Date of Award

9-1992

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

Abstract

This research develops a Pollution Prevention Investment Decision Model (PPIDM) to evaluate the financial feasibility of pollution prevention alternatives. The PPIDM provides managers with simple, systematic, and flexible guidelines for making accurate and expedient decisions when considering pollution prevention alternatives. The model illustrates that a comprehensive analysis is not always necessary. The PPIDM gives managers the flexibility to adjust the economic feasibility criteria based on top management's perceptions of the political environment. When top management places a very high value on political considerations, economic criteria is insignificant and the project may be implemented immediately without further analysis. The PPIDM takes an incremental approach which allows managers to evaluate projects by considering data in increments beginning with management's interpretation of subjective considerations. This approach to project feasibility analysis enables environmental managers to make quicker decisions without sacrificing accuracy. This model also provides guidelines for estimating spill liabilities using probabilistic analysis. This procedure has potential for estimating other liabilities such as regulatory fines and penalties. This research includes an aircraft depainting cage study to illustrate the PPIDM and exemplify the benefits of pollution prevention. Although the study specifically addresses Air Force activities, it has universal application.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENV-92S-15

DTIC Accession Number

ADA261235

Comments

The authors' Vita pages are omitted.

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