program would not be implemented because of the high risk of fiscal insolvency. Under the legislative design, adverse selection was a major risk and premiums would have been very high. This article discusses several CLASS Act design and implementation issues, including the design features that led to the decision not to implement the program: the voluntary enrollment, the weak work requirement, the lifetime and cash benefits, and the premium subsidy for low-income workers and students.
The impact of mass media advertising on a voluntary sterilization program in Brazil.
Foreit, K G; de Castro, M P; Franco, E F
1989-01-01
The effect of magazine advertising on vasectomy acceptance was tested in São Paulo, Brazil. Four advertisements ran for ten weeks in eight magazines. Clinic performance doubled during the campaign and stabilized at 54 percent higher than baseline. The advertisements selectively attracted the target audience without bringing in large numbers of ineligible candidates, completely avoided negative reactions, and recruited men previously unexposed to vasectomy. The cost of the advertising campaign was offset by additional revenue generated by the increase in vasectomies performed. The results suggest that while interpersonal communications can maintain performance in voluntary sterilization programs, mass media promotion may be necessary for program growth.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Jones, Katherine J.; Cochran, Gary; Hicks, Rodney W.; Mueller, Keith J.
2004-01-01
Context:Low service volume, insufficient information technology, and limited human resources are barriers to learning about and correcting system failures in small rural hospitals. This paper describes the implementation of and initial findings from a voluntary medication error reporting program developed by the Nebraska Center for Rural Health…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Fromme, Kim; Corbin, William
2004-01-01
The Lifestyle Management Class (LMC) was evaluated as a universal and targeted alcohol prevention program among voluntary and mandated college students. The relative efficacy of peer- and professional-led group interventions was also tested in this randomized, controlled design. LMC participants showed decreases in driving after drinking relative…
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-05-12
... From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: Flight Crew Self-Defense Training... eligibility to participate in voluntary advanced self-defense training provided by TSA. Eligible training...), TSA is required to develop and provide a voluntary advanced self-defense training program for flight...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Buckellew, Wm.; And Others
A proposal developed by the Illinois Association for Professional Preparation in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation for a program involving voluntary coaching certification in Illinois is described. Topics discussed include: (1) the certifying body's composition and…
9 CFR 592.510 - Base time rate.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 9 Animals and Animal Products 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Base time rate. 592.510 Section 592... PRODUCTS INSPECTION VOLUNTARY INSPECTION OF EGG PRODUCTS Fees and Charges § 592.510 Base time rate. The base time rate for voluntary inspection services for egg products is $47.79 per hour per program...
Green energy products in the United Kingdom, Germany and Finland
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hast, Aira; McDermott, Liisa; Järvelä, Marja; Syri, Sanna
2014-12-01
In liberalized electricity markets, suppliers are offering several kinds of voluntary green electricity products marketed as environmentally friendly. This paper focuses on the development of these voluntary markets at household level in the UK, Germany and Finland. Since there are already existing renewable energy policies regulating and encouraging the use of renewable energy, it is important to consider whether voluntary products offer real additional benefits above these policies. Problems such as double counting or re-marketing hydropower produced in existing plants are identified. According to our study, the demand varies between countries: in Germany the number of green electricity customers has increased and is also higher than in the UK or Finland. Typically the average additional cost to consumer from buying green electricity product instead of standard electricity product is in the range of 0-5% in all studied countries, although the level of price premium depends on several factors like electricity consumption. Case study of Finland and literature show that the impacts of green energy are not solely environmental. Renewable energy can benefit local public policy.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lu, Jiaying; Schuett, Michael A.
2012-02-01
The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of voluntary associations involved in forest management. The specific areas examined in this study include organizational attributes, membership profile, attitudes toward forest-management priorities, and concerns about forest-management issues. To achieve this purpose, data were collected using a case study approach with mixed-methods (document reviews, personal interviews, and a Web survey) at a national forest in Texas, USA. Overall, the voluntary associations in this study can be described as place-based, small to moderate in scale, activity-oriented, and active groups that are adaptive to sociopolitical and environmental changes. General group members placed high importance on aesthetic, ecological, and recreation management of the national forest. In addition, this study showed five key forest management issues: (1) limited recreation access; (2) financial challenges for forest management; (3) conflict among recreation user groups; (4) inadequate communication by the United States Forest Service to the general public, and (5) sustainability of the forest. Theoretical and managerial implications of the results are discussed.
29 CFR 1952.157 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. North Carolina's “Carolina” VVP is limited to the STAR Program, and excludes the MERIT and DEMONSTRATION Programs. Also, injury rates must be...
29 CFR 1952.157 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. North Carolina's “Carolina” VVP is limited to the STAR Program, and excludes the MERIT and DEMONSTRATION Programs. Also, injury rates must be...
29 CFR 1952.157 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. North Carolina's “Carolina” VVP is limited to the STAR Program, and excludes the MERIT and DEMONSTRATION Programs. Also, injury rates must be...
29 CFR 1952.157 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. North Carolina's “Carolina” VVP is limited to the STAR Program, and excludes the MERIT and DEMONSTRATION Programs. Also, injury rates must be...
29 CFR 1952.157 - Changes to approved plan.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... generally identical to the Federal STAR Voluntary Protection Program. North Carolina's “Carolina” VVP is limited to the STAR Program, and excludes the MERIT and DEMONSTRATION Programs. Also, injury rates must be...
Coalbed Methane Outreach Program
Coalbed Methane Outreach Program, voluntary program seeking to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities. CMOP promotes profitable recovery/use of coal mine methane (CMM), addressing barriers to using CMM instead of emitting it to atmosphere.
China marks World Population Day. Address by Zhang Weiqing: (Excerpts).
Zhang, W
1998-08-01
This is a summary of remarks by Minister Zhang Weiqing of China's State Family Planning Commission (SFPC) given on World Population Day in China. The world's population size has increased by 1 billion since 1987, and will reach 6 billion by 1999. As the most populous developing country in the world, China has a greater population pressure and bears a large responsibility regarding stabilization of the world's population and realization of sustainable development. China has a less developed economy and a high percentage of rural and illiterate persons, many of whom are below the poverty line. The interests of both present and future generations must be taken into account with regard to development. In addition, the modernization drive must include strategies for sustainable development and basic national policies of FP and environmental protection in order to achieve a balance among population growth, the economy, resources, and the environment. After 30 years of effort, China has succeeded in solving its population problem by integrating governmental guidance with voluntary public participation in FP. In 1997, the birthrate decreased to 16.57/1000, and the total fertility rate was below replacement level. Changes in attitude toward marriage and childbearing have occurred, as has awareness of voluntary participation in FP. However, some problems have emerged in the implementation of population and FP programs. China will carry out its programs strictly and effectively while developing the national economy. Goals include: 1) stressing the IEC program regarding contraception and regular FP management and services; 2) integrating the FP program with economic development; 3) helping the public to become well off; 4) protecting maternal and child health; 5) improving the status of women; 6) delivering reproductive services; and 7) improving social security measures. Efforts will be made to enable the public to have a more active part in implementing the FP program.
76 FR 6688 - Land Border Carrier Initiative Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-02-08
... [Docket No. USCBP-2006-0132; CBP Dec. No. 11-04] RIN 1651-AA68 Land Border Carrier Initiative Program... Carrier Initiative Program (LBCIP). The LBCIP was established as a voluntary industry partnership program... Initiative Program (LBCIP) was established as a CBP-industry partnership regulatory program enlisting the...
About the Drift Reduction Technology Program
The new voluntary Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) Program will encourage the manufacture, marketing, and use of safer spray technology and equipment scientifically verified to reduce pesticide drift.
Reyes, Alvaro; Castillo, Adrián; Castillo, Javiera; Cornejo, Isabel
2018-05-01
To compare the effects of an inspiratory versus and expiratory muscle-training program on voluntary and reflex peak cough flow in patients with Parkinson disease. A randomized controlled study. Home-based training program. In all, 40 participants with diagnosis of Parkinson's disease were initially recruited in the study and randomly allocated to three study groups. Of them, 31 participants completed the study protocol (control group, n = 10; inspiratory training group, n = 11; and expiratory training group, n = 10) Intervention: The inspiratory and expiratory group performed a home-based inspiratory and expiratory muscle-training program, respectively (five sets of five repetitions). Both groups trained six times a week for two months using a progressively increased resistance. The control group performed expiratory muscle training using the same protocol and a fixed resistance. Spirometric indices, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and peak cough flow during voluntary and reflex cough were assessed before and at two months after training. The magnitude of increase in maximum expiratory pressure ( d = 1.40) and voluntary peak cough flow ( d = 0.89) was greater for the expiratory muscle-training group in comparison to the control group. Reflex peak cough flow had a moderate effect ( d = 0.27) in the expiratory group in comparison to the control group. Slow vital capacity ( d = 0.13) and forced vital capacity ( d = 0.02) had trivial effects in the expiratory versus the control group. Two months of expiratory muscle-training program was more beneficial than inspiratory muscle-training program for improving maximum expiratory pressure and voluntary peak cough flow in patients with Parkinson's disease.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Gegenfurtner, Andreas; Könings, Karen D.; Kosmajac, Nikola; Gebhardt, Markus
2016-01-01
Trainees can participate in organizational training programs voluntarily or mandatorily. To date, research has reported mixed evidence on the question whether voluntary or mandatory participation is associated with higher motivation and transfer of training. Grounded in the frameworks of participatory design, the notion of autonomy in basic…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
White, Kiri; Boehm, Emilia; Chester, Andrea
2014-01-01
Peer review of teaching is a collegial process designed to help academics reflect on and improve their teaching practice. Considerable research supports the value of peer review of teaching. However, uptake of voluntary programs is typically low. Few studies have examined the predictors of engagement in voluntary peer review. This study surveyed…
A Universal Good: Expanding Voluntary, Early Learning Opportunities for Illinois' Young Children.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Noble, Sean
This report was written to stimulate discussion about the potential and need for expanding access to voluntary, high-quality early childhood care and education programs in Illinois. The report compiles 13 short articles pertaining to early learning as follows: (1) "Ready to Succeed: Preparing Children for School, and for Life"; (2)…
Homa, Lori D; Burger, Laura L; Cuttitta, Ashley J; Michele, Daniel E; Moenter, Suzanne M
2015-12-01
Prenatal androgen (PNA) exposure in mice produces a phenotype resembling lean polycystic ovary syndrome. We studied effects of voluntary exercise on metabolic and reproductive parameters in PNA vs vehicle (VEH)-treated mice. Mice (8 wk of age) were housed individually and estrous cycles monitored. At 10 weeks of age, mice were divided into groups (PNA, PNA-run, VEH, VEH-run, n = 8-9/group); those in the running groups received wheels allowing voluntary running. Unexpectedly, PNA mice ran less distance than VEH mice; ovariectomy eliminated this difference. In ovary-intact mice, there was no difference in glucose tolerance, lower limb muscle fiber types, weight, or body composition among groups after 16 weeks of running, although some mitochondrial proteins were mildly up-regulated by exercise in PNA mice. Before running, estrous cycles in PNA mice were disrupted with most days in diestrus. There was no change in cycles during weeks 1-6 of running (10-15 wk of age). In contrast, from weeks 11 to 16 of running, cycles in PNA mice improved with more days in proestrus and estrus and fewer in diestrus. PNA programs reduced voluntary exercise, perhaps mediated in part by ovarian secretions. Exercise without weight loss improved estrous cycles, which if translated could be important for fertility in and counseling of lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Basic Information About the School Siting Guidelines
EPA's voluntary school siting guidelines provide recommendations for local school districts and community members on how to evaluate environmental factors to make the best possible school siting decisions.
EPA’s Voluntary Methane Programs encourage oil and natural gas companies to adopt cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
44 CFR 79.5 - Application process.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-10-01
... HOMELAND SECURITY INSURANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION National Flood Insurance Program FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS.... (3) Participation in these flood mitigation grant programs is voluntary, and States may elect not to...
44 CFR 79.5 - Application process.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-10-01
... HOMELAND SECURITY INSURANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION National Flood Insurance Program FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS.... (3) Participation in these flood mitigation grant programs is voluntary, and States may elect not to...
44 CFR 79.5 - Application process.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-10-01
... HOMELAND SECURITY INSURANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION National Flood Insurance Program FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS.... (3) Participation in these flood mitigation grant programs is voluntary, and States may elect not to...
44 CFR 79.5 - Application process.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-10-01
... HOMELAND SECURITY INSURANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION National Flood Insurance Program FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS.... (3) Participation in these flood mitigation grant programs is voluntary, and States may elect not to...
44 CFR 79.5 - Application process.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... HOMELAND SECURITY INSURANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION National Flood Insurance Program FLOOD MITIGATION GRANTS.... (3) Participation in these flood mitigation grant programs is voluntary, and States may elect not to...
42 CFR 423.159 - Electronic prescription drug program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Electronic prescription drug program. 423.159... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement Requirements § 423.159 Electronic prescription drug program. (a) Definitions...
42 CFR 423.159 - Electronic prescription drug program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Electronic prescription drug program. 423.159... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement Requirements § 423.159 Electronic prescription drug program. (a) Definitions...
42 CFR 423.159 - Electronic prescription drug program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Electronic prescription drug program. 423.159... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement Requirements § 423.159 Electronic prescription drug program. (a) Definitions...
