Felda settlers go to court

Tuesday August 21, 2007

By CHELSEA L.Y. NG

chelsea@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 400 dwellers of the Lembah Klau Felda settlement near Raub have gone to court to seek hefty damages from the Government for building a dam on their land.

The group of 474 people filed the originating summons through its representative Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar, 45, the son of a deceased settler. The settlers are not happy with the compensation offered by the Government.

One of the group members who turned up at the courthouse here yesterday said the Government was only giving RM30,000 for every acre (0.4046ha) of land used up by the dam.

The RM3.8bil dam is part of a raw water transfer project between Pahang and Selangor to supply water to Klang Valley consumers.

In his affidavit, Abdullah is seeking damages of at least two acres (0.8092ha) of land for each settler at RM7 per square feet (0.0929 square metre).

He claimed that each settler owned between eight and 10 acres (3.237ha and 4.046ha) of land, excluding the area occupied by their house.

The action was filed at the High Court here last week, but was only extracted and served on the Attorney-General’s Chambers yesterday.

Through the summons, the group wants the court to, among others, declare the real value of the land and compel the Government to disclose the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the area.

In Abdullah’s affidavit, he claimed the settlers were pioneers who had left the comfort of their homes around the country to toil the hard earth of the Felda land 43 years ago.

“We have gone through extreme hardship clearing the land and cultivating it without basic amenities.

“We have also courageously faced wild animals, terrorists, diseases, and the harsh weather to keep our promise to develop the land,” he claimed.

Abdullah also lamented that the Government’s move to build a dam would change the ecosystem of the land, which had since been transformed into a mini agricultural township.

Beach clean-up to protect turtles

Beach clean-up to protect turtles
"This is the first time such a campaign has been held in Terengganu, which will be the focus of this year's global clean-up campaign," Australian Clean Up the World founder Ian Kiernan said.
"Obviously, there has been some concern expressed over the effects of rubbish and the diminishing number of turtle arrivals in the state."
Clean Up the World, a community-led environmental campaign, began in 1989 when Kiernan, a solo-yachtsman disgusted with the amount of rubbish he saw while sailing, organized a clean-up of Sydney Harbour.
Kiernan said nature lovers would pick up rubbish on September 17, to be followed the next day by programmes to educate local villagers on the need to keep the beaches clean.
Terengganu, a booming tourist destination, is also home to important nesting grounds for four of the worlds seven marine turtle species - the leatherback, green, hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtle.
These charismatic species are a big draw for tourists who come to watch egg-laying and the emergence of hatchlings.
But so far this year, only 1,500 had nested here compared with 3,086 last year, Kiernan said.
"Only one leatherback turtle, the most endangered of Malaysia's turtles, has been sighted so far," he said.
Kiernan said that, even though Terengganu residents take great pride in their home, litter and pollution are serious problems.
"Fishermen often throw petrol and oil cans overboard, and fishing nets and ropes are also known to end up in the sea," he said. "Pollution, and associated health problems, is an emerging issue in the area."
Source: China Daily


posted by norhasmira mohd ali
sep060074

Malaysia threatens hefty sentences for illegal loggers
printResizeButton();

Malaysia vowed to jail illegal loggers for between one and 20 years, in a move hailed by environmentalists, to slow the destruction of rainforests.
The Southeast Asian country is home to some of them most species-rich and pristine forests left on earth, but legal and illegal logging have destroyed vast areas in fast-industrializing Malaysia.
Illegal logging "is jeopardizing water and air quality," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told the official Bernama news agency. "It can bring problems such as floods and droughts and badly affect water catchment areas."
Najib blamed a number of small illegal logging syndicates for much of the destruction and said fines had failed to deter them.
So far this year the government had only collected 200,000 ringgit (US$53,000) in fines, after taking 1.1 million ringgit last year, he said.
"This doesn't reflect the true loss in terms of environmental damage to the country," said Najib.
Environment groups hailed the decision as one of the strongest moves yet by the Malaysian Government to tackle illegal logging but said adequate resources were needed to enforce the new law.
"This does appear as a strong move, and this is something all environmental groups would support and is what we have been calling for for some time," said Meena Raman, chair of Friends of the Earth International.
"While this is a positive move, enforcement should also be stepped up to nab the culprits, because mere enhancement of punishment in the law is not enough," she said, also warning that corruption must not undermine the initiative.
"To really give effect to the law, the government must ensure that there are enough resources in terms of manpower and whatever is necessary to nab illegal loggers," she said.
In the 1990s alone, Malaysia lost more than 13 per cent of its forests, much of it on the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei.
The World Wildlife Fund at the time estimated that illegally logged trees made up about one third of Malaysia's timber exports.
As Malaysian Government takes measures to protect rainforests, about 1,000 volunteers plan to clean up rubbish-strewn Malaysian beaches where rare turtles lay their eggs amid fears over a steep decline in nestings, organizers said.
The project is jointly organized by the Australian-based environment group Clean Up the World and local authorities in the eastern Terengganu State.


post by norhasmira mohd ali sep060074

Malaysia threatens hefty sentences for illegal loggers
printResizeButton();

Malaysia vowed to jail illegal loggers for between one and 20 years, in a move hailed by environmentalists, to slow the destruction of rainforests.
The Southeast Asian country is home to some of them most species-rich and pristine forests left on earth, but legal and illegal logging have destroyed vast areas in fast-industrializing Malaysia.
Illegal logging "is jeopardizing water and air quality," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak told the official Bernama news agency. "It can bring problems such as floods and droughts and badly affect water catchment areas."
Najib blamed a number of small illegal logging syndicates for much of the destruction and said fines had failed to deter them.
So far this year the government had only collected 200,000 ringgit (US$53,000) in fines, after taking 1.1 million ringgit last year, he said.
"This doesn't reflect the true loss in terms of environmental damage to the country," said Najib.
Environment groups hailed the decision as one of the strongest moves yet by the Malaysian Government to tackle illegal logging but said adequate resources were needed to enforce the new law.
"This does appear as a strong move, and this is something all environmental groups would support and is what we have been calling for for some time," said Meena Raman, chair of Friends of the Earth International.
"While this is a positive move, enforcement should also be stepped up to nab the culprits, because mere enhancement of punishment in the law is not enough," she said, also warning that corruption must not undermine the initiative.
"To really give effect to the law, the government must ensure that there are enough resources in terms of manpower and whatever is necessary to nab illegal loggers," she said.
In the 1990s alone, Malaysia lost more than 13 per cent of its forests, much of it on the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei.
The World Wildlife Fund at the time estimated that illegally logged trees made up about one third of Malaysia's timber exports.
As Malaysian Government takes measures to protect rainforests, about 1,000 volunteers plan to clean up rubbish-strewn Malaysian beaches where rare turtles lay their eggs amid fears over a steep decline in nestings, organizers said.
The project is jointly organized by the Australian-based environment group Clean Up the World and local authorities in the eastern Terengganu State.

