The initial meeting, added NRDC attorney Jessica Landman, presented "a way for all these groups to be friends again. There has been a historical lack of comfort between hunting and traditional environmental groups. We have a lot to learn about what makes each of us tick." Landman said hunters at the meeting were surprised to learn that most environmental groups do not oppose hunting. For instance the Sierra Club boasts some 100 000 members who hunt and fish and recently the group began a "hunter and angler outreach campaign" to work with members and sporting groups in several states "Combined, we have a lot of clout," Shupp said. "As a group we are not a political force at all in this election, but if we're not happy with the results, I'll guarantee you, by the next one we will be." —JEFF JOHNSON
33/50 program ends, EPA declares success The 33/50 program—the first in what has become a long string of EPA voluntary toxic emissions reduction programs—shut its doors in mid-September. Announcing the program's conclusion, EPA officials heralded its success in cutting 50% of emissions of 17 toxic chemicals used and generated by 1300 corporations that volunteered for the program. Begun by EPA Administrator William Reilly in 1991, 33/50 was based on data from the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which requires 23,000 companies to report annually on the amount of chemicals released to the environment or handled as waste. The 33/50 program, however, called for participating companies to commit to reductions that would collectively result in 33% fewer on-site releases and off-site transfers of the
17 chemicals by 1992 and a 50% reduction by 1995, using 1988 TRI reported levels as a baseline. TRI and 33/50 aimed to focus public attention and, through the glare of public scrutiny, induce companies to cut toxic wastes and emissions. Companies participating in 33/50 beat the final target by a year, mostly by cutting air emissions and shifting from organic hydrocarbons to waterbased solvents, according to EPA's final project report. The much larger universe of non-33/50 companies also cut emissions substantially, reporting a 38% reduction in releases of 316 TRIcovered chemicals. "More than 750 million pounds of pollution were cut in the time EPA would take to write a reg. And companies voluntarily made the reductions. It's awe-
Industry group study hits environmental incentive programs Government programs to give industries benefits in return for stellar compliance with environmental laws are criticized in three studies funded by GEMI, the Global Environmental Management Initiative, and released in October. Although GEMI, a nonprofit organization of 21 large corporations, strongly supports such programs, its studies find that with current state and federal programs, environmental and economic gains are marginal. It urges that these pro crams be made bolder clearer and more measurable with greater incentives The GEMI studies look at EPA programs, such as the Common Sense Initiative, Project XL, emissions trading, and 33/50, as well as a few state and European incentive programs. The programs share the goal of offering companies "flexibility" in how they comply with environmental laws in return for superb compliance. Although critical, GEMI notes that the programs are new and sclVS its summary was inconclusive as to their overall strengths or weaknesses The reports say programs in New Jersey, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands have worked
best because they offer the clearest substantive incentives; participants see economic benefits and competitive advantages, such as faster time-to-market; and industry is allowed greater flexibility in choosing how to reach pollution reduction goals.
The lack of significant incentives and the risk of litigation weaken existing programs. Concerning EPA's Project XL, GEMI says confusion abounds because states seem to believe that program is intended to encourage use of alternative ways to meet current compliance requirements, and EPA insists facilities must go beyond compliance. This confusion recently plagued the Minnesota program {ES&T, ,ct. 1996, p. 428A). GEMI also finds more general problems, such as EPA's dominance in setting program objectives, pervasive mistrust among participants, uncertainty about corporate and environmental benefits and an absence of a basis for XL
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Without a legal mandate, GEMI says incentive programs tend to fail because decisions must be reached by consensus among industries, regulators, and the public, which is rarely effective in contentious environmental management decisions. Also, government regulators give short shrift to voluntary programs because they must spend most time on legally mandated programs. Looking at EPA's Common Sense Initiative as well as XL, corporate volunteers say both programs are weakened by a lack of incentives and a risk of litigation by community groups and others for what industry sees as inventive compliance. And despite difficulties, the new programs draw an enormous amount of industry staff time. The end result: Participatory costs outweigh incentives. GEMI recommends that future programs provide greater freedom for industries to take advantage of process modification and other innovations, clear procedures for stakeholder participation, and tangible and significant incentives. GEMI's reports are available by calling (202) 2967449. JEFF JOHNSON
some," said Chris Tirpak, EPA 33/50 program deputy. "We were stunned that companies signed up to make these reductions publicly. You take a risk in admitting that you are a big polluter. But companies even signed up for 90% reductions, and some companies made it." Environmentalists have charged that some of the gains are not real reductions—for instance, companies shut down old plants and claimed zero emissions. Critics have also noted that although overall emissions and transfers have decreased, total production-related wastes have increased for 33/50 participants and all TRI-reporting companies. They say this shows that toxic wastes are still on the rise and may wind up in off-site landfills and incinerators. Looking at 1991-94 data, TRI-reported wastes increased by about 9%, according to EPA. Wastes covered by 33/50 remained flat over the same period but have increased a few percent in recent years. Tirpak said, however, companies are projecting a decline in 33/50 wastes for 1994-96. Whether there will be a new 33/50-like program is unclear. "In a way, whether there is a sequel is almost irrelevant," said Tirpak. "The program has been cloned into many other projects, and we've achieved our final goal." —JEFF JOHNSON
33/50 Program emission reductions Millions of pounds
Releases and transfers (excluding transfers to energy recovery and recycling) Source: EPA.
The construction of new dams has slowed markedly over the past couple of decades as the public, governments, and financial backers have begun to pay attention to their high economic, social, and environmental costs.
Fresh water scarcity adds to international food supply, ecosystem concerns The spreading scarcity of fresh water is contributing to ecosystem destruction, a lack of security about food supply, and conflict between countries, according to a Worldwatch Institute report released in September. Although fresh water is a renewable resource, it is also finite, says author Sandra Postel. Growing world population coupled with modern water development projects have resulted in a world in which the abundance of water is no longer the norm. Overpumping of groundwater and aquifer depletion are now occurring in many of the world's most important crop-producing regions, including the western United States, India, and northern China, where water tables are dropping 1 meter a year. This means that a portion of the world's food supply is produced using unsustainable water and cannot be counted upon reliably over the long term, Postel writes. In many cases, groundwater exploitation can do irreversible damage. Extraction may cause an aquifer's geologic materials to contract, eliminating the pores and spaces that stored the water. In California, for example, compaction in the Central Valley has resulted in a loss of almost 25 billion cubic meters of storage capacity, which is equal to 40% of the combined storage capacity of California's reservoirs. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands
also are declining in health because large dams and river diversions have failed to protect their ecological functions, including water purification, Postel found. The "mighty" Ganges in South Asia is one of many rivers that no longer courses to the sea yearround. The lack of fresh water has increased the flow of saline water into the river delta, destroying mangroves and fish habitat, which are major food sources for local inhabitants. The scarcity of fresh water is also driving social and political instability as neighbors compete for limited water supplies. Tensions over water persist in the major river basins of the Middle East, including the Jordan, the Nile, and the Tigris-Euphrates; water rights figure prominently in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The situation could worsen: worldwide, at least 214 rivers flow through two or more countries, but no enforceable law governs the allocation and use of international fresh waters, Postel said. Postel provides several strategies to promote wiser water use, including regulated water markets, rational water pricing, and increased use of treated wastewater for agriculture. For a copy of "Dividing the Waters: Food Security, Ecosystem Health, and the New Politics of Scarcity," call (202) 452-1999. —CATHERINE M. COONEY
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