International Environment Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

TAIWAN

– Climate change, sulfur hexafluoride emissions reduction agreement, 890
– EIAs, science park expansion, 809; conditional approval, 896
– Electric vehicles, investment in manufacturing industry, 439
– Emissions trading, offsets rules, 945
– Energy efficiency, smart meters, 384
– Environmental education law, 527
– Infrastructure preservation, Geological Survey responsibilities, 1143
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–58
– Remediation, potential polluter liability, 122; law takes effect, 178
– Toxic substances, chemical inventory, 724
– Water resources, reservoir restoration, 440

TAXATION

– Appliances, South Korea surtax on energy-guzzling products, 347
– Biofuels, Switzerland policy review, 105; sustainability rules thwarting promotion efforts, 989
– Clean energy, India

– – Coal tax to fund projects, 672
– – Incentives, proposed budget, 232

– Climate change

– – Border tax adjustments, OECD report, 781
– – Canada, OECD recommendation, 939
– – China position on no commitments, 229
– – France

– – – Carbon tax rejection by Constitutional Council, 14; revision, 62; temporary tax proposal, 100; government abandonment of tax, 322
– – – Domestic air travel, proposal, 154

– – G-20 proposal, 303
– – Hungary, OECD recommendations, 219
– – India, infrastructure financier recommendations, 1101
– – Italy suggests carbon tax on companies from countries with weaker rules, 411
– – Kyoto emissions reduction pledges could yield windfall, OECD report, 577
– – Mexico, President's party support of bill, 715
– – Norway carbon tax

– – – Extension, OECD recommendation, 272
– – – Fossil fuels favored, criticism, 509
– – – Natural gas and LPG, 875

– – Portugal, energy-related incentives, 597
– – South Africa

– – – New vehicle sales, proposed carbon tax, 241; expansion to light trucks, 812; delay of tax on double-cab pickup trucks, 858
– – – OECD recommendation on carbon tax, 729

– – Sweden, opposition coalition support, 466
– – Switzerland, rapid payout of carbon tax revenues, 506; first reimbursement, 598
– – United Kingdom, emergency budget impact on reforms, 651
– – U.S., some taxes increase emissions, OECD report, 1220

– Deforestation, G-20 proposal, 303
– Domestic energy use, UK reduction of value added tax rate, OECD recommendation, 708
– Emissions trading

– – Belgium, proposal for profits made from selling free credits, 650
– – EU organized crime value-added tax fraud, 10; reverse-charging directive, 317; Denmark investigation, 1185
– – Finland, responsibility for paying VAT, 752
– – Germany, fraud investigation, 462
– – Negative impacts, OECD warning, 247

– Energy, European Comm'n single market revitalization plan, 1080
– Environmental policy, role in promoting, 141
– Environmental taxes, China proposals, 169
– Financial transactions, European Green Party on shift to sustainable economy, 1039
– Fuels

– – Finland, fossil fuel proposal, 838; amendments to green tax plan, 932
– – Fossil fuel subsidies, OECD estimation method development, 1160
– – Switzerland, biofuel policy review, 105; sustainability rules thwarting promotion efforts, 989
– – Transport forum recommends to spur low-carbon technology investment, 48

– Innovation stimulation, OECD report, 1070
– Motor vehicles

– – China emission tax proposal, 169
– – Engine design, impact on patents, 141
– – EU carbon levies, 405
– – France

– – – Heavy trucks, delay of kilometer tax, 407
– – – Incentives impact on emissions reduction, 366
– – – Non-corporate vehicles, assessment, 871

– – India, Delhi air quality improvement prior to sporting event, 570
– – Israel new car tax, 133
– – Japan, next generation technology, extension of incentives, 438
– – South Africa, proposed carbon tax on new sales, 241; expansion to light trucks, 812; delay of tax on double-cab pickup trucks, 858
– – Sweden, budget plan, 1037

– Nitrogen oxide emissions

– – China pilot project, 807
– – Sweden imposition, 217

– Nuclear fuel, Germany delays decision, 833
– Oil and gas production and exploration, Brazil study of net profits tax, 936
– Resources, China extension of tax on fossil fuels, 725
– Ships and shipping, Japan proposes IMO bunker fuel tax, 128
– Solar energy

– – Chile incentive for new homes, 607
– – Czech Republic, bill to cover subsidy costs, 1129
– – France incentives, proposed elimination, 1081

TECHNOLOGY

– Biofuels, next generation forecast, 681
– Carbon sequestration

See CARBON SEQUESTRATION

– Clean energy

See generally CLEAN ENERGY

– Climate change

– – Development, more support needed, 305
– – Patent limits could discourage work on new technologies, 397

– Economic growth through green technology, France strategy, 155
– Exchange agreements, Italy-Russia, 747
– Genetic engineering

See BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Green patents, Spain strategy to encourage applications, 270

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

– Towers, India seeks renewable energy proposals, 127

TEST METHODS AND PROCEDURES

– Animal testing

See ANIMAL TESTING

– Energy efficiency, EU-U.S. discussion of harmonized methods and standards, 1109
– Industrial combustion emissions, France testing center, 273
– Nanomaterials, OECD guidelines, 628
– REACH methodologies, updated guidance, 549
– Toxic substances