Agreeing to go green

BY SHIRENE CHEN

Last year, environmentalists and local tourism authorities clashed when a barge laden with construction equipment scraped off 372.94sq m of coral reef at Sipadan Island, Sabah, while in Tioman, Johor, protest over a new airport on the island intensified when studies revealed that the stretch of sea where the airport was to be built was richer in coral diversity than first reported.
Can the contradicting agendas of tourism and environmental preservation be reconciled?

The Conference on Environmental Management Practices in the Hospitality Industry, jointly presented by the Nilai International University College (NIUC) and Oxford Brookes University, UK, at the Equatorial Hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently, explored this relevant question. Oxford Brooke University’s research team from its Centre for Environmental Studies (CESHI) pointed out that in Europe, environmental legislation is aimed at preventing pollution rather than penalising polluters after the fact.

In the UK, the government charges Landfill Tax on landfill operators for every tonne of waste disposed. This helps to reduce the amount of waste dumped in landfills, promote re-use and recycling, and provide funding for research into more sustainable ways of managing waste.
The Climate Change Levy, on the other hand, taxes energy consumption in the non-domestic sector (industry, commerce and the public sector) and encourages these sectors to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

In comparison, environmental legislation is lacking in Malaysia. This sentiment was surprisingly shared by the local hospitality industry – in a survey conducted by the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) on 100 four- and five-star hotels in Malaysia, 82% agree that legal restrictions are the only way to control damage to the environment. Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, who presented the results of the survey, believes lax legislation in developing countries encourages foreign corporations to exploit the legal loopholes even as they meet the stringent environmental standards in their home countries. This practice of double standards is exemplified by news reports last year that exposed how companies in Europe and America were dumping their wastes in Africa.

Last year, the Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton International was accused by UK-based tourism watchdog, Tourism Concern, of short-changing local communities and contributing to habitat destruction in Bimini in the Bahamas and Mandhoo Island in the Maldives. Closer to home, we hear disturbing news that more than two years after the tsunami, local communities in Sri Lanka, Thailand and India remain displaced because they are not allowed to rebuild their homes in coastal land now earmarked for high-end tourism development projects. But legislation is not the only operative word when it comes to tourism and the environment...

NO EIA, but rape of forest reserve begins..

No EIA, but rape of forest reserve begins


Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 09:17am
© New Straits Times (Used by permission)by Brenda Lim
PANGKOR: A company building an organic farm-cum-resort near Teluk Dalam is felling trees and levelling hills without an Environmental Impact Assessment report.
A visit by the New Straits Times to the 0.75ha tract of land at the North Pangkor Forest Reserve found excavators being used to level hills which were at least 30m high.
Trees felled in the area were chain-sawed into beams and used to build several structures there, while a pond was dug to pump out groundwater flowing along a water channel.
There is work going on to build a make-shift jetty on the beach using boulders, timber and sand from the forest reserve.
Perak Department of Environment deputy director Norazizi Adinan said the department had yet to receive an EIA report from Global Hi-Q, the company responsible for the project.
Initial proposals for the project included building restaurants and chalets with over 80 rooms, all of which were subject to EIA conditions, he said.
Kinta/Manjung district forestry officer Abd Ramlizauyahhuddin Mahli said the the company was issued a user’s permit on Sept 16 for 20ha of the forest reserve for "rearing marine fish using biotechnology and cleaning seawater in Lumut".
The site, comprising three hectares of virgin forest and 17ha of production forest, contains some 500 trees, mostly species such as kelat, kandis and penarahan.
It also has some intermediate quality timber such as medang and nyatoh, and several quality species like balau and resak.
A recent check by Drainage and Irrigation officers found seawater near the cleared area "a little muddy".
"There could be problems if there was heavy rain, as the soil from the exposed hill would be washed into the sea," district engineer Roslan Sukimin said.
The soil could kill corals and block sunlight from reaching the underwater plants, thus affecting the food chain and sea ecology, he added.
Roslan also advised the company to follow guidelines under the Erosion and Sediment Control Plan.
Environmentalists from the Perak Environmental Society and Malaysian Nature Society have been critical of the project, protesting that such development should not be allowed in a forest reserve.
Sitiawan state assemblyman Ngeh Koo Ham said such development in a forest reserve was a violation of the law.

UGLY MALAYSIAN??