Voluntarism and Diversification of Undergraduate Geoscience Programs.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Greenberg, Jeffrey King
1990-01-01
Strategies that can be used to revitalize geoscience education are discussed. Stressed are the ideas of providing voluntary assistance to science and science teacher education and program diversification. (CW)
Ford-Jones, Polly; Daly, Tamara
2017-12-01
Volunteers and voluntary organizations can connect preventative health care programs to communities and may play an important role in addressing the health needs of older adults. Despite this, tensions may exist in the structures that drive volunteers and voluntary organizations representing immigrant communities to provide unpaid labour to augment and supplement health care services. Furthermore, organizational challenges may exist for community agencies relying on volunteers to sustain a health screening and education program. The intervention program was led by one voluntary agency specifically for South Asian communities in partnership with the university and five local organizations. This paper draws on volunteer surveys (n = 22) and key informant interviews (n = 12) to detail volunteer experiences providing this intervention. Volunteers were university students and other community volunteers. A total of 810 adults participated in the intervention within the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada between October 2014 and June 2016. We found that volunteers often used their experience as a 'stepping stone' position to other education or work. They also gained from the knowledge and used it to educate themselves and their family members and friends. This paper provides a critical reflection on the role of volunteers in a preventative and educational healthcare intervention program for older adults from the South Asian community. Tensions exist when relying on volunteer labour for the implementation of preventative community health care programming and must be explored to ensure program sustainability as well as equity within the health care system.
9 CFR 149.9 - Pilot program sites.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Pilot program sites. 149.9 Section 149... LIVESTOCK IMPROVEMENT VOLUNTARY TRICHINAE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM § 149.9 Pilot program sites. Pork production sites participating in an APHIS-approved trichinae pilot program at the time of implementation of the...
9 CFR 149.9 - Pilot program sites.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Pilot program sites. 149.9 Section 149... LIVESTOCK IMPROVEMENT VOLUNTARY TRICHINAE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM § 149.9 Pilot program sites. Pork production sites participating in an APHIS-approved trichinae pilot program at the time of implementation of the...
42 CFR 423.159 - Electronic prescription drug program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Electronic prescription drug program. 423.159... SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement Requirements § 423.159 Electronic prescription drug program. (a) Definitions. For purposes of this...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Benson, Martin K.
2010-01-01
The purpose of the descriptive case study with a multiple case framework was to (a) describe the organizational cultures of education programs and leaders in the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) voluntary education system on Oahu, Hawaii; (b) determine if an overlapping common organizational culture exists; and (c) assess the…
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-12-21
... approved information collection in support of the Regulations Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs... Governing the Voluntary Grading of Shell Eggs--7 CFR part 56. OMB Number: 0581-0128. Expiration Date, as... shell eggs on the basis of U.S. standards, grades and weight classes. In addition, the shell egg...
Llamazares, Marco; Smith, Robert J
2008-04-10
Recently, provincial health programs in Canada and elsewhere have begun rolling out vaccination against human papillomavirus for girls aged 9-13. While vaccination is voluntary, the cost of vaccination is waived, to encourage parents to have their daughters vaccinated. Adult women who are eligible for the vaccine may still receive it, but at a cost of approximately CAN$400. Given the high efficacy and immunogenicity of the vaccine, the possibility of eradicating targeted types of the virus may be feasible, assuming the vaccination programs are undertaken strategically. We develop a mathematical model to describe the epidemiology of vaccination against human papillomavirus, accounting for a widespread childhood vaccination program that may be supplemented by voluntary adult vaccination. A stability analysis is performed to determine the stability of the disease-free equilibrium. The critical vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity thresholds are derived, and the minimum level of adult vaccination required for eradication of targeted types is determined. We demonstrate that eradication of targeted types is indeed feasible, although the burden of coverage for a childhood-only vaccination program may be high. However, if a small, but non-negligible, proportion of eligible adults can be vaccinated, then the possibility of eradication of targeted types becomes much more favourable. We provide a threshold for eradication in general communities and illustrate the results with numerical simulations. We also investigate the effects of suboptimal efficacy and immunogenicity and show that there is a critical efficacy below which eradication of targeted types is not possible. If eradication is possible, then there is a critical immunogenicity such that even 100% childhood vaccination will not eradicate the targeted types of the virus and must be supplemented with voluntary adult vaccination. However, the level of adult vaccination coverage required is modest and may be achieved simply by removing the cost burden to vaccination. We recommend that provincial healthcare programs should pay for voluntary adult vaccination for women aged 14-26. However, it should be noted that our model results are preliminary, in that we have made a number of simplifying assumptions, including a lack of age-dependency in sexual partner rates, a lack of sexual activity outside of the vaccine age-range among females and a uniform age of sexual debut; thus, further work is desired to enhance the external generalisability of our results.
Kerret, Dorit; Menahem, Gila; Sagi, Rinat
2010-11-01
Focusing on the potential of information regulations, this article aims to contribute to ongoing efforts of policymakers to improve policy tools, in light of the increasing complexity of assessing the environmental impacts of new technologies and industrial corporations. Using the annual reports of corporations and performance data from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the study analyzed the quality of responses to the amendments of Israel's Securities Regulations by major, publicly traded, polluting industrial corporations in Israel. The main theoretical claim of this paper is that within mandatory regulations there may be a large variability in the degree of specification of requirements. When considerable discretion is left to corporations, the result is a mixed mandatory-voluntary regulation regime. Our findings suggest that such variability impacts the implementation outcomes, as responses to environmental requirements depend on the level of discretion. Facilities increased their reported information, including the negative aspects, when specific mandatory prescriptions were stipulated. However, voluntary motivations did not result in the provision of information when corporations were allowed a high level of discretion. The authors recommend the delineation of exact stipulations of prescriptive requirements for the provision of comparative environmental information in order to obtain the environmental information deemed necessary.
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-10-11
...] Pilot Program To Evaluate Proposed Proprietary Name Submissions; Public Meeting on Pilot Program Results... voluntary pilot program that enabled participating pharmaceutical firms to evaluate proposed proprietary... public meeting at the end of fiscal year 2011 to discuss the results of the pilot program, but the Agency...
Better by design: business preferences for environmental regulatory reform.
Taylor, Christopher M; Pollard, Simon J T; Rocks, Sophie A; Angus, Andrew J
2015-04-15
We present the preferences for environmental regulatory reform expressed by 30 UK businesses and industry bodies from 5 sectors. While five strongly preferred voluntary regulation, seven expressed doubts about its effectiveness, and 18 expressed no general preference between instrument types. Voluntary approaches were valued for flexibility and lower burdens, but direct regulation offered stability and a level playing field. Respondents sought regulatory frameworks that: are coherent; balance clarity, prescription and flexibility; are enabled by positive regulatory relationships; administratively efficient; targeted according to risk magnitude and character; evidence-based and that deliver long-term market stability for regulatees. Anticipated differences in performance between types of instrument can be undermined by poor implementation. Results underline the need for policy makers and regulators to tailor an effective mix of instruments for a given sector, and to overcome analytical, institutional and political barriers to greater coherence, to better coordinate existing instruments and tackle new environmental challenges as they emerge. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Status and Trends in U.S. Compliance and Voluntary Renewable Energy Certificate Markets (2010 Data)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Heeter, J.; Bird, L.
2011-10-01
This report documents the status and trends of 'compliance'--renewable energy certificate (REC) markets used to meet state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements--and 'voluntary' markets--those in which consumers and institutions purchase renewable energy to match their electricity needs on a voluntary basis. Today, 29 states and the District of Columbia have an RPS, more than half of all U.S. electricity customers have an option to purchase some type of green power product directly from a retail electricity provider, and all consumers have the option to purchase RECs. This report documents REC activities and trends in the United States. The compliance RECmore » market analysis includes analysis of REC trading, regional REC markets, REC tracking systems, types of compliance RECs, compliance REC pricing trends, and an overview of compliance with RPS polices. The voluntary REC analysis presents data and analysis on voluntary market sales and customer participation, products and premiums, green pricing marketing and administrative expenses, voluntary REC pricing, and the voluntary carbon offsets market. The report concludes with a discussion of upcoming guidance from the Federal Trade Commission on green marketing claims, the emergence of community solar programs, and the potential impact of Dodd-Frank regulations on the REC market.« less
Cline, K.; Lamb, B.L.
2005-01-01
Many scholars note the increasing desire of the public to be involved in the policy process. Others observe, however, that public participation in governance is declining. One possible explanation for this is that people do not know the technical and scientific language that is frequently used in these decision processes. Citizens simply lack the information to participate in a meaningful way. This is what is known as the “technical information quandary” (i.e., how citizen desires for increased participation can be balanced against the increasingly technical nature of public policy). Research on public participation suggests membership in voluntary associations or organizations is positively associated with higher levels of technical policy knowledge. Recreation management on the Colorado Plateau provides an excellent opportunity to examine the relationship between membership in voluntary organizations and the level of policy knowledge. In 1998, we surveyed the public living on the Colorado Plateau to ascertain their level of knowledge of technical terms and their level of participation in voluntary organizations. We found that a variety of factors were related to people's membership in these organizations. In particular, our findings indicate that those with higher levels of knowledge were significantly more likely to be members of voluntary organizations and that this knowledge was most likely to come from the organizations. These findings have important implications for environmental managers, as well as for the voluntary organizations themselves.
Biofuels, Biolubricants and the BioPreferred(SM) Program
USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database
The BioPreferred(SM) Program is a U.S. government initiative intended to encourage the development and widespread use of biofuels, biolubricants, and other biobased products in the U.S. The program consists of the preferred procurement and the voluntary labeling programs. Companies wishing to have t...
A landholder-based approach to the design of private-land conservation programs.
Moon, Katie; Cocklin, Chris
2011-06-01
Many ecosystems exist primarily, or solely, on privately owned (freehold) or managed (leasehold) land. In rural and semirural areas, local and regional government agencies are commonly responsible for encouraging landholders to conserve native vegetation and species on these private properties. Yet these agencies often lack the capacity to design and implement conservation programs tailored to rural and semirural landholdings and instead offer one program to all landholders. Landholders may elect not to participate because the program is irrelevant to their property or personal needs; consequently, vegetation-retention objectives may not be achieved. We differentiated landholders in Queensland, Australia, according to whether they derived income from the land (production landholders) or not (nonproduction landholders). We compared these two groups to identify similarities and differences that may inform the use of policy instruments (e.g., voluntary, economic, and regulatory) in conservation program design. We interviewed 45 landholders participating in three different conservation agreement programs (price-based rate [property tax] rebate; market-based tender; and voluntary, permanent covenant). Production landholders were more likely to participate in short-term programs that offered large financial incentives that applied to <25% of their property. Nonproduction landholders were more likely to participate in long-term programs that were voluntary or offered small financial incentives that applied to >75% of their property. These results may be explained by significant differences in the personal circumstances of production and nonproduction landholders (income, education, health) and differences in their norms (beliefs about how an individual is expected to act) and attitudes. Knowledge of these differences may allow for development of conservation programs that better meet the needs of landholders and thus increase participation in conservation programs and retention of native vegetation. ©2011 Society for Conservation Biology.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McEwan, Cheryl; Bek, David
2009-01-01
Despite recent critical analyses of the nature and impacts of social and environmental certification, the increasingly complex landscape of voluntary, industry and third-party codes and certification processes that have emerged in specific sectors is poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the potential threats posed by an…
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-04-01
..., specifically, a program, function, service, or activity that is of special geographic, historical or cultural... the voluntary return by a Tribe/Consortium to a bureau of a program operated under an AFA before the...
78 FR 25886 - Revisions to the Petition for Rulemaking Process
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-05-03
.... Voluntary Consensus Standards VIII. Environmental Impact: Categorical Exclusion IX. Paperwork Reduction Act... subject to a PRM by indicating that the regulations governing nuclear energy are contained under chapter I...
76 FR 3789 - Voluntary Labeling Program for Biobased Products
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-01-20
... manufacturer or vendor has provided relevant information on the product for the USDA BioPreferred Program Web... labeling component of the BioPreferred Program. The final rule also applies to other entities (e.g., trade... Procurement Program (one part of the BioPreferred\\SM\\ Program) is available on the Internet at http://www...
State Regulatory Enforcement and Nursing Home Termination from the Medicare and Medicaid Programs
Li, Yue; Harrington, Charlene; Spector, William D; Mukamel, Dana B
2010-01-01
Objectives Nursing homes certified by the Medicare and/or Medicaid program are subject to federally mandated and state-enforced quality and safety standards. We examined the relationship between state quality enforcement and nursing home terminations from the two programs. Study Design Using data from a survey of state licensure and certification agencies and other secondary databases, we performed bivariate and multivariate analyses on the strength of state quality regulation in 2005, and nursing home voluntary terminations (decisions made by the facility) or involuntary terminations (imposed by the state) in 2006–2007. Principal Findings Involuntary terminations were rarely imposed by state regulators, while voluntary terminations were relatively more common (2.16 percent in 2006–2007) and varied considerably across states. After controlling for facility, market, and state covariates, nursing homes in states implementing stronger quality enforcement were more likely to voluntarily terminate from the Medicare and Medicaid programs (odds ratio=1.53, p=.018). Conclusions Although involuntary nursing home terminations occurred rarely in most states, nursing homes in states with stronger quality regulations tend to voluntarily exit the publicly financed market. Because of the consequences of voluntary terminations on patient care and access, state regulators need to consider the effects of increased enforcement on both enhanced quality and the costs of termination. PMID:20819106
History of the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement
2002-06-01
reflect executed Voluntary Enrollment Contracts (VEC) for VISA Stages I, II, and III to include basic activation procedures; DOD annual minimums for...provisions; and on-the-shelf basic agreements (such as VISA Intermodal Contingency Contracts (VICC) for Stages I, II, and III). The anticipated...insufficient Program incentives are revised annually, but the basic tenets remain in place. Activation, capacity required to commit and carrier risk clauses
A National Survey of Tobacco Cessation Programs for Youths
Curry, Susan J.; Emery, Sherry; Sporer, Amy K.; Mermelstein, Robin; Flay, Brian R.; Berbaum, Michael; Warnecke, Richard B.; Johnson, Timothy; Mowery, Paul; Parsons, Jennifer; Harmon, Lori; Hund, Lisa; Wells, Henry
2007-01-01
Objectives. We collected data on a national sample of existing community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths to understand their prevalence and overall characteristics. Methods. We employed a 2-stage sampling design with US counties as the first-stage probability sampling units. We then used snowball sampling in selected counties to identify administrators of tobacco cessation programs for youths. We collected data on cessation programs when programs were identified. Results. We profiled 591 programs in 408 counties. Programs were more numerous in urban counties; fewer programs were found in low-income counties. State-level measures of smoking prevalence and tobacco control expenditures were not associated with program availability. Most programs were multisession, school-based group programs serving 50 or fewer youths per year. Program content included cognitive-behavioral components found in adult programs along with content specific to adolescence. The median annual budget was $2000. Few programs (9%) reported only mandatory enrollment, 35% reported mixed mandatory and voluntary enrollment, and 56% reported only voluntary enrollment. Conclusions. There is considerable homogeneity among community-based tobacco cessation programs for youths. Programs are least prevalent in the types of communities for which national data show increases in youths’ smoking prevalence. PMID:17138932
2003 Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting Agendas
Objectives for the two meetings in 2003 include discussing the Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program, highlights of recent activities, priorities for future programs, the Indicators Report, human milk contamination, and farm children.
