TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

S/N

Title

Synopsis

I. Subject Area: Environmental Technology and Findings

1

Cows to ease energy crisis

A recent study by the Dairy Federation has indicated that dung produced byT the Pacific Northwest region of (USA was looking into using cow dung to produce electricity.) region's cows could be the green fuel needed to fill the growing hydro-electric gap.

2

USEPA grows solutions to clean-up problems at toxic sites

Trees and other plants offer a safe and cost-effective way of cleaning up polluted soil and ground water.USEPA's The National Risk Management Research Laboratory has had successfully used stands of poplar trees, alfalfa and Indian mustard to cleanse polluted soil and water.

II. Subject Area : Environmental Policy and Regulation

43

Germany plans new ordinance to push production of renewable energy sources

Germany is planning a "Bio-Energy Ordinance" to regulate subsidies for electricity produced from biological materials such as wood, dung or organic wastes inas part of its efforts to reduce green house gas emissions.

54

European countries start work on pollution release inventory treaty

More than two dozen European countries have startedare working on a new international agreement that would rrequire firms to maintain records on their pollutant releases and to make the information available to the public.

65

Euro parliament calls for phase-out of lead, cadmium additives in PVC plastics

The European Parliament has called for legislation to phase out the use of lead and cadmium as additives in producing polyvinyl chloride plastics.

76

Environment Canada to review HFC use as part of Kyoto Protocol Commitments

The Canadian government would be conducting a survey on Canada's use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and fluorobutane to understand their applications of these chemicals in the industry and to assess the need for control strategies.

III. Subject Area: General Environmental News

87

International move on mercury disposal is taking off

The member countries of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is are set to launching a two- year study to assessing the impact of mercury in the environment as a preliminary step towards the possibility of regulating mercury on an international basis.

98

U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Launches Carbon Trust to Spur Business Investment

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has launched the a "carbon trust" to encourage business investment in clean technologies to meet its goal in reducing carbon emissions by at least 20 percent, well over the targets agreed upon in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

109

Fumigation Products Get Reviewed

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) of USA held a meeting to reviewed the use of fumigants like phosphine, methyl bromide and dichlorvos, and new products such as Profume.

1110

Thai Initiatives Encourage Alternative Fuel Use in Cars

Thai Petroleum Authority announced new initiatives that encourageing the use of alternative fuels, including tax reductions, construction of fuel stations for natural gas vehicles, and scientific studies.

1211

Dupont Adds CFC Alternatives

Alternatives Dupont is producing alternatives to the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)-12 and (CFC)-114, halon-1301, and the perfluorooctanyl chemistries are being produced by Dupont.

SUMMARY REPORT

 

Period Covered : 16 Apr to 22 Apr 2001

 

Item 1

Cows to Ease Energy Crisis

Summary

The need for energy alternatives has been raised in the Pacific Northwest region of USA. Up to 70% of the electricity in this area is provided by hydro-power. However, following one of its driest winters on record, mmany in the Pacific Northwest region of USA have raised concerns of the growing shortage of hydro-electric gap. electricity from hydro-power. Hydro-power accounted for 70% of electricity in the Pacific Northwest region of USA. Following one of its driest winters on record in the region, it was considering

State officials have contemplated with the creative idea of cow dung was being consideredas as an alternative source to close the energy gap. It Cow dung is a clean-burning, and environmentally- friendly source and is readily available from the area's 246,000 cows. A recent study by the Dairy Federation indicated that waste from dairy cattle in just one county could generate up to 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to light up 8,000 homes.

The production of the electricity involves mixing dDung and , bacteria were mixed and occasional heat in a biogas plant to produce . The gas that is produced is up to 75% methane afor nd is used in turn to firinge electric turbines. Portland General Electric has begun building aA biogas facility under construction near Salem, Oregon would. This plant will rely on 500 cows for fuel and is expected to generate 100 kilowatts of power, enough for around 65 homes.

The high cost of these plants has discouraged their construction. However, this may be overcome should the state senate and house pass twowas passing bills to allowing give potential producers to be givenproducers a sales tax exemption. The Dairy Federation pointed out that a new $300,000 biogas plant could be paid off in six years.

Furthermore, the Diary Federation has pointed out that construction of a new biogas plant (with a construction time of 5 months) requires $300,000 and could be paid off in six years.

