The world's political record
Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
651 records in 1997
Austria · National Council · 17 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Rudolf Anschober und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Justiz betreffend Deponieskandal Bachmanning
Austria · National Council · 17 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Rudolf Anschober und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Deponieskandal Bachmanning
Austria · National Council · 17 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Rudolf Anschober und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Wasserverunreinigungen durch Benzintanks
Austria · National Council · 17 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten MMag. Dr. Madeleine Petrovic und Genossen an die Bundesministerin für Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales betreffend Verwendung des Insektizids Furadan als Giftköder
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 1997
National Clean Water Trust Fund Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a National Clean Water Trust Fund to be composed of monies obtained through enforcement actions. Makes the Fund available for projects to restore waters from damages resulting from violations of such Act and from the discharge of pollutants. Authorizes the use of civil penalties obtained under such Act for mitigation projects.
Austria · National Council · 12 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten MMag. Dr. Madeleine Petrovic und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Verwendung des Insektizids Furadan als Giftköder
Austria · Federal Council · 12 February 1997
Anfrage der Bundesräte Mag. John Gudenus und Genossen an die Bundesministerin für Frauenangelegenheiten und Verbraucherschutz betreffend Angusrinder ohne Gesundheitszeugnisse in Kärnten
Austria · National Council · 12 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Rudolf Anschober und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend Wassersituation in Oberösterreich
Austria · National Council · 12 February 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Andreas Wabl und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend das Österreichische Programm für die Errichtung von Naturwaldreservaten
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1997
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to direct the Assistant Administrator for Water to grant the petition submitted on May 31, 1996, on behalf of Washtenaw County, Michigan, for review of a decision by the Regional Administrator concerning a construction grant for the Ypsilanti Wastewater Treatment Plant.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1997
Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution for 1997 and 1998 - Authorizes expenditures by the following Senate committees from March 1, 1997, through September 30, 1998, and for the period March 1, 1998, through February 28, 1999: (1) Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (5) Budget; (6) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (7) Energy and Natural Resources; (8) Environment and Public Works; (9) Finance; (10) Foreign Relations; (11) Governmental Affairs; (12) Judiciary; (13) Labor and Human Resources; (14) Rules and Administration; (15) Small Business; (16) Veterans' Affairs; (17) Aging; (18) Intelligence; and (19) Indian Affairs. Authorizes the transfer of any unexpended balance of any committee for the period ending February 28, 1997, to a special reserve to be available to any committee to meet specified unpaid obligations or expenses. Requires space assigned to committees covered by this resolution to be reduced commensurate with the reductions in authorized staff funded herein and under S.Res. 73, 104th Congress. States that the Committee on Rules and Administration is expected to recover such space for purposes of equalizing Senators' offices and to consolidate the space for committees to reduce the cost of support equipment and office furniture and accessories.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 1997
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to direct the Assistant Administrator for Water to grant the petition submitted on May 31, 1996, on behalf of Washtenaw County, Michigan, for review of a Regional Administrator's decision involving a construction grant for the Ypsilanti Wastewater Treatment Plant.