Thursday, 24-Oct-2002 7:09 AM
UGLY MALAYSIANS? South-South Investments Abused
Edited by Jomo K.S.
Published by the Institute for Black Research Durban, 2002
TENAGA KHEMAS SDN BHD
Tenaga Khemas is chaired by Dato' Kanagalingam Velupillai (V.K. Lingam) and it is recorded as a dormant company in Malaysia. Towards the end of 1995, the company secured a 87,554 ha concession in the Berbice river region of Guyana. Tenaga Khemas owns 85% and 80% of two other companies operating in Guyana, UNAMCO and Case Timbers respectively.
UNAMCO has been logging a 96,000 ha concession since 1991, and has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an Exploratory Lease of 345,000 ha.
Case Timbers has owned a 62,000 ha concession since 1993, and is scheduled to obtain an Exploratory Lease of 205,000 ha contiguous with its existing concession and the concession held by UNAMCO. On 21 July 1997, Case Timbers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government for the construction of a US$40 million plywood plant. The plant, which is estimated to produce 7,000 cu m of plywood per month is expected to be operational by the end of 1998.
Velupillai Kanagalingam, the head of Tenaga Khemas, has openly admitted that he holds an interest in both Case Timbers and UNAMCO for Berjaya Sdn Bhd. Both Case and UNAMCO are working jointly with Berjaya in existing concessions in Guyana.
While inspecting a logging road in November 1997, an officer of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) discovered that UNAMCO had been logging its concession without permission. Less than a week after the discovery of this illegal logging, the President of Guyana held a ceremony to open the main logging road in the concession, despite the fact that the EIA on the road had been rejected as inadequate by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EIA for the road had still not been approved in 1998. It was later confirmed that UNAMCO had cut at least 15,000 trees illegally and was operating without approval for its Environemntal Impact Assessment for its logging concession. This is also illegal in Guyana. The company was fined a paltry US$7142 by a special government committee established to investigate the situation. The estimated value of the illegally felled trees is US$6.75 million. UNAMCO owes the government US$37,142 in outstanding acreage fees on other concessions since the beginning of 1997. UNAMCO claims that it has not made a Guyana cent from its operations in Guyana for the past three years.
The illegal logging activity took place either in UNAMCO's Timber Sales Agreement consession or in the controversial Exploratory Lease issued recently to the company by the Government. There are conflicting reports in both media and from the Government concerning exactly where the illegal activity took place. Since the fine was announced, UNAMCO has aggressively tried to have the Guyana Forestry Commission removed from any further dealings in the matter. In a letter to the President of Guyana, UNAMCO's director described relations between them and the company and the GFC as 'critical'. He urged the president to intervene directly and 'decisively' to resolve the dispute. As a result, the UNAMCO files were taken out of the GFC's hands.
As stated in an editorial in the Guyanaese newspaper, the Starbroek News in February 1998, "The intervention by President Janet Jagan effectively took the issue out of the ambit of the GFC and the Minister responsible for forestry. It sent a signal that big forestry operators could bypass essential requirements set out by the GFC by appealing directly to the head of government. It thereby undermines the authority of the GFC which has sweeping and onerous obligations in acting as conservator of forests and ensuring that operators abide by the tenants of good forestry practice." The GFC is weak and understaffed as it is, if it has to constantly worry about logging companies undermining its authority by running to the President, it will never have the credibility or authority needed to ensure that logging operations are conducted sustainably.
According to the Amerindian People's Association, Guyana's primary indigenous organisation, "The recent case of the UNAMCO highlights the inadequacy of the GFC to monitor logging operations. If this situation has been taking place with UNAMCO and has only now been found out, how many other irregular activities are taking place in other concessions throughout Guyana? These concessions were granted without Amerindian
participation, without regard for Amerindian land and other rights and as illustrated in this case, these companies are abusing the forest on which many Amerindians depend on their basic livelihood. The Wapisiana people in Region 9 have previously expressed concerns about an Exploratory Lease allocated to Malaysian company, Kwitaro, that includes their ancestral lands. In light of these events, the APA once again calls upon the Government to halt logging operations, until the rights of Amerindians to own and control their ancestral territories and forest resources are fully recognised in accordance with international law.

Monkey export ban lifted

Saturday August 18, 2007

PUTRAJAYA: Monkeys can now be caught and exported and the authorities claim it is to please urban folk who have been complaining that the animals have been creating problems for them.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the Cabinet, at its meeting on June 27, agreed to lift the ban to export monkeys found in urban areas as the public had complained of having foodstuff stolen and being attacked by the animals.

However, he gave an assurance that there would not be “total elimination” of the long-tailed macaque from city areas and they would still be allowed to roam around as long as the numbers were “ideal.”

Azmi said the human-monkey contact became more frequent after the animal’s natural habitat was cleared to make way for development, including creating new residential areas.

He said a solution to the “confrontation” had to be sought.

“I realise we will be getting a lot of heat from other countries and even non-governmental organisations but this solution is necessary after other efforts have failed. We have tried transporting them to other areas as well as sterilising them but monkeys breed too quickly.

“Our main concern now is to ensure that only experts are allowed to catch the monkeys because we do not want them to be put under stress, abused or tortured. The other important point is that only monkeys found in cities can be caught and not those in their natural habitat,” he told a press conference yesterday.

According to the Wildlife Department’s statistics, there are 742,000 long-tailed macaques in the country, of which 258,000 are found in city areas, including Kuala Lumpur.

The Government, in 1984, had imposed a ban on the export of long-tailed macaques following a reduction in the monkey population and the ban stayed for 23 years until last month.

“I must stress that the long-tailed macaque is not a threatened species in Malaysia,'' Azmi said.

Illegal waste-dumping by approved collectors

Friday August 17, 2007
By DHARMENDER SINGH

KAPAR: Week-long surveillance by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has found garbage collection contractors from at least three local authorities dumping waste illegally at a plot of land in Kampung Bukit Kapar here.

Selangor Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ch’ng Toh Eng said enforcement officers from MPK had photographs of the lorries belonging to contractors from Klang, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam councils.

“All the councils responsible have been told to check the registration numbers of the lorries photographed to identify the contractors involved and we will terminate their contracts immediately,” he told reporters after visiting the illegal dump together with officials from MPK and the Department Of Environment (DOE) on Friday.

He also sounded a warning to contractors that the state government would not tolerate any breach of contract, especially when it involved illegal dumping, and would take strict action against errant contractors.

Ch’ng said in the Kampung Bukit Kapar case, the contractor would face action for illegal dumping while the landowner would face action for flouting environment laws.

“We are also investigating to find out if there are people `managing’ this illegal dump and if so we will also take action against them,” he said.

He said surveillance at the illegal dump was carried out following complaints from nearby villagers over the illegal dumping and the foul smell emitted from the area.

He said the illegal activities had been carried out for the last two months and some of the waste had also been set on fire.

Ch’ng added that the contractors were supposed to send the waste to the dumpsite in Jeram, located about 10km from Kapar, but chose to take the easy way out by dumping at the illegal site

Illegal factories next on Selangor hit list

BY GEETHA KRISHNAN

NOW that Selangor is almost a squatter-free state, the Selangor government is bent on getting rid off illegal factories.

Attractive incentives are being given for illegal factory operators to ensure they legalise their operations within a stipulated timeframe, after which action will be taken against them.



Environmentalists and other concerned individuals like residents living near these illegal factories are unhappy with thejavascript:void(0)
Publish Post state’s project to legalise illegal factories for reasons like pollution, damage to infrastructure and general disturbance.

The state government contends the legalisation agenda is for the common good because the 3,165 illegal factories recorded in a census export products worth RM3bil annually, not to mention the 150,000 job opportunities available to locals and foreigners.