Reference

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=10540&newsdate=18-Apr-2001

 

 

 

Item 2

USEPA Grows Solutions to Clean-up Problems at Toxic Sites

Summary

Cleaning up contaminated soil at 40,000 toxic sites in the USA is an expensive business. The cost of digging up the soil and sending it to theby incineration or or landfill can could cost as much as US$6 billion a year overfor five years. As of January 2001, it was estimated there are 40,000 toxic sites in the USA.

Steven A. Rock of T thehe USEPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory had , Cincinnati has used treess and other plants such as include poplar trees, alfalfa and Indian mustard as a safe and cost-effective means to clean up polluted soil and groundwater. Those that have been studied include poplar trees, alfalfa and Indian mustard. . These plants are known to have the ability to absorb and remove contaminants from the soil and groundwater. Water and the soil chemicals are drawn through the roots and the water is released as water vapour through the leaves. The plants canould clean up metals, pesticides, explosives, oil, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, landfill leachates and solvents. The technique is most useful for treating sites with shallow and low levels of contamination.

Poplar stands planted at the grounds of an army facility used for for chemical testing and research have been used at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Baltimore since 1996 to absorb toxic solvents from the soil ; the grounds were used as an army facility for chemical testing and research. The project has provedn effective. The limitations to using plants is the need to wait for the plants to grow before they can work, the length of the plant roots and the possibility of animals eating the toxic-containing plants.

Reference

http://www.pollutiononline.com/content/news/article.asp?docid={2C092400-3361-11D5-A770-00D0B7694F32}

 

 

 

Item 43

Germany plans new ordinance to push production of renewable energy sources

Summary

In hopes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Germany is planning a "Bio-Energy Ordinance" to regulate subsidies for electricity produced from biological materials such as wood, dung or organic wastes.

The new ordinance would set standards as toon the type of biological materials that could be used as fuel and . It would also address subsidies for power plants producing electricity from renewable energy sources under the Renewable Energies Act. The Aact has entered into force since 1 April 2000 and it requires producers of electricity from renewable sources to sell to the power grid at prices guaranteed by law, forcing the utility companies which run the grid to subsidise such energy sources.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol 24, No. 7, Page 251

 

Item 54

European countries start work on pollution release inventory treaty

Summary

In Geneva, more than two dozen European countries have startedare working on a new international agreement that would require firms to maintain records on their pollutant releases and to make the information available to the public.

This e talks, held under the umbrella of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) would eventually lead to a European-wide reporting system, resembling the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory.

Under the proposal, Ggovernments would be required to establish pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) . These registers would containing polluters' information from corporate polluters in signatory states regarding theiron their emissions of certain polluting substances as well as on their off-site transfers of such substances for treatment or disposal. The register information would be collected in the registers and made public, subject to limited exemptions. Several European countries such as Belgium, Denmark. Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom already have the PRTRs systems in place.

Reference

International Environment Reporter Vol 24, No. 7 Page 236

 

Item 65

Euro parliament calls for phase-out of lead, cadmium additives in PVC plastics

Summary

The European Parliament has called for legislation to phase- out the use of lead and cadmium as additives in producing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics. It urged th The executive European Commission has been urged to amend EU directive 76/769/EEC on Marketing and Use of Dangerous Substances frame proposals tofor ending the use of heavy metals as stabilizers in PVC and to tighten the legislation to , by amending EU directive 76/769/EEC on Marketing and Use of Dangerous Substances. In addition, the ban theon imports of noncompliant products from countries outside the European Union was proposed to further tighten the legislation.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol 24, No.8 Page 279

 

Item 76

Environment Canada to review HFC use as part of Kyoto Protocol Commitments

Summary

The Environment Canada will review its existing uses of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to assess whether they are toxic and should be regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This assessment would be the first step for Canada in meeting its commitments under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions of the six key greenhouse gases including HFCs, to six percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.

The Canadian government would request for information on HFCs for 1999 and 2000 to determine Canada's consumption for the chemical. This survey would apply to all the HFCs and fluorobutane in order to understand the use of these substances and assess the need for control strategies.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol 24, No.8 Page 288

Item 87

International move on mercury disposal taking off

Summary

UNEP has requested mMember countries of the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) are set to embark on a two-year study to assessing the impact of mercury on the environment. The UNEP governing council has requested its member countries to conduct this worldwide study and submit their findings to the council in 2003.

