International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

NANOTECHNOLOGY

– Asbestos-like effects, UK report examines similarities between nanoparticles, asbestos fibers, 80
– Consumer products inventory finds nanoscale silver primary material used, 802
– Cosmetics, European Parliament approves changes to cosmetics law, introduces procedure to regulate nanomaterials in beauty products, 258
– Definitions, international standards committee agrees on terminology for carbon nano-objects, 578
– Environmental benefits unproven, coalition says, 802
– Occupational exposure

– – Netherlands to develop exposure limits for common nanoparticles, 823
– – Risk assessment

See Risk assessment, this heading

– REACH

– – Impact review, In Brief, 17
– – Regulation, EU expert group to continue discussions, 79; groups says REACH provisions insufficient, recommends separate regulatory scheme, 307; Parliament supports review of regulations, 353; Dimas tells forum EU reconsidering applicability, 485; expert group developing guidance, 868

– Registration, France drafts bills, 81
– Reporting requirements

– – Canada plans to publish notice, 94
– – Harmonization, report urges transatlantic cooperation, 853

– Research, OECD member nations compile database, 39; OECD launches global database to track safety research, 340
– Risk assessment

– – China, occupational study links exposure to human toxicity, 801
– – European Union

– – – Comm'n panel opinion, In Brief, 178
– – – Regulatory definition needed, other constraints exist, adviser says, 814

– – France plans public debate, 221
– – International review of research finds major gaps preclude feasibility, 382
– – OECD

– – – Potential benefits, dangers to environment and health considered at conference, 717
– – – Safety reports published, 803

– Risk management

– – Canadian organizations compile guide for businesses, 137
– – Japan issues guidelines, 241
– – Transatlantic cooperation urged in report, 853
– – UK publishes guidelines, 222

NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS

– Emas National Park, Brazil agency orders destruction of GMO soy, In Brief, 61
– Mining, Colombia prohibits licensing, 187
– Protected areas, Chile creates consolidated oversight system, 926
– Puyehue National Park, Chile court affirms decision to allow construction of mini-hydroelectric plant, 100

NATIONAL PROTECTED AREAS

See BIODIVERSITY

NATIONAL SECURITY

See HOMELAND SECURITY

NATURAL DISASTERS

– Chemical facility risk management, France lobby seeks 2-year suspension of rule, 261; France seeks to simplify registration for low-risk sites, 355
– Climate change, planning inadequate, UN meeting delegates warn, 289
– Floods

See FLOODS

– Three Gorges Dam, China plans to spend $14.6B on environmental costs over next 10 years, 375
– Wildfires, Australia inquiry likely to consider impact on climate change, 146

NATURAL GAS

– Ed. Note: For extraction activities and processes, see OIL AND GAS.
– Carbon tax exemption by Norway, EFTA body rejects, In Brief, 694
– Compressed natural gas-fueled vehicles, India automakers work to expand fleets, 513
– Smart-grid for transmission, Japan considers pilot project, In Brief, 572

NATURAL RESOURCES

– Energy deposits, Arctic melting may lead to conflict, Australia agency warns, 64
– National protected areas

See BIODIVERSITY

– Taxation, China plans policy changes, 282
– Water resources

See WATER RESOURCES

NETHERLANDS

– Energy efficiency, improvement plans include voluntary agreements, labels, subsidies, 962
– Energy policies sound, IEA reports, In Brief, 93
– Industrial plant permits, European Comm'n issues 2nd warning over failure to issue, 77
– Nanotechnology, government to develop occupational exposure limits for common nanoparticles, 823
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–20
– Renewable energy, Amsterdam partnership, In Brief, 496
– Wind energy, government approves first license for offshore farm in 7 years, 89

NEW ZEALAND

– Climate change

– – Emissions reduction, target range for 2020 announced, 758
– – Projections show net emissions remaining below Kyoto Protocol target, 378

– Emissions trading

– – Amendments reflect negotiations with Maori Party, 886
– – Forestry-related parts of scheme to be postponed to review trade implications, other aspects, 571
– – Harmonization with Australia scheme, ministers consider options, 280
– – Special parliamentary committee supports idea, avoids specifics, 844

– Energy policy, new government changes course on biofuels sales, electricity generation, 34
– Environmental protection, Parliament votes to amend law to streamline resource management, 844; new agency opens, 932
– Mineral exploration, minister urges greater access to conservation land, 799
– Motor vehicles, government to tighten exhaust rules for diesel vehicles imported from Japan, 845
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–45
– Permits, Parliament considers reforms to expedite process, 198; Parliament votes to amend law to streamline planning process, 844; new agency opens, 932
– Pesticides, endosulfan ban, In Brief, 35
– Waste management, operators may pass disposal levy on to customers, 713

NICARAGUA

– DBCP, farm workers' exposure claims dismissed due to evidence of fraud (Cal. Super. Ct.), 409

NIGERIA

– Oil drilling, Senate approves 2010 deadline to end gas flaring, 459
– Oil exploration, Shell settles civil suit with families of executed environmental protesters for $15.5M, 556

NITROGEN DIOXIDE

– Air quality, Switzerland outlines emissions reduction plan, 824

NITROGEN OXIDES (NOx)

