THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER
Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
Institut Canadien du Commerce et de l'environnement
506 Victoria Ave., Montreal, Quebec H3Y 2R5
Ph. (514) 369- 0230, Fax (514) 369- 3282
Email [log in to unmask]
Vol. 2, No. 24, September 12, 1998
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INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
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CORRUPTION AND THE MISMANAGEMENT OF NATIONS
Corruption and the illegal management of a country’s wealth is leading
to economic chaos and collapse in many nations. Countries like Indonesia,
Russia, and even Japan have allowed favours and special considerations
to get in the way of proper free enterprise management. It results in a
failure to manage the countries’ natural resources and a failure to reinvest
in the countries’ economic development.
What happens is that the countries’ natural wealth, its earnings, are
converted
into cash, usually U.S. dollars. Then it is spirited out of the country before
it
can be reinvested in the wealth of the nation, and invested the health of its
people. This short sighted approach is “killing the goose that laid the
golden
egg”. Not only does the money disappear, but the natural resource and the
human economy disappears with it.
Collapsing with it is the ability of countries to protect their environment.
The long term care of their people’s environmental health is sacrificed in
the countries’ scramble to provide the basic needs of food, shelter and
energy.
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GROWTH IN US $390 BILLION WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL
MARKET BROUGHT TO A HALT
As corruption and economic stress reduces the ability of countries to
clean up, the US$390 billion a year world environment market is
staggering to a halt in its 8% annual growth, and it is beginning slide
backwards. Indonesia and Russia, for example, were surging ahead in
their multi-hundred billion dollar program to clean up. That is until
their economies collapsed and they suddenly perceived environmental
protection as aa luxury to be pursued later.
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THE WORLD BANK NEEDS TO STOP FUNDING CORRUPTION,
IN INDONESIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES
One of the problems is that government leaders that have drained
their own countries dry, are the ones that the World Bank and the
IMF have had to deal with. For decades the matter of corruption has
been kept under wraps by the World Bank and IMF. But the collapse
of Indonesia’s economy, has blown the cover. Major environmental
organizations lead by the relatively conservation Environmental
Defense Fund (EDF) have written a letter to the World Bank demanding
it take action on the corruption issue.
The letter was sent to the President of the World Bank, James
Wolfensohn. Here is what it says, in part, “We are writing to
congratulate the Bank on what appears to be a new spirit of
openness and candor in admitting past mistakes and the need for
change regarding the Bank's approach as evidenced by the statements
of yourself and Bank officials concerning Indonesia in the front page
article of the Wall Street Journal on July 14, 1998.........According to
well-founded and researched sources, "World Bank officials knew
corruption in bank-funded projects was common, but never commissioned
any broad reports tracking how much money was lost to it--in part,
some bank officials say, because they feared having to confront the
government." Many outside and inside the Bank are of the opinion
that this problem, and the problem of the poor compliance of many
Bank operations with the Bank's environmental and social policies,
is rooted in the continued persistence of the culture of loan approval
in the Bank. Bank management has tolerated violations of Bank policy
too often to preserve what is perceived as the Bank's interest in not
offending major borrowing clients.”
For a complete copy of the letter contact, Bruce Rich and Stephanie Fried
Environmental Defense Fund, 257 Park Avenue South, New York,
NY 10010. Visit the website <http://www.edf.org/>http://www.edf.org/
To visit the World Bank website go to
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U.S. $200 BILLION SHIFTED ILLEGALLY/SEMI- LEGALLY
OUT OF RUSSIA SINCE 1992
The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business (ROB) reports that,
“more than $72 billion in capital has left Russia illegally or semi
legally in the past three years, contributing to the collapse of the
Russian ruble, a new study has found.” The ROB goes on to say,
“the study by Canadian and Russian researchers estimated that a
total of $200 billion sent out of Russia from 1992 to 1997.” This
information confirms the problem of shady in-country bankers
and complicit officials failing to maintain investment in their
country, their infrastructure, and their environment. Source, “Flight
of Russuan Capital Helped Sink Ruble, Study Says”, by Geoffrey York,
Moscow Bureau, The Globe and Mail, Toronto, September 11, 1998.