The value of balanced growth for transportation.
DOT National Transportation Integrated Search
2014-12-01
The Ohio Balanced Growth Program is a voluntary, locally-driven, incentive-driven program which aims to encourage : compact, nodal development patterns. The Ohio Department of Transportation provided support for this research to evaluate : potential ...
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Not Available
1998-04-29
The purpose of this bill is to withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for other purposes. This bill is divided into the following sections: Section 1. Short Title; Section 2. Findings; Section 3. Withholding of voluntary contributions to the International Atomic Energy Agency for programs and projects in Iran. Section 4. Annual review by Secretary of State of programs and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency; United States opposition to programs and projects of the Agencymore » in Iran; Section 5. Reporting Requirements; and Section 7. Sense of the Congress.« less
Administrative Costs of Education Voucher Programs.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hill, Paul T.
This paper focuses on the administrative costs of vouchers programs. It considers the tasks that public and private agencies must undertake and estimates the administrative burdens and cash flow that local programs create. It assumes that all voucher programs, including those meant in part to reduce overcrowding, will be voluntary. The paper…
The Child Nutrition Labeling Program: An Overview.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wade, Cheryl; And Others
This manual establishes policies and procedures for the Child Nutrition (CN) Labeling Program, a voluntary federal program run by the United States Department of Agriculture. The program is responsible for reviewing a product formulation to determine the contribution a single serving of that product makes toward the child nutrition meal pattern…
Ford, Change, and Community Colleges: An Important Partnership.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Petersen, Donald E.
1987-01-01
Describes two cooperative programs involving the Ford Motor Company and community colleges: the voluntary joint United Auto Workers-Ford Employee Development and Training Program, which serves both dislocated and active workers; and the Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) Program, a two-year cooperative work study program.…
75 FR 82387 - Product Cancellation Order for Certain Pesticide Registrations
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-12-30
... notice are intended to allow depletion of the amount of technical propetamphos (EPA Reg. No. 2724-313... voluntary cancellation. Use until depletion will preclude environmental disposal concerns of quantities of...
76 FR 27925 - Requirements for Maintenance of Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-05-13
... State Compatibility IX. Voluntary Consensus Standards X. Environmental Impact--Categorical Exclusion XI... endorsed guidance developed by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) in NEI 08-01, ``Industry Guideline for...
Voluntary Compliance, Pollution Levels, and Infant Mortality in Mexico.
Foster, Andrew; Gutierrez, Emilio; Kumar, Naresh
2009-05-01
The increasing body of evidence from high income countries linking pollution to health outcomes (Ken Chay and Michael Greenstone 2003; Janet Currie and Matthew Neidell 2004), has raised concerns about the health impact of adverse air quality in developing countries, where, in general, environmental regulation is less stringent and health monitoring and treatment are less accessible. These concerns have, in turn, encouraged consideration of the effectiveness of alternative mechanisms for improving air quality while limiting the adverse impact on economic growth. However, the analysis of both the effects of pollution on health and the effectiveness of pollution abatement policies faces particular empirical challenges in low- and middle-income contexts, given the scarcity of reliable measures of pollution concentrations. The primary source of good quality data on air quality, ground monitoring, tends to be limited to larger metropolitan areas with monitors placed at sentinel sites that may or may not yield a representative picture of population exposure. This paper calls attention to, and makes use of, newly available procedures for extracting measures of air quality from satellite imagery. In particular, satellite-based measures of aerosol optical depth (AOD) are used to obtain estimates of air quality for the whole Mexican territory at a detailed geographic scale, and these estimates are related to measures of participation in a voluntary certification program at the level of the county. The resulting estimates are then combined with estimates of the relationship between participation in the certification program and infant mortality due to respiratory causes to obtain a rough estimate of the relationship between air quality and infant health in Mexico.
Structuring economic incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation within Indonesia.
Busch, Jonah; Lubowski, Ruben N; Godoy, Fabiano; Steininger, Marc; Yusuf, Arief A; Austin, Kemen; Hewson, Jenny; Juhn, Daniel; Farid, Muhammad; Boltz, Frederick
2012-01-24
We estimate and map the impacts that alternative national and subnational economic incentive structures for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+) in Indonesia would have had on greenhouse gas emissions and national and local revenue if they had been in place from 2000 to 2005. The impact of carbon payments on deforestation is calibrated econometrically from the pattern of observed deforestation and spatial variation in the benefits and costs of converting land to agriculture over that time period. We estimate that at an international carbon price of $10/tCO(2)e, a "mandatory incentive structure," such as a cap-and-trade or symmetric tax-and-subsidy program, would have reduced emissions by 163-247 MtCO(2)e/y (20-31% below the without-REDD+ reference scenario), while generating a programmatic budget surplus. In contrast, a "basic voluntary incentive structure" modeled after a standard payment-for-environmental-services program would have reduced emissions nationally by only 45-76 MtCO(2)e/y (6-9%), while generating a programmatic budget shortfall. By making four policy improvements--paying for net emission reductions at the scale of an entire district rather than site-by-site; paying for reductions relative to reference levels that match business-as-usual levels; sharing a portion of district-level revenues with the national government; and sharing a portion of the national government's responsibility for costs with districts--an "improved voluntary incentive structure" would have been nearly as effective as a mandatory incentive structure, reducing emissions by 136-207 MtCO(2)e/y (17-26%) and generating a programmatic budget surplus.
Role of Renewable Energy Certificates in Developing New Renewable Energy Projects
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Holt, E.; Sumner, J.; Bird, L.
2011-06-01
For more than a decade, renewable energy certificates (RECs) have grown in use, becoming a common way to track ownership of the renewable and environmental attributes of renewable electricity generation. In recent years, however, questions have risen about the role RECs play in the decision to build new renewable energy projects. Information from a variety of market participants suggests that the importance of RECs in building new projects varies depending on a number of factors, including electricity market prices, the cost-competitiveness of the project, the presence or absence of public policies supportive of new projects, contract duration, and the perspectivemore » of different market participants. While there is no single answer to the role that RECs play, there are situations in which REC revenues are essential to project economics, as well as some where REC revenues may have little impact. To strengthen the role RECs play in both compliance and voluntary markets, there are a number of options that could be considered. In compliance markets, lawmakers or regulators would have to adopt measures that strengthen the role of RECs in the development of new projects, while in voluntary markets, it would be up to program leaders and market participants themselves to implement measures.« less
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-10-01
... PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement... utilization management programs, quality assurance measures and systems, and medication therapy management... organization (QIO) activities. (f) Compliance deemed on the basis of accreditation. (g) Accreditation...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-10-01
... PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement... utilization management programs, quality assurance measures and systems, and medication therapy management... organization (QIO) activities. (f) Compliance deemed on the basis of accreditation. (g) Accreditation...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement Requirements... utilization management programs, quality assurance measures and systems, and medication therapy management... organization (QIO) activities. (f) Compliance deemed on the basis of accreditation. (g) Accreditation...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-10-01
... PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality Improvement... utilization management programs, quality assurance measures and systems, and medication therapy management... organization (QIO) activities. (f) Compliance deemed on the basis of accreditation. (g) Accreditation...
Voluntary Industry Standards and Their Relationship to Government Programs
DOT National Transportation Integrated Search
1993-01-01
The Office of Commercial Space Transportation (OCST), in developing its program : for ensuring that commercial space operations adequately protect public safety : and the environment, confronts the challenge of devising an effective means for : accom...
76 FR 62808 - Pilot Program for Parallel Review of Medical Products
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-10-11
... voluntary participation in the pilot program, as well as the guiding principles the Agencies intend to... 57045), parallel review is intended to reduce the time between FDA marketing approval and CMS national...
77 FR 4399 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-01-27
... currently approved collection. Title: Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program. Form: 8952. Abstract: Form 8952 was created by the IRS in conjunction with a new program developed to permit... similar relief to that obtained in the current Classification Settlement Program. To participate in the...
7 CFR 634.1 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... best management practices (BMP's) in project areas which have critical water quality problems resulting... approved agricultural portion of a 208 water quality management plan. Participation in RCWP is voluntary. (c) The program is a new USDA program and an extension of existing water-quality management programs...
7 CFR 634.1 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... best management practices (BMP's) in project areas which have critical water quality problems resulting... approved agricultural portion of a 208 water quality management plan. Participation in RCWP is voluntary. (c) The program is a new USDA program and an extension of existing water-quality management programs...
42 CFR 423.159 - Electronic prescription drug program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Electronic prescription drug program. 423.159 Section 423.159 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Cost Control and Quality...
42 CFR 423.800 - Administration of subsidy program.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-10-01
... 42 Public Health 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Administration of subsidy program. 423.800 Section 423.800 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT Premiums and Cost...
76 FR 31312 - Federal Family Education Loan Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-05-31
... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Federal Family Education Loan Program AGENCY: Federal Student Aid, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice inviting guaranty agencies to submit proposals to participate in a... participate in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program to submit proposals to enter into a Voluntary...
Community Solutions for Stormwater Management: A Guide for Voluntary Long-Term Planning
This draft guide describes how to develop a comprehensive long-term community stormwater plan that integrates stormwater management with communities’ broader plans for economic development, infrastructure investment and environmental compliance.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kalu, J. U.; Aliagha, G. U.; Buang, A.
2016-02-01
Global warming has consequences on the environment and economy; this led to the establishment of United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. These two agreements were to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions which are responsible for climate change and global warming. Developing countries under the protocol are not obligated to reduce or disclosure GHG emission, so their participation in the protocol is on voluntary mitigation bases. This study intends to examine economic factors that influence voluntary carbon disclosure in the property sub-sector of developing countries based on annual report of listed property companies in Malaysia. Signaling theory addresses the problem of information asymmetry in the society. Disclosure is an effective tool to overcome information imbalance among different market participants. The study hypothesizes that the economic factors that influence voluntary carbon information disclosure in developing countries are: [1] the company's size; this is because a large-sized company have more resources to cover the cost of reducing pollution. [2] The company's gearing status; where there is no sufficient information disclosure in a highly geared company will result to an increased agency cost. [3] Profitability; profits grants companies a pool of resources for mitigation activities and environmental reporting. Also, carbon disclosure acts as a means for achieving public confidence and legitimacy. [4] Liquidity: Companies that are highly liquid will disclosure more information to distinguish themselves from other companies that are less liquidity. This is correlated to environmental disclosure. [5] Financial slack affects companies’ ability to participate in green technology projects that enable a reduction in emission.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
NONE
The Voluntary Reporting Program, developed pursuant to Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, permits corporations, government agencies, households, and voluntary organizations to report on their emissions of greenhouse gases, and on actions taken that have reduced or avoided emissions or sequestered carbon, to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This, the second annual report of the Voluntary Reporting Program, describes information provided by the participating organizations on their aggregate emissions and emissions reductions, as well as their emissions reduction or avoidance projects, through 1995. This information has been compiled into a database that includes reports from 142 organizationsmore » and descriptions of 967 projects that either reduced greenhouse gas emissions or sequestered carbon. Fifty-one reporters also provided estimates of emissions, and emissions reductions achieved, for their entire organizations. The projects described actions taken to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from energy production and use; to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions from energy use, waste management, and agricultural processes; to reduce emissions of halocarbons, such as CFCs and their replacements; and to increase carbon sequestration.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Not Available
This volume, the second of two such volumes, contains sector-specific guidance in support of the General Guidelines for the voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. This voluntary reporting program was authorized by Congress in Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The General Guidelines, bound separately from this volume, provide the overall rationale for the program, discuss in general how to analyze emissions and emission reduction/carbon sequestration projects, and address programmatic issues such as minimum reporting requirements, time parameters, international projects, confidentiality, and certification. Together, the General Guidelines and the guidance in these supporting documentsmore » will provide concepts and approaches needed to prepare the reporting forms. This second volume of sector-specific guidance covers the transportation sector, the forestry sector, and the agricultural sector.« less
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
... SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 60... Stationary SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ [As stated in § 60.4247, you must comply... voluntary certification program and certifying stationary SI ICE to emission standards in Table 1 of subpart...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 60... Stationary SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ [As stated in § 60.4247, you must comply... voluntary certification program and certifying stationary SI ICE to emission standards in Table 1 of subpart...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 60... Stationary SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ [As stated in § 60.4247, you must comply... voluntary certification program and certifying stationary SI ICE to emission standards in Table 1 of subpart...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 60... Stationary SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ [As stated in § 60.4247, you must comply... voluntary certification program and certifying stationary SI ICE to emission standards in Table 1 of subpart...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ 4 Table 4 to Subpart JJJJ of Part 60... Stationary SI ICE to Emission Standards in Table 1 of Subpart JJJJ [As stated in § 60.4247, you must comply... voluntary certification program and certifying stationary SI ICE to emission standards in Table 1 of subpart...