As the situation of mercury contamination is becoming more serious, countries like Denmark and Canada hope that the study would result in are of the view that international rules on the production, use and disposal of the industrial pollutantmercury to be the outcome of the study.

Based on the findings of the study, UNEP would consider the possibility of regulating mercury worldwide. The UNEP governing council has stated that they would consider the possibility of regulating mercury on a worldwide basis, based on the findings of the study.

Reference

Lexis-Nexis, Kyodo News Service, Japan Economic Newswire

 

Item 98

U.K. deputy prime minister launches carbon trust to spur business investment

Summary

The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has launched the a "carbon trust" as one of its efforts to boost green policies. The 50 million pounds carbon trust is the central element of the country's stated goal to help to reduce carbon emissions by at least 20 percent, well over the targets agreed upon in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The carbon trust will encourage cleaner technologies such as wind and solar power. A sum of 200 million pounds will be made available in the trust over the next two years to help businesses invest in low carbon technologies. Theis carbon trust will be funded by receipts from the climate change levy on industry whichindustry, which has been effected from 1 April 2001.

Reference

International Environment Reporter Vol 24, No. 7, Page 246

 

Item 109

Fumigation Products Get Reviewed

Summary

The USA has reviewed the use of current and Fumigation Division of the National Pest Management Association (USA) held a meeting to review the new fumigants such as Profume Gas and current fumigants such as . Information regarding the currently used fumigants and food plant insect management products were also presented at the meeting. These include phosphine, methyl bromide and dichlorvos (DDVP).

It was stated thatT although all of the fumigation uses of phosphine will continue, the chemical is still tied up with the United States Environmental Agency (EPA). In the near future,US EPA will require phosphine users to include (amongst other things) a site-specific fumigation management plan prior to each application. Furthermore, registrants of the chemical will be required to conduct a two-year incident reporting project and , develop protocols and conduct feasibility studies for fumigant exposure monitoring studies.

Currently, methyl bromide is being phased out although efforts are being made by lobbyists to halt this action. The USA has scheduled to stop the use of ing methyl bromide for a completely halt to usage by 2005 with a 70% phase-out scheduled forby 2003. Though there are At present no successful alternatives at presenthave been found, although these although some may be available in the next 5 years.

EPA has subject the chemical DDVPdichlorvos to many regulatory reviews for the past several years and it will continue to be reviewed for the years to come. Registrants of the product are keeping an eye on the new EPA administration for any developments.

Reference

Pest Control April 2001, Page 30

 

Item 1110

Thai Initiatives Encourage Alternative Fuel Use in Cars

Summary

Thai Petroleum Authority (PTT) announced new initiatives to encourage ing the use of alternative fuels. They were:

a) , including tax reductions, construction of fuel stations for natural gas vehicles (NGV), and scientific studies.

The proposed tax Reduction s will comprise a reduction of import taxes on NGV-related products to 1% from the current 10% to 30% to . These tax breaks will reduce the price of natural gas to 50% less than standard gasoline.

b) For full integration of NGVs into the society, PTT will eExpand the number of NGV fuel stations, and eventually operate 1,000 NGV taxis by next year, up from . Currently there is only one NGV fuel station that servinges 100 NGV-converted taxis.

c) Furthermore, in joint collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, National Metal and Materials Technology Center and Ford Motors, PTT will alsoS study the feasibility and economic viability of a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% diesel fuel called; diesohol. The study will gauge the comprise fuel economy, performance, and ddurability, etc. of a car (Ford Ranger) using this fuel. Currently, many of Bangkok's public buses are experimenting with diesohol of 15% ethanol. The results suggested a reduction of black smoke by up to 70%.

Reference

International Environment Reporter, Vol 24, No 8 April 11, 2001 ,Page 296

 

Item 1211

Dupont Adds CFC Alternatives

Summary

Dupont is producing The Hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-227ea is being produced by Dupont as an alternative for chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)-12 and (CFC)-114. (HFA)-227ea is used in medical products such as metered dose inhalers. Furthermore, the companyIt has also started productiong of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)-227 as a replacement for halon-1301 in fire extinguishers and for use . HFA-227, on the other hand, will be used iin telecommunications rooms, data centres and process control rooms.

To replace perfluorooctanyl compounds that are being phased out, 3M has recently introduced a line of fluorochemicals including, perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride (pharmaceutical reagent) and potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate (flame retardant).

Reference

Chemical Week April 11, 2001, Page 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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