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MEETING IN VIENNA ON CDM AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is
sponsoring a meeting in Vienna, Austria, October 1 and 2, 1998 on the
“Clean Development Mechanism” defined in the Kyoto Protocol to
help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting of experts is expected
to contribute to a greater understanding of (1) the needs and expectations
of the industrial sector in developing countries with regard to the CDM,
and (2) the views of industrialized countries, and particularly those of the
private sector, on how the CDM can contribute to meeting their commitments
under the Kyoto Protocol. The EGM will address opportunities that CDM
offers for sustainable industrial development and control of the growth of
industrial GHG emissions in developing countries. It will produce a set
of recommendations on how international organizations like UNIDO can
contribute to the success of CDM and the efforts of developing countries
to develop and operate the mechanism as a policy tool for promoting
sustainable industrial development.
Although industry has been identified as a key area for climate change
mitigation projects, little has been done to identify the special needs of
industry and its governing institutions in organizing and operationalizing
the international cooperation for CDM. The objective of the EGM is therefore
to fill this gap in the current discourse on the CDM and to introduce a
distinct
industry perspective into the post-Kyoto climate negotiations. Contact ,
Peter Pembleton, Kyoto Protocol Branch, SES, UNIDO, Tel +431 21131 3705
Fax+431 21346 3705, e-mail [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask])
Website <http://www.magicsw.com/unido>http://www.magicsw.com/unido/
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CDM, EMISSIONS TRADING, AND JOINT IMPLEMENTATION
JUST HOT GAS, SAYS DENMARK
Denmark's Minister of Environment and Energy Svend Auken has
expressed serious concern about the inability of the greenhouse gas
(GHG) reduction "flexible mechanisms" like emissions trading, clean
development mechanisms (CDM), and joint implementation (JI) to
actually reduce GHG emissions. Speaking at the Offshore Northern
Seas oil and gas conference, Auken claimed the flexible mechanisms
would end up “trading (human) hot air, not super heated (GHG) air."
He said that Denmark and other European countries are worried that
the Kyoto Agreement, “didn't specify the way countries should direct
the reductions." The Denmark worried that, “under the existing quota
trading proposal, countries with high emissions that trade with
underdeveloped, low emissions countries aren't really reducing global
greenhouse gas output.” Minister Auken called for "much stronger
political action" and said serious reduction of greenhouse gases "can't
depend upon the market alone." Source, David Burke, The Dow
Jones News Service; +47-23-10-05-80; email [log in to unmask]
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CANADA'S CLIMATE CHANGE VOLUNTARY
CHALLENGE & REGISTRY INC.
Since its inception last October, the Voluntary Challenge and Registry
(VCR) Inc. has completed its transition from a government-incubated program
to a not-for-profit corporation, funded jointly by the private sector and
government. To date VCR Inc. has established a Council of Champions and
appointed a board of Directors; organized and hosted the first annual
Council of Champions meeting and two board meetings; developed a
communications action plan and information package; launched a new VCR Inc.
web site and Registry database; and developed and distributed a newsletter
* "Champion News". For more detailed information see http//www.vcr-mvr.ca,
and contact VCR Inc. at 170 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 600, Ottawa, ON, K1P
5V5, Tel(613) 565-5151, Fax(613) 565-5743.
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ALBERTA’S OIL AND COAL COALITION, “AREA”
TO HOST NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
The Alliance for Responsible Environmental Alternatives (AREA),
created in Alberta by the fossil fuel industry to question meaningful
action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, will host its
fourth annual National Climate Change Conference, September 30,
1998 in Toronto. This event will highlight climate change issues
following Kyoto, including Canada's national climate change process,
offsets, emissions trading, and expected outcome from the COP4 in
Buenos Aires in November, 1998. Contact Tom Vant, Executive
Secretary, AREA, 1100 Canada Trust Tower, 10104 - 103rd
Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 0H8, Tel (403) 944- 0695,
Fax (403) 441- 9849, E-mail [log in to unmask]
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MEETING WITH JAPANESE INDUSTRY LEADERS
CEIA 1st Vice Chair Chris Henderson and Project Manager Susan
Young, along with representatives of the Business Council on
National Issues, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the
Canadian Electricity Association, met with 3 representatives of
Japan's Keidenran's (the Japanese industrial Chamber of Commerce
equivalent) Task Force on Global Warming. CEIA promoted Canadian
climate change technologies. The Japanese have committed to the same
level of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as Canada (6% below
1990 levels).