A Socio-Hydrological Model of the Voluntary Urban Water Conservation Behavior during Droughts
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sangwan, N.; Eisma, J. A.; Sung, K.; Yu, D. J.
2016-12-01
Several cities across the globe are increasingly struggling to meet the water demands of their population. By 2050, nearly 160 million urban dwellers are likely to face perennial water shortage due to ever rising population numbers and climate change. As observed once again during recent drought in California, voluntary water conservation is a key approach for managing urban water availability during periods of constrained supply. It relies on behavioral adaptation that is critical for long-term reductions in water use and building drought resilient communities. Strong interdependencies between human group behavior and regional hydrology in this context entail that the two components be coupled together in a socio-hydrology model to fully understand the dynamics of urban water systems. This work proposes a conceptual framework for one such model and simulates the dynamics of a voluntary conservation program in Marin Municipal Water District, California using dynamic systems modeling approach. Through this model, we plan to assess the effects of different social factors (such as social concern and conformist tendencies) and climato-hydrological conditions (viz. storage levels and weather forecast) on the trajectory of a voluntary conservation program. Our preliminary results have indicated several `tipping points' which can be capitalized on by policy makers to boost conservation at low social costs.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Virginia Finley
The results of the 1999 environmental surveillance and monitoring program for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are presented and discussed. The purpose of this report is to provide the U.S. Department of Energy and the public with information on the level of radioactive and non-radioactive pollutants (if any) that are added to the environment as a result of PPPL's operations. The report also summarizes environmental initiatives, assessments, and programs that were undertaken in 1999. The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has engaged in fusion energy research since 1951. The long-range goal of the U.S. Magnetic Fusion Energy Research Program ismore » to create innovations to make fusion power a practical reality--an alternative energy source. 1999 marked the first year of National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) operations and Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) dismantlement and deconstruction activities. A collaboration among fourteen national laboratories, universities, and research institutions, the NSTX is a major element in the U.S. Fusion Energy Sciences Program. It has been designed to test the physics principles of spherical torus (ST) plasmas. The ST concept could play an important role in the development of smaller, more economical fusion reactors. With its completion within budget and ahead of its target schedule, NSTX first plasma occurred on February 12, 1999. The 1999 performance of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory was rated ''outstanding'' by the U.S. Department of Energy in the Laboratory Appraisal report issued early in 2000. The report cited the Laboratory's consistently excellent scientific and technological achievements, its successful management practices, and included high marks in a host of other areas including environmental management, employee health and safety, human resources administration, science education, and communications. Groundwater investigations continued under a voluntary agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. PPPL monitored for the presence of non-radiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of degreasing solvents). Monitoring revealed the presence of low levels of volatile organic compounds in an area adjacent to PPPL. Also, PPPL's radiological monitoring program characterized the ambient, background levels of tritium in the environment and from the TFTR stack; the data are presented in this report.« less
Mission Possible: Fargo Area Schools Work Experience Program: Annual Report. RCU Report No. 24.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
North Dakota State Board for Vocational Education, Bismarck. Research Coordinating Unit.
The report describes the Mission Possible program, an alternative career exploration program for secondary school students in Cass County, North Dakota. The program is a voluntary, flexible one in which students learn about careers at "career sites" in business and industrial establishments according to the following alternatives:…
USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database
This paper identifies knowledge gaps that impact on the design of programs to control and or eradicate bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) in the United States. Currently there are several voluntary regional BVDV control programs in place. These control programs are aimed at the removal of animals ...
Morgan, Vanessa
2014-03-01
The purpose of this project was to examine the feasibility of an ongoing holistic wellness program in a residential facility treating persons with HIV/AIDS. The goal was to create a voluntary, four week holistic wellness intensive within the established inpatient behavioral health treatment program. Participants were given practicable holistic self care tools to effectively manage HIV related symptoms, general medical issues, addiction, depression, stress and anxiety. The program incorporated evidence-based holistic activities including yoga, therapeutic dance, meditation, Reiki, and reflective journaling. Narrative survey results and post-program evaluation support that an ongoing holistic wellness program within the existing treatment model is feasible and could have numerous potential beneficial effects. This project clearly exemplified the ideal opportunity for holistic nurses to implement innovative holistic interventions within the current healthcare delivery system. It is the author's observation that future studies with a larger participant group to further examine measurable benefits can lend valuable information and insight into the future development of holistic wellness programs for residential treatment facilities.
Social and Environmental Impacts of Forest Management Certification in Indonesia
Miteva, Daniela A.; Loucks, Colby J.; Pattanayak, Subhrendu K.
2015-01-01
In response to unsustainable timber production in tropical forest concessions, voluntary forest management certification programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have been introduced to improve environmental, social, and economic performance over existing management practices. However, despite the proliferation of forest certification over the past two decades, few studies have evaluated its effectiveness. Using temporally and spatially explicit village-level data on environmental and socio-economic indicators in Kalimantan (Indonesia), we evaluate the performance of the FSC-certified timber concessions compared to non-certified logging concessions. Employing triple difference matching estimators, we find that between 2000 and 2008 FSC reduced aggregate deforestation by 5 percentage points and the incidence of air pollution by 31%. It had no statistically significant impacts on fire incidence or core areas, but increased forest perforation by 4 km2 on average. In addition, we find that FSC reduced firewood dependence (by 33%), respiratory infections (by 32%) and malnutrition (by 1 person) on average. By conducting a rigorous statistical evaluation of FSC certification in a biodiversity hotspot such as Indonesia, we provide a reference point and offer methodological and data lessons that could aid the design of ongoing and future evaluations of a potentially critical conservation policy. PMID:26132491
Voluntary Wheel Running in Mice.
Goh, Jorming; Ladiges, Warren
2015-12-02
Voluntary wheel running in the mouse is used to assess physical performance and endurance and to model exercise training as a way to enhance health. Wheel running is a voluntary activity in contrast to other experimental exercise models in mice, which rely on aversive stimuli to force active movement. This protocol consists of allowing mice to run freely on the open surface of a slanted, plastic saucer-shaped wheel placed inside a standard mouse cage. Rotations are electronically transmitted to a USB hub so that frequency and rate of running can be captured via a software program for data storage and analysis for variable time periods. Mice are individually housed so that accurate recordings can be made for each animal. Factors such as mouse strain, gender, age, and individual motivation, which affect running activity, must be considered in the design of experiments using voluntary wheel running. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Voluntary Wheel Running in Mice
Goh, Jorming; Ladiges, Warren
2015-01-01
Voluntary wheel running in the mouse is used to assess physical performance and endurance and to model exercise training as a way to enhance health. Wheel running is a voluntary activity in contrast to other experimental exercise models in mice, which rely on aversive stimuli to force active movement. The basic protocol consists of allowing mice to run freely on the open surface of a slanted plastic saucer-shaped wheel placed inside a standard mouse cage. Rotations are electronically transmitted to a USB hub so that frequency and rate of running can be captured to a software program for data storage and analysis for variable time periods. Mice are individually housed so that accurate recordings can be made for each animal. Factors such as mouse strain, gender, age, and individual motivation, which affect running activity, must be considered in the design of experiments using voluntary wheel running. PMID:26629772
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Browne, Daniel
2017-01-01
A new RAND Corporation study shows that voluntary summer programs can benefit children from low-income families, particularly those with high attendance. Programs studied in five school districts had several elements in common: a mix of academics and enrichment activities, certified teachers, small class sizes, full-day programming provided five…
Monitoring Program Quality: Who and How Should It Be Done?
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Scholl, Geraldine T.; And Others
Aspects of monitoring and evaluating programs for visually handicapped students are examined. The certification/accreditation program evaluation design is considered in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Roles of governmental (state and federal) and voluntary agencies are discussed. The functions of the National Accreditation Council of…
75 FR 32459 - National Energy Rating Program for Homes
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-06-08
... Homes AGENCY: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Request for... parties to assist DOE in developing a voluntary National Energy Rating Program for Homes. The purpose of this program is to encourage consumers to invest in energy improvements in existing homes by providing...
78 FR 49382 - Voluntary Education Programs
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-08-14
... programs offered on a military installation at no cost to the individual Service TA programs. Sec. 68.5... education or training for which the Service member is enrolled. (B) When an institution's charges exceed the... requirement to first attend basic training before authorized to receive TA. Additional, respective Service...
Focus on Nutrition. MCH Program Interchange.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, Washington, DC.
This issue of the "MCH Program Interchange" describes selected materials and publications in maternal and child health (MCH) nutrition services and programs. The materials were developed by or are available from federal agencies, state and local public health agencies, and voluntary and professional organizations. The information is intended to…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rural Development Detwork Bulletin, 1977
1977-01-01
Innovative programs for the promotion of small-scale enterprise are being conducted by a variety of organizations, including universities, government agencies, international research institutes, and voluntary assistance agencies. Their activities encompass basic extension services, management of cooperatives, community action programs, and…
Advance Control Measures & Programs
As areas develop their path forward or action plan, they should consider a variety of voluntary and mandatory measures and programs. The resources on this page can help, and participants are also encouraged to talk with their EPA Advance contact
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce PROCEDURES FOR A VOLUNTARY CONSUMER PRODUCT... under the program, including an evaluation of the program and a list of participants, designated agents, and types of consumer products covered. ...
Wandei, Stephen; Nangami, Mabel; Egesa, Omar
2016-01-01
Voluntary medical male circumcision is one of the most effective measures in preventing male acquisition of HIV during heterosexual intercourse. In Kenya, the voluntary medical male circumcision programme was launched in the year 2008 as part of a comprehensive national HIV prevention strategy. With the global challenge of funding HIV intervention programs, the sustainability of the programme beyond the donor periods need to be assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine the household ability and willingness to pay for voluntary medical male circumcision as an alternative method of funding the programme. The findings show that 62.2% of the households were "able" to pay for medical circumcision. However, 60.4% of them were not "willing" to pay for the service regardless of the cost. The findings indicate that ability to pay is not a significant predictor of willingness to pay for voluntary medical male circumcision within Kisumu County. Knowledge on the role of medical circumcision is a more important factor in determining willingness to pay for the service.
[The characteristics of allocation of voluntary medical insurance of working population in Russia].
Ankudinov, A B; Lebedev, O V
2016-01-01
The article presents the results of analysis of widespread of prevalence of additional medical services and voluntary medical insurance of working population of Russia. The quantitative values were received concerning widespread of disposal to Russian workers of various industries of social benefits on partial and full payment of treatment, degree of participation of workers in programs of voluntary medical insurance. It is demonstrated that besides sectorial characteristics the determinants of widespread of granting additional medical insurance are positioned as individual characteristics of workers and such obstacles as length of service, education, salary of worker, type of residence settlement, harmful and dangerous conditions of labor, type of property of enterprise (public/non-public).
Maeo, Sumiaki; Takahashi, Takumi; Takai, Yohei; Kanehisa, Hiroaki
2013-01-01
Antagonistic muscle pairs cannot be fully activated simultaneously, even with maximal effort, under conditions of voluntary co-contraction, and their muscular activity levels are always below those during agonist contraction with maximal voluntary effort (MVE). Whether the muscular activity level during the task has trainability remains unclear. The present study examined this issue by comparing the muscular activity level during maximal voluntary co-contraction for highly experienced bodybuilders, who frequently perform voluntary co-contraction in their training programs, with that for untrained individuals (nonathletes). The electromyograms (EMGs) of biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles during maximal voluntary co-contraction of elbow flexors and extensors were recorded in 11 male bodybuilders and 10 nonathletes, and normalized to the values obtained during the MVE of agonist contraction for each of the corresponding muscles (% EMGMVE). The involuntary coactivation level in antagonist muscle during the MVE of agonist contraction was also calculated. In both muscles, % EMGMVE values during the co-contraction task for bodybuilders were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those for nonathletes (biceps brachii: 66±14% in bodybuilders vs. 46±13% in nonathletes, triceps brachii: 74±16% vs. 57±9%). There was a significant positive correlation between a length of bodybuilding experience and muscular activity level during the co-contraction task (r = 0.653, P = 0.03). Involuntary antagonist coactivation level during MVE of agonist contraction was not different between the two groups. The current result indicates that long-term participation in voluntary co-contraction training progressively enhances muscular activity during maximal voluntary co-contraction. PMID:24260233
Kadri, Mohamed Abdelhafid; Noé, Frederic; Nouar, Merbouha Boulahbel; Paillard, Thierry
2017-09-01
To compare the effects of unilateral strength training by stimulated and voluntary contractions on muscle strength and monopedal postural control of the contralateral limb. 36 non-active healthy male subjects were recruited and split randomly into three groups. Two groups of 12 subjects took part in a strength-training program (3 sessions a week over 8 weeks) comprising 43 contractions of the quadriceps femoris of the ipsilateral limb (at 20% of the MVC). One group carried out voluntary contractions exclusively (VOL group), while the other group benefited exclusively from electro-induced contractions (NMES group). The other 12 subjects formed the control (CON) group. Assessments of MVC and monopedal postural control in static and dynamic postural tasks were performed with the ipsilateral (ISPI) and contralateral (CONTRA) limbs before (PRE) and after (POST) completion of the training program. After the training program, the MVC of the IPSI and CONTRA limbs increased similarly for both experimental groups (VOL and NMES). There were no significant improvements of monopedal postural control for the IPSI or CONTRA limbs in either the VOL or NMES experimental group. No change was observed for the CON group over the protocol period. The purposed training program with NMES vs VOL contractions induced strength gains but did not permit any improvement of contralateral monopedal postural control in healthy young subjects. This has potential for therapeutic application and allows clinicians to focus their training programs on dynamic and poly-articular exercises to improve the postural control in young subjects.
