International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT

– Discharge permits, U.S. state court upholds permit requiring treatment of discharges into Lake Superior, 701
– Discharge zones, Norway parliament adopts rule, 646
– Global alliance plans to manage releases, 245

BALTIC SEA

– Helsinki Convention

See HELSINKI CONVENTION

– Natural gas pipeline, opposition to project fueled by concerns over munitions detonation, 494; Poland calls for consideration of land-based routes, 546
– Phosphates, Sweden likely to extend ban to dishwasher detergents, 224

BANGLADESH

– Shipbreaking operations have until mid-April to get environmental permits, 281

BANKING AND FINANCE

See FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

BASEL CONVENTION

– Developing nations should adopt, Danish official urges, 592
– Electronic waste strategy, In Brief, 207
– Harmonization of standards, U.S. reviews rule, 922
– Illegal shipments, Brazil accuses U.K. firms of violations, 653; three men arrested, 715

BATHING WATER

See WATER RESOURCES

BATTERIES

– Electric vehicles, Japan development initiative, In Brief, 379
– Lithium batteries, China reviews draft regulation on safe use, 977
– Recycling, Poland lower house approves bill, 226; President signs bill, 403
– Solar energy, Japan initiative to increase industry share of global market, 286
– Waste management

– – Argentina city seeks disposal contractor, 836
– – Canada, Ontario seeks comments on expansion of hazardous waste program, 735
– – Finland warns producers of noncompliance, 869
– – German law limits use of mercury, cadmium, creates national registry, 727

BAYS

– Lima Bay, Peru awards contract to construct and operate wastewater treatment plant, 189; government declares emergency delaying construction, cites erroneous contract process, 657; government signs contract, 744

BELARUS

– Environmental code, In Brief, 966

BELGIUM

– Emergency planning, EU court finds noncompliance, 220
– Fuel taxes, OECD report recommends diesel increase to boost cleaner fuel use, 649
– Industrial plant permits, European Comm'n issues 2nd warning over failure to issue, 77
– Wastewater discharges, European Comm'n issues final warning over noncompliance, 590

BEVERAGES

– Recycling of containers, South Korea industry agrees to make easier, 333

BIODIVERSITY

– Amazon Basin faces threats from deforestation, land degradation, UNEP study finds, 186
– Amazon Rainforest, Brazil to shut down 98 foreign NGOs that failed to reregister, 139
– Corporate responsibility, Japan issues guidelines, 796
– Economic impact, Sweden outlines priorities during EU presidency, 544
– Endangered or threatened species

See ENDANGERED SPECIES

– Fish habitat protection, Canada

– – Hydrometallurgy processes, In Brief, 561
– – Monitoring, system to measure program results lacking, auditor says, 443

– Forests, India supreme court orders release of $205M annually to afforestation fund, 664
– Global mega-trends, EU study, In Brief, 650
– Great Barrier Reef, ecosystem damage may be unavoidable, report warns, 847
– Highways, Poland bypass of Rospuda Valley, In Brief, 268
– International agreements

– – G-8 nations finalize Syracuse Charter, 380
– – U.N. negotiators differ over new global protection platform, 992

– Marine conservation, U.S. designates 3 Marine National Monuments areas in Central Pacific, 23
– National strategy and action plan, South Korea finalizes, 515
– Natura 2000 network, European Comm'n approves addition of 769 sites, 10
– Protected areas

– – Brazil

– – – Cerrado, In Brief, 412; ministry launches protection program , 835
– – – Funding increase, In Brief, 30

– – Bulgaria receives first warning of infringement, 911
– – Chile creates consolidated oversight system, 926
– – EU goal of halting loss by 2010 unlikely to be met, progress report warns, 10; officials call for improved protections to meet 2010 goal, 398; report shows inadequate progress, In Brief, 495; survey shows continued decline in habitat, species from 2001 to 2006, 641
– – Uruguay, Lunarejo Valley, In Brief, 975

BIOENGINEERING

See generally BIOTECHNOLOGY

BIOFUELS

– Aircraft use must increase, industry official tells conference, 337
– Biodiesel

– – Brazil standard, In Brief, 451; requirement bolstered, In Brief, 974
– – Canada, Manitoba requirement, In Brief, 837
– – India, directive banning direct sale to consumers slows production, sends mixed signals to industry, 566

– Biomass-fueled power plants, France seeks companies to construct plants, 50
– Black liquor, Canada to pay pulp and paper producers for biomass, 551
– Certification

– – Colombia technical standards, In Brief, 877
– – Spain sets rules for obtaining use certificates, 265