European Union · European Commission · 12 February 1997
European Union · European Commission · 12 February 1997
European Union · European Commission · 12 February 1997
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1997
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Amendments Act of 1997- Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to distribute to States at least 85 percent of the funds appropriated to EPA from the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund each fiscal year for the reasonable costs under cooperative agreements of: (1) State actions under the EPA program for petroleum release responses; (2) necessary administrative expenses directly related to corrective action and compensation programs under State financial responsibility requirements; (3) such programs in any instance, as determined by the State, in which an owner's or operator's financial resources (excluding resources provided by such programs) are inadequate to pay the costs of a corrective action without significantly impairing the ability to continue in business; (4) enforcement of an approved State or local underground storage tank (UST) program or similar provisions; and (5) State and local corrective actions pursuant to regulations regarding corrective action in response to UST releases. Prohibits use of such funds to provide financial assistance to an owner or operator in meeting regulatory requirements for upgrading of existing UST systems. Sets forth requirements for allocation of funds to States. Makes inapplicable to Trust Fund amounts provided to owners or operators under programs described in (2), above, provisions for recovery of petroleum release corrective or enforcement action costs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1997
Amends the Clean Air Act to exclude from the definition of "volatile organic compound" beverage alcohol compounds (ethanol) emitted from aging warehouses.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1997
Amends the Clean Air Act to delete from the glycol ether category in the list of hazardous air pollutants ethylene glycol monobutyl ether as used or emitted by metal or composite can manufacturing. Amends the toxic chemical release forms provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to delete from the lists of toxic chemicals and extremely hazardous substances employed under such Act any substance that has been deleted or removed from the hazardous air pollutants list unless the Administrator demonstrates on the basis of convincing evidence significant human health or environmental threats posed by the substance's storage, use, or release.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1997
National Parks Airspace Management Act of 1997 - Requires the Director of the National Park Service and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop, establish, review, and revise plans for the National Park System (NPS) units affected by commercial air tour flights to the extent the Director considers that such units require airspace management plans to minimize the adverse effects of such flights. Prohibits such an operator from flying in the airspace over a NPS unit covered by a plan unless the operator enters into an agreement with the Director and the Administrator specifying otherwise. (Sec. 5) Requires the Director, for NPS units that, as of January 1, 1997, experienced no such overflights, to: (1) prescribe criteria to identify NPS units where such flights would be incompatible with or injurious to the units; and (2) designate the units which meet those criteria as flight-free park units. (Sec. 6) Requires the Administrator to issue a regulation governing the operation of all commercial air tour flights over NPS units. Allows the Administrator to issue regulations that prescribe separate operational rules governing flights by fixed-wing aircraft and by rotorcraft. (Sec. 7) Directs the Administrator to initiate proceedings to revise the regulations relating to air taxi operators and commercial operators to specifically cover all commercial air tour flights over NPS units and to address safety and environmental issues. Requires each commercial air tour aircraft to display specified identification marks. Requires the Administrator to ensure that aeronautical charts display the boundaries, airspace management plan, operational rule, or Special Federal Aviation Regulation with respect to each unit. Directs: (1) the Administrator to study requiring commercial air tour aircraft operating in the airspace over NPS units to have on board an automatic flight tracking system capable of monitoring altitude and ground position; and (2) the Administrator and the Director, if the Administrator determines the use of such system is feasible and advisable, to jointly develop a plan for implementing a program to monitor such altitude and position. Requires the Administrator to establish and maintain a database concerning commercial air tour aircraft designed to provide data to be used in: (1) making determinations of the scope of commercial air tour flights, accident rates, and flight safety assessments; and (2) ensuring that each FAA flight standards district office that serves a district in which such flights are conducted is adequately staffed to carry out this Act. (Sec. 8) Exempts from the provisions of this Act: (1) an aircraft experiencing an in-flight emergency, participating in search and rescue, fire fighting, or police emergency operations, carrying out park administration, or complying with air traffic control instructions; and (2) flights by military aircraft. Requires the Director and the Administrator to jointly develop restrictions and fee schedules for aircraft or rotorcraft engaged in commercial aerial photography over NPS units at altitudes that they determine will adversely affect the resources and values of affected units. (Sec. 9) Establishes the National Park Overflight Advisory Council to: (1) determine the effects on the environment of NPS units of commercial tour flights and the economic effects of restrictions or prohibitions on such flights; (2) develop recommendations for means of reducing the adverse effects of such flights; (3) explore financial and other incentives which could encourage manufacturers to advance the state-of-the-art in quiet aircraft and rotorcraft technology and encourage commercial air tour operators to implement such technology; (4) provide comments and recommendations to the Director and the Administrator with respect to National Park airspace management plans and other matters relating to flights over NPS units. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 10) Prohibits this Act from affecting the management of NPS units in Alaska or any aircraft operations over or within such units.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1997
Amends the Clean Air Act to allow reformulated gasoline rules of States for which a certain waiver is in effect (permitting them to enforce State motor vehicle emissions standards) to apply in an ozone nonattainment area in lieu of Environmental Protection Agency-promulgated requirements if the State rules will achieve reductions in the aggregate mass of emissions of toxic air pollutants and the aggregate mass of emissions of ozone-forming compounds at least as great as would result from application of the Federal requirements.
