Month: October 1999

Gore promises to end offshore oil drilling if elected President

US Vice President Al Gore has promised that as President, his “profoundly moral obligation" to work for progress toward a cleaner environment will include putting an end to all new oil drilling in federal waters off the shores of California and Florida.

EPA denies WTO forced changes to US Clean Air Act

Carol Browner, administrator for the US EPA, has told environmentalists at a meeting at Seattle Town Hall that no air pollution standard has changed as a result of World Trade Organisation intervention. Defending the Clinton administration upcoming stricter standards for sports utility vehicles, Browner told the pre-WTO meeting of trade officials and environmentalists that “I will never, ever change an air-pollution standard which I set."

EUROPE: air pollution falls significantly since 1990

In Europe, sulphur emissions have halved since 1980, nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) are down 16% on their 1990 levels, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are 20% lower than in 1990, and ammonia emissions have dropped 18% since 1990, says a new report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Nitrates Directive: Commission takes further legal action against France

The European Commission has decided to make an application to the European Court of Justice against France for non-respect of the European Union Nitrates Directive. The Commission considers that France has failed to identify nitrate-polluted or threatened waters or eutrophic waters (on which vulnerable zones are based) in accordance with the criteria set down in the Directive.

Water industry reassures customers of Millennium Bug readiness

The UK’s water regulator, the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) has launched a campaign designed to reassure its customers that water supplies will not be affected by the Millennium date rollover.

Greenpeace challenges Arctic Ocean oil drilling in court

Greenpeace has joined forces with Inupiat Eskimos to file a lawsuit challenging oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska’s north coast.

Commissioners to vote on soft PVC toys ban

The European Commission is to vote in November on an emergency and a permanent ban on soft PVC teething toys for children under three.

Company convicted of conspiracy to dump wastewater

An environmental services company has been found guilty of conspiracy to dump more than 300,000 gallons (11,3550 litres) of wastewater contaminated with petroleum into underground wells in Oklahoma.

US water suppliers deliver first local drinking water reports

US water suppliers have completed delivery of their first annual drinking water quality report to consumers.

First CO2 emission reduction trade on Internet

A Canadian electric energy company has announced the world's first Internet trade of greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Chancellor Schröder calls for Kyoto Protocol ratification by 2002

Gerhard Schröder, Federal Chancellor of Germany has told delegates at the Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP-5) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) that the Kyoto Protocol should be ratified by 2002.

WOOD PRESERVATIVES – Commission approves stricter national environment protection laws

The European Commission has adopted 5 decisions authorising the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Denmark to maintain their national laws on the marketing and use of wood preservatives creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP), even though these laws are more restrictive than required by the Directive on marketing of dangerous substances and preparations.

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