At the same time, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has maintained a clear stance that threats to public health and safety will not be condoned nor tolerated.

Illegal factories that caused noise and air or water pollution would be fined, ordered to cease operations or to shift operations elsewhere. By definition, factories operating without permits, business licences or Certificates of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on land meant for residential, agricultural or commercial purposes or on government reserve land are deemed illegal.

The legalisation circular was issued on July 31, 2006.

However, the legalisation process comes with certain conditions like the discounts offered for land conversion that only apply to factory operators who own the land.

Incentives in the state government’s package include reduced industrial land premiums and staggered premium payments stretched over 12 months for those who cannot make lump sum payments.

Under the package announced in June, factory owners will enjoy a 50% discount on land premiums paid within three months of the conversion approval. Those who pay up within six and nine months are entitled to 30% and 10% discounts respectively.

At a briefing for factory operators in April, state Housing, Building and Squatters Management Committee chairman Datuk Mokhtar Dahlan said areas occupied by illegal factories lacked basic infrastructure like roads, lighting, drains and sewerage facilities.

“Through the legalisation agenda, we want to ensure all requirements concerning layout, building plans and safety are met by working with the Environment Department, Fire and Rescue Services Department, Syabas and TNB,” he told a press conference.

Illegal factory operators in the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone gave much thought to legalising their operations years ago.

Balakong assemblyman Datuk Hoh Hee Lee told StarMetro the area now serves as a benchmark for other operators concerned with doing things by the book.

The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone has 220 factory lots, spread over 200ha. The area was originally classified as agricultural land.

“When the idea of legalising their businesses was proposed in 1995, the factory operators set up the Balakong New Village Industrial Zone Landowners and Factory Operators Association.

“They sought the advice of the Hulu Langat Public Works Department and the Environment Department.

“Efforts were also taken to look at the masterplan for Balakong,” Hoh said.

“The operators also pooled their resources to raise RM200,000 to conduct a topography study and engineering design to improve the infrastructure,” he said. The figure collected so far is RM7mil. Plots of land were also reserved for the future use of TNB and Syabas.”

The Balakong New Village Industrial Zone comes under the Kajang Municipal Council. Next to the Klang Municipal Council, MPKj has the highest number of illegal factories in Selangor.

Around 614 illegal factories operate under the municipality and the concentration is in Balakong, Semenyih, Dusun Tua, Hulu Langat, Sungai Chua and Simpang Balak.

Only 58% of illegal factory operators in Selangor have applied for licences. Although it was the intention of the state government to declare itself an illegal factory-free state in 2005, the journey will be a long one.

Ammonia jadi beban pencemaran sungai

RENCANA
Oleh ZAINI UJANG
15/02/2007
PENCEMARAN Sungai Langat adalah suatu tragedi yang perlu ditangani dengan serius oleh semua pihak. Menurut laporan akhbar Utusan Malaysia semalam, air sungai itu disahkan mengandungi kandungan ammonia yang tinggi iaitu 9.7 miligram setiap liter.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Tetap Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Selangor, Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar menyebut bahawa loji kumbahan Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) gagal berfungsi menyebabkan berlaku pelepasan air kumbahan yang mencemarkan sungai serta menjejaskan operasi dua buah loji rawatan air di Bukit Tampoi, Sepang dan Batu 11, Hulu Langat.

Dari segi teknologi, loji kumbahan tidak sukar untuk direka bentuk, atau dibina, untuk menyingkirkan ammonia, asalkan pembiayaannya mencukupi. Banyak teknologi telah dibangun dan digunakan dengan meluas di pelbagai negara menghasilkan risiko dan kesan alam sekitar yang minimum. Dalam konteks perbincangan ini, pada hemat saya, isu yang lebih relevan untuk difahami dan dihayati adalah (a) konsep kawasan tadahan hujan dan (b) beban pencemaran.

Pengurusan lembangan sungai merupakan isu pokok dalam kes ini. Pelbagai aktiviti, loji dan operasi guna tanah yang berisiko mencemarkan sungai tersebut terletak di hulu loji pengolahan air.

Dari segi konsep, kawasan huluan dalam sesuatu tadahan hujan haruslah bebas daripada aktiviti-aktiviti yang berkemungkinan boleh mencemarkan kualiti air. Di kebanyakan negara yang maju dari segi pengurusan air, sebagai contoh Jepun dan Australia, hanya aktiviti pembalakan dan pertanian sahaja yang dibenarkan ditempatkan di hulu loji rawatan air.

Jika kawasan tersebut terdapat kawasan perumahan maka air kumbahan akan dialirkan ke loji kumbahan yang ditempatkan hilir lokasi loji rawatan air tersebut. Dalam keadaan sedemikian pun ada masalahnya, iaitu pencemaran sisa pestisid dan baja dari ladang, serta kandungan bahan organik asli dari kawasan hutan.

Biasanya, loji rawatan air sisa, termasuk kumbahan yang diluluskan oleh Jabatan Alam Sekitar hanya merawat 23 bahan cemar air, yang merangkumi dua parameter sisa organik, pepejal terampa, parameter fizikal, bahan kimia dan logam berat. Dari segi perundangan, bahan-bahan organik seperti ammonia, nitrat, nitrit dan fosforus tidak termasuk dalam senarai yang perlu disingkirkan.

Sehubungan itu, hampir semua loji kumbahan dan sisa industri di Malaysia tidak direka bentuk untuk merawat ammonia dan bahan-bahan yang tidak tersenarai dalam Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979.

Persoalannya, air sungai yang mengandungi kandungan ammonia melebihi 1.5 miligram seliter tidak sesuai dijadikan sumber air minuman. Ini kerana operator loji rawatan air terpaksa menggunakan bahan kimia yang banyak yang pasti meningkatkan kos operasi.

Selain itu, ammonia seringkali dijadikan petunjuk untuk menandakan bahan cemar berasal dari sumber najis.

Bagi mengatasi masalah ini, saya mencadangkan agar pindaan terhadap Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979 itu diperbaharui dengan memasukkan komponen nutrien.

Dalam hal ini, kita juga perlu memberi penghargaan kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pembetungan (JPP) dan syarikat IWK sebagai operator loji kerana telah mengambil inisiatif proaktif dengan mensyaratkan penyingkiran sebatian nitrogen termasuk ammonia dalam reka bentuk loji yang terbaru, termasuk loji berpusat di Jelutong dan Port Dickson.