See TOXIC SUBSTANCES

THAILAND

– Air quality, particulate matter monitoring, 477
– Chemical safety tests, participation in OECD data sharing, 893
– EIAs, restart of suspended industrial park projects, 83; Ford delays project decision, 236; stalled projects may proceed, 893
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–59

TIRES AND TIRE INDUSTRY

– Recycling, Colombia, 803
– Used tires

– – Brazil, disposal documentation requirements, 470
– – China seizure of smuggled goods, 83

TOURISM

– Geyser field preservation, Chile fines geothermal company, 716
– Mining moratorium, India Goa State, 233
– Preservation of landscapes, Italy island wind farms, 326
– Protected areas, U.S.-Russia international nature park, 897

TOXIC SUBSTANCES

– Access to information, eChemPortal website

– – Improvements, 1220
– – U.S. data available online, 817

– Acid mine drainage, South Africa

– – Crisis assessment, 949
– – Second shutdown notice, issuance, 1148

– Acrylamide, EU consideration of restrictions, 639
– Air emissions, Canada releases in Great Lakes Basin, 421
– Aluminum salts, Canada finds no significant risk, 110
– Aquatic toxicity, OECD guide on computer tools, 541
– Benzyl chloride, Canada considering designation, 277
– Biomonitoring, Canada national survey results, 843
– Bisphenol A

– – Canada

– – – Baby bottle ban, 374; proposed bill, 656
– – – Biomonitoring results, 843
– – – Effluents, discharge proposal, 1042

– – Denmark, investigation of store receipts, 1130
– – EU, Comm'n consideration of action to reduce infant exposure, 979; science committee votes for ban, 1173
– – Exposure restrictions premature, WHO statement, 1155
– – France

– – – Baby bottles, Senate approval of ban, 321; National Assembly approval, 647
– – – Food-related use, panel rejects total ban, 209

– – Germany, limited use recommendations, 591
– – Product safety, Analysis & Perspective, 963
– – Sweden, baby bottle ban implementation plan, 752
– – U.S., Cal. comment request, 204

– Cadmium, EU consideration of further restrictions, 639
– Carcinogens, Japan identification of 4 chemicals for regulation, 771
– Computer models, OECD application toolbox, 86
– Confidential information, EU-U.S. talks on information sharing, 535
– Consumer products, Norway website, 218
– Cyanide, EU proposed gold processing ban, 458
– Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, Canada reconsideration of designation, 847
– Designations, Canada

– – Batch 6, proposals, 994
– – Batch 7, proposal, 333; order for 3 chemicals, 467
– – Batch 8, additional control measures for 4 substances, 164; proposed designation for 5 substances, 760; proposed designation for 4 substances, 995
– – Batch 9, proposal, 333; final assessments, 935; notices, 1091
– – Batch 12 notice, 21
– – Fluorotelomer-based substances, 1042
– – High priority substances, order for 6 chemicals, 514

– Electronic products, EU Parliament to debate revisions, 259; panel supports further review of substances, 552; exemptions update, 923; Parliament extends standards, 1172
– Emission scenario documents, OECD guides, 48
– Endocrine disruptors, Japan risk assessment, 570; research roadmap, 724
– Environmental hazards, Sweden priority to eliminate, 1133
– Excess chemicals, Czech online auction, 266
– Flame retardants

See FLAME RETARDANTS

– Heavy metals, China action plan, 117; inspection initiative, 474
– Hydrazine, Canada proposed designation, 655
– Inventory and control

– – Taiwan, completion by end of 2010, 724
– – Turkey implementation of REACH-like program, 88

– Lead

See LEAD

– Lubricants, EU alternative development, 558
– Mercury

See MERCURY

– Mixtures

– – Denmark action plan, 327
– – EU debate on evaluation, 152

– Nanomaterials

See generally NANOTECHNOLOGY

– Negligence, India court on Bhopal gas leak, 568
– New chemical management, China rules revisions, 229
– New uses, Canada reporting requirements for 13 chemicals, 1135
– Persistent organic pollutants

See PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPs)

– Pesticides

See PESTICIDES

– Phenylmercury, EU request for comments, 980
– Propanedinitrile, Canada withdrawal of designation proposal, 721
– Rare earth metals

– – Australia pledge to supply Japan, 1204
– – China

– – – Export restrictions, 769
– – – Oversight agreement, resource development, 809

– – U.S. projected shortage, 352; DOD dependence assessment, 429

– REACH system

See REGISTRATION, EVALUATION, AND AUTHORIZATION OF CHEMICALS (REACH) SYSTEM

– Releases

– – Australia data, 387
– – Japan revised list proposal, 891

– Reporting of data, attorney advises caution, 957
– Risk assessment

See RISK ASSESSMENT

– Shipbreaking

– – Bangladesh eases rules, 439
– – U.S. review of overseas request, 1095

– Substitution

– – Norway, impacts of law, 104
– – United Kingdom, guidance, 870

– Testing

– – EU-U.S. cooperation agreement, 1015
– – Japan risk management system, 1145
– – OECD data extrapolation tool, 1111
– – Singapore participation in OECD data sharing, 122
– – Thailand participation in OECD data sharing, 893