Japan plans to achieve a 3.7% reduction through carbon sinks and the
remainder through energy conservation measures. The Japanese lack
capability in forestation/forest management related to carbon sinks.
Also, Japan plans to increase its nuclear capacity from 52 to 72 power
plants, to achieve national energy self-sufficiency. In the mid-term,
the Japanese project an increase in coal usage. The Japanese
government has identified a need to purchase integrated gasification
combined cycle technologies, and is only now looking at co-generation
possibilities. Finally, Japan's MITI has subsidies to encourage domestic
industry to find and implement new energy sources. Contact Ron Portelli,
President, Canadian Environment Industry Association (CEIA) 350,
Sparks St., Suite 208, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8. Tel (613) 236- 6222,
Fax (613) 236- 6850, email [log in to unmask] Website
http://www.ceiaacie.ca/
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ACT NOW ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Letter to the Editor, The Gallon Environment Letter,
By the time the doubters of whether or not we have global warming, ozone,
depletion, etc., are (if ever) satisfied that enough "evidence" has been
collected to vote affirmative, we will be far enough into the effect(s)
that reversal will be difficult, if not impossible, without some currently
unforeseen technological advancement and/or unprecedented advent of a
worldwide spirit of cooperation. We can't afford to wait until enough
"evidence" is collected. We must assume that these effects have begun and
take measures now to minimize them (since we probably cannot stop or
reverse them in the "short term," whatever that may be). Ray Gallucci,
Senior Nuclear Engineer, Rochester, NY, email [log in to unmask]
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MONTREAL PROTOCOL FUND GIVES US$ 760 MILLION
FOR CFC AND OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCE REDUCTION
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has a
Multilateral Fund, which helps pay developing country (and Soviet Block
country) costs incurred and to promote the transfer of alternative substances
and technologies. The Multilateral Fund of the Protocol has disbursed about
$US 760 million to more than 100 developing countries to phase out more
than half of their CFC consumption. The replenishment for the three-year
period of 2000-2 will be negotiated in late 1999. Text of the Montreal
Protocol at website http://www.unep.org/unep/secretar/ozone/montreal.htm/
Also see the Web Site of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel
(TEAP) of the Montreal Protocol, at website http://www.teap.org/
Also see Environment Canada’s report on the Montreal Protocol
progress on its Green Lane website at http://www.doe.ca/relations_e.html
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OECD CONSUMPTION OF CFC’S AND OZONE DEPLETING
SUBSTANCES DROPS FROM 1 MILLION TONNES TO 15,000 TONNES
In 1986, before the signing of the Montreal Protocol (Sept. 1987),
the consumption of CFCs in the industrialized countries was about
1 million tonnes. Twelve years later the consumption in the OECD
countries has been completely phased out apart from about 15,000
tonnes for permitted essential uses only. This is the good news from
Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP). However, he warns that the global battle is far
from over and the ozone layer will only recover if we remain vigilant.
There are still many challenges to be overcome, particularly in developing
countries and the Russian Federation where the fight to save the ozone
layer will have to be won. Website Ozone Secretariat
http://www.unep.org/unep/secretar/ozone/home.htm
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RUSSIA, INDIA AND 3RD WORLD PRODUCTION OF CFCS
JUMP UP FROM 15% IN 1986 TO 80% IN 1996
Ten years ago, the share of India, Brazil and other developing countries and
the
Russian Federation (then USSR) in the total production of CFCs was 15
per cent. In 1996, it was 80 per cent. For halons, the share was 7
per cent ten years ago. Today, it is 100 per cent. UNEP’s Toepfer
warns that, "the responsibility for saving the ozone layer is now to a
large extent with the developing countries. The ozone hole will
recover but only if they implement the control measures next year and
complete their phase-out according to schedule," said Toepfer.