European Union · European Commission · 5 February 1997
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
Explosives Fingerprinting Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit the manufacture, importation, transport, shipment, distribution, or receipt in interstate or foreign commerce, or resale or other disposition as surplus by a Government department, agency, or instrumentality of any explosive material that does not contain an identification taggant and a detection taggant. Makes such provisions inapplicable to any such material designated by the President for use by the Department of Defense or another Government agency for national defense or international security purposes. Sets penalties for violations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) defer specified effective dates of prohibitions under this Act until the Secretary is satisfied that identification and detection taggants are available in sufficient quantity for commercial purposes, will not impair the quality of explosive materials for their intended use, and will not adversely affect the environment; and (2) inform the Congress before making any such deferrals.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
Quiet Communities Act of 1997- Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to reestablish an Office of Noise Abatement and Control, which shall be responsible for coordinating Federal noise abatement activities, updating or developing noise standards, providing technical assistance to local communities, and promoting research and education. Requires the Administrator, with funds provided for the Office, to conduct a study of airport noise, examining the Federal Aviation Administration's selection of noise measurement methodologies, health impact thresholds, and abatement program effectiveness. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Nonpoint Source Management Programs Title II: Nonpoint Source Prevention on Federal Lands Title III: Water Quality Criteria; Standards; Antidegradation; New Sources Title IV: Citizen Watershed Monitoring Program Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Prevention Act of 1997 - Title I: Nonpoint Source Management Programs - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require State Governors to revise nonpoint source management programs for purposes of achieving full restoration and protection of target watersheds. Directs State Governors to: (1) identify and prioritize target watersheds into five groups based on the severity of nonpoint source pollution problems; and (2) notify landowners and operators who conduct nonpoint source activities in first priority group watersheds that they will be required to implement site-level programs. Establishes requirements for site-level programs. Authorizes exemptions from requirements for site-level programs in cases of insignificant environmental degradation or severe economic hardship. Requires State watershed management programs to be approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and to achieve full restoration and protection of watersheds within eight years of implementation. Withholds nonpoint source pollution management grants from, and approval of specified discharge permits for, States that fail to comply with watershed management requirements. Requires additional management measures to be taken in watersheds that have not achieved the required goal by the end of the eight-year period. Makes water quality standards enforceable against nonpoint sources of pollution in target watersheds after the expiration of the eight-year period, with exceptions for individuals meeting requirements for an extended compliance period. Extends the authorization of appropriations for nonpoint source pollution management and groundwater quality grants through FY 2001. Title II: Nonpoint Source Prevention on Federal Lands - Requires the President to issue regulations for the prevention and control of nonpoint sources of pollution on Federal lands to provide for full restoration and protection of watersheds within eight years of issuance. Revises existing licenses or operational authorities to comply with regulations. Directs the President to prevent pollution resulting from federally assisted highway construction projects. Prohibits approval of specified highway projects unless they comply with pollution prevention measures promulgated by the President. Title III: Water Quality Criteria; Standards; Antidegradation; New Sources - Directs the Administrator to revise specified water quality criteria triennially and include numerical pollution concentration limits or biological monitoring and assessment methods. Requires States to provide specific numerical criteria for nonpoint source pollutants in water quality standards. Directs the Administrator to issue: (1) antidegradation regulations to apply to nonpoint source pollutants in the same manner that such policies extend to point sources; and (2) guidance for identifying new nonpoint sources. Title IV: Citizen Watershed Monitoring Program - Requires States to establish citizen watershed monitoring programs. Allocates funding for such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