Isu kedua ialah tentang beban pencemaran (pollution loading). Bagi banyak pihak, termasuk pihak penguat kuasa di negara ini, beban pencemaran tertumpu kepada aspek kualiti atau kepekatan najis atau sesuatu jenis sisa dalam unit tertentu, biasanya miligram bagi setiap liter.

Itulah unit yang digunakan dengan meluas termasuklah dalam peruntukan perundangan yang ada kini di bawah Peraturan Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Kumbahan dan Efluen Industri) 1979. Saya kira kita perlu menghormati perundangan dan standard yang ada, tetapi kita juga tidak wajar berlapang dada kerana ilmu dan kemahiran dalam bidang ini kian berkembang. Banyak yang boleh kita pelajari dan perbaiki.

Dalam hal ini saya ingin mencadangkan kepada pihak kerajaan agar beban pencemaran untuk efluen di negara ini dikaji untuk dipertingkatkan lagi tahap keberkesanannya. Bagi jurutera reka bentuk, beban pencemaran yang lebih penting ialah kuantitinya, tidak sekadar kualiti efluen. Jika kuantitinya tinggi tetapi kepekatan bahan cemarnya masih rendah yang mematuhi Standard A misalnya, tidak bermakna efluen tersebut tidak mencemarkan sungai.

Ini kerana keupayaan sungai untuk menjalani proses pembersihan sendiri (self-purification) lebih banyak bergantung kepada kuantiti airnya.

Oleh yang demikian, ada rasionalnya agar peraturan yang ada kini dikaji semula kerana pengalaman kita menguruskan sungai dan menjalankan penyelidikan yang berkaitannya mendapati bahawa beban pencemaran dari aspek kualiti tidak mempunyai impak yang langsung kepada kebersihan sesuatu sungai atau laut.

Dalam konteks kumbahan dan sisa industri termasuklah sisa premis pemotongan babi, aspek kuantiti lebih signifikan. Jika kualiti efluen itu rendah daripada Standard B tetapi kecil dari segi kuantitinya, ia kurang mencemarkan sungai berbanding dengan efluen yang tinggi kuantitinya walaupun kualitinya mematuhi Standard A sekalipun.

Di kebanyakan negara maju, kebenaran untuk beroperasi bagi sesuatu loji rawatan kumbahan atau sisa industri juga tidak lagi terlalu terikat kepada sesuatu standard. Ia lebih banyak bergantung kepada keupayaan sebatang sungai untuk menampung beban pencemaran.

Ini bermakna, penetapan dan penguatkuasaan Sandard A atau B dalam konteks Malaysia, kurang impaknya untuk memastikan sungai bebas daripada pencemaran. Saya ingin mencadangkan supaya prinsip beban pencemaran (waste load allocation) dijadikan panduan untuk kelulusan sesebuah loji rawatan air sisa.

* PROFESOR IR. DR. ZAINI UJANG Dekan Fakulti Kejuruteraan Kimia dan Kejuruteraan Sumber Asli Institut Pengurusan Alam Sekitar dan Sumber Air, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.


POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP06007)

DOE asks for detailed EIA report on Sg Pulai petrochemical project

CURRENT ISSUE
Tuesday August 14, 2007

By A. LETCHUMANAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment has asked for a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on a petrochemical project at the Sungai Pulai estuary in Pontian, Johor.

National Resources and Environment deputy minister Datuk S. Sothinathan said the request was made following reservations expressed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

"The MB has proposed a detailed EIA report in view of the sensitivity of the project and the huge mangrove swamp. He has valid concern," he told reporters after handing over the ISO 9001:2000 certification to Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) here today.

Sothinathan said the company undertaking the project had already submitted a comprehensive EIA report, which had been vetted and approved by the DOE last month.

"This is a new development and there has been a lot of public outcry," he said.

According to Sothinathan, after the detailed EIA report is completed, it would be displayed in public places so that the public, non-governmental organisations and government agencies could raise any issues, if there were any, within a stipulated grace period.

"If there are any objections, then there would be an inquiry before the EIA report is approved by the DOE," he said.

The company in question is involved in setting up a petroleum-bunkering hub on a reclaimed 40ha island in the vicinity of the Sungai Pulai estuary.

Commenting on illegal loggers in Sabah, Sothinathan described them as "bank robbers," saying these people conduct a survey of the forest area, target the suitable areas and within a short time, go in and collect as much wood as they can and disappear.

He said the illegal logging is taking place sporadically everywhere but has been controlled with the able vigilance of the forest rangers and tip-offs from the public.

"These illegal loggers are very well-organised. If they know they will get caught, they will run away. If they know they have the time, they will take whatever they want from the forest," he said.

Sothinathan was commenting on reports that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had busted a major illegal logging operation in the interior of Sabah, seizing 1,000 logs on 22 lorries yesterday.

He said it was difficult for the forest department, as it does not have the manpower to physically check the forests in the country.

"We tried satellite sensing but the data is only available after two weeks. We are looking at options which can provide us with real-time information so that action can be taken," he said.

POSTED BY NOR HIDAYAH MOHD(SEP060075)

Govt mulls using RFID chips to address timber theft

Monday August 13, 2007

MACHANG: The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is studying the possibility of using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips on trees to address timber theft.

Its Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Sazmi Miah said that using the RFID system would enable authorities to detect stolen timber.

He said the chips, with data on the species and location of the trees, would be inserted into the trees.

"When the timber is stolen, a radio wave will give away the stolen timber when it passes through a checkpoint. This will enable authorities to identify the culprits and the location where the timber was felled," he said.

Sazmi said he would bring up the proposal to use the chips to the Cabinet soon.

"We feel it is the best and the most effective way to address the problem of timber theft, which is becoming serious," he said.

He said that theft of timber was a serious problem in states like Kedah, Perak, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, adding that the culprits were mainly logging companies which were awarded timber concessions.

"These companies cut trees outside the concession areas awarded to them," he said. – Bernama

Environmental Management System

- Experience of a
Malaysian company
Sony Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd (SEM) established an environmental committee in 1993 with the mission to help minimise and reduce the environmental impact of SEM's products and manufacturing processes, More importantly, the SEM Environmental Committee is an integral part of the management process of the company.

