To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: "Gary Gallon, Canadian Institute for Business & Environment" 
Subject: The Gallon Environment Letter: Canada
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Status: RO
X-Status: 

          THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER
                  Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
                   Institut Canadien du Commerce et de l=92environnement
                      506 Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec H3Y 2R5
                        Ph. (514) 369- 0230, Fax (514) 369- 3282
                               Email:  cibe@web.net
                          Vol. 2, No. 8, April 10, 1998=20

****************************************************************************=
**

ENVIRONMENT RESOLUTIONS AT THE FEDERAL LIBERAL POLICY CONVENTION IN OTTAWA

The federal Liberal Party held its 1998 Biennial Policy Convention, March 19=
=20
22, 1998 in Ottawa. More than 2,500 Liberals from across Canada attended
bringing with them resolutions from their ridings that they want the federal
government to act on. The Prime Minister and most Cabinet ministers were
present most of the time at the 2 =BD day event. While the resolutions don't
bind
the federal Liberal Cabinet, they provide a strong reminder of the=
 directions
their voters want the government to take.

CLEAN UP MILITARY SITES; PROTECT FISH STOCKS

Resolutions passed included  one calling for the support for research and
development into new technologies, including environmental technologies.
Another resolution was passed asking the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
"to
make maintenance, rehabilitation and enhancement of marine and inland=
 habitats
be a top priority", and to "maximize their powers of protection and
enforcement
against those who damage, pollute or otherwise alter natural habitats and
marine environments." Another resolution passed was put forward by the Yukon
Liberal Association, which asked the federal government to finally get=
 around
to cleaning up the highly toxic abandoned military and early-warning radar
sites in northern Canada. In a somewhat embarrassing moment, the Young
Liberals
put forward a resolution demanding the passage of the Endangered Species Act
which remains dormant on the Cabinet agenda. The resolutionn passed with a
huge
margin.  See all of the resolutions that were passed on the federal Liberal
Website: =
 <http://www.liberal.ca/gd/d65.htmes/ACS-FrDio.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html>http://www.liberal.ca/gd/d65.htm.s/ACS-FrDio.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html

********************************************************

TWO GLOBAL WARMING RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE LIBERAL CONVENTION

Resolutions 41 and 43, both urging strong measures to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG) passed at the federal Liberal Policy Convention. Resolution
41.
was a combination of three resolutions that were brought to the convention=
 by
Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario), the Liberal Party in Manitoba, and the
Liberal Party of Canada (Qu=E9bec). The resolution stated that "whereas=
 climate
change is among the most serious environmental threats facing the planet and
whereas Canada is one of the world's leading per capita producers of
greenhouse
gas emissions", be it resolved "that the Liberal Party of Canada urge the
federal government to gradually equalize tax subsidies and incentives=
 granted
to the renewable energy industry with those granted to the fossil fuel
industry; promote scientific and economic research to better assess the
environmental and financial impact of greenhouse gases; apply fiscal tools=
 to
reduce greenhouse emissions, and, such as policies encouraging a shift in
public transportation, efficient residential and commercial building, and
efficient energy delivery".

The second global warming resolution passed was put forward by the powerful
federal Liberal  Standing Committee on Policy Development. It recommended=
 that
the federal government should increase incentives for research and=
 development
of alternate electrical production;  the use of electricity produced through
less polluting sources by promoting and supporting the construction of
infrastructure to supply power to areas of need and promoting the
production of
hydro electricity through the development of water resources in a socially=
 and
environmentally responsible manner.

**********************************************************

POOR DECISION TO APPROVE EXPANDED SEAL HUNT AT THE LIBERAL CONVENTION

Some issues addressed at the Liberal Policy convention were emotion- laden
where science and economic factors were set aside. That was the case with
resolution 36. which barely passed.  It  endorsed the continuation of the
275,000quota annual commercial seal hunt. The resolution was based on the
mistaken assertion that "the burgeoning seal populations within the region=
 are
consuming large quantities of juvenile cod in particular thereby seriously
retarding the recovery of fish stocks, particularly the large Northern cod
stock". The resolution also stated that the "commercial seal harvest is of
great economic importance to many Atlantic fishing communities". Neither is
very accurate.

