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Questions the purity of indoor air within homes, while suggesting why the atmosphere within homes and other buildings, may be more polluted than outdoor air, as stipulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Identification of pollution sources within buildings and homes, as suggested by the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes project; Recommended measures to ensure the consistent purity of indoor air. INSET: Are You Buying or Building a New Home?.

Opinion. Comments on the opinion of environmentalists that Congressional Republicans may dismantle a 25-year legacy of environmental protection laws. Shift of power to the local governments from the restriction of `unfunded mandates' imposed on states; Requirement of compensation for property owners when federal regulations decrease property values; Requirement of risk assessment.

Focuses on the influence which the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule has on the 20-year-old federal polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) program and the industry's management and disposal of PCBs. Uses of the PCBs; Identification of the different provisions of the rule; Availability of copies of the rule.

Reports that a rule encouraging hazardous-metal waste and waste from mineral processing recycling and safe disposal has been issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. What is produced through mineral processing; Details on what the rule establishes; Availability of information on the rule.

Reports on a proposal from the United States Environmental Protection Agency relating to changing the way in which gas stations and facilities which handle or store gravel, rock salt or sand submit several hazardous chemical inventory forms. Details on the changes; Availability of information on the proposed rule.

Reports that in June 1998 General Electric Company (GE) was ordered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New England Regional Office to clean up the pollution related to polychlorinatedbiphenyl (PCB) along the Housatonic River in Massachusetts. How the PCBs were being used; What must be done by GE under the order; Comments made by David Warshaw, spokesman of GE.

Reports on a directive issued by United States Vice President Al Gore to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for a close working relationship with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement the Food Quality Protection Act. Information on a memo sent to EPA Administrator Carol Browner; Pledges by the EPA and the USDA to follow the directive; Views of several industry groups on the directives.

Reports on a proposal from the United States Environmental Protection Agency for an emissions trading program for smog-causing nitrogen oxide (NOX). In-depth look at the program; Information on the sulphur dioxide program; Contact for further information.

States that 16 cities within the United States will be targeted as Brownfields Showcase Communities by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Comments from Vice President of the United States, Al Gore; Description of Bronwfields; Listing of of the 16 cities; Contact information on the brownfields program included.

Presents information on the United States President Bill Clinton's Clean Water Action Plan designed to increase funding for clean-water initiatives in the federal fiscal 1999. Budget for the initiatives; Role the Environmental Protection Agency will play the projects; Description of the plan; Comments from C. Dale Jacobson of the Water Environment Federation; Contact information for the president's plan.

Presents information on a study on national air quality and emissions trends which was conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Information on the `National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report'; Statistical information on air quality from 1970 to 1996; Reference to the Road Information Program; Comments from William M. Wilkins, spokesman for the program; Contact information for copies of the report.

Looks at materials developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Chemical Manufacturers Association, to explain the leak-provisions of the EPA refrigeration-recycling regulations. Objectives of the development of the materials; Inclusions of the materials; Availability of the materials.

Provides information on the toll-free enforcement hotline of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Purpose of the hotline; Identification of questions which could be posed; Toll-free number given; Contact information.

Reports on a rule to prevent pollution from small construction sites from running into waterways, proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Name of the proposal; Who will be affected; Impact of the first phase of the rule which started in 1990;

States that United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required owners and operators of underground fuel storage tanks to upgrade them. Deadline of compliance issued by EPA; Comments from Julie Anderson of EPA Region 9 Office in San Francisco, California; Contact for more information.

States that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has suggested that diesel engines in trucks and buses will be cleaner as an emission standard for nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, takes effect for model year 2004. Who designed the standard; Contact information.

Presents information on the `1997 State of the Lakes Report' issued by the United States and Canada. Information contained in this report; Critics' views on the report; Contact information.

Reports that the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued final rules in 1997 aimed at reducing toxic emissions from medical waste incinerators. Approximation on the number of such incinerators nationwide; Length of time which incinerator operators have to comply to the rules; Contact information for the rules; Availability of the rules on the World Wide Web.

Reports that the United States Protection Agency (EPA) has increased its maintenance fees for pesticide registrants under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. When the increase becomes effective; Reason the EPA's Office of Pesticide Registration has increased fees; Breakdown of the increases; Contact for more information.

Examines how additional electric utility and industrial boilers would be required to reduce nitrogen oxide emission under a proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When the law is expected to become final; How nitrogen oxide contributes to smog and acid rain; Benefits of the standard; Challenges for the utility industry regarding the standard.

Reports that in the United States, federal agencies joined together to form the `Brownfields Partnership' designed to clean and redevelop pieces of land. Number of federal agencies involved in the project; When the partnership was announced by Vice President Al Gore; What the agencies plan to provide.

Reports that the 1995 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) by the Environmental Protection Agency showed a decline in the amount of chemicals released by the industry into the air, water and land. Information found in the 1995 TRI which relates to chemicals added to the list in 1994; Increase in underground injection releases; Comments from Gary D. Myers, president of the Fertilizer Institute.

Focuses on the Labs21 program, a voluntary initiative to increase energy efficiency and environmental performance in the United States. Collaboration of strategies and technologies in laboratory energy and environmental improvement; Advantages of the Labs21 approach; Provision of regulatory flexibility to participating laboratories.

