VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS Jerry Poradek Urban Systems Project Office A. Methodology Introduction One of the primary concerns for implementation of any power generation system is the concern over the deterioration of the environment which may result from the system implementation. This is as true for solar power satellite, as for a nuclear generation plant, for a coal-burning plant or for any other type of electrical energy generation system. In order to assess the impact on the environment of a power generation system, environmental impact evaluation methodologies have been developed. In the impact evaluation process for the SPS, the following sequence of activities has been defined. a. A definition of the type of pollution source. b. A definition of the activity which produces the pollution source, such as power plant fabrication, transportation system, etc. c. A definition of the pollutants that are involved, whether they be air pollution, water pollution, etc. d. A definition of the magnitude of each of the pollutants, based on an individual plant and a scenario of satellites which includes launch dates and the number of satellites to be launched. e. A definition of the scope of the pollution effects; that is, where and how do the pollutants affect the environment? f. A definition of the magnitude effects. g. A definition of possible synergistic effects after the individual effects are identified. Synergistic effects are those effects produced when two or more pollutants interact simultaneously to create an effect of greater magnitude than any of the individual pollutants would without interaction. h. A definition of potential cascading effects must be made. Cascade effects are those in series with other effects and are based on previous pollution. j. Finally, an assessment of the integrated impact on the environment as a whole.
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