– Content requirements, Portugal sets quotas for diesel blends, 175
– Cost-benefit assessment finds use environmentally friendly energy option, U.N. reports, 991
– Deforestation result of large-scale production, report says, 339
– Development

– – Partnership on dual aviation-shipping industry fuels, In Brief, 385
– – Royal Dutch Shell shifts investment focus from renewable sources, 292

– Ethanol

– – Colombia orders automakers to transition to producing cars using 85 percent fuel, 368
– – Mozambique approves policy as foreign companies plan investment, 384

– Food shortage linked to competition for crop space, UNEP report says, 205
– Imports, EU members approve temporary duties on biodiesel from U.S., 215
– Radioactive contamination of pellet fuel, Italy plan against, In Brief, 548
– Sales requirements, New Zealand government seeks to reverse course, 34
– Tax incentives

See TAXATION

BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Advantitious presence, EU seed producers, farmers seek law setting threshold for trace amounts of incidental GMO material, 216
– Bans

– – EU members fail to back proposal to force lifting of national bans, 164
– – Germany joins countries banning MON810, 356
– – Greece extends ban on MON810 for 2 years, 491
– – Poland, European Comm'n gives preliminary notice of acceptance of biotech-free zone establishment, 965
– – Switzerland extends GMO ban in agriculture, 594

– Corn

– – Brazil, state notifies federal government of spreading contamination of conventional crops, 833
– – European Comm'n supports licenses, 78
– – Germany joins countries banning MON810, 356
– – Mexico awards contracts for experimental plantings, 969

– Disclosure, EU court rules public has right to know where GMO crops are planted, 163
– Eggplant, India delays sales of BT brinjal due to safety concerns, 148; government panel approves use, 980
– Evaluation of GMOs, France creates council, 11
– Global expansion of bioengineered commercial crops, reports offering differing views, 154
– GMO-free zones, EU should allow member states to establish, conference of 5 nations say, 165
– Investment, OECD advises nations to use stimulus packages for application to alternative energy, agriculture, 577
– Pesticides, India offers incentives to promote industry, 371
– Regulation, India plans to allow commercial use within 3 years, 664
– Risk assessment, India minister makes case for national regulatory scheme, 615
– Seeds

– – Brazil licensing agency moving slowly on approvals, 274
– – India chief justice says alleviating poverty may outweigh side-effects, 415

– Soybeans

– – Brazil orders destruction of crops near national park, In Brief, 61
– – European Comm'n approves use of Monsanto GMO, 9

– Sustainable development, France fined for delay in transposing EU directive, 11
– Synthetic biology, forum explores benefits, risks, role of government, 674
– Trade issues, European Comm'n says disputes likely to increase as inventory grows, 813

BOLIVIA

– Motor vehicles, imports of used, diesel vehicles reduced in attempt to reduce fuel subsidies, air pollution, 25

BOTTLED WATER

– Hygiene problems, China, In Brief, 984

BRAZIL

– Agricultural burning of sugarcane stalks, In Brief, 101; President proposes crop management plan, 876
– Air pollution, state sues oil company, truck makers to reduce sulfur emissions, 447
– Alumina refinery waste spill into Amazon River, In Brief, 411; second fine, In Brief, 510
– Amazon Rainforest

– – Biopiracy, government to shut down NGOs that failed to reregister, 139; proposal restricts foreigners' access, 656
– – Cattle ranching

– – – Beef exporters agree to buy only from ranchers with legal land titles who have not raised cattle in newly cut rainforest, 186
– – – Slaughterhouses, buyers linked to deforestation, government orders inspections, 503; 2 slaughterhouses agree to avoid cattle raised on illegally cut rain forest, 655; accord grows to account for 95 percent of beef exports, 704; third slaughterhouse signs pledge, In Brief, 926
– – – Supermarkets attempt to curb purchase of beef linked to illegal Amazon deforestation, 558

– – Climate change-deforestation impacts, study uses computer modeling to project effects, 275
– – Deforestation

– – – Cattle ranching impacts

See Cattle ranching, this subheading

– – – Impacts exacerbated by climate change, study finds, 275
– – – Rate plummets, In Brief, 235; statement revised upward, 741; rate reduced by half in year ending July 31, 835
– – – Satellite images show 67 percent increase in partially-cut areas, 27

– – Environmental network asks government to support forest program at Copenhagen climate talks, 742
– – Federal land transferred to Roraima to repay debt due to creation of indigenous reserve, 99
– – Gold mining, Yanomami threaten to expel miners with bows, arrows, 141
– – Indigenous reserve, Brazil court expected to oust farmers, impose land use restrictions, 28; court ousts rice farmers, ranchers from reserve, 273
– – Land use, proposal creates new institution to police land titles, combat deforestation, 27
– – Ownership rights

