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Focuses on the reluctance of the United States government to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Possible effects of the Protocol on the economy of the US; Criticisms of the US government on the exemption of developing countries from timetables for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Negotiations of issues still unresolved in the Protocol. INSETS: What Would The Treaty Do?;Companies Ahead of the Curve..

Focuses on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Project XL, an innovative program that would give industry flexibility and prevent pollution. Three key elements of an XL project; Five phases of the development of XL projects; Number of XL projects in the implementation and evaluation stage; Proponents and opponents of the program. INSETS: What does it take to become an XL project?;Two sides of the coin..

Discusses various aspects of government policies regarding environmental risk assessment and management in the United States as of April 1999. Background on government's approach to environmental risk assessment; Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management's release of its report evaluating the government approach to environmental risk assessment in January 1997.

Focuses on the efforts of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in installing energy-efficient technology in all of the nation's commercial buildings, in an attempt to reduce pollution and promote economic growth and competitiveness through environmental protection. Information about the stages under the federal agency's Energy Star Buildings program. INSET: EPA's Energy Star Buildings Partner of the Year..

Focuses on the risk management program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Facilities affected by the regulation; Development of a plan addressing chemical emergencies; Classification of requirements according to compliance programs. INSETS: Grassroots emergency planning.;It's a matter of national security.;For more info....

Focuse on the efforts of companies to preserve the Earth's ozone layer, by phasing out chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). Information on the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by 24 industrialized countries; Environmental impact of the depletion of the ozone layer; Identification of other chemicals to be phased out. INSETS: Eyes on Antarctica's ozone hole;Living CFC free;In through the out door;Helping hands

States that the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers is attempting to revise the voluntary industry standard for indoor air quality since 1996. Reference to some of the problems experienced by the federal government on providing a regulatory standard for this purpose; Consequences of polluted indoor air quality. INSETS: Sick building syndrome vs. building-related illness;Industry standard under review.

Focuses on the maintenance and the use of a fire extinguisher which is one of the best means of defense against fires of limited size. How a fire extinguisher should be maintained; Requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's standard for portable fire extinguishers; Categories of fires; Information on the various types of fire extinguishers; Knowledge of how and when to use an extinguisher. INSET: Ozone-depleting halon: Moving toward full phaseout..

Examines the progress of government initiatives to improve air quality in the United States. Decrease in levels of carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone and particulate matter; Persistence of the smog problem in some states; Health risks posed by air pollution; Economic benefits of cleaner air. INSET: It's everywhere: You can't escape air pollution..

Criticizes the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program for its involvement in different controversies and disputes over contentious issues such as liability have delayed the reauthorization process. Prevalence of bipartisan disagreements; Actions to take for EPA's administrative reforms to the Superfund program; Improvements needed. INSET: Key resources can answer Superfund questions..

Identifies poor indoor-air quality (IAQ) as an environmental and occupational health threat. Causes of IAQ; Health problems associated with the `sick-building syndrome'; Tips in keeping indoor air clean. INSETS: Key resources can help achieve good indoor-air quality.;Solutions vary with the contaminant..

Looks at the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in developing provisions to prevent unintentional chemical releases. What the Clean Air Act Amendments required of the OSHA and EPA; OSHA's emphasis on hazard analysis in the workplace; Focus on off-site assessment by the EPA; Comparison of the resulting standards of both agencies. INSET: How do the OSHA and EPA standards compare?..

Focuses on the Underwriters Laboratories' efforts to tackle ergonomic concerns in laboratories. Risk factors in the workplace that call for ergonomic adjustments; Issue on the standard use of white or chrome surfaces; Advantages of the nonroutine nature in the laboratory.

Reports developments related to environmental protection as of November 2000. Includes comparison of carbon dioxide emissions between 1998 and 1999; Finalization of regulations for public access to risk management plans at industrial facilities; Rate of deforestation in tropical countries.