Brownfields Redevelopment Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit that is 50 percent of the costs: (1) paid or incurred by the taxpayer for environmental remediation of any qualified contaminated site which is owned by the taxpayer; and (2) incurred by the taxpayer pursuant to an environmental remediation plan for such site which was approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or by the head of any State or local government agency designated by the Administrator. Disallows the environmental remediation credit from being determined unless the Administrator or the Administrator's designee certifies that the remediation plan has been completed. Provides that if the Administrator certifies that such plan has been completed, the credit shall be taken into account ratably over the five-year taxable period. Permits a taxpayer to cease such remediation if: (1) the cost of completing the remediation plan exceeds 200 percent of the estimated costs of completing such plan; and (2) the State or local official administering the remediation credit program agrees with such determination. Prohibits certain taxpayers with respect to a qualified contamination site from being eligible for the credit, subject to exception. Makes the environmental remediation credit part of the sum of the current year general business credit and allows any unused portion as a deduction for certain unused business credits. Allows for the use of redevelopment bonds for the costs of environmental remediation incurred pursuant to an environmental remediation plan. Sets forth provisions concerning certain requirements not to apply in the case of any redevelopment bond issued as part of an issue 95 percent or more of the proceeds which are to finance environmental remediation. Prohibits a deduction for interest on such financing during any period during which there is a determination by the Administrator or the Administrator's designee that the remediation plan was not satisfactorily completed.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Additional Empowerment Zones Title II: New Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs Title I: Additional Empowerment Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from: (1) 9 to 11 the number of areas which may be designated as empowerment zones; (2) six to eight the number of such zones which may be in urban areas; and (3) 750,000 to 1,000,000 the aggregate population allowable in all urban area zones. Title II: New Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities - Permits, before January 1, 1998, the designation, in the aggregate, of an additional: (1) 80 nominated areas as enterprise communities; and (2) 20 nominated areas as empowerment zones, subject to availability of eligible nominated areas. Modifies eligibility criteria. Prohibits: (1) applying the employment credit to the new empowerment zones; and (2) in certain developable sites, application of increased expensing provisions for certain depreciable business assets. Modifies provisions concerning: (1) enterprise facility zone bonds; and (2) the enterprise zone business definition. Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs - Permits a taxpayer to treat certain hazardous substance remediation expenditures as expenses not chargeable to capital account and therefore deductible in the year in which paid or incurred.
Austria · Federal Council · 30 January 1997
Anfrage der Bundesräte Jürgen Weiss, Dr. Reinhard Eugen Bösch und Genossen an den Bundeskanzler betreffend <i>Art.</i> 15 a B-VG Vereinbarung über gemeinsame Grundsätze der Raumordnung
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Abolishment of Department of Energy Title II: Energy Laboratories Subtitle A: National Defense Laboratories Subtitle B: Nondefense Energy Laboratories Title III: Power Marketing Administrations Title IV: Transfer and Disposal of Reserves Subtitle A: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Subtitle B: Naval Petroleum Reserves Title V: National Security and Environmental Management Programs Title VI: Environmental Restoration Activities at Defense Nuclear Facilities Title VII: Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions Department of Energy Abolishment Act - Title I: Abolishment of Department of Energy - Redesignates the Department of Energy (DOE) as the Energy Programs Resolution Agency (the Agency), headed by an Administrator to perform the previous functions of the Department of Energy. Provides for the continuation of service of the Secretary of Energy as the interim Administrator. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Administrator to establish, consolidate, alter, or discontinue in the Energy Programs Resolution Agency any organizational entities that were entities of DOE. Sunsets the Agency three years after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 107) Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to restore the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as an independent agency. (Sec. 108) Transfers to the Secretary of the Interior all functions of: (1) the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration; (2) certain DOE civilian energy research programs; and (3) specified DOE science and technology programs. (Sec. 109) Transfers all functions of the Administrator of the Energy Regulatory Administration to the Attorney General. (Sec. 110) Directs the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on the most efficient way to accomplish the complete abolishment of DOE and the functions. Title II: Energy Laboratories - Subtitle A: National Defense Laboratories - Transfers the functions of the Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories to the Under Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Programs (established by title V). Subtitle B: Nondefense Energy Laboratories - Transfers to the National Science Foundation all functions of the Secretary of Energy relating to nondefense energy laboratories. (Sec. 213) Establishes the Nondefense Energy Laboratory Commission as an independent body to recommend to the Congress disposition options (reconfiguration, privatization, closure, or transfer) for nondefense energy laboratories, programs, or any of the basic science programs. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes procedural guidelines for fast track congressional consideration of the Commission's report. (Sec. 216) Sets deadlines for closure of all nondefense energy laboratories and basic science programs unless the Congress has approved other specified dispositions. (Sec. 218) Establishes the Energy Laboratory Facility Closure Account to fund implementation of disposition actions. Title III: Power Marketing Administrations - Transfers to the Secretary of the Army (acting through the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers) all functions of the Administrators of: (1) the Bonneville Power Administration; (2) the Southeastern Power Administration; (3) the Southwestern Power Administration; and (4) the Western Area Power Administration. (Sec. 303) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on: (1) specified aspects of such power administrations; and (2) recommended final disposition alternatives. Expresses the intent of the Congress that: (1) any purchaser of facilities shall be required to maintain any contracts with customers in force as of the effective date; and (2) any sales of such facilities be executed so as to minimize the impact on the ultimate ratepayers. Title IV: Transfer and Disposal of Reserves - Subtitle A: Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Transfers to the Secretary of Defense all functions performed by the Secretary of Energy regarding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, including the Industrial Petroleum Reserve, the Early Storage Reserve, and the Regional Petroleum Reserve. Instructs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Congress a plan for the disposal of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve within a specified timeframe, including a plan for disposal of the reserves held at Weeks Island, Louisiana. Subtitle B: Naval Petroleum Reserves - Transfers to the Administrator of the Energy Programs Resolution Agency all functions performed with respect to the naval petroleum reserves, except Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (Elk Hills). Instructs the Administrator to develop a joint plan with the Secretaries of the Interior and of the Army for disposal of the naval petroleum reserves within a specified timeframe. Title V: National Security and Environmental Management Programs - Establishes the Defense Nuclear Programs Agency (the Agency) in the Department of Defense (DOD), headed by an Under Secretary for Defense Nuclear Programs. (Sec. 502) Identifies the Under Secretary as the Staff Director of the Nuclear Weapons Council. (Sec. 503) Transfers to the Under Secretary all national security supervisory functions previously performed by: (1) DOE over defense, nonproliferation, and defense-related environmental management programs, and the Sandia, Los Alamos, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories; (2) the Defense Nuclear Agency of DOD relating to nuclear weapons systems; and (3) the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer other nuclear weapons-related functions to the Under Secretary. (Sec. 504) Places restrictions upon the transfer of funds by the Agency. Title VI: Environmental Restoration Activities at Defense Nuclear Facilities - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to require the Under Secretary to review ongoing and planned remediation activities for consistency with such Act. (Sec. 601) Sets forth guidelines for site-specific risk assessment and an analysis of risk reduction benefits and costs, which shall be conducted before the selection of a remedial action at a defense nuclear facility. (Sec. 603) Instructs the Under Secretary to renegotiate the terms of any compliance agreement entered into with the Secretary of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the relevant State in order to have it reflect this Act. Title VII: Civilian Radioactive Waste Management - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to terminate the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management and transfer its authority and assets to the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps). Requires: (1) the Corps to assume all obligations of the Office affecting the Yucca Mountain site; and (2) reissuance of Nevada State permits for the Corps. Prescribes procedural guidelines for Corps preparation and implementation of a Yucca Mountain site characterization plan. (Sec. 702) Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to reaffirm that the obligation of the Secretary of Energy to accept high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel beginning by January 31, 1998, is absolute and is not dependent on commencement of operation of a repository or a monitored retrievable storage facility. States that such obligation shall be neither voided nor delayed for any reason. Repeals: (1) the site selection limitation placed upon the siting of a monitored retrievable storage facility; and (2) the licensing conditions placed upon such facility. (Sec. 703) Prescribes procedural guidelines for the licensing and expansion of an initial uranium storage facility. Title VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth miscellaneous implementing provisions, conferring upon the Office of Management and Budget authority to make any determination regarding functions transferred under this Act and incidental transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Retail Competition Title II: Public Utility Holding Companies Title III: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act Title IV: Environmental Protection Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1997 - Title I: Retail Competition - Sets December 15, 2003, as the date beginning which: (1) each consumer shall have the right to purchase retail electric energy from any offeror; and (2) all sellers of such energy shall have reasonable and nondiscriminatory access, on an unbundled basis, to the local distribution and retail transmission facilities of retail electric energy providers and all related services. (Sec. 104) Permits State authorities and nonregulated providers to implement the program before such dateline. Sets forth guidelines for: (1) State regulatory authority; (2) recovery of stranded costs by a retail electric energy provider; (3) recovery of stranded costs by a multistate utility company; and (4) universal service for specified consumers. (Sec. 110) Sets forth a statutory framework for retail electric energy suppliers to comply with Renewable Energy Credit requirements. (Sec. 111) Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish the broadest feasible transmission regions and designate an Independent System Operator to manage and operate it in