75 FR 39135 - Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-07-08
... Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation... available through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) home page at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ . FOR FURTHER... Program (CREP) land; (4) Supplement funding and services from other Federal, State, tribal government, or...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-03-22
... Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is considering establishing an accreditation program for laboratories that test... the general accreditation criteria referenced in Sections 4 and 5 of the NIST handbook 150 to the test... accreditation, test and measurement equipment, personnel requirements, validation of test methods, and reporting...
Coupons for Success: A Marketing Incentive in Academic Support
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Potacco, Donna R.; Chen, Peter; Desroches, Danielle; Chisholm, Daniel R.; De Young, Sandra
2013-01-01
How does a Coupon Incentive Program motivate students to seek academic support in high-risk courses? Results from this study demonstrated that the Coupon Incentive Program was effective in motivating voluntary student attendance and improving student outcomes. Recommendations related to implementation of the Coupon Incentive Program are discussed.…
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-02-16
... measure their effectiveness. Through its voluntary Corporate Security Review (CSR) Program, TSA's Highway... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Transportation Security Administration Intent To Request Approval From OMB of One New Public Collection of Information: Security Program for Hazardous Materials Motor...
2009-10-05
AND SUBTITLE Counterinsurgency Operations 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e...VI-14 Voluntary Detainee Programs ......................................................................VI-14...Reintegration Program .....VI-22 iv JP 3-24 Table of Contents CHAPTER VII COMPONENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO COUNTERINSURGENCY Joint Counterinsurgency
Torelli, Luiza; de Jarmy Di Bella, Zsuzsanna Ilona Katalin; Rodrigues, Claudinei Alves; Stüpp, Liliana; Girão, Manoel João Batista Castello; Sartori, Marair Gracio Ferreira
2016-11-01
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of adding voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC) to a Pilates exercise program in sedentary nulliparous women. Fifty-seven healthy nulliparous and physically inactive women were randomized to a Pilates exercise program (PEP) with or without PFMC. Forty-eight women concluded this study (24 participants for each group). Each woman was evaluated before and after the PEP, by a physiotherapist and an urogynecologist (UG). Neither of the professionals was revealed to them. This physiotherapist measured their pelvic floor muscle strength by using both a perineometer (Peritron) and vaginal palpation (Oxford Scale). The UG, who performed 3D perineal ultrasound examinations, collected their data and evaluated the results for pubovisceral muscle thickness and the levator hiatus area (LA). Both professionals were blinded to the group allocation. The protocol for both groups consisted of 24 bi-weekly 1-h individual sessions of Pilates exercises, developed by another physiotherapist who specializes in PFM rehabilitation and the Pilates technique. The PEP+ PFMC group showed significantly greater strength improvements than the PEP group when comparing the Oxford scale, vaginal pressure and pubovisceral muscle thickness during contraction measurements at baseline and post-treatment. Our findings suggest that adding a voluntary PFMC to a Pilates exercise program is more effective than Pilates alone in improving PFM strength in sedentary nulliparous women.
Study of Factors Related to Army Delayed-Entry Program Attrition
1985-11-01
level, gender , and tenure in DEP. Military classification and assignment are determined almost solely on cognitive factors, physical examinations...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for Voluntary DEP Losses . . . . . , . . . , . . . . o , o . ° . 99 P-2. Chi-square Tests for Independence...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for DHP Aooession/ Voluntary Active Duty Losses . . 9 0 4 . 0 0 0 0 a a 0 106 B-9. Chi-square Tests for
What menu changes do restaurants make after joining a voluntary restaurant recognition program?
Gase, Lauren N; Kaur, Mandip; Dunning, Lauren; Montes, Christine; Kuo, Tony
2015-06-01
Programs that recognize restaurants for offering healthful options have emerged as a popular strategy to address the obesity epidemic; however, program fidelity and business responses to such programs are rarely assessed. This study sought to examine how retail restaurants in Los Angeles County chose to comply with participation criteria required by the Choose Health LA Restaurants initiative in the region; the program recognizes restaurants for offering reduced-size portions and healthy children's meals. Menus of all restaurants that joined within 1 year of program launch (n = 17 restaurant brands) were assessed for changes. Nine of the 17 brands made changes to their menus to meet participation criteria for reduced-size portions while 8 of the 10 restaurant brands that offered children's menus made changes to improve the healthfulness of children's meals. Results of this comparative assessment lend support to restaurant compliance with program criteria and menu improvements, even though they are voluntary, representing an important step toward implementing this strategy in the retail environment. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On-farm quality assurance programs: a survey of producer and industry leader opinions.
Payne, M; Bruhn, C M; Reed, B; Scearce, A; O'Donnell, J
1999-10-01
To assess interest in implementing a California dairy quality assurance program, practices and opinions of dairy producers and industry leaders were surveyed by a mailed questionnaire and by focus groups. The majority of the 55 participants in the focus group were dairy producers; processor marketing executives, extension dairy advisors, packinghouse executives, and dairy veterinarians were represented. The consensus among the focus groups was that a quality assurance program should be voluntary, be managed by creameries, and confer an economic advantage to participants. Focus group members listed chemical and microbial food safety (in both meat and milk), environmental health, and animal welfare as issues that should be addressed. Of the 1440 questionnaires mailed with producers' milk checks, 413 were returned. Information was collected regarding opinions and practices pertaining to administration of drugs to animals, medical records and animal identification, culling practices, manure management, cow welfare, and feeding of animal protein. An overwhelming 99% of producers believed they were responsible for the safety of meat and milk leaving the farm. Sixty percent of producers said that they would consider joining a California-specific quality assurance program, whereas 9% indicated that they would not. Producers would be more likely to join if their processor believed it would impart a market advantage and if the program standards were controlled by producers.
Single-Sex Education in the 21st Century. Education Policy Brief. Volume 6, Number 9, Fall 2008
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cable, Kelly E.; Spradlin, Terry E.
2008-01-01
Single-sex education describes a diverse range of situations, including individual classes, programs after school, required programs, voluntary programs, and programs to remedy gender inequities and encourage cultural and racial pride. This brief addresses the genesis and legality of single-sex classrooms, the merits and critiques of single-sex…
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wagner, Marsden
This document describes Denmark's 10-year (1965-75) program of cost-effective provision of social services to crisis families with children under the Danish 1964 Child and Youth Welfare Act. The program, voluntary and open to all families, provided preventive psychosocial services for children based on a family support system. The background to…
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
1980-01-01
A brief description of the Global Weather Experiment is presented. The world weather watch program plan is described and includes a global observing system, a global data processing system, a global telecommunication system, and a voluntary cooperation program. A summary of Federal Agency plans and programs to meet the challenges of international meteorology for the two year period, FY 1980-1981, is presented.
Hormonal control of feed intake in swine
USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database
Voluntary feed intake is controlled by a plethora of factors including, but not limited to, day length, social interactions, environmental conditions, oronasal sensory cues (i.e., taste, smell, texture), gastrointestinal fill, health status, metabolic status, dietary composition, drug interactions, ...
How and why women choose sterilization: results from six follow-up surveys.
Landry, E
1990-01-01
Follow-up surveys were carried out in six countries (Bangladesh, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Tunisia) between 1984 and 1986 to assess client decision-making regarding sterilization. The results revealed that women made well-informed, voluntary decisions to be sterilized. They were knowledgeable about other family planning methods and made the decision to be sterilized after consulting their partners, friends, relatives, or other sterilized women. Although their decisions were voluntary, other findings revealed areas for improvement such as client information and education about the risks of the procedure. These data were used to improve program services by emphasizing the need for better information, education, and counseling programs.
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Annual Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 1996
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
J.D. Levine; V.L. Finley
1998-03-01
The results of the 1996 environmental surveillance and monitoring program for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) are presented and discussed. The purpose of this report is to provide the US Department of Energy and the public with information on the level of radioactive and nonradioactive pollutants, if any, that are added to the environment as a result of PPPL's operations. During Calendar Year 1996, PPPL's Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) continued to conduct fusion experiments. Having set a world record on November 2, 1994, by achieving approximately 10.7 million watts of controlled fusion power during the deuterium-tritium (D-T) plasmamore » experiments, researchers turned their attention to studying plasma science experiments, which included ''enhanced reverse shear techniques.'' Since November 1993, more than 700 tritium-fueled experiments were conducted, which generated more than 4 x 10(superscript 20) neutrons and 1.4 gigajoules of fusion energy. In 1996, the overall performance of Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory was rated ''excellent'' by the US Department of Energy in the Laboratory Appraisal report issued in early 1997. The report cited the Laboratory's consistently excellent scientific and technological achievements and its successful management practices, which included high marks for environmental management, employee health and safety, human resources administration, science education, and communications. Groundwater investigations continued under a voluntary agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. PPPL monitored for the presence of nonradiological contaminants, mainly volatile organic compounds (components of degreasing solvents) and petroleum hydrocarbons (past leaks of releases of diesel fuel from underground storage tanks). Also, PPPL's radiological monitoring program characterized the ambient, background levels of tritium in the environment and from the TFTR stack; the data are presented in this report. During 1996, PPPL completed the removal of contaminated soil from two locations that were identified through the monitoring program: petroleum hydrocarbons along a drainage swale and chromium adjacent to the cooling tower.« less
Quality Assurance Plans under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
Quality Assurance Plan or (QAP) is a voluntary program where independent third-parties may audit and verify that RINs have been properly generated and are valid for compliance purposes. RINs verified under a QAP may be purchased by regulated parties.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... ENERGY OIL INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS General Provisions § 209.3 Definitions. For purposes of... allocation provisions of the International Energy Program means the provisions of chapter V of the Program... international allocation of petroleum. (c) International Energy Agency (IEA) means the International Energy...
Related Rules and Programs that Help States Attain PM Standards
EPA’s national and regional rules to reduce emissions of pollutants that form particle pollution will help state and local governments meet the PM NAAQS. A number of voluntary programs also are helping areas reduce fine PM pollution.
Certification, Re-certification and Continuing Education.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Conchelos, Mary
1983-01-01
Discussion of certification for librarians notes definitions, certification program of Medical Library Association, continuing education as means of maintaining certification, and the voluntary recognition system, which encourages and supports those who participate in continuing education by setting standards for programs, objectively evaluating…
Nelson, Marsha; Gale, Randall C; Naierman, Naomi; DeViney, Meredith
2014-06-01
The Affordable Care Act requires US hospices to report quality data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2013 with data eventually being made public. There may be some benefit to participating in a voluntary public-reporting program prior to public disclosure by CMS; therefore, we developed and conducted an electronic survey exploring California hospices' perceptions of public reporting. The majority (78.1%) of respondents reported current use of the Family Evaluation of Hospice Care tool and a willingness to consider voluntary participation in a public-reporting program outside of what is being implemented by CMS (58.6%). Tax status of responding hospices was not predictive of a willingness to participate in a statewide public-reporting program of hospice quality in our study.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories. Supplementary...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories. Supplementary...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories. Supplementary...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories. Supplementary...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories. Supplementary...
2009-08-24
few months. Hence, much attrition is non-voluntary, and the portion that is voluntary is due to maladjustment to military life. In addition, during...reasons for enlistment vary systematically across gender and race categories. Minorities may view military service as a vehicle for social advancement...Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. US News and World Report. Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (1944). Retrieved August 3
Implementing a routine, voluntary HIV testing program in a Massachusetts county prison.
Liddicoat, Rebecca V; Zheng, Hui; Internicola, Jeanne; Werner, Barbara G; Kazianis, Arthur; Golan, Yoav; Rubinstein, Eric P; Freedberg, Kenneth A; Walensky, Rochelle P
2006-11-01
Although U.S. prison inmates have higher rates of HIV infection than the general population, most inmates are not routinely tested for HIV infection at prison entry. The study objective was to implement a routine, voluntary HIV testing program in a Massachusetts county prison. During admission, inmates were given group HIV pre-test counseling and were subsequently offered private HIV testing. This intervention was compared to a control period during which HIV testing was provided only upon inmate or physician request. Between November 2004 and April 2005, 1,004 inmates met inclusion criteria and were offered routine, voluntary HIV testing. Of these, 734 (73.1%) accepted, 2 (0.3%) were HIV-infected, and 457 (45.5%) had been tested for HIV in the previous year. The testing rate of 73.1% was significantly increased from the rate of 18.0% (318 of 1,723) during the control period (p<0.001). Among the inmates tested for HIV in the prior year, 78.2% had received their last HIV test in the prison setting. Careful attention should be paid to prevent redundancy of testing efforts in the prison population. Implementing a routine HIV testing program among prison inmates greatly increased testing rates compared to on-request testing.
Serving the Needs of At-Risk Refugee Youth: A Program Evaluation
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
McBrien, J. Lynn
2006-01-01
Refugee students, although frequently subsumed under the "immigrant" heading, often suffer from effects of significant trauma that can make them more vulnerable than children of voluntary immigrant families. This study evaluated a program created specifically for refugee youth at-risk for academic failure and "social death." The program goals…
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-04-12
... investor confidence and market integrity, the Exchange designed the MQP Program to be highly transparent...), respectively. Background The proposed Market Quality Program is a voluntary program designed to promote market... obligations of listed Companies. The Rule 5300, 5400, and 5500 Series contain the specific quantitative...