– Toys, EU restrictions on chemical substances use, 7
– Trade issues, China import/export directory, 82
– Undesirable substances, Denmark list, 708

TRADE ISSUES

– Biofuels, Canada fee remittance, 522
– Clean energy technology

– – Japan consideration of export to developing countries, 529
– – South Korea, investment, 1056

– Climate change

– – Border tax adjustments, OECD report, 781
– – Competitiveness used as excuse to avoid emissions reduction, 449
– – South Africa, draft policy, 1209

– Drinking water, Canada wary of U.S. buy American provisions, 659
– Duties, China elimination on imported equipment, 530
– Electronic waste

– – Basel Convention

See BASEL CONVENTION

– – U.S. exports

– – – Cathode ray tubes, proposed fine for illegal operation, 110
– – – Limits, EPA support of bill, 562; introduction, 1000

– Environmental law, U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement, 43
– Green technology

– – Australia pledge to supply rare earth minerals to Japan, 1204
– – China export restrictions on rare earth materials, 769
– – U.S. projected rare earth element shortage, 352; DOD dependence assessment, 429

– Hazardous waste

See BASEL CONVENTION

– Highway project, Canada group lawsuit to halt construction to protect bog, 1202
– Motor vehicles, Colombia import fee elimination for clean vehicles, 609
– POPs, Canada proposed export controls, 935
– Procurement, China indigenous innovation rules, 431
– Radioactive waste, India scrap yard radiation leak, 435
– Refuse-derived fuel, UK export approval, 594
– Renewable energy-related goods

– – China, investigation sought, 885; congressional support of petition, 1000; USTR investigation, 1067
– – Ontario local content requirement, Japan WTO complaint, 903; U.S. seeks seat, 1010

– Shrimp, U.S. ban impact on Mexican fishermen, 334
– Soy products grown in Amazon rainforest areas, Brazil traders renew moratorium, 712
– Timber products, illegal harvesting

See LOGGING OPERATIONS

– Toxic substances, China import/export directory, 82
– Trans-Pacific P'ship, labor and environmental standards in free trade agreement, 858
– Water reuse, Japan exports of industrial water to W. Australia, 852

TRADING PROGRAMS

– Greenhouse gases

See EMISSIONS TRADING

TRAINING

– Biocide handlers, Spain requirements, 648
– Fuel efficiency, Spain professional drivers' courses, 212
– REACH, French lobby program, 209
– Turtle protection, U.S. shrimp import ban impact on Mexican fishermen, 334

TRANSBOUNDARY MOVEMENT OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

See BASEL CONVENTION

TRANSBOUNDARY POLLUTION

– Mexico-U.S. border

See MEXICO-U.S. BORDER ENVIRONMENT

TRANSPORTATION

– Air quality impacts, India, 528
– Airlines

See AIR TRANSPORTATION

– Biofuels

See BIOFUELS

– Cars

See MOTOR VEHICLES

– Climate change

– – Canada, Ontario emissions reduction, 559
– – Clean technology development, ministerial agreement, 1154
– – EU emissions increase 1990-2007, 207
– – India, national plan for reducing emissions, 1145
– – Infrastructure impacts, preparations, 899

– Fuel tax to spur investment in low-carbon technology, transport forum recommendation, 48
– GHG emissions, EU increase 1990-2007, 405
– Hazardous materials

See HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION

– Locomotive emissions, Canada consultations, 1189
– Mass transit, World Bank loan to Mexico, 764
– Motor carriers, European Council approval of green tax, 1028
– Noise, U.K. action plans for urban areas, 324
– Public transportation, China capital action plan, 345
– Subways, Egypt Cairo line EIA, 130
– Sustainability, Russia pilot projects, 704

TREATIES

– Access to information

See AARHUS CONVENTION

– Baltic Sea

See HELSINKI CONVENTION

– Climate change

See CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION

– Hazardous waste

See BASEL CONVENTION

– Kyoto Protocol

See KYOTO PROTOCOL

– Mercury, negotiators begin preparing pact, 581; timetable agreement, 623
– Persistent organic pollutants

See STOCKHOLM CONVENTION

– Pollution registers

See KIEV PROTOCOL

– Prior informed consent

See ROTTERDAM CONVENTION

– Wetlands

See RAMSAR CONVENTION

TRUCKS

– GHG emissions

– – Canada, alignment with U.S. standards, 513
– – U.S., medium and heavy trucks standard, 512

– Heavy trucks, France delay of kilometer tax, 407
– Monitoring emissions, Brazil truckers accord, 564
– Taxation, European Council approval of green tax, 1028

TURKEY

– Chemical regulation, implementation of REACH-like program, 88
– Climate change, post-2012 emissions reduction strategy development, 753
– Electric vehicles, Renault-Istanbul infrastructure development partnership, 709
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–25

TURKMENISTAN

– Aarhus Convention, noncompliance, 679
– Outlook 2010, SplRpt (1/6/10) S–46