each region by a specified deadline. Authorizes each State that is part of a transmission region, after an Independent System Operator has been designated for such region, to elect to join a Regional Transmission Oversight Board. (Sec. 112) Declares that nothing in this Act is intended to permit retail electric energy providers to recover in their distribution and retail transmission rates any costs associated with unregulated activities. (Sec. 113) Amends the Federal Power Act to: (1) prohibit a public utility from acquiring the facilities or securities of a natural gas utility company unless FERC finds such acquisition is in the public interest; and (2) direct FERC to prohibit a retail electric energy supplier or provider from using its ownership or control of resources to maintain a situation inconsistent with effective competition among retail and wholesale electric suppliers. (Sec. 114) Obligates retail and wholesale electric energy suppliers and providers owning nuclear generating units before the enactment of this Act to recover from their customers all reasonable nuclear decommissioning costs. (Sec. 115) Grants all retail and wholesale electric energy suppliers the right to sell to customers of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Title II: Public Utility Holding Companies - Repeals the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. (Sec. 204) Retains Federal and State access to books and records of public utility holding companies and their associate companies. (Sec. 206) Empowers FERC and State regulatory bodies to determine whether a public utility company may recover in rates any costs of goods and services acquired from an associate company after a specified date. Authorizes a State regulatory body to examine the prudence of interaffiliate power transactions among public utilities. Title III: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act - Declares the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 governing cogeneration and small power production inapplicable to public utility facilities beginning commercial operations after the enactment of this Act. States that no public utility shall be required to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase or sell electric energy after the effective date of this title or, if earlier, the date on which retail electric competition is implemented in all of its service territories. Title IV: Environmental Protection - Instructs the Environmental Protection Agency to report to the Congress on the implications of differences in air pollution emissions standards for wholesale and retail electric generation competition and for public health and the environment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Additional Empowerment Zones Title II: New Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs Title I: Additional Empowerment Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase from: (1) 9 to 11 the number of areas which may be designated as empowerment zones; (2) six to eight the number of such zones which may be in urban areas; and (3) 750,000 to 1,000,000 the aggregate population allowable in all urban area zones. Title II: New Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities - Permits, before January 1, 1998, the designation, in the aggregate, of an additional: (1) 80 nominated areas as enterprise communities; and (2) 20 nominated areas as empowerment zones, subject to availability of eligible nominated areas. Modifies eligibility criteria. Prohibits: (1) applying the employment credit to the new empowerment zones; and (2) in certain developable sites, application of increased expensing provisions for certain depreciable business assets. Modifies provisions concerning: (1) enterprise facility zone bonds; and (2) the enterprise zone business definition. Title III: Expensing of Environmental Remediation Costs - Permits a taxpayer to treat certain hazardous substance remediation expenditures as expenses not chargeable to capital account and therefore deductible in the year in which paid or incurred.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1997
National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act of 1997 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit the sale of beer, mineral water, soda water, wine coolers, or carbonated soft drinks in beverage containers by retailers and distributors unless such containers carry a refund value of ten cents. Provides for the adjustment for inflation of the refund amount at ten-year intervals. Requires: (1) distributors to collect from retailers the refund value for each beverage sold to retailers; and (2) retailers to collect from consumers the refund value for each beverage sold to consumers. Requires retailers and distributors to pay the refund on returned containers of brands (in the same kind and size of container) sold. Directs distributors to pay annually to a State unclaimed refund amounts (the amount by which the total refund value of all containers sold by distributors exceeds the amount paid by distributors to persons in that State). Makes unclaimed refunds available to a State for carrying out pollution prevention and recycling programs. Prohibits distributors and retailers from: (1) selling beverages in metal beverage containers with detachable openings; and (2) disposing of containers subject to this Act or any metal, glass, or plastic from such containers (other than the top or seal) in landfills or solid waste disposal facilities. Makes this Act inapplicable to States that have adopted requirements identical to those under this Act or that have demonstrated achievement of a recycling or reuse rate for beverage containers of at least 70 percent. Prohibits States or political subdivisions that impose taxes on the sale of beverage containers from imposing any tax on the amount attributable to the refund value of such containers. Prescribes civil penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1997
Authorizes expenditures by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for the 105th Congress.