SEM Environmental Committee continually seeks to enhance the competitive edge of operations through:


The establishment of SEM Environmental Policy

Continual promotion and elevation of environmental awareness. The Environmental Committee has made environmental training one of its top priority through the development of rigorous training programmes. To date, we have developed a wide range of training programmes from basic awareness courses to specific ISO 14001 and environmental auditing programmes.

Providing of support to the establishment of Environmental Management System (EMS) and to assist Sony companies throughout Malaysia to achieve ISO 14001 certification.

Providing of technical support and consultancy services to the manufacturing facilities like waste minimisation, product design, etc.

Fostering of closer relationship with government bodies such as the Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment, SIRIM Berhad and Department of Environment (DOE).
In SEM, we believe that environmental management is a new and alternative approach to business. Why do we make such a statement?

Firstly, we strongly believe that having good environmental management will help us to gain better acceptability in the export market. SEM is an international company and most of our manufactured products are sold in the Western market where environmental concerns are far more advanced than in Asia.

Therefore, to achieve this SEM will have to:


Establish proper environmental management systems in all our facilities

Attain the ISO 14001 certification to demonstrate our commitment to continually improve our management system and with the ultimate goal of improving our environmental performance

Be attentive of and understand the laws and regulations of the countries we export to through monitoring of programmes and updates from our affiliates in these countries
Secondly, SEM's business relies completely on customers. Today, we are living in the age of Green Consumerism where our customers are more aware of environmental issues. Therefore, SEM must embark on programmes to further enhance customer confidence in our products through:


Development of Product Stewardship programmes such as:

Product labelling to better inform our customers of the environmental performances or uniqueness of our products

Product take back programmes at the end of the product's life, so that we can recycle or reuse the parts instead of them finding their way to landfills

Smarter ways of using our natural resources like using more of our recycled materials in our products, etc.
Thirdly, we would like to further enhance the Sony name to the public. We believe we can further enhance the Sony name by:


Demonstrating our leadership in the environmental field by chartering new environmental achievements

Being a good corporate citizen wherever in the world we operate by fostering greater trust in community
Till today, we are still being asked why does a company like SEM need environmental management at all? People always assume that we just do assembly operations, not water and energy or chemical intensive operations like DOW, DuPoint, Shell and ESSO. We always say that environmental management makes good business sense. It provides us opportunity to identify areas where we can improve our performance as well as to reduce costs. To date, we have seen positive results in our plant.

We also feel that having proper environmental management programmes will help us to avoid unnecessary trade complications as we would be well prepared for any surprises that may come our way like new environmental laws in Europe or USA, that could effect the way we manufacture our products.

Fourthly, there are always difficult moments in the areas of implementing environmental issues, especially in the areas of knowledge and awareness. Knowledge and awareness calls for basic requirements and understanding of the need for environmental promotion carried out plant wide, from the very top management right through the staff Organisation. With a population of employees like Sony Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd, the trigger point of environmental knowledge and awareness is definitely erupted from the Environmental Management System Committee itself. Information sources collected from Governmental and Non-Governmental organisations, posters, banners, education seminars and environmental literature, are a great asset when required to follow and spread these environmental knowledge plant-wide, creating awareness among all. On the whole the ISO specification and top management commitment to fulfil the requirements, has become a stronghold to continuously make the spread of environmental participation possible.

Today, the Malaysian industries are faced with more environmental pressures:


Government's introduction of newer and tougher environmental regulations

Investors and financial institutions today are very interested in the environmental performance of a company before carrying out any transactions.

Employees are more aware of environmental issues now than they were a few years ago, and they want to know if they are working in a company that is environmentally safe

Public has the right to know about our environmental performance and how our operations affect their livelihood

Business community and our corporate customers in the US and Europe want to know if our products are manufactured with environmentally sound practices

Media reports on our unfortunate environmental problems, no matter how small, will affect our company's image

Our greener competitors will put pressure on us to achieve better environmental performance
In 1993, Sony Corporate headquarters announced the Global Environmental Policy. This policy is applicable to all Sony companies world-wide which is endorsed by our company's President, Mr Nobuyuki Idei. The policy says:

"Sony recognises that global environmental conservation is one of the most important issues that the world faces. Sony therefore gives environmental conservation full consideration in every aspect of its operations."

In Asia, environmental activities and programmes formally began in 1993 with the formation of the Asia Environmental Office as the body that overlooks the environmental issues of Sony, in Asia. Within each Sony company in Asia, manufacturing or non- manufacturing, environmental committees were established to organise and implement environmental action plans for their respective companies. Top management support is the most important link to the success of a company's Environmental Management Programme. In SEM, the Managing Director is directly in-charge and involved in the Environmental Planning process.

In each country, Sony has also appointed a country environmental chairman, who is usually the most senior Managing Director in that particular country. The role of the country chairman is to oversee the environmental programmes and progress of all Sony companies in his respective country. In Malaysia, SEM is honoured that our Managing Director, Mr T.Tokita, is appointed as the Country Environmental Chairman.

The three years of active environmental activities have produced some significant environmental results for SEM. Some of the significant achievements are:


SEM is in the process of eliminating the use of toxic substances in our manufacturing process by substituting it with less toxic substances

SEM has implemented recycling programmes to recycle all our packaging materials with our vendors

SEM is continuously phasing out the usage of expanded polystyrene as packaging materials. Some of the alternative packaging materials are using corrugated boards and other recycled materials

SEM is in the process of (-Iiminating the use of toxic substances in our manufacturing process by substituting it with less toxic substances

SEM is in the process of switching to energy efficient lighting system such as electronic ballast and reflectors. The savings in our energy bills have been very encouraging
Today, Sony places great emphasis on the development of proper Environmental Management System (EMS), as required by all Sony manufacturing plants world- wide, where EMS must be established and ISO 14001 certification achieved. This requirement is spelt out in Sony Corporation's ISO 14000 policy, which states very clearly that all manufacturing facilities world-wide must achieve ISO 14001 certification by fiscal year 1997 and all non-manufacturing companies by fiscal year 2000.

From 28 to 30 October 1996, SEM had completed the Environmental Compliance Audit with SIRIM and was officially awarded the ISO 14001 certification on Manufacturing of Audio Products on the 17 December 1996. Thus, making SEM the first company to obtain this certification in Malaysia and meeting Sony Corporation's ISO 14001 policy target.