On the first point, the harp seals are not responsible for the declining cod
stocks. Human overfishing is. Scientific examination of harp seal stomachs
reveal that only  3 to 8 per cent of the food content present is cod. In=
 other
words, seals do not eat cod as their primary food source. Secondly, seals=
 eat
squid and other natural predators of cod. When seal populations are severely
reduced, other cod predator species bloom killing more cod. The Dept. of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) allowed the seal kill on the Atlantic coast to=
 jump
from a sustainable 70,000 in 1991 to 261,000 recorded by Canadian sealers in
1997. Unfortunately,  that is only the reported kill. Not reported is the
59,000 seals taken from the same herd by Greenlanders. Not reported is the
high
incidents of "shot and lost" of seals that slip back under the ice and die
before they can be reached by the sealers. Not recorded is the poaching and
"highgrading" of seals that are killed and not reported. These actions could
easily double the annual seal deaths to more than 480,000. DFO scientists
agree
that the 4.5 million seals estimated in the herd cannot sustain a kill rate
above 290,000 annually.

Regarding the financial picture, the seal hunt is not economically
sustainable.  It is heavily subsidized.  For example, the federal and
provincial governments pay .35 cents per pound for seal meat (20 cents feds
and
15 cents prov), then turn around and sell the meat for about 9 cents per=
 pound
to be processed for low end uses such animal food (mink, chickens, etc.).
Another several hundred thousand dollars are spent by DFO to organize and
monitor the hunt. The new income generator is the sale of seal penises for
aphrodisiac purposes within the Asian community. About 30,000 boney seal
penises and scrotum were reported harvest by Canadians last year. They are
sliced or ground into tea and other ingestibles. The sealing communications
programs are also subsidized by the governments. Total income reported from
all
seal part sales was $11 million last year. Subsidies reduce that number
substantially. And the sustained annual seal over hunt for at the 275,000
quota
may well collapse the herd again bringing about a similar fate that befell=
 the
cod fishery. See the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans
websitehttp//www.ncr.dfo.ca/. Or visit International Fund for Animal Welfare
(IFAW) websitehttp//www.ifaw.org/home.htm/.=20

*************************************************************

LIBERAL POLSTER MICHAEL MARZOLINI WARNS ABOUT IGNORING ENVIRONMENT

Most of the federal ministers were in the audience of some 1,800 liberal
delegates attending the latest polling results from Pollara Polling Inc.
presented by its chairman, Michael Marzolini.  He reported that while
environment was not at the top of the mind in the Canadian public, concern=
 for
the environment sat as one of the top three subsurface issues that remain=
 core
in the public concern, the other two being health care and high taxes. These
issues, he said, will flare up in the near future, if corrective measures
aren't taken. Marzolini said that the top environmental issues remain water
pollution and drinking water, along with air pollution and the impact on
breathing. He found that the issue of global warming was less understood by
the
people and remained low on the concern spectrum. Pollara also found that
public
concern for the environment was seasonal, being higher in the Spring and
Summer
when people are closer to the water and more affected by smog. Email:=20
mmar@pollara.ca ;   Websitehttp://www.pollara.ca/h.htm/.htm.s/ACS-FrDio.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html

**************************************************************

ENVIRONMENT MARKET STUDIES FOR CANADIAN COMPANIES

Industry Canada's Strategis Website has added nine new international
environment market studies which can be used by companies to expand their
services worldwide. Go to website:=20
<http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/ea01301e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html>http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/ea01301e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html
ea01301e.html. The studies are:

 Norway Industrial Process Controls ISA970901
 Philippines Water and Wastewater Chemicals ISA970901
 Philippines Water Supply/Distribution/Treatment EQ. ISA970901
 Spain Overview of the Natural Gas Sector ISA970701
 Spain Water Pollution Control Equipment ISA970701
 Taiwan Recycling Equipment ISA970701
 Thailand Architecture/Construction/Eng. Services ISA970801
 Turkey Civil Engineering & Consulting Services ISA970801
 U.K. Waste Water Systems & Equip. (Rev) ISA970801

************************************************************

MASSIVE NEW FOREST CLEAR CUTTING IN MANITOBA AND SASKATCHEWAN SPARKS ACTION

Massive new clearcutting operations being launched in Manitoba and on the
border of Manitoba in Saskatchewan has raised concerns that the extraction=
 may
have negative impacts on other economies in the region. Non consumptive
economic uses such as those of the native communities (trapping, hunting,=
 and
fishing, and non consumptive uses) and those including tourism,=
 birdwatching,
and biodiversity protection will be negatively impacted. The three logging
operations are  Louisiana Pacific which plans to harvest wood to feed its
waferboard mill in Swan River, Manitoba. Adjacent is SaskforMacMillan Inc.=
 on
the adjacent Saskatchewan side of the boundary. The third is Tolko Manitoba
Inc. which has a 13 year agreement with the Government of Manitoba. It will=
 be
allowed to log 11 million hectares. Manitoba has doubled the cutting area
ceded
to Tolko, which now  runs the pulp and paper mill at The Pas, Manitoba,
started
by the province 30 years ago. Tolko, a B.C. based company, took over last=
 year
from Repap Enterprises ltd.  Tolko wants to expand and modernize the=
 existing
pulp mill at the site and build a new one. It will also build 800
kilometres of
all weather roads to help in its logging operations.=20

 The native peoples and other affected economies are asking both the federal
and provincial governments to conduct environmental assessments before
allowing
the projects to proceed.  Regarding Tolko, Don Sullivan of Manitoba's Future
Forest Alliance said "I'm tired of waiting for Environment Minister=
 Christine
Stewart to respond to our requests for action. It's time to go to court and
get
the courts to force the federal government to enforce their own=
 environmental
assessment act.'' For example, Tolko Manitoba Inc. requires permission from
the
federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to build bridges needed for
road construction, Ottawa's responsibilities are triggered under the 1992
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, Sullivan claims.  The alliance says=
 the
province of Manitoba's decision to conduct dozens of individual reviews for
each aspect of Tolko's proposal rather than view it as a whole, makes a
mockery
of the environmental review process. The Canadian Environmental Defence Fund
(CEDF) filed an application in Federal Court of Canada in Toronto asking a
judge to intervene. Unfortunately, the possibility of the federal government
intervening in a Canadian problem to correct any missteps, has been reduced=
 by
the "Harmonization Accord" which effectively blocks the federal government=
 out
of provincial jurisdictions. Source:  Scott Edmonds, Winnipeg, Canadian=
 Press.

********************************************************************

PARTNERS FOR THE SASKATCHEWAN RIVER BASIN

Consumptive and non consumptive users of forests, waters, and soils in the
Saskatchewan River Basin will hold a conference and annual general meeting
April 23 & 24, 1998 McEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary, 2500
University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta. Opening Remarks  will be made by=
 Susan
Lamb, CEO of the Meewasin Valley Authority. Henry Katarnuk, TEC Corporation,
will speak on the values of tourism. Ecoeconomist, Dr. Dixon Thompson,
University of Calgary, will also speak on environmental economic values. For
registration information contact the Partners for the Saskatchewan River=
 Basin
office ph. 1 800 567 8007.

********************************************************************

POPS NEGOTIATIONS IN MONTREAL JUNE/JULY 1998

Montreal will be the venue for talks beginning June 29, 1998 on a second
treaty
that will focus on the release and emissions of persistent organic=
 pollutants
(POPs). These include some of the most toxic chemicals ever developed by
industry. The negotiations on a new international environmental agreement
(IEA)
will start with a list of twelve (12) POPs  aldrin, chlordane, DDT,=
 dieldrin,
dioxins, endrin, furans, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, PCBs, and
toxaphene; more will be added later.=20

These negotiations, also under the auspices of UNEP, are to be completed by
the
year 2000. The negotiations build upon the new Basel Convention PIC treaty
where 95 governments finalized the text of the Convention on the Prior
Informed
Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade. Negotiated under the auspices of  UNEP and the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Convention will establish an
international alert list and help developing countries obtain the=
 information
they need to protect themselves. It is based on the principle of  Prior
Informed Consent, or PIC, which states that exports of dangerous substances
should not proceed unless explicitly agreed by the importing country. The
exporting country is notified about the products the importing country no=20
longer wants to receive, and it works with its chemicals industries  to=
 ensure
that illegal imports do not occur. Decisions must be trade neutral  that
is, if
a country does not wish to accept an import, it  must not produce the=
 chemical
domestically or import it from  non-Parties.

The treaty also contains provisions for the safe labeling of toxics in the
event of export. At first the treaty will apply to around 27 chemicals, with
potentially hundreds more qualifying on the basis of future decisions  by=
 the
Parties. Governments have asked that the Convention  commitments be carried
out
on a voluntary basis immediately after the Diplomatic Conference in=
 Rotterdam
next September, where the  Convention will be formally adopted and opened=
 for
signature by ministers and other senior officials. Additional data and
documents are at website <http://irptc.unep.ch/c.ca/SSG/ea01301e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html>http://irptc.unep.ch/..ca/SSG/ea01301e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html  For
more
information or to arrange interviews, contact Gertrud Attar in Geneva at
(4122)9178234 or Michael Williams at 917 8242, fax 797 3464.

***************************************************************

WHAT ARE PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS  POPS?

POPs remain in the environment and circulate globally through the=
 "grasshopper
effect".  POPs released in one part of the world can, through a repeated=
 (and
often seasonal) process of release, deposit, release, deposit, be=
 transported
to regions far away from their original source. This is why POPs can be=
 found
in people and animals living in the Arctic, thousands of kilometers from any
major POPs source. POPs are also transported via living organisms through a
process known as bioaccumulation. POPs are not soluble in water but are
readily
absorbed in fatty tissue, where concentrations can become magnified by up to
70,000 times the background levels. Fish, predatory birds, mammals, and=
 humans
are high up the food chain and so absorb the greatest concentrations. When
they
travel, the POPs travel with them.

With worldwide sales of some $1.5 trillion annually, the chemicals industry=
 is
a vital part of the modern industrial economy, providing a range of goods=
 and
services essential to our lifestyle. The number of different chemicals in
production is on the rise, and estimates of the chemicals currently on the
market vary widely, from 20,000 to as many as 70,000.  Annual production
levels
are some 400 million tons (1995 figures).  Clearly, the dramatic growth in
both
the quantities and the variety of substances being released into the
environment increases the potential for damaging human health and the
environment.  Source UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya.

****************************************************************

QUEBEC ENDS ITS TOXIC WASTE HAULING WAY BILL SYSTEM

On December 1, 1997, the Quebec Ministry of Environment and Wildlife (MEF)
ended its online system for tracking the transportation of hazardous waste.=
=20
Previously, trucks in Quebec could not haul such wastes without a government
issued waybill number. The waybill system was used to prevent midnight
dumping.
The system was also used to ensure that waste disposal companies were
receiving
only those wastes for which they had a permit.  For example, the company
called
RecupereSol in St. Ambroise, Quebec received a shipment of PCB contaminated
concrete. MEF used the waybill system to track the infraction. MEF issued a
Notice of Violation which is now currently under investigation. Philip
Preville
from Quebec's "Mirror" magazine wrote that "Alain Boutin of MEF said such
enforcement would be impossible."  Source "Mirror" Magazine, Montreal, March
12, 1998.

***************************************************************

A NEW PCB INCINERATOR STARTS UP IN QUEBEC

The Quebec Ministry of Environment and Wildlife (Fauna) (MEF) has licenced
Vancouver based Bennett Environmental Inc. to burn soils contaminated with
PCB's at its recently purchased RecupereSol incinerator in St. Ambroise near
Chicoutimi, Quebec. Bennett conducted test burns at the facility in August
1997
and received their permit October 1997. Bennett Environmental reports that=
 it
signed a large contract to import PCBlaced soils from Ontario. The Company's
PCB destruction operation in St. Ambroise has attained a throughput of 8
tonnes
per hour, and the throughput is approaching the equipment's maximum=
 throughput
level of 10 tonnes per hour. The company has received delisting certificates
from the Qu=E9bec Ministry of Environment for material processed through the
facility. Destruction certificates are issued after the processed soils are
tested, and the test results confirm that the levels of PCB and organic
contaminants are below acceptable levels for disposal. Bennett reports in=
 its
press release (March 4, 1998) that it expects to complete its $2.8 million
contract with Philip Services Corp. (PSC) of Hamilton Ontario, to burn PCB
soils from Toronto ahead of schedule at the end of March 1998. For more
information contact Bennett Environmental Inc., Suite 200  1130 West Pender
Street Vancouver, B.C., V6E 4A4, Tel(604) 681 8828,   Fax(604) 681 6825;
email:  info@bennettenvironmental.com; Website:=20
<http://www.bennettenvironmental.com/1e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html>http://www.bennettenvironmental.com/.e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html

****************************************************************************
*******************

ORPHANED HAZARDOUS SITE IN LACHINE HAS QUEBEC IN A SPIN

The former Jenkins Foundry in Lachine was left to provincial and municipal
governments to manage and clean up after the former owner walked away. Most=
 of
the soil in the 648,592 square feet property near the St. Lawrence River, is
contaminated with heavy metals like lead and zinc and contains three large
containers filed with 80% pure PCB oil. The cost of clean up will run in the
many millions of dollars. The Jenkins Foundry provincial public trustee,
Roland
Chretien appeared to have recently disowned responsibility for the property.
This raised concerns with the City of Lachine's Mayor, William McCullock who
was "speechless when told by a reporter that the Quebec curator denied it=
 has
assumed ownership of the Jenkins property." Source The Gazette" Montreal,
March
10, 1998.

************************************************************************
INTERNATIONAL   INTERNATIONAL   INTERNATIONAL
************************************************************************

NOMINATIONS FOR SASAKAWA INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AWARD

 Every year the United Nations Environment Programme awards the Sasakawa
Environment Prize to individuals who have made outstanding global
contributions
to the management and protection of the environment. Some of the past=
 winners
include Dr. M. S. Swaminathan of India, the father of the economic ecology
movement; Lester Brown, Director of the World Watch Institute and Chico
Mendes,
the rubber tapper from Brazil who died leading the fight against the cattle
ranchers' destruction of the rainforest. The Prize is awarded to individuals
who have made outstanding global contributions to the management and
protection
of the environment consistent with the policies, aims and objectives of=
 UNEP.
Candidates can be associated with any field of the environment. Those=
 eligible
to make nominations include, but are not limited to, specialists in
environmental sciences, academies of science, engineering and research,
members
of the United Nations system, governments and intergovernmental=
 organizations,
trade unions and  Non -governmental organizations. Nominees will be=
 considered
on an annual basis. A new letter of nomination and updated description of
achievements is required every year. Nominations for the Prize, related
credentials, information in support of the nomination and letters of=
 reference
must be received no later than 31 May 1998. No candidates may nominate=
 himself
or herself. Nomination forms may be obtained fromThe Secretary, UNEP=
 Sasakawa
Environment Prize, Information and Public Affairs Branch, P.O. Box 30552,
Nairobi, Kenya; ph. (254 2) 62 3401/62 3128, fax (254 2) 62 3692/62 3927;
email
elisabeth.guilbaudcox@unep.org, or, rajinder.sian@unep.org

****************************************************************************
**********

U.S. DEBATES COST OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The estimates, being unveiled today before the House Commerce Committee by=
 the
White House Council on Economic Advisers, say that the treaty will add only
$70
to $110 to the average household's annual energy bill over the next 15=
 years.
Independent assessments of the impact of the Treaty by the highly respected
Wharton Econometrics Forecasting Associates, Inc. (WEFA), however, project
that
ratification of the treaty would force per household reductions in Gross
Domestic Product of $2,061 in the year 2010, and $1,715 in 2015. "The
Administration's own Interagency Analysis last July projected that the
agreement would add a quarter to the price of a gallon of gasoline by the=
 year
2010," said RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson.  "Yet today, we're expected to=
 believe
that the added cost will actually be only 4 to 6 cents a gallon in the year
2008  with a much tougher Treaty, thanks to Al Gore's cavein at Kyoto. To=
 gain
an understanding of those who feel the costs are too high visit the website:=
=20
http//www.rnc.org/news/kyoto.

*****************************************************************

CALL FOR PAPERS
CONFERENCE ON THE ECONOMICS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Ninth Pacific Science Association Inter Congress on SIII2 Economics of
Sustainable Development Linking Economics and the Environment, will be held
November 16  18, 1998 in Taipei. Organized by Taiwan's Institute of=
 Economics
at Academia Sinica, it will have 20 related symposia on environmental
economics
covering aspects of humanities, social sciences, physical and life sciences.
One will be on the Economics of Sustainable Development Linking Economics=
 and
the Environment which is organized by the Institute of Economics of Academia
Sinica (IEAS). The program will consist of contributed papers on=
 environmental
policies and the economy, economywide policies and the environment, and=
 green
national accounts and macroeconomic performance. A limited amount of=
 financial
support for transportation is available. Those applying for financial=
 support
must submit more comprehensive information than the one page abstract.=
 Papers
will be selected in accordance with subject matter and potential=
 contribution.
Those wishing to contribute a paper are welcomed to submit a one page=
 abstract
or complete manuscript by July 31, 1998. Selected presenters will be=
 notified
by August 30, 1998. Complete papers must be mailed to the committee by
November
1, 1998. People are encouraged to organize a session related to one of the
subject areas. A session should consist of three to four papers with a chair
and discussants. Contact Dr. Daigee Shaw (IEAS), The Institute of Economics,
Academia Sinica,  Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan; ph. 88627822791 ext.616,
fax=20
88627853946; emaildshaw@sinica.edu.tw.

*******************************************************

U.S. RESEARCH FOUNDATION WILL FUND PROJECTS ON WATER POLLUTION

The American Water Works Research Foundation (AWWARF), a nonprofit
organization
dedicated to advancing the science of water, is seeking applications for =
 new
research projects on protecting and delivering drinking water. Since 1986,
AWWARF has managed research projects worth over $24,100,000. Requests for
proposals (RFPs) for these projects will be available on the AWWARF website=
 at
http://www.awwarf.com.ronmental.com/.e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html  Proposals submitted in response to RFPs must be
postmarked by May 4, 1998. Project proposals must include at least 25% of=
 the
total project budget from the proponent as inkind services, or cash
contributions. Contact awards for all projects will be determined by an=
 AWWARF
project advisory committee appointed for each project.. RFPs can re viewed a
AWWARF's homepage http://www.awwarf.com/ronmental.com/.e.htmlo.htmlhtmlns/cc&i_toc.html in the What's New section and can=
 be
requested and sent through email to dhughston@40awwarf.com or to
gpreston@40awwarf.com.  Interested parties can also obtain RFPs from the
AWWARF
RFP Desk, 6666 W. Quincy Ave., Denver, CO 80235; or by calling (303) 347=
 6117
or (303) 347 6211.

