Captive Insurance Companies and the Management of Environmental Risks

Recent publicity has focused on the crisis in the market for commercial liability insurance. Industries and professionals concerned with air pollution are among those facing an acute shortage of insurance coverage. Captive insurance companies are gaining popularity as a means of securing comprehensive pollution liability coverage. Captives are separate corporations established by companies with similar risk management problems to write policies covering pollution emissions. Federal tax law requires that captives be set up properly, with transfer and distribution of risk, before premiums paid by the member companies are deductible. Financial responsibility requirements of the EPA are being redesigned, and may be favorable to the use of captives. Six states and several off-shore countries have statutes allowing captive insurance companies. Attention to practical details can lead to success in using captives to secure business advantages as well as protection from the risk of environmental impairment. Several of such considerations are discussed in light of the tax, environmental, and state regulatory issues relevant to the question, with an eye toward giving practical legal advice for structuring captives.     

化工厂环境风险评估方法探讨

对某化工厂事故隐患进行了周密调查及工程分析，筛选出主要风险因子并进行风险预测；运用概率统计法对不同生产方案、不同污染源强及不同环境功能区的污染风险进行了综合评价研究。     

Cooperation control strategies for China’s cross-region pollution in a lake basin based on green reduction cost

The cross-region water pollution issue has always been the widespread concern around the world. It becomes especially critical for China due to the imbalance relates to environmental costs that have accompanied rapid growth of economy. Though the government makes great efforts to improve it, the potential for water pollution conflict is still great. We consider the problem of determining combined control strategies for China’s cross-region lake pollution based on the environmental green costs. The problem is first formulated as a generalized bilevel mathematical program where the upper level consists in each region that reduces environmental green costs including three parts: the reduction cost, pollution permit trade cost and cost of environment damage, while the lower level is represented by pollution permit equilibrium market. Finally, we take an empirical analysis in Taihu lake. The numerical study shows that the minimum costs of both total and regional are obviously superior to the current processing costs, which provides theoretical basis for the price of emission permits.

Implications: Today, China’s rapid gross domestic product (GDP) growth has come at a very high cost, as real estate prices have skyrocketed, the wealth gap has widened, and environmental pollution has worsened. China’s central government is urged to correct the GDP-oriented performance evaluation system that is used to judge administrative region leaders. The cross-region water pollution issue has become a troubling issue that urgently needs to be resolved in China. This paper will not only actively aid efforts to govern Lake Taihu and other cross-region valleys, but it will also provide a supplement for theoretical research on cross-region pollution issues.     

油气田环境保护与控制技术

如何控制和减少钻井、采油等作业过程中对环境的危害，一直是国内外众多科学家所研究的问题。介绍了一种从根本上解决和消除钻井、采油过程中对环境污染的油气田环境污染控制技术和各种废钻井液、钻屑、钻井废水及采油污水的处理方法。     

中国九十年代城市环境污染控制战略(下)

80年代是我国城市社会经济发展最快的时期,城市化水平由1981年的14.3％提高到1990年的21％,城市规模结构趋向合理,形成了以大城市为中心,中等城市为骨干和小城市为纽带的城市结构。但应该清醒的是,我国绝大部分城市的经济发展水平与工业     

济南市固体废物污染防治规划方法

以《中华人民共和国固体废物污染环境防治法》和可持续发展战略思想为指导,以济南市为背景,研究了在新形势下如何进行城市固体废物污染防治规划。     

An overview of environmental pollution prevention and management in China

This paper provides a broad overview of pollution prevention and management in China and details the specific measures that have been adopted at a national level. The paper begins by exploring some of the key environmental issues faced by China, and the history of environmental management in China. Then the current environmental legislation and standards in China are detailed, and the strategic pollution prevention measures that have been adopted are described. Next, the paper examines the environmental economic instruments and ethos that China appears to have adopted, and concludes by drawing a comparison with the development of pollution prevention in the western world and proposes a broad research agenda.     

the cost of clean energy

Municipal and state regulations limiting the allowable sulfur content of fossil fuels are having the effect of changing fuel use patterns of many of the nation’s utilities. The utility companies are faced with increased costs of lower sulfur fuels and capital expenditures associated with the fuel changes, as well as with greater uncertainty concerning long term supplies of suitable fuels. Capital costs for air pollution control are mounting. Electrostatic precipitators must be built to meet more stringent air pollution codes, and stack heights may have to be increased to improve discharge patterns. Other capital expenditures for added requirements such as steam and electric tracing and pumping equipment must be made to accommodate distinctive characteristics of low sulfur fuels. Air pollution control costs do not result in increased productivity, improved products, or products that will command a better price in the market. Nevertheless, the expenditures are essential. Nuclear power is the long range solution to which many utilities look but, in the shorter view, the power industry must expect continued cost increases in the areas of fuel and operating expenses, capital expenditures and research and development.     

