Open Collections

Environmental impacts and economic costs : A study of pulp mill effluent in British Columbia

University of British Columbia

In this thesis I study the economic cost of the environmental impacts of pulp and paper mill effluent in British Columbia. The thesis is not a benefit-cost analysis of the industry. Rather, my primary objective is to assess what the process of trying to estimate the costs reveals about the difficulties and limitations in the economic analysis of environmental damages. I review the environmental impacts of pulp mill effluent in British Columbia. There is a great deal of uncertainty in many respects about these impacts, but it is clear that in some cases they have been significant. A considerable body of literature addresses the theory and methodology of how to measure such impacts in economic terms. I draw upon this literature in four case studies of certain environmental impacts and specific types of economic damage. The case studies examine 1) dissolved oxygen reductions in Alberni Inlet and the impact on sport salmon fishing; 2) chlorinated dioxin contamination in Howe Sound and commercial shellfishing ground closures; 3) chlorinated dioxin contamination in the Columbia River and the impact on sport fishing; and 4) fish tainting at Kitimat and its effect on the Haisla people. In each case study, I estimate a range of values for the economic cost of the specific environmental impact in question. In each, there are significant and difficult questions which must be addressed. I conclude by noting that there are many instances where credible economic value estimates of environmental damages can be derived. Even partial and incomplete estimates can be helpful in demonstrating that the environment is an important source of economic value. However, the case studies suggest that five potentially severe sets of problems will invariably accompany economic analysis of environmental impacts. The first four -- complexity, uncertainty, site-specificity and limited information — are typical of most studies of environmental issues, but economic analysis adds a new dimension to each. The fifth set of problems is unique to economic analysis. These difficulties limit the ability of economists to undertake comprehensive analyses of the environment or environmental degradation.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-01-13

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3596

Environmental Sciences

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace