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Yugoslavia
Marine PollutionBulletin conditions for discharges in these areas, including a ban on diesel oil releases into the environment. An earlier NPDES general permit for the Alaskan Bering and Beaufort Seas included such a ban and was challenged in court (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 340, 484). EPA provided justification for the ban and a final permit for the Bering and Beaufort is expected by the end of 1986. The general permit for the Gulf of Alaska areas increased the number of allowable generic drilling muds and allows additives to be mixed with the muds that increase toxicity levels by more than 10% if the overall toxicity limit is not surpassed. The permit also requires sea water produced by separation from oil and gas to be discharged below the mean low tide mark. Although the Minerals Management Service will be attempting to standardize industry requirements among the various regions in answer to criticisms of inconsistent treatment (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 17, 484), EPA's new general permit continues to apply different standards and requirements in different regions. Permits in the Gulf of Mexico have been challenged in court for being too stringent and too lenient (see Mar. Pollut. Btdl. 17, 440-441). Generally the West coast permits, including Alaskan permits, are more stringent than requirements issued for the Gulf of Mexico. Acceptable toxicity levels for Alaskan discharges are lower, diesel oil discharge is totally banned, and Alaskan permits require the more exacting static sheen test for discharges.
originating from used batteries. The Swedish Government is starting a national campaign to recover mercury batteries in an attempt to reduce mercury emissions from waste incineration plants, a major source of the contamination. Government action has been necessary because of the refusal of retailers to cooperate with local authorities in a recovery programme. Shopkeepers are now obliged to accept batteries when they are brought back and special boxes for them will be placed next to bottle banks. The Swedish experience follows that of the Japanese where ground water mercury contamination has led to similar concern (see Mar. Polh~t. Bull. 17,393).
Yugoslavia A new marine protection vessel is being built for the port of Rijeka with a 20% grant from the European Commission. The vessel will be equipped for gathering and treating oil discharged from ships and will form part of an integrated marine protection system, which also includes a treatment plant on land and a shuttle boat for transferring the waste. The vessel should be completed in time to contribute to the objectives of the European Year of the Environment (EYE) which begins in March 1987, the project being the first of its kind to be undertaken within the Barcelona Convention of 1985.
China
Round-the-World News Sweden Hundreds of lakes in Sweden have become contaminated by mercury, with thousands more still to be examined, almost certainly affected. The contamination has been traced to mercury
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The first ever international Conference on the conservation and management of wildlife in China is to be held at Beijing (Peking) from 14-19 July 1987. The conference is being organized by the China International Conference Centre for Science and Technology and Sino Films (China) Ltd, Hong Kong. Details from The Conference Secretariat, Sino Films (China) Ltd., Suite 708-9, Block B, Watsoffs Estate, North Point, Hong Kong.
originating from used batteries. The Swedish Government is starting a national campaign to recover mercury batteries in an attempt to reduce mercury emissions from waste incineration plants, a major source of the contamination. Government action has been necessary because of the refusal of retailers to cooperate with local authorities in a recovery programme. Shopkeepers are now obliged to accept batteries when they are brought back and special boxes for them will be placed next to bottle banks. The Swedish experience follows that of the Japanese where ground water mercury contamination has led to similar concern (see Mar. Polh~t. Bull. 17,393).
Yugoslavia A new marine protection vessel is being built for the port of Rijeka with a 20% grant from the European Commission. The vessel will be equipped for gathering and treating oil discharged from ships and will form part of an integrated marine protection system, which also includes a treatment plant on land and a shuttle boat for transferring the waste. The vessel should be completed in time to contribute to the objectives of the European Year of the Environment (EYE) which begins in March 1987, the project being the first of its kind to be undertaken within the Barcelona Convention of 1985.
China
Round-the-World News Sweden Hundreds of lakes in Sweden have become contaminated by mercury, with thousands more still to be examined, almost certainly affected. The contamination has been traced to mercury
64
The first ever international Conference on the conservation and management of wildlife in China is to be held at Beijing (Peking) from 14-19 July 1987. The conference is being organized by the China International Conference Centre for Science and Technology and Sino Films (China) Ltd, Hong Kong. Details from The Conference Secretariat, Sino Films (China) Ltd., Suite 708-9, Block B, Watsoffs Estate, North Point, Hong Kong.