Does the construction of network infrastructure reduce environmental pollution?—evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in “Broadband China”

This paper discusses the effect of network infrastructure on environmental pollution reduction and the realization mechanism behind it. Based on the panel data of 285 cities in China from 2005 to 2019, this study regards the “Broadband China” pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment to clarify the pollution emission reduction effect of network infrastructure construction through differences-in-differences method and other methods. The research results show the following: (1) The Broadband China pilot policy has reduced environmental pollution, that is, the construction of network infrastructure has the effect of environmental pollution reduction. The conclusion is still established after a series of robustness tests such as parallel trend test, placebo test, and instrumental variable method. Through the heterogeneity test, it is found that the pollution reduction effect of network infrastructure construction is more obvious in non-resource-based cities, first and second tier cities, and cities in the eastern region (2). The construction of network infrastructure plays a restraining role on local environmental pollution. Due to the insufficient level of regional linkage and the siphon effect of pilot cities, the spatial spillover characteristics of the pollution reduction effect are not obvious (3). The mechanism of action shows that green innovation is an important mediating effect mechanism for network infrastructure construction to reduce environmental pollution. Cities in regions with high degree of marketization and environmental regulation can strengthen the effect of network infrastructure construction on environmental pollution reduction. The research conclusions are conducive to accelerating the development of the digital economy represented by the construction of network infrastructure and provide a useful reference for promoting the level of environmental pollution reduction and achieving high-quality development.

     

The use of vegetation,bees, and snails as important tools for the biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution—a review

The continuous discharge of diverse chemical products in the environment is nowadays of great concern to the whole world as some of them persist in the environment leading to serious diseases. Several sampling techniques have been used for the characterization of this chemical pollution, although biomonitoring using natural samplers has recently become the technique of choice in this field due to its efficiency, specificity, and low cost. In fact, several living organisms known as biomonitors could accumulate the well-known persistent environmental pollutants allowing their monitoring in the environment. In this work, a review on environmental biomonitoring is presented. The main sampling techniques used for monitoring environmental pollutants are first reported, followed by an overview on well-known natural species used as passive samplers and known as biomonitors. These species include conifer needles, lichen, mosses, bees and their byproducts, and snails, and were widely used in recent research as reliable monitors for environmental pollution.

     

我国环境技术产业化的现状与发展对策

本文通过对环境技术产业化特点的分析,结合当前我国环境技术产业化的现状指出了目前我国环境技术产业化过程中存在的主要问题及原因,并针对这些问题探讨了相应的发展对策。     

The Past,Present, and Future of Environmental Insurance Including a Case Study of MTBE Litigation

Environmental insurance policies and the success of claims brought under them depend upon the intersection of both the legal and technical issues involved. The evolution of environmental insurance policies, from their origin in the Commercial General Liability policies up to the creation of new insurance products designed to cover specifically environmental concerns are addressed in this work. Both scientists and attorneys will have to develop a fuller understanding of environmental damage and assessments. The intent of this article is to provide a starting point for members of both disciplines in their quest for a fuller understanding of the legal and technical issues involved in environmental claims.     

The Past,Present, and Future of Environmental Insurance Including a Case Study of MTBE Litigation

Environmental insurance policies and the success of claims brought under them depend upon the intersection of both the legal and technical issues involved. The evolution of environmental insurance policies, from their origin in the Commercial General Liability policies up to the creation of new insurance products designed to cover specifically environmental concerns are addressed in this work. Both scientists and attorneys will have to develop a fuller understanding of environmental damage and assessments. The intent of this article is to provide a starting point for members of both disciplines in their quest for a fuller understanding of the legal and technical issues involved in environmental claims.     

Azerbaijan: environmental conditions and outlook

The author describes present environmental conditions in Azerbaijan in relation to the Soviet legacy and measures taken since independence. Environmental projects have been financed largely by international organizations and foreign companies. The most serious problems are contaminants in the Caspian Sea; air, water, and soil pollution in Sumgait; illegal fishing; poor quality of drinking water; cutting of forests for fuel and pasture; overgrazing; and soil erosion and salinization. Progress in developing an environmental conscience, necessary for sustained protection of the environment, will depend most importantly on environmental education, growth of democratic institutions and attitudes that encourage both governmental and citizen responsibility for the environment, and economic development that produces a substantial middle class. Positive advances include a Constitution and laws that require protection of the environment, and individuals who speak out for environmental care. Negative factors include poverty and the present government's low priority for environmental protection.     