"The developing country phase-out will be a crucial challenge for the next
10 years," said Madhava Sarma, Executive Secretary of the UNEP Ozone
Secretariat. For more information please contact, The Ozone Secretariat in
Nairobi on tel. +254-2-62-3885, fax. +254-2-62-3913, email.
[log in to unmask], Website at http://www.unep.org/unep/secretar/ozone;
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1998 STATE OF THE WORLD POPULATION RELEASED BY
UNITED NATIONS
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on September 2, 1998,
published its "State of World Population 1998" report. The report
found that , "Global population growth is slowing, thanks to successful family
planning programmes. But because of past high fertility, world
population will continue to grow by over 80 million a year for at least
the next decade. In mid-1999, the total will pass 6 billion twice what
it was in 1960." The UNFPA report points out, world population will
continue to grow substantially for at least another 50 years. In 2050 it
will be between 7.7 and 11.2 billion, with 9.4 billion considered most likely.
"
If world fertility rates drop to two births per woman, as the U.N.
hopes, the population will reach 9.4 billion in 2050. If fertility drops
only slightly from the current rate of 2.8 births per woman, the
population will hit 11.2 billion in 52 years. If the fertility rate
doesn't drop at all, the population will near 15 billion by then and
keep going.
The full report can be dowloaded in PDF from the web site of UNFPA.
http//www.unfpa.org/NEWS/RELEASES/swp98rel.htm
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ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION FOR MILITARY
Are you running a military base? Do you want your soldiers to clean up?
Then go the DENIX website called the Defense Environmental Network
& Information Exchange. DENIX is designed to give any military official
in any country, and the general public access to environmental
legislative, compliance, restoration, cleanup, safety and occupational
health, and security related to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
The resources contained in DENIX are updated daily and can be accessed
through a series of menus, a site map, or their full-text search engine.
Among this site's features are a comprehensive inventory of links to
environmental legislation and policy guidance, news sources, and topical
programs. Go to the website at
http://denix.cecer.army.mil/denix/Public/public.html
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WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN LATIN AMERICA
An International Workshop sponsored by the Water Environment
Federation (WEF) and the InterAmerican Association of Sanitary
Engineering and Environmental Sciences (AIDIS), will be held
at the Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida,
October 3, 1998. To date, private sector participation (PSP) in the
development of sanitation projects in Latin American has yielded
mixed results. Participants in this workshop will gain a better
understanding of the project definition and development process,
adequate risk allocation, obtaining project financing, developing
a competitive and fair bidding process, conducting efficient
contract negotiations, and controlling delivered services. There
will be case studies presented on some of private public sector
cooperation, including, Aguas Argentinas (Buenos Aires),
Obras Sanitarias de Mendoza (Argentina), Aguas de Manizales
(Colombia), Salitre WWTP BOT (Colombia), and the Mexican BOT
Experience. To attend, call, WEF Member Services at 1- 800.666.0206
or ph. 703.684.2452, email [log in to unmask]
Visit website at http://www.wef.org/weftec98/98reg.html
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GREENER PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES AND INNOVATIONS
“Greener Purchasing Opportunities and Innovations”, ( ISBN 1 874719 04 7)
was published September 1998 to provide some possible answers to the
above questions and to facilitate the development and dissemination of best
practice worldwide. Cost US$35.00 for hardback, pp. 328. It is divided
into four sections, covering The Public Sector, The Private Sector,
Innovations and Case Studies, this book brings together international
expertise from four continents, including contributions from organizations
such as the US EPA, Environment Canada, Procter & Gamble, Xerox and
The Body Shop, as well as describing burgeoning new initiatives such as
the Japanese and European Green Purchasing Networks. It provides a
number of checklists and examples on how to establish and maintain
successful greener purchasing and supply chain practices in order to bring
not only environmental, but business value to organizations of all sizes. To
order contact, Sue Pearson, Greenleaf Publishing, Broom Hall, 8-10
Broomhall Road, Sheffield S10 2DR, UK, Tel +44 114 2663789,
Fax +44 114 2679403,
<http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/>http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
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CHINA ADMITS POOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
CONTRIBUTED TO FLOOD DISASTER
Chinese government officials have made an unusual admission that its
land-use policies are partially responsible for the flooding currently
devastating southern and northeastern China. Column gives background
information about the causes, which include clear-cutting of forests,
land clearing and topsoil removal, and allowing growing populations
to build villages in flood zones. Source: New York Times, 26 August 1998.
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PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS ACCOUNTING
The U.K. Greenleaf Publishing company released its new publication,
“The Green Bottom Line:, Environmental Accounting for Management
— Current Practice and Future Trends”. Cost, US$65.00 in hardback,
pp. 432. It provides the latest information on the workable application
of environment economics into business accounting. It reports that,
“A number of companies such as Baxter International, BT, Xerox,
Zeneca and others, are developing a better understanding of the
costs and benefits of environmental action. To Order, please contact,
Sue Pearson, Greenleaf Publishing, Broom Hall, 8-10 Broomhall
Road, Sheffield S10 2DR, UK, Tel+44 114 2663789, Fax+44 114
2679403, website
<http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/>http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com
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COMMERCIAL LOGGING BLAMED IN PART FOR
INDIAN LANDSLIDES
Mankind played a hand in giant landslides that are feared to have
killed hundreds in the Himalayan hills of north India this week,
experts said. Amid reports that the death toll from the landslides
could top 300, a finger of accusation was pointed at deforestation
on the steep foothills of the world's highest mountains. "Landslides
of the sort we have been witnessing in the Himalayan region have
nothing to do with nature's fury a popular explanation to cover man's
rapacious plunder and neglect of the environment," The Times of India
wrote in an editorial.
"Tonnes of topsoil from the mountains are washed down every year
as a result of wanton deforestation," it said. "If this continues, it is
feared that the fragile Himalayan range will lose all its forest cover
by the middle of the next century." Dr. S.P. Banerjee, a soil expert
and visiting fellow of New Delhi's Tata Energy Research Institute,
said there were various reasons for slides that strike every year when
monsoon rains lash the hills. But deforestation was the main culprit.
He said the Almora hills, through which the Hindu pilgrims caught
in Tuesday's landslide at Pithoragarh district may have passed, had
53.6 percent forest cover. But barely half of that was under the control
of the Forest Department and the rest was not systematically managed.
P.C. Srivastava told Reuters in the state capital, Lucknow, that forest
cover was 67 percent in the Uttar Pradesh hills and 36 percent across
the province as a whole. Source, By John Chalmers, UPI.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SUFFERS LACK OF ATTENTION
IN ISRAELI PALESTINIAN DISPUTE
Palestinians have accused Israeli companies of dumping hazardous
waste materials in the West Bank. Middle East Correspondent, Paul
Adams, reports. The earth in the West Bank village of Azun is being
corroded by waste. There is everything from old fertiliser to anti-
corrosion chemicals used on ships. It is all dumped at night and most
of it comes from Israel, Palestinian’s report. Local doctors say illegal
dumping is destroying the village. They say there are many cases of
breast and brain cancer and leukaemia in the area, and many people
have died. Israeli soldiers watch Azun from a distance, but are
never around when the trucks arrive full of Israeli waste.
The government says both sides suffer from illegal dumping. Shmuel
Brenner of the Israeli Ministry of the Environment says"The only way
to improve the situation is to work together." Raw sewage and industrial
waste from both Arab towns and Jewish settlements flows down the
valley seriously polluting the region. Environmental activist, Gidon
Bronberg, says"The environment is something we are all dependent on ...
and we are destroying it together." The pollution is such, that in the end,
the land may not be worth fighting for. Source, the BBC News Desk,
Wednesday, August 19, 1998 Published at 1540 GMT 1640 UK,
website at
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_154000/154204.st
m>http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_154000/154204.stm
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CLEAN WATER SUPPLY TOP ISSUE BETWEEN ISRAEL
AND PALESTINE
In a story written by Reuters New Service, “Palestinians accused Israel
of denying them water so children went thirsty while neighbouring
Jewish settlers watered their gardens and filled swimming pools.”
Palestinian officials in the West Bank told Israeli legislators visiting
Hebron that Israel was pumping only half of the daily allotment of
17,000 cubic metres (595,000 cubic feet) of water promised to the
city and nearby areas under interim peace deals, said Isa Atallah, head
of the Palestinian Water Authority in Hebron. Hebron was one of the
hardest hit areas but that other parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
were also suffering severe water shortages. In many places, Palestinians
had to get water off trucks. But Israeli Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon
said that Israel was actually exceeding the agreed amount of water
transferred
to Hebron. "Whenever they want additional water, they can get it," Sharon
said. "But if we want to avoid friction, we have to make sure that
there will be no Palestinian control over Israel's main water sources."
Source, Reuters News Service article b Aimee Rhodes, August 18, 1998.
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UNCTAD REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL
EMISSIONS TRADING OF GHG’S
A report issued recently at the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD) provides a thorough introduction
to international emissions trading as a tool for reducing emissions
of greenhouse gases. Authored by a multinational team of climate
change policy experts, the report details how an emissions trading
program could be implemented as a means of facilitating the
international negotiation process. For the complete news brief and/
or to download the report, go to the website
<http://www.weathervane.rff.org/negtable/unctad.html>http://www.weathervane
.rff.org/negtable/unctad.html.
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HONG KONG HOLDING BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
CONFERENCE
Businessmen will discuss how to protect the environment at a four-day
conference at the Seventh Annual Business & Industry Environment
Conference & Exhibition, organised by the Centre of Environmental
Technology Ltd. It will be held between September 22 and 25, 1998
at the Auditorium, ground floor of the Jockey Club Environmental
Building, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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REPORT ON US $100 BILLION ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
MARKET IN CENTRAL EUROPE
The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
completed a study, “The Environmental Technology Market in Central and
Eastern Europe - An Overview of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Slovakia and Slovenia”. The REC reports that as the countries of Central
and Eastern Europe continue their transition to a market economy and
prepare for European Union accession, the market for environmental
technologies and services is experiencing strong growth. It is estimated
that environmental investments totaling US $100 to $150 billion
will be needed in the ten accession countries over the coming years in
order to comply with EU environmental requirements. The REC survey
describes current market conditions and signals possible future directions.
It is the most comprehensive report yet prepared, taking into account the
viewpoints of technology providers, buyers, consultants, researchers, and
policymakers. By understanding the environmental situation in each country,
the relative demand for technologies, the main players, and the purchasing
behavior of buyers, the reader will be better prepared to identify
opportunities in the emerging market. Contact, Rossen Roussev,
Information Systems Project Manager, Regional Environmental
Center, for Central and Eastern Europe, Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000
Szentendre, Hungary, Tel (36-26) 311-199, Fax (36-26) 311-294,
e-mail [log in to unmask], Website, <http://www.rec.org/>http://www.rec.org
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LATEST U.S. EPA EFFORTS TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER
The U.S. EPA recently released its first annual national assessment of
drinking water system compliance, entitled "Providing Safe Drinking Water
in America1996 National Public Water System Annual Compliance Report and
Update on Implementation of the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments."
Based on the most recently available 1996, state-provided information, the
report shows that 86 percent of all Americans are served by water systems
with no reported violations of health standards and that most violations of
those standards occurred in the very smallest systems. The report also
describes the many steps the Clinton Administration is taking to improve
the safety of the nation's drinking water. The full report is available
from this site in PDF format for viewing or download. Summaries of each
state's report are included, as is information for obtaining full state
reports. Get report and other information on the website
<http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/annual>http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/annual/
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