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-10-28
...: Exchange Programs Alumni Web Site Registration, DS-7006 ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and... Collection The Exchange Programs Alumni Web site requires information to process users' voluntary requests for participation in the Web site. Other than contact information, which is required for website...
Marijuana Use by Heroin Abusers as a Factor in Program Retention
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Ellner, Melvyn
1977-01-01
Primary heroin abusers who remained in a voluntary drug-free treatment program for an average of nine months were carefully matched with not-retained control subjects. Marijuana was used by the retained subjects as a heroin substitute and those who used marijuana were more apt to remain in the treatment program. (Author)
Evaluation of the Truancy Court Diversion Program in the District of Columbia, 2011-12
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cahill, Meagan; Liberman, Akiva
2012-01-01
An evaluation of the Truancy Court Diversion Program (TCDP) found that despite significant implementation challenges, parent-child communication and youths' attitudes towards school both improved. A voluntary program for middle school students at risk for chronic truancy, TCDP involves judicially-led sessions that address student attitudes…
48 CFR 1819.7210 - Agreement terminations.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-10-01
... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 6 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Agreement terminations... ADMINISTRATION SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRAMS SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS NASA Mentor-Protégé Program 1819.7210 Agreement terminations. (a) Agreements may be terminated for cause or on a voluntary basis by the mentor or the protégé...
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Chachere, Ernest G.; Nowatny, Franz A.
1982-01-01
Louisiana's Educational Employees' Professional Improvement Program (PIP) is described. The voluntary statewide program features: (1) use of individual professional development plans submitted by school staff participants; (2) a combination of academic work, inservice training, workshops, and conferences over a five-year period; and (3) salary…
Characteristics of Teachers Participating in Voluntary Music Integration Professional Development
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Wagner, Diana; Baron, Jessica
2008-01-01
This study examines characteristics of teachers participating in the national Guitars in the Classroom program in the 2007-2008 school year. 96 teacher participants from programs across the United States completed an online survey at the start of their professional development programs, usually 6-10 hours. 75 percent of teachers electing to…
Rehabilitation through the Arts: Impact on Participants' Engagement in Educational Programs
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Halperin, Ronnie; Kessler, Suzanne; Braunschweiger, Dana
2012-01-01
Educational achievement has been shown to be negatively correlated with recidivism among those released from prison (Nuttall, Hollmen, and Staley, 2003). The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a prison art rehabilitation program, Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), on inmate participation in voluntary educational programs. RTA…
From the WPA to Workfare: It's Time for a Truly Progressive Government Work Program.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Rose, Nancy E.
1990-01-01
Examines two government voluntary job creation programs: the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s and the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act in the 1970s, that have created conflicts with the logic of capitalist production for profit. Suggests principles and policies for a progressive government work program. (JOW)
Faith in Action: Using Interfaith Coalitions To Support Voluntary Caregiving Efforts.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Herrera, Carla; Pepper, Sarah Kathryn
This study evaluated Generation II of the Faith in Action program (which united faith-based organizations and volunteers in providing in-home care), assessing how many original grantees still served their communities, numbers of volunteers and clients involved with the programs, services provided, and program growth since receiving surveys of…
Castronuovo, Luciana; Allemandi, Lorena; Tiscornia, Victoria; Champagne, Beatriz; Campbell, Norm; Schoj, Verónica
2017-07-03
The Less Salt, More Life program was the first voluntary salt reduction initiative in Argentina. This article analyzes the perspectives of the stakeholders involved in this voluntary agreement between the Ministry of Health and the food industry to gradually reduce sodium content in processed foods. This exploratory case study used a qualitative approach including 29 in-depth interviews with stakeholders from the public and private sectors and identified the role of the different stakeholders and their perceptions regarding the challenges encountered in the policy process that contribute to the debate on public-private partnerships in health policies. The article also discusses the initiative's main challenges and controversies.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kalapurakal, John A., E-mail: j-kalapurakal@northwestern.edu; Zafirovski, Aleksandar; Smith, Jeffery
Purpose: This report describes the value of a voluntary error reporting system and the impact of a series of quality assurance (QA) measures including checklists and timeouts on reported error rates in patients receiving radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: A voluntary error reporting system was instituted with the goal of recording errors, analyzing their clinical impact, and guiding the implementation of targeted QA measures. In response to errors committed in relation to treatment of the wrong patient, wrong treatment site, and wrong dose, a novel initiative involving the use of checklists and timeouts for all staff was implemented. The impactmore » of these and other QA initiatives was analyzed. Results: From 2001 to 2011, a total of 256 errors in 139 patients after 284,810 external radiation treatments (0.09% per treatment) were recorded in our voluntary error database. The incidence of errors related to patient/tumor site, treatment planning/data transfer, and patient setup/treatment delivery was 9%, 40.2%, and 50.8%, respectively. The compliance rate for the checklists and timeouts initiative was 97% (P<.001). These and other QA measures resulted in a significant reduction in many categories of errors. The introduction of checklists and timeouts has been successful in eliminating errors related to wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong dose. Conclusions: A comprehensive QA program that regularly monitors staff compliance together with a robust voluntary error reporting system can reduce or eliminate errors that could result in serious patient injury. We recommend the adoption of these relatively simple QA initiatives including the use of checklists and timeouts for all staff to improve the safety of patients undergoing radiation therapy in the modern era.« less
Tjaden, Kris; Wilding, Greg
2011-01-01
The primary purpose of this study was to investigate how speakers with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) accomplish voluntary reductions in speech rate. A group of talkers with no history of neurological disease was included for comparison. This study was motivated by the idea that knowledge of how speakers with dysarthria voluntarily accomplish a reduced speech rate would contribute toward a descriptive model of speaking rate change in dysarthria. Such a model has the potential to assist in identifying rate control strategies to receive focus in clinical treatment programs and also would advance understanding of global speech timing in dysarthria. All speakers read a passage in Habitual and Slow conditions. Speech rate, articulation rate, pause duration, and pause frequency were measured. All speaker groups adjusted articulation time as well as pause time to reduce overall speech rate. Group differences in how voluntary rate reduction was accomplished were primarily one of quantity or degree. Overall, a slower-than-normal rate was associated with a reduced articulation rate, shorter speech runs that included fewer syllables, and longer more frequent pauses. Taken together, these results suggest that existing skills or strategies used by patients should be emphasized in dysarthria training programs focusing on rate reduction. Results further suggest that a model of voluntary speech rate reduction based on neurologically normal speech shows promise as being applicable for mild to moderate dysarthria. The reader will be able to: (1) describe the importance of studying voluntary adjustments in speech rate in dysarthria, (2) discuss how speakers with Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis adjust articulation time and pause time to slow speech rate. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Report: EPA’s Voluntary WaterSense Program Demonstrated Success
Report #17-P-0352, August 1, 2017. The EPA estimated that consumers saved over 1.5 trillion gallons of water through use of WaterSense-labeled products. Consumers saved an estimated $1,100 for every federal dollar spent on the program.
The National LEV program demonstrates how cooperative, partnership efforts can produce a smarter, cheaper program that reduces regulatory burden while increasing protection of the environment and public health.
34 CFR 602.14 - Purpose and organization.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-07-01
... . . . (1) An accrediting agency (i) Has a voluntary membership of institutions of higher education; (ii) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of higher education and that accreditation... education programs, or higher education programs and institutions of higher education, and that...
34 CFR 602.14 - Purpose and organization.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-07-01
... . . . (1) An accrediting agency (i) Has a voluntary membership of institutions of higher education; (ii) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of higher education and that accreditation... education programs, or higher education programs and institutions of higher education, and that...
34 CFR 602.14 - Purpose and organization.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-07-01
... . . . (1) An accrediting agency (i) Has a voluntary membership of institutions of higher education; (ii) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of higher education and that accreditation... education programs, or higher education programs and institutions of higher education, and that...
34 CFR 602.14 - Purpose and organization.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-07-01
... . . . (1) An accrediting agency (i) Has a voluntary membership of institutions of higher education; (ii) Has as a principal purpose the accrediting of institutions of higher education and that accreditation... education programs, or higher education programs and institutions of higher education, and that...
42 CFR 423.508 - Modification or termination of contract by mutual consent.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
...) Prohibition against Part D program participation by organizations whose owners, directors, or management employees served in a similar capacity with another organization that mutually terminated its Medicare... HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT...
42 CFR 423.508 - Modification or termination of contract by mutual consent.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-10-01
...) Prohibition against Part D program participation by organizations whose owners, directors, or management employees served in a similar capacity with another organization that mutually terminated its Medicare... HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG...
42 CFR 423.508 - Modification or termination of contract by mutual consent.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-10-01
...) Prohibition against Part D program participation by organizations whose owners, directors, or management employees served in a similar capacity with another organization that mutually terminated its Medicare... HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG...
42 CFR 423.508 - Modification or termination of contract by mutual consent.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-10-01
...) Prohibition against Part D program participation by organizations whose owners, directors, or management employees served in a similar capacity with another organization that mutually terminated its Medicare... HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICARE PROGRAM (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG...
OVERVIEW OF VOLUNTARY STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS TO ADDRESS PHARMACEUTICAL DISPOSAL
This presentation will provide an overview of current federal regulatory guidance for pharmaceutical disposal, currently funded pilot programs for take-back pilot studies, and state programs. The EPA Office of Water's role is to protect our Nation's watersheds and drinking water ...
15 CFR 285.8 - Proficiency testing.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Proficiency testing. 285.8 Section 285... OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM § 285.8 Proficiency testing. (a) NVLAP proficiency testing is...
15 CFR 285.8 - Proficiency testing.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Proficiency testing. 285.8 Section 285... OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM § 285.8 Proficiency testing. (a) NVLAP proficiency testing is...
15 CFR 285.8 - Proficiency testing.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Proficiency testing. 285.8 Section 285... OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM § 285.8 Proficiency testing. (a) NVLAP proficiency testing is...
7 CFR 625.1 - Purpose and scope.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... Health Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is to assist landowners, on a voluntary basis, in restoring... regulations in this part set forth the policies, procedures, and requirements for the HFRP as administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for program implementation and processing...
Albuquerque Principals Have ESP.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Weingartner, Carl J.
2001-01-01
In the midnineties, Albuquerque Public Schools developed an Extra Support for Principals initiative-a voluntary support program that respects participants' time constraints and schedules only three activities during the year. Both experienced and mentored principals value the program, which keeps more beginning administrators on the job. (MLH)
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Faria, Ann-Marie; Hawkinson, Laura; Metzger, Ivan; Bouacha, Nora; Cantave, Michelle
2017-01-01
A quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) is a voluntary state assessment system that uses multidimensional data on early childhood education programs to rate program quality, support quality improvement efforts, and provide information to families about the quality of available early childhood education programs. QRISs have two components:…
Kurz, Ilan; Gimmon, Yoav; Shapiro, Amir; Debi, Ronen; Snir, Yoram; Melzer, Itshak
2016-03-04
Falls are common among elderly, most of them occur while slipping or tripping during walking. We aimed to explore whether a training program that incorporates unexpected loss of balance during walking able to improve risk factors for falls. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial 53 community dwelling older adults (age 80.1±5.6 years), were recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 26). The intervention group received 24 training sessions over 3 months that included unexpected perturbation of balance exercises during treadmill walking. The control group performed treadmill walking with no perturbations. The primary outcome measures were the voluntary step execution times, traditional postural sway parameters and Stabilogram-Diffusion Analysis. The secondary outcome measures were the fall efficacy Scale (FES), self-reported late life function (LLFDI), and Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). Compared to control, participation in intervention program that includes unexpected loss of balance during walking led to faster Voluntary Step Execution Times under single (p = 0.002; effect size [ES] =0.75) and dual task (p = 0.003; [ES] = 0.89) conditions; intervention group subjects showed improvement in Short-term Effective diffusion coefficients in the mediolateral direction of the Stabilogram-Diffusion Analysis under eyes closed conditions (p = 0.012, [ES] = 0.92). Compared to control there were no significant changes in FES, LLFDI, and POMA. An intervention program that includes unexpected loss of balance during walking can improve voluntary stepping times and balance control, both previously reported as risk factors for falls. This however, did not transferred to a change self-reported function and FES. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01439451 .
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nara, H.; Tanimoto, H.; Nojiri, Y.; Mukai, H.; Machida, T.; Tohjima, Y.
2011-11-01
Long-term monitoring of carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean is being carried out on commercial cargo vessels participating in the National Institute for Environmental Studies Voluntary Observing Ships program. The program provides a regular platform for measurement of atmospheric CO along four cruise routes: from Japan to Oceania, the United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Flask samples are collected during every cruise for subsequent analysis in the laboratory, and in 2005, continuous shipboard CO measurements were initiated on three of the routes. Here, we describe the system we developed for onboard measurement of CO mixing ratios with a commercially available gas filter correlation CO analyzer. The fully automated system measures CO in ambient air, and the detector sensitivity and background signals are calibrated by referencing the measurements to a CO-in-air standard gas (~1 ppmv) and to CO-free air scrubbed with a catalyst, respectively. We examined the artificial production of CO in the high-pressure working gas standards during storage by referencing the measurements to CO standard gases maintained as our primary scale before and after use on the ships. The onboard performance of the continuous CO measurement system was evaluated by comparing its data with data from laboratory analyses of flask samples using gas chromatography with a reduction gas detector. The reasonably good consistency between the two independent measurement methods demonstrated the good performance of both methods over the course of 3-5 years. The continuous measurement system was more useful than the flask sampling method for regionally polluted air masses, which were often encountered on Southeast Asian cruises.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nara, H.; Tanimoto, H.; Nojiri, Y.; Mukai, H.; Machida, T.; Tohjima, Y.
