NEWS BRIEFS Most U.S. states have failed to implement watershed protection provisions of the Clean Water Act, charges the National Wildlife Federation in a new report titled Pollution Paralysis: State Inaction Puts Waters at Risk. According to the report, no states have yet used the "total maximum daily loads" (TMDLs) provision of the act to establish statewide water quality standards. The provision requires states to identify impaired water bodies set contaminant levels that a water body can accept and still remain healthy and devise plans to control pollution from all Only 17 states or territories have developed watershed protection plans for any of tVipir imnaired waters For a conv of the renort call (703) 790 4000 Emissions trading could be the key to reducing climate-warming greenhouse gases, say two new reports on the success of the U.S. acid rain trading program. Implementing an Emissions Cap and Allowance Trading System for Greenhouse Gases, published by the Environmental Law Institute, recommends a "cap-and-trade" system patterned after the Clean Air Act's sulfur dioxide trading program, a high-quality monitoring system, and high penalties for noncompliance. The Environmental Defense Fund's More Clean Air for the Buck describes the achievements of the acid rain program and advocates the use of emissions trading for nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gases For more information call the Environmental Law Institute at (2091 939-3844 or the Environmental Defencp Fund at (2091 387 3525 The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970 has been worth more than $6 trillion in public health and environmental benefits, according to an extensive retrospective study released by EPA in October. Costs of the first 20 years of the act were just over $500 billion. The peer-reviewed study, The Benefits and Costs of the Clean Air
Act, 1970 to 1990, also credits the act with preventing 205,000 premature deaths and millions of cases of respiratory illnesses. "Clearly, this law is a great public health success story," commented John Garrison, managing director of the American Lung Association. An executive summary of the report is available on the World Wide Web (http: / /www. epa.gov/oar/oario.html) The U.S. public received a failing grade in basic environmental knowledge, according to the annual "National Report Card on Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors" released in November. Of the 1500 U.S. adults surveyed, only 32% an-
swered more than 9 of the 12 standard questions correctly. Only one-quarter of those surveyed knew the most common source of water pollution (runoff), and onethird knew the primary source of electricity generation (fossil fuels). However, more than threequarters of Americans knew where household garbage goes (landfills). Twice as many men as women received a passing grade, and people 45-54 years old scored higher than other age The oil IT/pV
conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide commissioned by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation Washington DC For a coov call (202) 6288200 U.S. carbon emissions from energy use will be 45% above 1990
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levels by 2020, according to projections from the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration. Estimates in the Annual Energy Outlook 1998 are up 5% over projections made last year, largely because of increased petroleum use in the transportation sector. By 2020, transportation will be the largest source of carbon emissions, surpassing industrial sources. The report is available on the World Wide Web (http://www.eia.doe.gov). Acid rain will continue to damage southeastern Canada ecosystems, without further S 0 2 emissions cuts in both the United States and eastern provinces, according to a new report by an advisory panel developing Canada's long-term acid rain strategy. The report, Toward a National Acid Rain Strategy, estimates that 800,000 km 2 of southeastern Canada will receive harmful levels of acid rain in 2010 even after full implementation of current control programs in both countries. The acid rain problem in the region will not be solved unless the United States Ontario and Quebec cut SO 75% bevond current requirements For a CODV of the Acidifving Emissions Task renort call the Envirnnment Canada Tnnuiry Centrp at (800) fifiR fi767 The Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany have the most successful greenhouse gas reduction policies of the major industrial countries, according to a new report by the Worldwatch Institute. In a survey of new government policies, only these three countries have adopted a mix of actions that is likely to lead to emission reductions during the next decade, says the report, Rising Sun, Gathering Winds' Policies to Stabilize the Climate and Strengthen Economies (Worldwatch Paper 138). France Japan Sweden and the United Kingdom have made some progress but still fall behind the three leaders The TJnitpd States is in a third tier with Panada and Australia maklpast nrogrpss For a conv of the rpnnrt call (202) 452-1999