Reports the ozone layer thinning in the Antarctica. Measurement of the ozone hole; Seasonal occurrence of ozone thinning; Termination of the ozone-depleting chemical manufacturing; Time required for the full recovery of the ozone layer; Diseases caused by harmful violet rays reaching the earth surface.

Focuses on a study dealing with the advantages of using non-governmental third-party auditors to conduct Risk Management Program compliance audits in the United States. Results of the first phase of a pilot project; Examination of the viability of third-party audits at facilities; List of incentives.

Focuses on a report by the National Research Council, which dealt with the need for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen the extent and quality of its scientific research. Ways of improving the regulatory agency's scientific information and sound science base; Complexity of environmental protection.

Focuses on United States (U.S.) government's plan to include environmental impact reviews in trade agreement negotiations. Topic of an Executive Order from U.S. President Bill Clinton; Creation of procedures for incorporating environmental issues into the negotiating process.

Focuses on a report published in the Norwegian scientific journal 'Cicerone,' which dealt with the disappearance of the icecap at the North Pole. Effect on the earth's environment and the global economy; Expansion of the range of offshore oil drillers; Causes of the melting.

Focuses on a panel of the National Academy of Sciences' approval of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's proposed stringent restrictions on mercury emissions. Threats posed by mercury to human neurological systems; Main sources of mercury in the human diet; Major source of unregulated mercury emissions.

Reports the phasing out of the insecticide chlorpyrifos in the United States. Dates of the cancellation of the production of the insecticide for household and extermination uses; Restrictions on the use of the insecticide for selected fruits; Defense of the manufacturers on the safety of the insecticide.

Focuses on the proposal to require states to draft plans for improving water quality in the United States. Context of the proposed legislation; Argument of the forest industry against the proposal; Percentage of forest operations affected by the proposal.

Focuses on the proposal of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to give flexibility to its air pollution regulation. Consideration of allowing state and local authorities issue a flexible clean air permits; Benefits of the proposal for computer chip manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies; Context of the proposed clean air permits.

Focuses on the proposal of the Environment Protection Agency to reduce the allowable level of arsenic in drinking water in the United States. Health threats of arsenic; Estimated number of water system that needs to upgrade treatment systems; Cost of the upgrades according to the American Water Works Association.

Forecasts the environmental impact of global warming in the United States. Increase of the temperature by the year 2100; Rise of the crop productivity; Reduction of forest productivity; Comparison of the impact of global warming in the regional and the national levels.

Focuses on the reassessment report of the United States Environmental Protection Agency on dioxins. Processes creating dioxin compounds; Factors contributing to the decline in dioxin levels; Harmful health effects of dioxin compounds on animals and people.

Reports on the partnership between United States government agencies and the three major carmakers to produce fuel-efficient cars. Amount contributed by each to the initiative; Development of hybrid electric-gas engines; Government's financial incentives to consumers.

Reports on the increase in the United States emission of greenhouse gases, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Comparison between 1997 and 1998 levels; Share of fossil fuel combustion; Reporting requirements under the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

Reports that nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from fertilizers and the burning of fossil fuels is damaging a third of the United States' coastal waters. Formation of `dead zone' on the Gulf of Mexico; Pollution by agricultural runoff; Environmental consequences of algal blooms caused by excess nitrogen.

Reveals the factors blamed for the destruction of two-thirds of the stratospheric ozone layer over the Arctic. Chlorine compounds; Colder winter temperatures; Greenhouse gases.

Reports that the US Court of Appeals has upheld United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules to limit smog drifts across state lines. Order given by the EPA to 22 states to limit nitrogen oxide emissions; States covered by the new EPA directives.

Announces the deadline for the submission of final and revised certifications of public meetings or summary information postings regarding Risk Management Plans in the United States. Requirement of facilities to hold public meetings by the year June 5, 2000; Some facilities submission of incomplete certifications; Contact information.

Reports on the settlement of a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act dispute about soil cleanups between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and environmentalist groups. Agency's creation of Corrective Action Management Units; Organizations' filing of lawsuits against the agency; Contact information.

Announces the plans of DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. to reduce polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in their electrical equipment by 90 percent. Firm's management and disposal of PCB; DaimlerChrysler's focus on the elimination of PCB capacitors in its facilities; General Motors' program to eliminate PCB transformers in the United States.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's establishment of limitations for wastewater discharges from solid and hazardous waste landfills. Application of the rule to landfills that discharge water directly into waterways; Restrictions on the discharge of pollutants; Reduction of at least 900,000 pounds of pollutants.

Reports on the release of a document clarifying exemptions for certain hazardous substances in the United States under the Superfund and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Provisions of the two laws; Availability of the guidance document.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's restriction of the use and management of genetically-altered Bt corn. Engineering of the corn to produce its own insecticide; Requirement of growers to produce a minimum structured refuge; Need for seed producers to expand monitoring activities.

Reports on the project researching the use of third party audits in helping small businesses comply with environmental laws in the United States. Collaboration between the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources; Industry groups' inspection of facilities in Delaware; Contact information.

Reports on Koch Industries' payment of the largest civil in the history of United States environmental law fine for violations of the Clean Water Act. Pollution by oil spills from the company's pipelines; Total value of the settlement; Assessment and repair of the company's pipelines.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's development of new standards for dioxin. Setting of a limit for dioxin in sewage sludge; Creation of monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements for dioxin; Contact information.