Austria · National Council · 24 January 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend Räumung der Altlast N9 "Mülldeponie Helene Berger"
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage des Abgeordneten Karl Öllinger an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Familienlastenausgleichsfonds <br><br>Wie hoch ist der Beitrag aus Steuermitteln für den FLAF in den Jahren 1996 und 1997?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage des Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Regierungsvorlage eines Umwelthaftungsgesetzes <br><br>Die Haftung der Schäden aus den praktischen Anwendungen der Ergebnisse der Genforschung sind für den österreichischen Konsumenten nach wie vor ungeklärt - wie weit sind die legistischen Vorbereitungen der von Ihnen seit langem versprochenen Regierungsvorlage eines Umwelthaftungsgesetzes gediehen?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage des Abgeordneten Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Peter Keppelmüller an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Pflanzenschutzmittel-Zulassung <br><br>Sind Sie als der für den Umweltschutz zuständige Bundesminister der Auffassung, daß Pflanzenschutzmittel-Zulassungen anderer EU-Staaten nicht automatisch in Österreich anerkannt werden sollten?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Dr. Sonja Moser an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Familienbesteuerung <br><br>Welche Überlegungen sind Grundlage für das von Ihnen präsentierte Familienbesteuerungsmodell, das den Kindern bzw. den Eltern rund 12 Milliarden Schilling bringen soll?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage des Abgeordneten Mag. Thomas Barmüller an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Atomhaftungsregelung <br><br>Wie stehen Sie dazu, daß entgegen der Entschließung vom 9. Februar 1995 keine Maßnahmen zur Schaffung einer wirksamen österreichischen Atomhaftungsregelung gesetzt wurden?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Edith Haller an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Kinderbetreuungsscheck <br><br>Haben Sie die im vergangenen Familienausschuß am 3. Dezember 1996 angekündigte Machbarkeitsstudie zur Umsetzung des Kinderbetreuungsschecks bereits in Auftrag gegeben?
Austria · National Council · 23 January 1997
Mündliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Brigitte Tegischer an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Information über Suchtgiftgefahren <br><br>Welche Maßnahmen zur Intensivierung der Information und Beratung über Suchtgiftgefahren, insbesondere in bestehenden Familienberatungsstellen, plant Ihr Ressort?
Austria · National Council · 22 January 1997
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Inneres betreffend Räumung der Altlast N9 "Mülldeponie Helene Berger"
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
28 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if he is concerned at the number of beaches and coves which do not conform to the standards required for the EU blue flag status; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation in a significant manner. [22069/96]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
27 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment when he will approve the redevelopment of Ballymun, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1523/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
26 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he has taken in view of the new evidence produced in relation to NIREX in his capacity as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sellafield; and the plans, if any, he has to meet Mr. John Gummer. [1798/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
25 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he is in receipt of a recent report by a leading environmental scientist which states the water quality in Lough Corrib is under severe threat from agricultural and sewage pollution; and the action, if any, he will take on foot of the findings of this report. [1502/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
24 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that the relevant local authorities are co-operating with the inquiry into water pollution at Nenagh, County Tipperary. [1789/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
23 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the proposed system of equalisation in the new arrangements for local government. [1788/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
28 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment if he is concerned at the number of beaches and coves which do not conform to the standards required for the EU blue flag status; and the plans, if any, he has to improve the situation in a significant manner. [22069/96]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
27 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment when he will approve the redevelopment of Ballymun, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1523/97]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 22 January 1997
26 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he has taken in view of the new evidence produced in relation to NIREX in his capacity as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Sellafield; and the plans, if any, he has to meet Mr. John Gummer. [1798/97]