– – – Foreign owners, lower house approves size, residency restrictions, 973
– – – Occupiers, measure details how to obtain plots, 185; Senate approves measure, In Brief, 510; President signs bill, In Brief, 609

– – Protected Areas program expansion, In Brief, 877
– – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation programs, governors seek president's support in climate treaty, 606; regional officials declare support, 972
– – Rehabilitation fund payouts, In Brief, 706
– – Settler tree planting financing, In Brief, 610
– – Soy planting has slowed due to purchase moratorium, report finds, 365; soy traders extend moratorium, 704
– – Sustainable development, government plans price guarantee program, 276
– – Timber

– – – Exports drop, In Brief, 789
– – – Illegally harvesting

See Timber, this heading

– – Zoning plan allows farmers, ranchers to use larger portion of deforested area along highway, 140

– Aquafarms, fisheries rules simplified, In Brief, 509
– Atlantic Rainforest

– – Phosphate mine/fertilizer complex license suspended, 924
– – Recovery funds

– – – Development Bank pledges donation, 505
– – – Environment Ministry sets up fund, 505
– – – Rio de Janeiro announces launch, 27

– – Replanting, In Brief, 326

– Biodiversity, funding increase, In Brief, 30
– Biotechnology

– – Corn, state notifies federal government of spreading contamination of conventional crops, 833
– – Licensing agency moving slowly on seed approvals, 274
– – Soy, agency orders destruction near national park, In Brief, 61

– Budget reductions, In Brief, 101
– Cerrado

– – Deforestation trends, In Brief, 236
– – Protections, In Brief, 412; environment ministry launches program , 835

– Climate change

– – Alliance formed, issues paper on mitigation, 834
– – Builders in Rio de Janeiro to offset GHG emissions, In Brief, 926
– – Emissions reduction number will be offered at Copenhagen climate change summit, minister says, 787; ministry proposes 40 percent reduction by 2020, 955
– – Energy expansion plan at odds with earlier action plan, 58
– – Floods, In Brief, 510
– – Industry group declines to sign pledge to reduce emissions, 876
– – Sao Paulo state legislature approves bill setting 2020 emissions reduction target, 972
– – Utilities using oil, coal, or diesel will have to offset CO2 emissions under new measure, 366; judge suspends requirement, 971

– Contaminated sites

– – Investigations, Sao Paulo commission to launch investigation into 7 most contaminated sites, 184; panel report concludes cleanups inadequate, 410
– – Registry of sites, Sao Paulo state adopts law, 653

– Deforestation

– – Amazon Rainforest

See Amazon Rainforest, this heading

– – Enforcement budget increase insufficient, environment agency says, 273
– – Incentives, government, state offer anti-deforestation program, 321
– – Santa Catarina approves forest code with lower standards than federal law, 322; riverbank vegetation code challenge, In Brief, 610
– – Sao Paulo allows landowners to replant with exotic species, 139

– Diesel fuel

– – Biodiesel requirement, In Brief, 451; requirement bolstered, In Brief, 974
– – Sulfur content, Petrobras to invest $6B to produce low-sulfur fuel, 98

– Dredging of contaminated canals, In Brief, 61
– Electronic waste, Sao Paulo state adopts law, 653
– Emissions trading

– – Bank opens credit line for buying certified emission reductions, 655
– – Carbon offsets for Olympics candidacy, In Brief, 451

– Energy efficiency

– – Information technology, firms resistant to invest, survey finds, 272
– – Labeling, builders show interest in program, 703

– Energy expansion plan at odds with earlier climate action plan, 58
– Enforcement, environmental authorities allowed to call out elite troops, 232
– Environment Ministry

– – Budget reductions, In Brief, 101
– – Minister to resign to run for state assembly seat, 741; Silva hints at run for presidency in 2010, 786; correction, 838

– Environmental agencies, Rio de Janeiro consolidates agencies for efficiency, 98
– Environmental impact assessments

– – Fees, presidential decree sets limits, 446
– – Permits

– – – Civil suit against official dismissed, In Brief, 877
– – – Criticism of licensing agency, In Brief, 878
– – – More licenses granted under new environment minister, 58; minister issues measures to further streamline process, 703; working group drafts preliminary council resolution, 786

– – Refinery project, federal prosecutor files injunction to suspend building license, 448
– – Sao Paulo state consolidates licensing within one agency, 742
– – Separation of powers forbids judicial branch interference, supreme court rules, 184

– Environmental violations, President relaxes earlier decree, 26
– Fishing and aquaculture, new ministry established, 605
– Flood control project, In Brief, 190
– Forests