****************************************************************************
***************

DELIBERATELY SET INDONESIAN FIRES RUINING RURAL ECONOMIES

The economies of many villages and towns outside Jakarta are being harmed by
the massive forest fires deliberately set to clear the way for palm oil
plantations. Ironically, the IMF conditions for bailout loans to Indonesia
include requirements to expand export earnings from palm oil. The issue no
longer environment versus the economy. It is one type of economy versus and
other. In other developments, the United Nations has identified the=
 Indonesian
fires as a top priority. Secretary General, Kofi Annan has appointed  Mr.
Klaus
Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP),
to coordinate a worldwide response. Toepfer will fly to Indonesia for a
meeting
with the government at the highest level. On March 28, 1998, a United=
 Nations
Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) left Geneva for Indonesia. This=
 team
is composed of four firefighting members from OCHA and three environmental
experts from UNEP.  An OCHA/UNEP team is also on standby to fly to Brazil=
 this
weekend where fires are now rapidly spreading deep into the ainforest and=
 over
a million hectares of savannah woodland have already burnt. The aim of both
missions is to assist the Governments' priorities in fighting the fires. =
 The
teams will look at the assistance being provided from all other sources and
assess the extent of damage caused and the threat to irreplaceable
biodiversity
and wildlife. To aid both the Indonesian and Brazilian efforts, the Global
Environmental Facility (GEF) is in the process of providing immediate
financial
assistance of US$750,000. Additional data and documents are available at
UNEP's
website http//unep.ch.  For more information contact Vladimir Sakharov at=
 917
1142, or Gertrud Attar at telephone (4122) 929 9234, fax (4122) 797 3464, or
email gattar@unep.ch; or Jim Sniffen, UNEP Information Officer, New York,
tel(1212) 9638094, fax (212) 9637341, email sniffenj@un.org

********************************************************************

IPSCO in Alberta Challenged the Constitutionality of NPRI and held the
challenge in abatement until the Quebec PCB case was heard in court.
INTERNATIONAL PIPING SERVICES COMPANY=20
2424 Wisconsin Ave.=20
Downers Grove IL 60515 USA=20
Phone: (630) 4359500  (800) 8747464=20
Fax: (630) 4359597=20
With offices in Chicago, Philadelphia,  Houston,  Orlando, Charlotte,
Scunthorpe U.K., Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi, and U.A.E.=20

IPSCO products and services allow our customers to perform repairs and
modifications to their existing piping systems without shutting down their
pipeline. Hot tapping and line stopping technologies are utilized to perform
this work. Typical applications include installation of valves, repair of
valves, relocation of lines, and expansion of existing lines.  In addition,
IPSCO offers a complete line of split sleeve repair clamps which allow for=
 the
emergency containment of
piping defects. Repair clamps may be welded to the pipleline after
installation
for permanent repair. Typical applications include repair of damaged pipe or
leaking weld joints. For over 35 years, IPSCO has made it their business to
keep pipelines on stream during maintenance, retrofitting, alterations,
emergencies and new construction. Available worldwide, IPSCO's full line of
products and services is designed to keep product flowing.=20



       ***********************************************************
              *******************************************
=20
                   $180.90 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO
                    THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER=20
Subscribe to "The Gallon Environment Letter" and its "Green Jobs Available"
supplement. The 8 to 10 page newsletters are distributed twice monthly. Send=
 a
cheque for $180.90 a year ($169.00+ GST) and help finance the research that
delivers inside information and breaking news on environment business in
Canada
and the world. Make cheque to"Gallon Letter", 506 Victoria Ave., Montreal,
Quebec, H3Y 2R5.
=20
     *************************************************************
            **********************************************

      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
              Copyright (c) 1998 Canadian Institute for
               Business and the Environment, Montreal
                      All rights reserved.
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Gary Gallon
President
Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
506 Victoria Ave.
Montreal, Quebec  H3Y 2R5
Ph. (514) 369-0230,  Fax (514) 369-3282
email:  cibe@web.net