Lastly, SEM as the pioneer in the area of environmental management for manufacturing products is committed in providing environmental conservation full consideration in every aspect of our operation. SEM will continue to be proactive in areas of environmental management by having environmental management programmes as a natural part of our management process.

what is the environmental law??

Environmental law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Environmental law is a body of law, which is a system of complex and interlocking statutes, common law, treaties, conventions, regulations and policies which seek to protect the natural environment which may be affected, impacted or endangered by human activities. Some environmental laws regulate the quantity and nature of impacts of human activities: for example, setting allowable levels of pollution. Other environmental laws are preventive in nature and seek to assess the possible impacts before the human activities can occur.

Environmental law as a distinct system arose in the 1960s in the major industrial economies. While many countries worldwide have since accumulated impressive sets of environmental laws, their implementation has often been woeful. In recent years, environmental law has become seen as a critical means of promoting sustainable development (or "sustainability"). Policy concepts such as the precautionary principle, public participation, environmental justice, and the polluter pays principle have informed many environmental law reforms in this respect (see further Richardson and Wood, 2006). There has been considerable experimentation in the search for more effective methods of environmental control beyond traditional "command-and-control" style regulation. Eco-taxes, tradeable emission allowances and negotiated agreements are some of these innovations

Can Organic Farming Save the World?

Reporting by Roddy Scheer.


A recent study in the journal Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems shows that organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming in both developed and developing countries. The findings contradict arguments that organic farming is not as efficient as conventional agriculture that makes use of environmentally harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilizers

Model estimates indicate that organic methods could produce enough food on a global per capita basis to sustain the current human population, and potentially an even larger population, without increasing the agricultural land base,” researchers wrote in the journal article. They analyzed 293 different previous studies on yields from organic farming to come to their surprising conclusions.

We were struck by how much food the organic farmers would produce,” says the study’s lead author Ivette Perfecto of the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. “My hope is that we can finally put a nail in the coffin of the idea that you can’t produce enough food through organic agriculture.”

Institute of Environmental & Water Resource Management (IPASA)

IPASA in Brief

The Institute of Environmental & Water Resource Management (IPASA) was established in 1994 previously known as the Institute of Environmental as an effort to integrate available expertise in various fields at UTM to understand and to overcome complex problems related to our environment. IPASA is an interdisciplinary center for environmental research, consultation and graduate training. IPASA also provides continuing education programs (i.e. seminars and short courses) in environmental related areas.
Although it was officially formed in 1994, most of the IPASA associated fellows have vast experience in environmental studies, consultancies and teaching since early 1980s. Currently, IPASA is governed by a Board of Directors and assisted by managers and fellows, chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, UTM. A Director and a Deputy Director who are appointed on a rotational basis head the management team.
Objectives
The objectives of IPASA are as follow:
To stimulate, encourage and enhance research programs in environmental related areas;
To establish collaboration among academics in various disciplines related to environmental studies toward enhancing the research programs;
To establish and enhance relationship and collaboration between UTM and various agencies (private and public sectors) in environmental research and consultancy;
To provide advisory and consultancy services to public and private agencies on environmental issues;
To provide facilities for strengthening postgraduate courses in environmental studies offered by related faculties;
To provide technical program in the field of environmental technology and management;
To provide services on environmental quality testing.
Consultancy and Services
With its wide range of expertise, IPASA also provides consultancy and testing services in environmental related areas. IPASA members have carried out more than 100 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and related projects during the past years. Other projects include:
River classification and pollution study
River basin study
Lake and reservoir studies
Industrial wastewater treatment
Coastal erosion protection and land reclamation
Groundwater monitoring network study
Solid and hazardous waste disposal siting
Air pollution control
Ecotoxicology and risk assessment
Urban pollution discharges
With its available sophisticated instruments and well-trained personnel, IPASA is capable of providing services for environmental quality analysis. This includes common water quality parameters testing such as pH, BOD, COD, SS, TOC, turbidity, microbiological study, oil and grease and heavy metals content. Other important testing but non-conventional such as OUR and NUR are also available. Ambient air and fuel gas content and noise level can also be tested. Various other chemical analysis can be carried out at our chemistry and environmental engineering laboratories.
Continuing Education
IPASA also conduct courses and in-service training for public and private sectors. As an example, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) course can be offered to professionals such as architects, engineers, surveyor and planners. Other courses and training conducted includes:
Advanced wastewater treatment
Industrial air pollution control
Clean technology for industrial applications
Medical waste management
Sludge management
Environmental risk assessment
Solid and hazardous waste management
Environmental instrument analysis
Membrane technology for environmental control
Water quality laboratory practices
Sewer:- Physical, chemical and biological reactor
Cleaner production practices

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

EPA's Position on EMS

ISO 14001
EPA supports and promotes the development and use of EMSs, including those based on the ISO 14001 standard (the international standard for EMSs), that help an organization achieve its environmental obligations and broaden environmental performance goals. EPA does not specifically favor ISO 14001 over other EMS models or approaches. The Plan-Do-Check-Act/Continual Improvement approach used by ISO 14001 and similar models has proven to be effective as applied to environmental management, but not all facilities have modeled their EMSs on ISO 14001.
EMS at EPA
EPA is committed to implementing EMSs for its own employees, operations and facilities that focuses on compliance, pollution prevention and public outreach.
EPA's Position Statement on EMSsOn December 15, 2005, the EPA reissued its Position Statement on Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The revised Position Statement reaffirms the Agency’s long-held opinion that implementing an EMS will enable businesses, agencies, and other institutions to improve their environmental performance and business competitiveness.
Agency EMS PoliciesThis section contains a more complete discussion of EPA's Policies and approaches to EMS development including EPA's Position Statement on EMS, EPA's Own EMS Policy, and EPA's Strategy for Determining the Role of Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) in Regulatory Programs (EMS Strategy).
More Information
For a more complete discussion of EPA's Policies please see the links below:
Executive Order 13148: Greening the Government Through Leadership in Environmental ManagementThis order requires that by April of 2002, each Federal agency implement environmental management systems (EMS) pilot projects at selected facilities and by December 31, 2005, implement EMSs at all appropriate agency facilities. The EO also directs Federal agencies to conduct an agency-wide self assessment using an accepted EMS framework by October of 2001.
Federal Sector EMS ResourcesThis page provides descriptions and links to resources for federal agencies to use when developing and implementing an EMS for their operations. Many of these resources may be of use to other organizations as well. You can also find a list of EMS resources developed by EPA's Federal Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO).
EPA's strategy for determining the role of EMSs in Regulatory Programs (PDF, 20 pages, 166 KB)This document is EPA's strategy for addressing the question of whether—and if so, how—it may also be appropriate to consider EMSs in the context of the Federal regulatory structure, either to improve the design of regulatory programs, to encourage the use of EMSs, or both. EPA wishes to make clear that it has no intention of mandating the use of EMSs in rules and permits.