– – Amazon

See Amazon Rainforest, this heading

– – Charcoal production, state revises forest code to discourage timber cutting, 835
– – Deforestation, government pledges to reduce rate, 924
– – Environmental protection, Sao Paulo may reimburse landowners for efforts, 877
– – Land use, new standards to help landowners recover, work land, 875
– – Satellite monitoring program, In Brief, 368
– – Small farms allowed to cut more trees, In Brief, 706

– Gold mining in Amazon region, accord with France aims to combat illegal operations, 59
– Groundwater, water resources council approves management directives, 141
– Hazardous waste

– – Illegal disposal alleged, group sues U.S. companies, 410
– – Imports, government accuses U.K. firms of exporting waste, 653; three men arrested, 715

– Highway and road projects

– – Amazon highway repaving, agency denies environmental license, 656
– – Environmental licensing, House approves exemption, 365; Senate misses vote deadline, In Brief, 510

– Hydroelectric projects

– – Belo Monte Dam, revised EIA sought, In Brief, 411; incomplete assessment suspends licensing process, In Brief, 563; injunction overturned, In Brief, 745
– – Fish kill, consortium fine, In Brief, 30
– – Jirau-Santo Antonio dam complex, head of environmental licensing charged with misconduct in permitting, 656

– Landfills, Rio de Janeiro state plans to double number of facilities, In Brief, 706
– Loans, banking association agrees to conduct environmental risk analysis, 321
– Logging operations

– – Auction, bidding rules, In Brief, 235; second auction, In Brief, 562
– – Yield limits, wood dimensions for sawmills set to discourage illegal purchases, 274

– Marine sanctuary created to protect dolphins, whales, 28
– Methane capture, sewage emissions as fuel, In Brief, 610
– Mine-slurry pipeline-port complex, prosecutors request injunction to suspend construction, 788
– Motor vehicle emissions, working group drafts resolutions, 788; issuance of resolutions, In Brief, 838; council approves emissions inspection mandate, 971
– Nuclear energy, Angra plant granted full construction license, 231; radioactive waste disposal plan released, 323; construction begins, In Brief, 657
– Oil spills

– – Petrobras refinery, In Brief, 411
– – Steelmaker fined for oily leak into river, In Brief, 745
– – Tugboat spills into Amazon River, In Brief, 563

– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–31
– Ozone-depleting substances, proposed program to finance recycling of 10M refrigerators that use CFCs, 141
– Penalty analysis, In Brief, 837
– Pesticides, government reconsiders 13 pesticides based on new toxicology data, 232
– Port expansion halted to protect whales, In Brief, 789
– Public parks in Sao Paulo, topsoil contaminated with heavy metals, study finds, 448
– Recycling

– – Industrialized product tax exemption for recycled products under consideration, 970
– – Street-garbage scavengers, program trains to collect more efficiently, 233

– Steel mill, Esprito Santo rejects proposal to build in already-polluted city, 28
– Sustainable development

– – Green corporate practices, In Brief, 412
– – Wal-Mart signs pact with suppliers to ensure greener products, 607
– – World Bank makes $1.3B loan for environmental management, 231; additional funding, In Brief, 975

– Timber

– – Bank agrees not to finance housing projects using illegally cut wood, 59
– – Indigenous reserves, seizure of illegally harvested products, In Brief, 326
– – Online purchases, Brazil state blocks sales of illegal timber from Amazon, 322

– Used tire imports

– – Environmental waste, Supreme Court bans imports, 606
– – EU dispute, countries agree to delay sanctions, 39
– – Import-export equal amounts

– – – Destruction requirement eased, In Brief, 838
– – – Retread company may resume imports, 558

– – Importer fined $13.9M for violating trade ban, 654

– Wastewater treatment, council considers new standards and conditions for discharges, resolution expected in 2010, 703
– Water resources, one-fifth of supply undrinkable, report says, 323
– Wind energy

– – Auction guidelines, In Brief, 510
– – Coastal states, agreement, In Brief, 610

BRIDGES

– Messina Straits Bridge project, Italy approval, In Brief, 598; environmental overseer, In Brief, 966

BUILDINGS

– Energy efficiency

See ENERGY EFFICIENCY

BULGARIA

– Climate change, Methane to Markets Partnership, In Brief, 496
– Habitat protection in sensitive areas, European Comm'n issues first warning, 911
– Industrial plant permits, European Comm'n issues 2nd warning over failure to issue, 77

BUSES

– Euro VI emissions standard, EU Parliament approves significantly reduced limits for NOx and PM, 6; EU adopts tougher limits, 639