2011-07-01
Long-term monitoring of carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean is being carried out on commercial cargo vessels participating in the National Institute for Environmental Studies Voluntary Observing Ships program. The program provides a regular platform for measurement of atmospheric CO along four cruising routes: from Japan to Oceania, from Japan to the United States, from Japan to Canada, and from Japan to Southeast Asia. Flask samples are collected during every cruise for subsequent analysis in the laboratory, and in 2005, continuous shipboard CO measurements were initiated on three of the routes. Here, we describe the system we developed for onboard measurement of CO mixing ratios with a commercially available gas filter correlation CO analyzer. The fully automated system measures CO in ambient air, and the detector sensitivity and background signals are calibrated by referencing the measurements to a CO-in-air standard gas (~1 ppmv) and to CO-free air scrubbed with a catalyst, respectively. We examined the artificial production of CO in the high-pressure working gas standards (CO balanced with purified air at ppmv levels) during storage by referencing the measurements to CO standard gases maintained as our primary scale before and after use on the ships. The onboard performance of the continuous CO measurement system was evaluated by comparing its data with data from laboratory analyses of flask samples using gas chromatography with a reduction gas detector. The reasonably good consistency between the two independent measurement methods demonstrated the good performance of both methods over the course of 3-5 yr. The continuous measurement system was more useful than the flask sampling method for regionally polluted air masses, which were often encountered on Southeast Asian cruises.
Structuring economic incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation within Indonesia
Busch, Jonah; Lubowski, Ruben N.; Godoy, Fabiano; Steininger, Marc; Yusuf, Arief A.; Austin, Kemen; Hewson, Jenny; Juhn, Daniel; Farid, Muhammad; Boltz, Frederick
2012-01-01
We estimate and map the impacts that alternative national and subnational economic incentive structures for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+) in Indonesia would have had on greenhouse gas emissions and national and local revenue if they had been in place from 2000 to 2005. The impact of carbon payments on deforestation is calibrated econometrically from the pattern of observed deforestation and spatial variation in the benefits and costs of converting land to agriculture over that time period. We estimate that at an international carbon price of $10/tCO2e, a “mandatory incentive structure,” such as a cap-and-trade or symmetric tax-and-subsidy program, would have reduced emissions by 163–247 MtCO2e/y (20–31% below the without-REDD+ reference scenario), while generating a programmatic budget surplus. In contrast, a “basic voluntary incentive structure” modeled after a standard payment-for-environmental-services program would have reduced emissions nationally by only 45–76 MtCO2e/y (6–9%), while generating a programmatic budget shortfall. By making four policy improvements—paying for net emission reductions at the scale of an entire district rather than site-by-site; paying for reductions relative to reference levels that match business-as-usual levels; sharing a portion of district-level revenues with the national government; and sharing a portion of the national government's responsibility for costs with districts—an “improved voluntary incentive structure” would have been nearly as effective as a mandatory incentive structure, reducing emissions by 136–207 MtCO2e/y (17–26%) and generating a programmatic budget surplus. PMID:22232665
Participatory workplace wellness programs: reward, penalty, and regulatory conflict.
Pomeranz, Jennifer L
2015-06-01
POLICY POINTS: Workplace wellness programs that provide incentives for completing a health risk assessment are a form of participatory programs. There are legal and ethical concerns when employers assess penalties for not completing a health risk assessment, raising questions about the voluntariness of such a program. The Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services' 2013 regulations for participatory programs and employers' current practices conflict with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's prevailing interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In keeping with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Congress revised the law related to workplace wellness programs. In June 2013, the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services passed the final regulations, updating their 2006 regulatory framework. Participatory programs that reward the completion of a health risk assessment are now the most common type of wellness program in the United States. However, legal and ethical concerns emerge when employers utilize incentives that raise questions about the voluntariness of such programs. At issue is that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, employers cannot require health-related inquiries and exams. To analyze the current interpretation of the ADA, I conducted research on both LexisNexis and federal agency websites. The resulting article evaluates the differences in the language of Congress's enabling legislation and the federal departments' regulations and how they may conflict with the ADA. It also reviews the federal government's authority to address both the legal conflict and ethical concerns related to nonvoluntary participatory programs. Employers' practices and the federal departments' regulations conflict with the current interpretation of the ADA by permitting employers to penalize employees who do not complete a health risk assessment. The departments' regulations may be interpreted as conflicting with Congress's legislation, which mentions penalties only for health-contingent wellness programs. Furthermore, the regulatory protections for employees applicable to health-contingent wellness programs do not apply to participatory programs. Either Congress or the federal agencies should address the conflict among employers' practices, the wellness regulations, and the ADA and also consider additional protections for employees. Employers can avoid ethical and legal complications by offering voluntary programs with positive incentives. © 2015 Milbank Memorial Fund.
Zheng, Fei; Zhang, Ming; Ding, Qi; Sethna, Ferzin; Yan, Lily; Moon, Changjong; Yang, Miyoung
2016-01-01
Mental health and cognitive functions are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Although having active lifestyle with physical exercise improves learning and memory, how it interacts with the specific key molecular regulators of synaptic plasticity is largely unknown. Here, we examined the effects of voluntary running on long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory formation in mice lacking type 1 adenylyl cyclase (AC1), a neurospecific synaptic enzyme that contributes to Ca2+-stimulated cAMP production. Following 1 mo of voluntary running-wheel exercise, the impaired LTP and object recognition memory in AC1 knockout (KO) mice were significantly attenuated. Running up-regulated exon II mRNA level of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), though it failed to increase exon I and IV mRNAs in the hippocampus of AC1 KO mice. Intrahippocampal infusion of recombinant BDNF was sufficient to rescue LTP and object recognition memory defects in AC1 KO mice. Therefore, voluntary running and exogenous BDNF application overcome the defective Ca2+-stimulated cAMP signaling. Our results also demonstrate that alteration in Ca2+-stimulated cAMP can affect the molecular outcome of physical exercise. PMID:27421897
Sgaier, Sema K; Baer, James; Rutz, Daniel C; Njeuhmeli, Emmanuel; Seifert-Ahanda, Kim; Basinga, Paulin; Parkyn, Rosie; Laube, Catharine
2015-01-01
By the end of 2014, an estimated 8.5 million men had undergone voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention in 14 priority countries in eastern and southern Africa, representing more than 40% of the global target. However, demand, especially among men most at risk for HIV infection, remains a barrier to realizing the program's full scale and potential impact. We analyzed current demand generation interventions for VMMC by reviewing the available literature and reporting on field visits to programs in 7 priority countries. We present our findings and recommendations using a framework with 4 components: insight development; intervention design; implementation and coordination to achieve scale; and measurement, learning, and evaluation. Most program strategies lacked comprehensive insight development; formative research usually comprised general acceptability studies. Demand generation interventions varied across the countries, from advocacy with community leaders and community mobilization to use of interpersonal communication, mid- and mass media, and new technologies. Some shortcomings in intervention design included using general instead of tailored messaging, focusing solely on the HIV preventive benefits of VMMC, and rolling out individual interventions to address specific barriers rather than a holistic package. Interventions have often been scaled-up without first being evaluated for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We recommend national programs create coordinated demand generation interventions, based on insights from multiple disciplines, tailored to the needs and aspirations of defined subsets of the target population, rather than focused exclusively on HIV prevention goals. Programs should implement a comprehensive intervention package with multiple messages and channels, strengthened through continuous monitoring. These insights may be broadly applicable to other programs where voluntary behavior change is essential to achieving public health benefits. PMID:26085019
Proprietary and voluntary home care agency evolution: the emergence of a new entity.
Balinsky, W; Shames, J N
1985-01-01
The objective of this paper is to document that the delivery of home care services and the corresponding ways in which they are marketed are evolving in both proprietary and voluntary providers. This evolution is producing the emergency of a new entity. In order to examine the present state, it is necessary to review the general history of the development of both voluntary (not-for-profit) and proprietary home health services. Then, an analysis of present conditions will show that these two forms of ownership are changing in ways that are making them more alike than different. This situation is leading to more intense competition for an expanding and diverse mix of home services. Program content and corresponding marketing techniques have crossed the industry's traditional lines blending into a wide array of services being offered by both voluntary and proprietary organizations. Despite their many shared goals and objectives, home care agencies still differ in their underlying philosophy which is based at least in part on their past.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACCREDITATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS NATIONAL VOLUNTARY... privacy, such as salary, medical information, or performance reviews outside the scope of the...
78 FR 20640 - Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs); Recycling Plastics from Shredder Residue
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-04-05
... (PCBs); Recycling Plastics from Shredder Residue AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION... recycling of plastic separated from shredder residue under the conditions described in the Voluntary Procedures for Recycling Plastics from Shredder Residue, relying principally on the regulatory provisions for...
2008-06-12
first few months. Hence, much attrition is non-voluntary, and the portion that is voluntary is due to maladjustment to military life. In addition...may view military service as a vehicle for social advancement, and they have a higher propensity for using military benefits. They also may be less...System (ACES) on soldier retention and performance: Data analysis. Alexandria, VA: US Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
Green Power Marketing in the United States. A Status Report (11th Edition)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bird, Lori; Kreycik, Claire; Friedman, Barry
This report documents green power marketing activities and trends in the United States. It presents aggregate green power sales data for all voluntary purchase markets across the United States. It also provides summary data on utility green pricing programs offered in regulated electricity markets and green power marketing activity in competitive electricity markets, as well as green power sold to voluntary purchasers in the form of renewable energy certificates. Key market trends and issues are also discussed.
Green Power Marketing in the United States: A Status Report (11th Edition)
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bird, L.; Kreycik, C.; Friedman, B.
This report documents green power marketing activities and trends in the United States. It presents aggregate green power sales data for all voluntary purchase markets across the United States. It also provides summary data on utility green pricing programs offered in regulated electricity markets and green power marketing activity in competitive electricity markets, as well as green power sold to voluntary purchasers in the form of renewable energy certificates. Key market trends and issues are also discussed.
13 CFR 124.301 - What are the ways a business may leave the 8(a) BD program?
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
...: (a) Graduation upon the expiration of the program term established pursuant to § 124.2; (b) Voluntary early graduation; (c) Early graduation pursuant to the provisions of §§ 124.302 and 124.304; or (d...
13 CFR 124.301 - What are the ways a business may leave the 8(a) BD program?
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
...: (a) Graduation upon the expiration of the program term established pursuant to § 124.2; (b) Voluntary early graduation; (c) Early graduation pursuant to the provisions of §§ 124.302 and 124.304; or (d...
40 CFR 86.1721-99 - Application for certification.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-07-01
.... (6) For electric and hybrid electric vehicles, identification of the energy usage in kilowatt-hours... PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM NEW AND IN-USE HIGHWAY VEHICLES AND ENGINES (CONTINUED) General Provisions for the Voluntary National Low Emission Vehicle Program for Light-Duty Vehicles and...
Legal, Ethical, Social and Economic Issues in Sickle Cell Program
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bowman, James E.
1973-01-01
Urges that mandatory sickle cell screening laws be repealed, and that all screening programs be voluntary; bogus sickle cell organizations are a major crisis in black communities and must be eliminated; research and education in sickle cell disease is badly needed. (Author/JM)
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-04-29
... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Competitive Enhancement Needs Assessment Survey Program AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and Security... their abilities to meet defense program needs. The information collected from voluntary surveys will be...
45 CFR 158.605 - Responses to allegations of noncompliance.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-10-01
... the violation. (c) Evidence documenting the development and implementation of internal policies and... Section 158.605 Public Welfare DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO HEALTH... policies and procedures may include or consist of a voluntary compliance program. Any such program should...
Resources for the Aging: An Action Handbook.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
National Council on the Aging, Inc., New York, NY.
This handbook on resources for the aging lists nationwide, federally sponsored programs, national voluntary agencies and associations, and foundations; it includes information on the nature and purpose of the program, types of projects sponsored, and extent of assistance, eligibility requirements, available printed information, sources of further…
Voluntary or required viewing of a violence prevention program in pediatric primary care.
Scholer, Seth J; Walkowski, Courtney A; Bickman, Len
2008-06-01
Participants were parents of children less than 7 years of age who presented with their child for a well child visit. Viewed in the waiting room, the intervention was Play Nicely, which teaches childhood aggression management skills. A total of 138 parents were invited to view the program; 57 (41%) accepted (voluntary group). A second group of 35 parents viewed the program as part of the clinic visit (required group); all 35 (100%) accepted. There were no differences between the groups in the proportion of parents who were pleased that the program was offered by their pediatrician (100%) and the proportion who felt more comfortable managing aggression after the viewing experience (94%). Approximately 75% of both groups reported an increased willingness to discuss child behavior and discipline strategies with their pediatrician. These findings have implications for how providers can more routinely introduce educational material into the well child visit that relates to childhood aggression, discipline, and violence prevention.
1999-06-25
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and voluntary testing (CT) programs have been an important part of national HIV prevention efforts since the first HIV antibody tests became available in 1985. In 1995, these programs accounted for approximately 15% of annual HIV antibody testing in the United States, excluding testing for blood donation. CT opportunities are offered to persons at risk for HIV infection at approximately 11,000 sites, including dedicated HIV CT sites, sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, drug-treatment centers, hospitals, and prisons. In 39 states, testing can be obtained anonymously, where persons do not have to give their name to get tested. All states provide confidential testing (by name) and have confidentiality laws and regulations to protect this information. This report compares patterns of anonymous and confidential testing in all federally funded CT programs from 1995 through 1997 and documents the importance of both types of testing opportunities.