Environmental Laws and Treaties

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
A list of major U.S. federal laws (unless otherwise indicated) pertaining to the environment.
Atomic Energy Act (1954): Was passed because of the government's keen interest in monitoring the commercial and national defense uses of atomic energy. Government concerns included radiation hazards and the disposal of radioactive waste. The act establishes a general regulatory structure for construction and use of nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. Unlike most environmental statutes, it does not permit citizen suits and affords only limited opportunities for suits by public interest groups.
Clean Air Act (1970): Sets goals and standards for the quality and purity of air in the United States. By law, it is periodically reviewed. A significant set of amendments in 1990 toughened air quality standards and placed new emphasis on market forces to control air pollution.
Clean Water Act (1972): Establishes and maintains goals and standards for U.S. water quality and purity. It has been amended several times, most prominently in 1987 to increase controls on toxic pollutants, and in 1990, to more effectively address the hazard of oil spills.
Coastal Zone Management Act (1972): Provides a partnership structure allowing states and the federal government to work together for the protection of U.S. coastal zones from environmentally harmful overdevelopment. The program provides federal funding to participating coastal states and territories for the implementation of measures that conserve coastal areas.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (1980): Requires the cleanup of sites contaminated with toxic waste. This law is commonly refered to as "Superfund." In 1986 major amendments were made in order to clarify the level of cleanup required and degrees of liability. CERCLA is retroactive, which means it can be used to hold liable those responsible for disposal of hazardous wastes before the law was enacted in 1980.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (1986): Requires companies to disclose information about toxic chemicals they release into the air and water and dispose of on land.
Endangered Species Act (1973): Is designed to protect and recover endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants in the United States and beyond. The law works in part by protecting species habitats.
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938): Is the nation's major law regulating contaminants in food, including pesticides. The Food and Drug Administration implements most of this law; the Environmental Protection Agency carries out its pesticide standard setting provisions (with FDA enforcement). See also Food Quality Protection Act.
Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976): Provides for protection of the scenic, scientific, historic and ecologic values of federal lands and for public involvement in their management.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (1947): Controls the sale, distribution and application of pesticides; amended in 1972, 1988, and 1996. See also Food Quality Protection Act.
Food Quality Protection Act (1996): Is designed to ensure that levels of pesticide residues in food meet strict standards for public health protection. Under this law, which overhauled the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency is required to better protect infants and children from pesticides in food and water and from indoor exposure to pesticides.
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (1976): Governs the management and control of U.S. marine fish populations, and is intended to maintain and restore healthy levels of fish stocks and prevent overharvesting. Better known as the Magnuson Stevens Act.
Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972): Seeks to protect whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, manatees and other species of marine mammals, many of which remain threatened or endangered. The law requires wildlife agencies to review any activity -- for example, the use of underwater explosives or high-intensity active sonar -- that has the potential to "harass" or kill these animals in the wild. The law is our nation's leading instrument for the conservation of these species, and is an international model for such laws.
National Environmental Policy Act (1970): Was the first of the modern environmental statutes. NEPA created environmental policies and goals for the country, and established the President's Council on Environmental Quality. Its most important feature is its requirement that federal agencies conduct thorough assessments of the environmental impacts of all major activities undertaken or funded by the federal government. Many states have enacted similar laws governing state activities.
Oil Pollution Act (1990): Enacted a year after the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound, this law streamlines federal response to oil spills by requiring oil storage facilities and vessels to prepare spill-response plans and provide for their rapid implementation. The law also increases polluters' liability for cleanup costs and damage to natural resources and imposes measures -- including a phaseout of single-hulled tankers -- designed to improve tanker safety and prevent spills.
Proposition 65 (1986): Is a California law passed by voter initiative. Known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, Prop. 65 is designed to provide public warnings about the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals and to eliminate toxins from drinking water supplies. It is responsible for California having some of the strongest environmental protections in the nation, and thus has helped make the state a model for other regions seeking to address environmental hazards.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976): Seeks to prevent the creation of toxic waste dumps by setting standards for the management of hazardous waste. Like CERCLA, this law also includes some provisions for cleanup of existing contaminated sites.
Safe Drinking Water Act (1974): Establishes drinking water standards for tap water safety, and requires rules for groundwater protection from underground injection; amended in 1986 and 1996. The 1996 amendments added a fund to pay for water system upgrades, revised standard: setting requirements, required new standards for common contaminants, and included public "right to know" requirements to inform consumers about their tap water.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977): Is intended to ensure that coal mining activity is conducted with sufficient protections of the public and the environment, and provides for the restoration of abandoned mining areas to beneficial use.
Toxic Substances Control Act (1976): Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the manufacture, distribution, import and processing of certain toxic chemicals.
Go to TopINTERNATIONAL TREATIES A short list of international treaties pertaining to the environment.
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: A proposed treaty to prohibit all testing of nuclear weapons in all environments: underground, underwater, in the atmosphere and in space. In 1999, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the treaty.
The Kyoto Protocol: An international agreement setting binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries. This agreement was adopted in Kyoto Japan in December 1997 and supplements the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted in 1992.
Montreal Protocol: International agreement signed by more than 150 countries to limit the production of substances harmful to the stratospheric ozone layer, such as CFCs.
Non-Proliferation Treaty: A multilateral treaty signed in 1968 which aims to control the spread of nuclear weapons; extended indefinitely in May 1995. The treaty has been signed by over 175 nations.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: An international agreement for dealing with climate change, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the "Earth Summit") in Rio in 1992. AKA Climate Change Convention; Climate Treaty. (See also Kyoto Protocol.)For more detailed and comprehensive information, visit Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators (ENTRI), a searchable database of international environmental treaties from the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).
Go to Top