– Diesel vehicles, France agency calls for controls, 821
– Motor vehicles

– – Brazil emission limits, In Brief, 838
– – Euro VI emissions standard for trucks and buses, EU Parliament approves significantly reduced limits, 6; EU adopts tougher limits, 639

– Ships and shipping

– – Canada-U.S. proposal designates emissions control areas, 270
– – U.S. proposal limits emissions, 603; plan elicits praise from industry, environmental groups, 737; proposed rule published, 781; advisory committee endorses rules without exemptions, 922

NITROUS OXIDE

– Ozone depletion potential greater than any other substance, study says, 804

NOISE

– Measurement, Venezuela, Caracas program, In Brief, 101
– Tires

– – EU labeling requirements

See EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

– – Japan considers standards, In Brief, 848

– Urban areas, China maps Beijing traffic levels, In Brief, 932

NORDIC COUNTRIES

See also specific countries
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/7/09) S–21

NORTH AMERICA

– Oil spills on West Coast most common at oil facilities, not ships or pipelines, study finds, 781
– Ozone-depleting substances, nations propose limits on use of hydrofluorocarbons under Montreal Protocol, 875

NORTH AMERICAN COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION (NACEC)

See generally NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA)

NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA)

– Climate change

– – Canada-U.S. clean energy initiative announced, 182; officials meet to discuss clean energy, transmission grid improvements, 234
– – Leaders pledge cooperation on emissions trading, smart grid activities, 738

– Energy, speakers stress need for Mexico-U.S. cooperation, 739
– Environment and labor standards, Obama, Harper announce plan to strengthen protections, 182
– Environmental cooperation, trade representatives urge ministers to increase, 600
– Gold mining, U.S. environmental protections no violation of investment protections, panel says, 554
– Industrial pollutant releases and transfers, CEC outlines data tracking system, 553

NORTH SEA

– Carbon sequestration, Britain, Norway launch study, 493
– Oil spill, Norwegian company fined, In Brief, 227

NORWAY

– Ballast water management, parliament adopts rule requiring flushing at given distance from coast or in agreed zones, 646
– Carbon sequestration

– – Costs, In Brief, 17
– – Energy company highlights technological options for project at oil terminal, refinery, 176
– – North Sea, joint UK study on role as storage hub, 493

– Carbon tax exemption, EFTA body rejects, In Brief, 694
– Climate change, emissions reduction targets, In Brief, 919
– Electric cars, economic stimulus package includes funding for 5,000 recharging stations, 90
– Electronic waste exports

– – Inspection leads to seizure of shipment headed for West Africa, 869
– – Rules guide, In Brief, 598

– Emissions trading

– – Emissions cap, industries exempt from EU system agree to voluntary cap, 824
– – Industry meets 2008 GHG targets, agency reports, 439
– – Online registry to link with EU, In Brief, 93

– Energy efficiency in new public buildings, support increase, 90
– Environmental technology funding, In Brief, 826
– Gasoline-fueled vehicle ban proposal, In Brief, 268
– GHG emissions from landfills and industry, web page for reporting, In Brief, 179
– Incinerators, inspections to collect emissions data, determine illegal waste processing, 964
– Light bulb disposal rules, In Brief, 826
– Metal treatment plants, galvanization facilities inspections to ensure safe use of hazardous substances, 356
– Oil drilling, agency tightens safeguards for drilling near sensitive coral reef, 732
– Oil spills

– – Full City captain to be charged, In Brief, 694
– – Geiranger Fjord spill prompts calls for tighter regulations on cruise ships, 647

– Permits, new rules exempt certain companies from emissions, discharge permit requirements, 918
– Radioactive waste, handling and discharge proposal adds polluter pays principle, 439
– Renewable energy, delays in certificate plan draw criticism, 964
– Toxic substances

– – Persistent and bioaccumulative substances, government announces commission to recommend reduction policies, 225
– – Soil contamination by firefighting foam, In Brief, 132

– Transboundary pollution, government seeks explanation for increase in heavy metal emissions from Russian smelter, 53
– Wind power as part of economic stimulus, In Brief, 650

NUCLEAR ENERGY

– Climate change

– – G-8 leaders encourage collaboration, 519
– – Poland approves timetable for construction of first plants, 731
– – Sweden shifts policy on replacing reactors due to emission reduction commitments, 128; company announces plan to develop waste storage facility, 493
– – UK seeks comment on proposed construction of 4 plants, 14

– Environmental performance, UK sector reduced energy, water use, discharges in 2007, report says, 15
– EPR technology, France announces new reactor, environmental group warns of radioactive waste problems, 126
– Heating proposal, Finnish capital, In Brief, 179
– International cooperation, Italy-France bilateral summit, In Brief, 132; France to advise Italy on construction of generators under pact, 173
– Licensing, Brazil grants Angra plant full construction license, 231; radioactive waste disposal plan released, 323; construction begins, In Brief, 657
– Planning, Argentina intends to build fourth plant, In Brief, 411
– Regulatory agency, UK seeks comments, In Brief, 598
– Waste management assumption of costs by plant owners, Spain, In Brief, 405