A Self-Study Guide for Managers and Staff of Primary Support Programs for Young People.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Costello, Joan; Barker, Gary; Pickens, Lisa Marie; Cassaniga, Neide; Merry, Sheila; Falcon, Adrienne
Identifying the voluntary activities, programs, and services that children and families use during students' out-of-school time as primary supports, this self-study guide provides a framework for developing primary support programs that allow school-aged children and adolescents to develop physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills. The…
Can We Have It All? A Review of the Impacts of School Choice on Racial Integration
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Swanson, Elise
2017-01-01
This article reviews the literature evaluating the impact of school choice programs on racial integration. Evidence on the impacts of magnet schools, voluntary busing programs, open enrollment practices, charter schools, and voucher programs is reviewed. The literature is mixed on this question, finding that the impacts of choice on racial…
Applying Matched Sampling to Evaluate a University Tutoring Program for First-Year Students
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Walvoord, Mark E.; Pleitz, Jacob D.
2016-01-01
Our study used a case-control matching design to assess the influence of a voluntary tutoring program in improving first-year students' Grade Point Averages (GPA). To evaluate program effectiveness, we applied case-control matching to obtain 215 pairs of students with or without participation in tutoring, but matched on high school GPA and…
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... the USDA's foreign assistance programs apply? 417.221 Section 417.221 Grants and Agreements Federal... SUSPENSION Covered Transactions § 417.221 How would the exclusions from coverage for the USDA's foreign... into between USDA and a program participant, such as a U.S. private voluntary organization. USDA would...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... the USDA's foreign assistance programs apply? 417.221 Section 417.221 Grants and Agreements Federal... SUSPENSION Covered Transactions § 417.221 How would the exclusions from coverage for the USDA's foreign... into between USDA and a program participant, such as a U.S. private voluntary organization. USDA would...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... the USDA's foreign assistance programs apply? 417.221 Section 417.221 Grants and Agreements Federal... SUSPENSION Covered Transactions § 417.221 How would the exclusions from coverage for the USDA's foreign... into between USDA and a program participant, such as a U.S. private voluntary organization. USDA would...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... the USDA's foreign assistance programs apply? 417.221 Section 417.221 Grants and Agreements Federal... SUSPENSION Covered Transactions § 417.221 How would the exclusions from coverage for the USDA's foreign... into between USDA and a program participant, such as a U.S. private voluntary organization. USDA would...
MCHP/VIP: Mother-Child Home Program of the Verbal Interaction Project.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Verbal Interaction Project, Freeport, NY.
This report to the Joint Dissemination Review Panel of the Office of Education and the National Institute of Education provides an overview of the Mother-Child Home Program of the Verbal Interaction Project: a voluntary, home-based early education program for low-income pre- preschoolers (2- and 3-year-old children), their mothers and other adults…
World Perspective Case Descriptions on Educational Programs for Adults: Hong Kong.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Mak, Grace
Adult basic education (ABE) in Hong Kong includes mostly basic Chinese, but also some arithmetic and English. The emphasis is on teaching learners life skills. Both government-run programs and partially government-subsidized programs run by voluntary agencies such as Caritas and the YMCA are common. A case study was made of the Caritas ABE Centre…
Interim Report on the Truancy Court Diversion Program in the District of Columbia, 2011-12
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Cahill, Meagan; Liberman, Akiva; Cramer, Lindsey
2012-01-01
The Truancy Court Diversion Program (TCDP) is a voluntary program for at risk students and their parents. It combines involvement of a Family Court judge in group and individual sessions with service provision. During the 2011-12 school year, a pilot TCDP was implemented at Kramer Middle School (M.S.) and at Johnson M.S. The program attempts to…
Edgil, Dianna; Stankard, Petra; Forsythe, Steven; Rech, Dino; Chrouser, Kristin; Adamu, Tigistu; Sakallah, Sameer; Thomas, Anne Goldzier; Albertini, Jennifer; Stanton, David; Dickson, Kim Eva; Njeuhmeli, Emmanuel
2011-11-01
The global HIV prevention community is implementing voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programs across eastern and southern Africa, with a goal of reaching 80% coverage in adult males by 2015. Successful implementation will depend on the accessibility of commodities essential for VMMC programming and the appropriate allocation of resources to support the VMMC supply chain. For this, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, has developed a standard list of commodities for VMMC programs. This list of commodities was used to inform program planning for a 1-y program to circumcise 152,000 adult men in Swaziland. During this process, additional key commodities were identified, expanding the standard list to include commodities for waste management, HIV counseling and testing, and the treatment of sexually transmitted infections. The approximate costs for the procurement of commodities, management of a supply chain, and waste disposal, were determined for the VMMC program in Swaziland using current market prices of goods and services. Previous costing studies of VMMC programs did not capture supply chain costs, nor the full range of commodities needed for VMMC program implementation or waste management. Our calculations indicate that depending upon the volume of services provided, supply chain and waste management, including commodities and associated labor, contribute between US$58.92 and US$73.57 to the cost of performing one adult male circumcision in Swaziland. Experience with the VMMC program in Swaziland indicates that supply chain and waste management add approximately US$60 per circumcision, nearly doubling the total per procedure cost estimated previously; these additional costs are used to inform the estimate of per procedure costs modeled by Njeuhmeli et al. in "Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision: Modeling the Impact and Cost of Expanding Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Eastern and Southern Africa." Program planners and policy makers should consider the significant contribution of supply chain and waste management to VMMC program costs as they determine future resource needs for VMMC programs.
Safer Choice is a voluntary program that works to advance the mission of EPA to protect human health and the environment by helping product manufacturers choose the safest chemical ingredients possible.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Retief, Francois; Jones, Carys; Jay, Stephen
This paper presents the results of research which evaluated the performance of strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practice in South Africa in order to develop understanding of how SEA functions within a developing country with a voluntary SEA system. The research applied a combination of methods in a mixed research strategy, including a macro level survey of the SEA system together with case study reviews exploring micro level application. Three main 'system features' emerged, namely expansion of voluntary practice, diversity in practice and general ineffectiveness. The results also highlight a number of 'application features' such as a lack of focus duemore » to an inability to deal with the concepts of 'sustainability' and 'significance', as well as poor understanding and integration with decision-making processes. Moreover, it emerged that none of the case studies seem to have conducted an 'assessment' per se, but rather provided a framework for strategic decision-making. The paper puts forward a number of interrelated explanations for these system and application features. In a parallel to the fable of the 'emperor's new clothes', SEA in South Africa appears to be regarded as the answer to all environmental problems, whilst being ineffective in practice.« less
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
2014-01-01
... CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.1 General. (a) Purpose... under the Climate Leaders or Climate VISION programs to reduce its entity-wide emissions relative to a... (incorporated by reference, see § 300.13) and base its registered reductions on an assessment of annual changes...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR
2012-01-01
... CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.1 General. (a) Purpose... under the Climate Leaders or Climate VISION programs to reduce its entity-wide emissions relative to a... (incorporated by reference, see § 300.13) and base its registered reductions on an assessment of annual changes...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR
2013-01-01
... CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.1 General. (a) Purpose... under the Climate Leaders or Climate VISION programs to reduce its entity-wide emissions relative to a... (incorporated by reference, see § 300.13) and base its registered reductions on an assessment of annual changes...
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
2011-01-01
... CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.1 General. (a) Purpose... under the Climate Leaders or Climate VISION programs to reduce its entity-wide emissions relative to a... (incorporated by reference, see § 300.13) and base its registered reductions on an assessment of annual changes...
78 FR 38541 - Increase in Fees for Voluntary Federal Dairy Grading and Inspection Services
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-06-27
... 10 percent effective February 2014. The fees applicable to European Union Health Certification... European Union Health Certification Program derogation process. These actions will equally affect all...-resident service per European Union (EU) Health Certification Program derogation for somatic cell count and...
75 FR 76345 - Risk Reduction Program
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2010-12-08
... Management Plan Each RRPP must include a Fatigue Management Plan (FMP) that will be designed to reduce the... organizations to develop voluntary proactive safety programs designed to improve railroad safety and build... contractors. A railroad's RRPP may be required to specify how the railroad will periodically review the design...
Working Partnerships: A Joint Venture in Vocational Education.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Campbell, Clifton P.
Joint Ventures in Vocational Education projects link participating businesses with secondary vocational programs in a cooperative relationship. These are voluntary arrangements between vocational programs and a public or private sector agency that combine the energies and resources of the partners to enrich various aspects of the vocational…
76 FR 66891 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-10-28
... Respondents: 265. Average Hours per Response: StormReady, Tsunami-Ready and StormReady/TsunamiReady... request is for revision of a current information collection. The StormReady, TsunamiReady and and StormReady/TsunamiReady Programs are voluntary programs offered to provide guidance and incentive to...
77 FR 74164 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2012-12-13
... Marketing Service Title: Export Certificate Request Forms. OMB Control Number: 0581-NEW. Summary of Collection: The Agricultural Marketing Service, Dairy Grading Branch, dairy grading program is a voluntary user fee program authorized under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621). The...
All Children Deserve Uninterrupted Learning!
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Brown, Fred
2015-01-01
Teachers often start a new school year working extremely hard to reteach last year's content, particularly for their lower income students. According to "Making Summer Count," a report commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and written by researchers at Rand, rigorous studies of voluntary summer programs, mandatory summer programs, and…
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
2010-01-01
... CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY GREENHOUSE GAS REPORTING PROGRAM: GENERAL GUIDELINES § 300.1 General. (a) Purpose... under the Climate Leaders or Climate VISION programs to reduce its entity-wide emissions relative to a... (incorporated by reference, see § 300.13) and base its registered reductions on an assessment of annual changes...
Using Accelerated Reader with ESL Students.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hamilton, Betty
1997-01-01
Describes the use of Accelerated Reader, a computer program that instantly provides scored tests on a variety of books read by high school ESL (English as a Second Language) students as free voluntary reading. Topics include reading improvement programs, including writing assignments; and changes in students' reading habits. (LRW)
The 106th Congress: What to Watch.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Fege, Arnold F.
1999-01-01
The Improving America's School Act funds numerous small programs that dissipate its purpose and increase its vulnerability. Congress is debating extension of federal roles into areas such as social promotion, parental rights, reading programs, class-size reduction, and national voluntary tests. Changing budget rules pits education against military…
76 FR 69330 - Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2011-11-08
.../or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law... program involving certain issuers of tax exempt advance refunding bonds. Revenue Procedure 96-41 established this voluntary compliance program and prescribed the filing of this form as a cover sheet to...
Eight weeks of local vibration training increases dorsiflexor muscle cortical voluntary activation.
Souron, Robin; Farabet, Adrien; Féasson, Léonard; Belli, Alain; Millet, Guillaume Y; Lapole, Thomas
2017-06-01
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-wk local vibration training (LVT) program on functional and corticospinal properties of dorsiflexor muscles. Forty-four young subjects were allocated to a training (VIB, n = 22) or control (CON, n = 22 ) group. The VIB group performed twenty-four 1-h sessions (3 sessions/wk) of 100-Hz vibration applied to the right tibialis anterior. Both legs were tested in each group before training (PRE), after 4 (MID) and 8 (POST) wk of training, and 2 wk after training (POST 2W ). Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque was assessed, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to evaluate cortical voluntary activation (VA TMS ), motor evoked potential (MEP), cortical silent period (CSP), and input-output curve parameters. MVC was significantly increased for VIB at MID for right and left legs [+7.4% ( P = 0.001) and +6.2% ( P < 0.01), respectively] and remained significantly greater than PRE at POST [+12.0% ( P < 0.001) and +10.1% ( P < 0.001), respectively]. VA TMS was significantly increased for right and left legs at MID [+4.4% ( P < 0.01) and +4.7% ( P < 0.01), respectively] and at POST [+4.9% ( P = 0.001) and +6.2% ( P = 0.001), respectively]. These parameters remained enhanced in both legs at POST 2W MEP and CSP recorded during MVC and input-output curve parameters did not change at any time point for either leg. Despite no changes in excitability or inhibition being observed, LVT seems to be a promising method to improve strength through an increase of maximal voluntary activation, i.e., neural adaptations. Local vibration may thus be further considered for clinical or aging populations. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The effects of a local vibration training program on cortical voluntary activation measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation were assessed for the first time in dorsiflexors, a functionally important muscle group. We observed that training increased maximal voluntary strength likely because of the strong and repeated activation of Ia spindle afferents during vibration training that led to changes in the cortico-motoneuronal pathway, as demonstrated by the increase in cortical voluntary activation. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.
International Accreditations as Drivers of Business School Quality Improvement
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Bryant, Michael
2013-01-01
Business schools are under pressure to implement continuous improvement and quality assurance processes to remain competitive in a globalized higher education market. Drivers for quality improvement include external, environmental pressures, regulatory bodies such as governments, and, increasingly, voluntary accreditation agencies such as AACSB…
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-11-29
..., unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0437; FRL 9903-41-OEI] Information Collection... information collection request (ICR), Emission Control System Performance Warranty Regulations and Voluntary...
HIV Testing among Detained Youth
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Voisin, Dexter R.; Salazar, Laura F.; Crosby, Richard; DiClemente, Ralph J.; Yarber, William L.; Staples-Horne, Michelle
2004-01-01
Published reports have not investigated the issue of voluntary HIV testing among detained youth, a population disproportionately infected with HIV compared to other adolescent groups. Data were collected from 467 sexually active detained adolescents in Georgia on demographic, environmental, and drug and sexual history variables, to explore…
78 FR 19158 - Safety Zone; USA Triathlon, Milwaukee Harbor, Milwaukee, WI
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2013-03-29
...-AA00 Safety Zone; USA Triathlon, Milwaukee Harbor, Milwaukee, WI AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION... standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards. 14. Environment We have... on the human environment. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist supporting this...