NEWS BRIEFS Prosecution of environmental crimes has fallen sharply during the Clinton administration, says a new report by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Contradicting the U.S. Department of Justice's claim that environmental prosecutions have risen, the report cites 52% fewer prosecutions and 60% fewer convictions between 1994 and 1996 (the last year for which data are available). Over the same period, the report says that there was a 35% increase in refusals to prosecute environmental crime cases. Uneven Justice is available by calling (202) 265-PEER or e-mailing info@peer ore Although a growing number of Americans consider environmental protection important, most people rely on outdated information, according to a survey released by the nonprofit organizations National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF) and Roper Starch Worldwide. For example, a majority of
Germany cuts air emissions Reductions (in metric tons except C02 and CO, which are in thousands of metric tons) in amounts of greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 1996 have been impressive in most instances. Preliminary data for C02 emissions in 1997 (not shown) indicate that further significant cuts have been realized since 1996. (Courtesy Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, Germany) Gas
1990
C02 CH 4 N20 HFC* CF 4 C2F8 SF 6 C 0 2 equivalents NOx NMVOC CO S02
1014.2 5522 226 200 355 42 163 1209 2678 3178 10.916 5262
1996
% Change
910 -10.3 4724 -14.4 228 0.9 2485 1,240.2 212 -40.3 26 -38.1 246 68.5 1090 -9.7 1859 -30.6 1868 -31.2 6.71 -38.5 1851 -64.9
'Substitute for ozone layer-depleting refrigerants.
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Americans do not know that paper comprises the largest source of landfill materials; that industrial and household chemicals—or even bottled water—are not regularly tested for safety by any federal agency; that the main source of oil pollution is improper disposal of automotive oil; or that runoff is the leading cause of water impairments. For a copy of The 1998 National Report Card: Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors call NEETF at (202) 628-8200 ext. 3. Developing new environmental technologies is crucial to the U.S. economy, according to a report by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. More than half of the executives interviewed in New Forces at Work: Industry Views Critical Technologies label devising improved waste management and recycling technologies as "critical to the nation." The report (MR1008-OSTP) is available under "publications" at the Rand Corp.'s Web site: http://www.rand.org. Deserts are expanding over 41% of the Earth's land area, affecting more than 900 million people in 100 countries, according to a World Bank report. New Opportunities/or Developmen:: The Desertification Convention notes that the degradation of these lands is not just a physical phenomenon but also is driven by population growth, poverty, and policies that encourage misuse of arid lands. Annual worldwide economic loss caused by desertification is estimated at $42.3 billion. To request a copy call (202) 473-5648. Policies creating incentives to reduce raw materials consumption will increase profits and protect the environment, concludes a study from the Worldwatch Institute. These policies include eliminating subsidies mat make virgin materials cheap; taxing virgin materials and waste in all forms, from smokestack emissions to landfilled waste; making producers responsible for the material they introduce into the economy; and promoting waste exchanges that match waste materials suppliers with potential
MARCH 1, 1999 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS
waste users. Mind Over Matter: Recasting the Role of Materials in Our Lives can be downloaded from the Web at http://www.worldwatch. org.
If states hope to retain public ownership over coastal land in the face of rising sea levels, they need to reexamine their land use planning options, warns an article published in the Maryland Law Review. Current laws in many states allow property owners to take over land on which they have built erosion control structures. If sea levels rise nearly 2 ft in the next century, as predicted, 7700 square miles of U.S. tidelands will be inundated. The article suggests alternative policies that "allow development but prohibit property owners from holding back the sea " "Rising Seas Coastal Erosion and the Takings Clause" is available at http:// wwwepa eov/globalwarmine/ reDorts/pubs/sealevel/takines Ddf The Clinton administration has failed to make headway in reducing anthropogenic mercury emissions since the release of EPA's Mercury Study Report to Congress last year, concludes a report by the Clean Air Network, the Mercury Policy Project, and California Communities Against Toxics. EPA's draft action plan to reduce the release of mercury 50% by 2006 "fails to lay out a realistic strategy and timeline," the report charges. Although significant improvements have been made at the state level the report recommends aggressive federal policies to eliminate emissions including the adoption of Dublic right-to-know initiatives tareeted to at-risk pODulations For a coDV of Mercurv Still Risine call (2021 289-2429