Focuses on the United States Department of Energy's decision to stop selling scrap metals from nuclear weapons facilities. Health threats from possible radioactive contamination; Acceleration of a program to collect some types of commercially owned, radioactive sources that are no longer in use.

Focuses on the United States Food and Drug Administration and the cellular phone industry's joint investigation of the health effects of cellular phones. Examination of health risks of radio frequency emissions from cellular phones; Identification of scientific questions that deserve attention.

Focuses on the Executive Order of United States President Bill Clinton to expand the federal protection of oceans and coastlines. Creation of an Ocean Conservative Zones; Development of a national system of marine protected areas; Establishment of a moratorium on offshore oil and gas leasing.

Presents various updates relevant to environmental safety issues in industry as of August 2000. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.'s phase out of its Scotchgard stain-repellent products; 1998 Toxics Release Inventory which included data from sectors besides manufacturing; Case study of a March 1997 explosion in Oklahoma that reviews how to prevent waste fuel oxidizer reaction hazards. INSET: Supreme Court to Decide on Clean Air Rules, by Lani Sinclair..

Reports on a proposed voluntary program aimed at reducing the leaks of smog-causing vapors from above-ground petroleum product refinery storage tanks in the United States. Tanks' release of volatile organic compound emissions; Emissions' violation of clean air regulations; Contact information.

Reports on the increase in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's proposed budget for the 2001 fiscal year. Allocation of $7.3 billion for the agency's operating programs; Budget increases for clean water and air programs, food quality protection and soil cleanup operations; Contact information.

Reports that the United States and Mexico have signed an agreement to disclose information about their respective waste sites within 60 miles of the US/Mexico border. Provision of citizens with access to the information; Agreement's coverage of radioactive waste disposal sites; Goal to reduce tension in border states.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's plans to crackdown on the emissions from electric power-plants and industrial facilities in a number of states. Agency action on a petition filed by states asking for relief from nitrogen oxide emissions that blow across state lines.

Reports on the availability of a free software from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to help companies prepare their Tier II reports under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Deadline of submission of the Tier II reports; On-site chemicals that require material safety data sheets; Address of the Web site.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Printers Simplified Total Environmental Partnership's awarding of grants to the printing industry. Testing of ways to reduce government oversight on facilities; Aiding of states in the collection of data to measure the programs' success; Contact information.

Reports on the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposal that would require tougher standards to clean up polluted rivers, lakes and estuaries. Proposed revision of the amount of pollution a body of water can receive; Proposed responsibilities of states; Good news for industry and consumers.

Reports on the public hearing to be conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about a new relocation policy for residents and businesses near hazardous waste sites. Need for more public comment on National Priority List Superfund sites; Conditions for permanent relocation.

Presents an interview with Julius Jimeno, director of safety, health and environmental management at the Environmental Protection Agency. Role in developing policies; Most significant safety and health concerns; Safety rating of the agency; Technology-based job tools; Compliance to year 2000 date conversion.

Reports that the computer systems of the United States Environmental Protection Agency are 100 percent Year 2000 (Y2K) compliant. Effect of Y2K bug; Findings of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion.

Presents the two reports of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. `1996 Toxics Release Inventory Public Data Release--10 years of Right-to-Know: Industry Sector Analyses'; `Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks'; Availability of the reports.

Cites the five documents from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's High Production Volume Challenge designed to help chemical companies compile basic toxicity information for chemicals manufactured in excess of one million pounds in the United States. Availability on the Internet; Commitment of the companies that will participate in the program.

Focuses on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's pilot project which is investigating ways to implement alternative standards for managing hazardous waste at university laboratories. Goal to prevent the setting up of a regulatory approach; Testing of an environmental management plan; Evaluation of the small-scale treatment of laboratory byproducts.

Presents regulations on the disposal of waste generated by the cleanup of Superfund sites, released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as of February 1999. Procurement of permits for treating,storing and disposing of waste; Creation of a `staging pile' during the cleanup; Exclusion of dredge material from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

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 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.

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.

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?.

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 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.

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.