Updated: March 2002
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Purpose:
The purpose of the ASNE Environmental Engineering Committee is to foster an awareness of, and sensitivity to, environmental concerns that affect the Naval Engineering community. The committee is responsible for encouraging, pursuing, and sponsoring:
and other technical activities that further the field of Naval Environmental Engineering.
Activities and Services:
ASNE Environmental Engineering Publications
Publication Price Information, and How to Order
Top of Page
Whether you're just beginning your career in environmental engineering, or
you're already well established, continuous education is essential for anyone
who is interested in maintaining and expanding professional skill sets. As
a means of promoting the development of professionals in the environmental
community, the ASNE/SNAME Joint Committee on Environmental Engineering has
assembled the following list of recommended readings.
Although the Committee recommends these books, the Committee does not necessarily endorse or agree with the specific ideas, conclusions, or suggestions contained within these books. Most of these books can be purchased quite easily through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or most any other book-buying web site.
For the Beginner
Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit, by Al Gore, originally published in 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company and reprinted many times since. Al Gore reviews may of the environmental challenges we face, from global warming to over-harvested fisheries, and argues the only radical rethinking of our relationship with nature can save the earth's ecology for future generations.
Eco-Sanity: A Common-Sense Guide to Environmentalism, by Joseph L. Bast, Peter J. Hill, and Richard C. Rue, Madison Books and The Heartland Institute, 1994. Eco-Sanity cuts through rhetoric, false alarms, and media hype to deliver concise and authoritative summaries of what we know about the most important environmental issues of our time. It's easy to read, loaded with facts, and extensively documented. It describes the considerable progress made since 1960 in cleaning and protecting the environment, and challenges the environmental movement to adopt new tactics to ensure that the progress continues.
Lean and Green: Profit for Your Workplace and the Environment, by Pamela J. Gordon, Berrett-Koehler Publishing, 2001. Written with the layman in mind, Gordon presents numerous examples of how companies are adopting environmentally sound practices to help the bottom line. Although it tends to be on the simplistic side, it is a very quick read and it is very motivational.
Ocean's End: Travels Through Endangered Seas, by Colin Woodward, Basic Books, 2000. This must-read book by Colin Woodward provides a graphic assessment of the current state of the world's oceans and seas, from the to the catastrophe of the Black See to the dying Grand Banks fishing areas off the cost of Newfoundland.
Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, originally published in 1962 by Houghton Mifflin Company and reprinted many times since. Many believe that Silent Spring is responsible for awakening the world to the issues surrounding the environment. Although focused on the detrimental affects DDT has on wildlife, this book gives the reader an excellent understanding of the environment as a system as well as the laws of unintended consequences.
State of the World 2002, by Christopher Flavin, Hilary French, and Gary Gardner, W. W. Norton & Company, 2002. Since 1984, the Worldwatch Institute has published its scholarly, annual report on the state of the world. This particular annual report covers everything from climate change and overpopulation to toxic emissions and the politics of extracting natural resources. However, don't feel compelled to read the latest edition only. Previous editions are equally educational and provocative.
Intermediate
A Green History of the World: The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations, by Clive Ponting, Penguin Books, 1991. This scholarly work by Clive Ponting provides a dry-eyed look at the historical consequences of extreme environmental mismanagement, such as that associated with the decline of Easter Island.
Advisory Notes on Ballast Water Exchange Procedures, American Bureau of Shipping, 1999. This Advisory describes the implications of ballast water management and ballast water exchange operations on the stability, hull girder strength, resonant sloshing, slamming and propeller immersion on fourteen typical vessels. The findings focus on existing vessels, yet conclusions can also be drawn with respect to desirable features for new builds. Sequential and flow through exchange methods are evaluated. This publication can be obtained through www.eagle.org.
Clean Ships, Clean Ports, Clean Oceans: Controlling Garbage and Plastic Waste at Sea, by the Committee on Shipborne Wastes, National Research Council, National Academy Press, 1995. This book explores the challenge of translating MARPOL 73/78 Annex V into workable laws and regulations for U.S. citizens. The volume examines how existing resources can be leveraged into a comprehensive strategy for compliance.
Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, by Lester R. Brown, W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. In this book, Lester R. Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, reviews the current stresses on the environment and presents realistic, not-so-far-reaching solutions, from population control to the creation of a solar/hydrogen economy.
Environmental Economics, by Ian Hodge, St. Martin's Press, 1995. How much should be spent protecting the environment? From the perspective of economics and traditional economic tools such as 'return on investment', that's a difficult question to answer if one does not have an objective monetary value for the environment. This book explains and assesses the role of economics in the choices that are made about the environment. It looks at innovative ways in which the value of the environment might be determined.
Global Warming: Can Civilization Survive?, by Paul Brown, Blankford, 1996. Brown is a comprehensive and unbiased overview of Global Warming, including the science, the effects, and the politics of climate change. Due to the date of publication (1996), some of the predictions outlined in the book have since been revised, most notably by the U.N.'s International Panel on Climate Change in 2001. Nevertheless, on the whole Global Warming is a very accurate and thoughtful work on this important subject.
Marine Safety, Quality & Environmental Management, American Bureau of Shipping, 2001. This Guide has been developed with the objective of improving safety and environmental performance in the management and operation of ships. This Guide provides the maritime industry with a model for implementation of management systems concerned with these issues. This publication can be obtained through www.eagle.org.
Ocean Environmental Management: A Primer on the Role of the Oceans and How to Maintain Their Contributions to Life On Earth, by Ernst Frankel, Prentice Hall, 1995. Written by a leading authority in the field, this book provides a complete, non-technical survey of the problems of ocean pollution and the promise of effective ocean management. It discusses the environmental impact of ocean pollution in physical, biological, and economic terms; the man-made and natural sources of pollution; methods for the prevention of pollution; containment and clean up of pollution; and much more.
Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, American Bureau of Shipping, 1999. These Guidance Notes are intended to address sources of air pollution from ships and other marine structures, and indicate options for prevention and/or reduction of such emissions. They provide information for consideration in the design and operation of ships both before and after entry into force of Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 on Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships. This publication can be obtained through www.eagle.org.
The Class Notation Environmental Safety (ES), American Bureau of Shipping, 2001. This Guide has been developed with the objective of promoting environmentally safe design, construction and operation of ABS-classed vessels and marine structures. The requirements as specified in this Guide are additional to all other relevant requirements of ABS Rules and Guides. Vessels and marine structures designed, built and operated in full compliance with the International Regulations, standards, guidelines and recommendations as listed will be assigned a class notation ES, Environmental Safety. This publication can be obtained through www.eagle.org.
Advanced
International Environmental Law and Naval War: The Effect of Marine Safety and Pollution Conventions During International Armed Conflict, by Sonja Ann Jozef Buelaert-Suominen, Naval War College, 2000. This scholarly work presents a complete overview and assessment of the history and current state of international environmental law relative to naval operations and naval warfare.
Marine Mammals and Noise, by W. John Richardson, Charles R. Greene, Charles I. Malme, and Denis H. Thompson, Academic Press, 1998. This is a landmark effort to gather data from all sources on Marine Mammals and the noise levels that can affect them. Chuck Malme is probably the world expert on Marine Mammals and noise. This book reflects his 65 years of experience and expertise working with marine life. Most of it is quite readable and filled with interesting glimpses into the tremendous amount of research involved in this work.
MARPOL 73/78: Articles, Protocols, Annexes, Unified Interpretations of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as Modified by the Protocol of 1978 Relating Thereto, International Maritime Organization, 1991. This is the standard our US manufacturers attempt to meet when building sea-going vessels. It does not read easily but is informative and authoritative.
Regimes for the Ocean, Outer Space, and Weather, by Seyom Brown, Nina W. Cornell, Larry L. Fabian, and Edith Brown Weiss, The Brookings Institution, 1977. This book examines the problems of resource scarcity and assesses the possibilities for regulating the use of precious resources. Although a bit dated by now, many of the analyses and assessments concerning fisheries, navigation, seabed mining, and oil remain very current.