Pollution prevention and control procedure case study: an application for petroleum refineries

There is global environmental concern about the pollution from industries and other organizations that should not only be controlled but also prevented. Many alternatives are available to those in charge of environmental protection, but they should be able to draw on a systematic procedure to help implement prevention and control measures. At present, there are three immediate tasks: defining the objective of any environmental study, identifying the potential pollution sources, and selecting alternatives to these sources. However, it is necessary to evaluate these alternatives by using as large a number of criteria as possible and making them cumulative so as to enable the classification and selection of the best available techniques for each pollution source. The petroleum refining industry plays an important role in the developed economies and also has a potential for pollution generation that must be controlled. The best solution for all (i.e., petroleum companies, the public, and the environment) is pollution prevention, because this option will protect all of them and will also reduce costs in terms of lower raw materials consumption as well as reducing potential fines. The procedure we have presented in this article has been applied successfully.     

The parable of the carpenter

This paper describes how the Shanxi Environmental Protection Agency and SINTEF have acted on the recommendations of a joint study by UNEP and the National Environmental Protection Agency of PR China (NEPA) to implement the following cooperation programme: to establish the Shanxi Centre for Energy and Environment; to develop a masterplan against air pollution in Shanxi province; and to initiate pilot projects with cleaner technologies. The work has so far (1997) been funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Aid (NORAD). Further action will however require contribution from a number of other sources, such as the Global Environment Facility, private companies, investment banks and governments. The results from our work have shown that such efforts, in a region like Shanxi province, give environmental cost benefits far ahead of most other places in the world.     

Removal of contaminants from industrial wastewater through various non-conventional technologies: a review

It is difficult to separate industrial growth from environmental pollution but it can be minimised through cost-effective approaches of pollution abatement. To reach the full objectives of zero pollution, adoption of alternative technologies which suit the situation of low capital availability, minimum man-power and limited energy consumption are necessary. Adsorption through agricultural products such as rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, soybean hulls, saw dust, coconut shell, groundnut shell, apple-waste, fly-ash etc., has been demonstrated to be a useful alternative to the conventional treatment systems for the removal of toxic metals such as dyes/colour, chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), etc., from aqueous solution. It could be considered as an eco-friendly device to the existing relatively more expensive treatment technologies. Various biological species such as algae, fungi and bacteria were found to be in extensive use for the removal of contaminants. In this review, an extensive list of sorbents literature has been compiled to provide a summary of available information on a wide range of potentially low-cost non-conventional sorbents and their effectiveness.     

Role of Chinese wind-blown dust in enhancing environmental pollution in Metropolitan Seoul

A suite of rock magnetic experiments and intensive microscopic observations were carried out on Asian dust deposits in Seoul, Korea, collected on 19 and 23 March 2002, 9 April 2002 and 12 April 2003. Desert-sand and loess from the dust source regions in China were also analyzed as a comparison. Asian dust showed a higher magnetic concentration than the source region samples, indicating a significant influx of magnetic particles into Asian dust had occurred during its transportation. Electron microscopy identified carbon-bearing iron-oxides as the added material. These iron-oxides were likely to have been produced by anthropogenic pollution (fossil fuel combustion) while the wind-blown dusts passing across the industrial areas of eastern China and western Korea. Such wind-paths were confirmed by a simulation of the air-mass trajectories. The magnetic technique appears to be useful for determining the anthropogenic pollution of Asian dust.     

可交易水污染许可证发展现状与应用前景

可交易排污许可证在传统的排污许可证基础上，引入市场机制。不但对企业选择污染控制手段赋予更大的灵活性，而且可以大大节约水污染控制费用、剌激企业开发并建设更加经济有效的污染控制技术。国外十多年的研究和实践证明可交易排污许可证是一种经济而有效的环境管理手段。水污染排放许可证制度在我国的应用已有一定基础。在条件具备的地区可以引进可交易水污染物排放许可证制度，本文回顾了“可交易水污染许可证制度”的理论分析和国外实践，进而探讨在中国的应用前景     

城市第三产业环境行为信息公开化研究初探

产业结构调整和城市化进程加速了中国第三产业的发展，但同时也给环境造成了影响和破坏。分析了中国第三产业环境污染特点，第三产业发展对环境管理的挑战。同时结合污染控制信息手段和环境信息公开的特点和优势，对开展第三产业环境行为信息公开化研究提出了建议。