Legal Connection LEGAL Environmental Law - Europe

Talvivaara leak is violation of law says minister

Talvivaara suspended operations at its metals plant in Sotkamo, eastern Finland, on Sunday after detecting a leak. It was the latest in a series of production problems at the mine.

Finland's radiation authority said samples from nearby waters showed uranium levels had risen.

Environment minister Ville Niinisto said the company had committed a severe violation of environmental law, and called for quick action. The ministry also set up a task force to monitor the leakage.

"Many people feel that they've had enough, and I've got the same feeling," he told reporters when asked about Talvivaara.

The company said it would resume production by the weekend rather than on Wednesday as previously planned, but authorities demanded more information on the leak first.

"The process of plugging has been initiated and as a result, the flow has already substantially diminished," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Environmental Law - Pakistan

Environmental laws violators to face action: Minister Orders Speedy Action against Polluters

Sindh Environment and Alternate Energy Minister, Shaikh Muhammad Afzal, has said that the government would further intensify the ongoing campaign against industries creating environment hazards and smoke emitting vehicles.

Shaikh Muhammad Afzal issued directives to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sindh to speed up the monitoring of industries, Hospitals, construction projects and solid waste disposal by civic agencies to control the pollution and protect the environment.

Chairing the monthly departmental meeting of Environmental Department, Sindh, he ordered the technical officers of Sindh EPA to utilize all the available resources for the regular and vigilant monitoring of all types of the polluters and take strict legal against them .

He further said that lame excuses can never be obstacles for the efficient workers, therefore Sindh EPA should put all its efforts to control the menace of pollution at its source so that our environment can be protected from all types of hazards .

He also directed the Environment Department to push up the process of release of the funds of all the approved schemes under ADP so that their implementation may be initiated without any further delay. He also directed to install vehicular emission testing station (VETS) at Karachi and Sukkur within a week under vehicular Emission Cell of SEPA .

114 www.finance-monthly.com Environmental Law - USA

Hyundai/Kia to Correct Overstated MPG Claims as Result of EPA Investigation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America will lower their fuel economy (mpg) estimates for the majority of their model year 2012 and 2013 models after EPA testing found discrepancies between agency results and data submitted by the company.

The auto companies have submitted to the EPA a plan for cars currently on dealer lots to be re-labelled with new window stickers reflecting the corrected mileage estimates. The mileage on most vehicle labels will be reduced by one to two mpg, and the largest adjustment will be six mpg highway for the Kia Soul.

“Consumers rely on the window sticker to help make informed choices about the cars they buy,’ said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “EPA’s investigation will help protect consumers and ensure a level playing field among automakers.”

At its National Vehicle and Fuel Emission Laboratory (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Mich., EPA routinely tests vehicles – 150 to 200 a year, or about 15 percent of the possible vehicle configurations – to ensure that their performance matches the mileage and emissions data required to be submitted to EPA by automakers.

This auditing helps to ensure that vehicles on the road meet tailpipe emission standards to protect public health and the environment and that all carmakers follow the same procedures for calculating mileage estimates. EPA conducts both random and targeted audits, based on factors such as consumer complaints.

Environmental Law - USA

California Environmental Law Marked for Biggest Change Since ’70

California lawmakers may consider the biggest overhaul of the state’s environmental laws in 42 years, Governor Jerry Brown and state Senator Michael Rubio said.

Brown said he expects lawmakers to vote next year on changes to the California Environmental Quality Act, the 1970 law that requires the state and local governments to weigh environmental consequences when considering approval of public and private projects.

California’s environmental laws place limits on development, require a unique blend of gasoline to reduce smog, and will impose a statewide cap on greenhouse-gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020. The largest U.S. state by population, with an unemployment rate of 10.2 percent in September, is frequently accused of being unfriendly to business.

Changes in the law are “very important” to spur economic development, Brown said yesterday in Los Angeles at a forum to promote Proposition 30, a ballot measure to raise taxes for education.

“There are many people who work very well under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and don’t want to change it,” Brown said about the environmental act, responding to a question from the audience. “And yet, changes are needed.”

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