Day: 5 January 2001

Greece begins to pay dumping fine

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has announced that Greece has begun to pay its fine for the uncontrolled dumping of waste at a site on Crete.

EPA publishes criteria for reduction of eutrophication

The US Environmental Protection Agency is taking a major step to protect waters from excessive nutrients by introducing water quality criteria for nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus.

Electric utility to pay $1.4 billion for Clean Air Act violations

As part of an on-going drive to halt illegal air pollution from coal-fired power plants, the US Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency have announced the settlement of a massive $1.4billion (£0.93 billion) lawsuit with Cincinnati-based electric utility Cinergy Corporation. The enforcement action is the largest ever taken by the EPA under the US’s Clean Air Act.

Desertification conference calls for attention to situation in Central and Eastern Europe

Specific attention should be devoted to countries in Central and Eastern Europe affected by desertification and drought, particularly in the light of their problems and challenges, according to delegates at an international conference in desertification.

European Bank gives loan to Poland for water treatment

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has provided a £14 million (EUR 22 million) loan for Poland’s third largest city and former capital, Krakow, to improve its wastewater treatment systems.

Austria cuts exhaust emissions by 56% in nine years

Austria’s innovative system of ecopoints for road hauliers has successfully cut exhaust emissions by 56% from 1991 levels, says the European Commission.

Commission lays down guidelines on aid for the environment

The European Commission has adopted new guidelines that set out when members may provide state aid to promote environmental protection.

Swedish presidency plans ambitious agenda for environmental legislation

This week Sweden has taken over the presidency of the European Union for the first time, promising special attention to the environment, employment, and EU enlargement, and setting out an ambition of reaching agreement on a possible eight new environmental laws.

DETR urges households to recycle old Christmas cards and trees

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) is urging households to ‘do their bit’ by recycling old Christmas cards and trees on Twelfth Night.

Man prosecuted for dumping 1.6 million tyres

The Environment Agency has brought a successful prosecution against a Norfolk man who illegally deposited and stored 1.6 million tyres on an industrial estate.

Level of toxins in salmon is unacceptable, say scientists

Research from Surrey University has revealed that current levels of toxins in salmon are unacceptable, causing prominent UK scientists to urge full-scale studies to determine the scale of the problem.

European Commission proposes to fine UK for poor state of beaches

The European Commission is referring the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice over the state of two beaches in the North West of England, and is proposing to impose a fine of EUR 106,800 (£67,700) per day for failure to comply with the Bathing Water Directive.

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