Comparison of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Law with the European Union (EU) EIA Directive

In this paper, we first review the development of China’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in the past 30 years. Then we compare the framework and operational procedures of China’s new EIA law with those of the EU EIA Directive. We also compare public participation, as well as sanctions and control in the two EIA systems. In addition, we identify where the processes in both EIA systems are similar or different from one another. By comparison, we noted that there are at least three obvious weaknesses in China’s EIA system: (1) the application of new models for EIA legislation; (2) the improvement of EIA guidance and education; and (3) the enhancement of public participation in EIA process. Our study indicates that these three major shortcomings should be overcome and improved in China’s EIA system, when compared with the EU EIA system.     

化学需氧量在造纸废水中分布规律及采样点位的优化

目前对造纸废水的监测通常采取随机取样,很少考虑污染物在废水中的分布情况,所以取得的样品很难反映污染物的实际排放情况。为此,通过对某造纸厂排废废水中化学需氧量分布夫妻及采样点位的优化研究。     

Awareness of environmental legislation as a deterrent for wildlife crime: A case with Masaai pastoralists,poison use and the Kenya Wildlife Act

Illegal wildlife crime is a global phenomenon, accelerating the ongoing biodiversity crisis. In the Old World, and particularly in Africa, illegal use of poisons to eliminate carnivores is the main driver of the continental vulture crisis. Knowledge about the underlying source and drivers of this threat is lacking for most areas, including Kenya, a global vulture and biodiversity hotspot. An extensive questionnaire survey of over 1300 respondents was run, using a specialized questioning technique and quantitative analytical approaches. Results show that, while pastoralists have a positive attitude towards vultures, over 20% of them use poisons to eliminate predators. Poisoning was largely driven by livestock losses to predators, and by negative attitude towards predators. Poisoning was less prevalent among respondents aware of the Kenya Wildlife Act. Overall, we suggest that a combination of top-down, e.g. legislation, and bottom-up (such as corrals or compensation) along with awareness campaigns may help reduce poisoning on the ground.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01695-8.     

考虑气液置换的压回法气井压井过程对井底压力的影响

为在压回法气井压井计算中进一步贴合现场实际情况,提出新的压回法气井压井过程计算方法.在压井过程中,考虑压井液与侵入井筒的气体发生置换,导致井筒流体自上而下分布为液-气液2相-气-气液2相的实际问题,建立压井过程模型,并对井底压力的变化进行计算分析.结果表明:发生气液置换对压回法压井过程井底压力以及注入压力具有明显影响,...     

Cyanide Removal by Chinese Vegetation. Quantification of the Michaelis-Menten Kinetics (6 pp)

Background Little is known about metabolism rates of environmental chemicals by vegetation. A good model compound to study the variation of rates among plant species is cyanide. Vascular plants possess an enzyme system that detoxifies cyanide by converting it to the amino acid asparagine. Knowledge of the kinetic parameters, the half-saturation constant (Km) and the maximum metabolic capacity (vmax), is very useful for enzyme characterization and biochemical purposes. The goal of this study is to find the enzyme kinetics (KM and vmax) during cyanide metabolism in the presence of Chinese vegetation, to provide quantitative data for engineered phytoremediation, and to investigate the variation of metabolic rates of plants. Methods Detached leaves (1.0 g fresh weight) from 12 species out of 9 families were kept in glass vessels with 100 mL of aqueous solution spiked with potassium cyanide at 23°C for 28 h. Four different treatment concentrations of cyanide were used, ranging from 0.44 to 7.69 mg CN/L. The disappearance of cyanide from the aqueous solution was analyzed spectrophotometrically. Realistic values of the half-saturation constant (KM) and the maximum metabolic capacity (vmax) were estimated by a computer program using non-linear regression treatments. As a comparison, Lineweaver-Burk plots were also used to estimate the kinetic parameters. Results and Discussion The values obtained for KM and vmax varied with plant species. Using non-linear regression treatments, values of vmax and KM were found in a range between 6.68 and 21.91 mg CN/kg/h and 0.90 to 3.15 mg CN/L, respectively. The highest vmax was by Chinese elder (Sambucus chinensis), followed by upright hedge-parsley (Torilis japonica). The lowest vmax was demonstrated by the hybrid willow (Salix matssudana x alba). However, the highest KM was found in the water lily (Nymphea teragona), followed by the poplar (Populus deltoides Marsh). The lowest KM was demonstrated by corn (Zea mays L.). The values of vmax were normally distributed with a mean of 13 mg CN/kg/h. Conclusions Significant removal of cyanide from aqueous solution was observed in the presence of plant materials without phytotoxicity, even at high doses of cyanide. This gives rise to the conclusion that the Chinese plant species used in this study are all able to efficiently metabolize cyanide, although with different maximum metabolic capacities. A second conclusion is that the variation of metabolism rates between species is small. All these plants had a similar KM, indicating the same enzyme is active in all plants. Recommendations and Outlook Detoxification of cyanide with trees seems to be a feasible option for cleaning soils and water contaminated with cyanide. For phytoremediation projects, screening appropriate plant species adapted to local conditions should be seriously considered. More chemicals should be investigated to find common principles of the metabolism of environmental chemicals by plants.     

生态环境损害惩罚性赔偿规则的检视与适用

生态环境损害的惩罚性赔偿规则首次在《民法典》侵权责任编中确立。针对这项制度创新,本文梳理了惩罚性赔偿规则在不同法律制度中适用范围和适用条件的差异性,并进一步分析惩罚性赔偿在生态环境损害救济体系中所具有的特殊规则和功能定位。在缺乏生态环境领域部门法配套的情况下,《民法典》中惩罚性赔偿规则的适用应基于生态环境的公益性而适当扩大请求权主体范围,基于严格法定性而明确举证责任负担和证明标准,基于生态环境要素的特殊性而完善多样化的赔偿内容和计算方法。     

论经营者的安全保障义务

经营者的安全保障义务无论在理论界还是在实践中都受到大家的关注。本文对经营者之所以承担安全保障义务的法理基础进行论述，陈述了传统民法理论和我国目前学界对此的看法，探讨了经营者的安全保障义务的性质和具体内容。     

应对环境风险的反身规制研究

面对当前日益严峻的环境风险和生态危机,环境领域的两大规制模式——命令控制规制模式和激励规制模式呈现规制失灵、治理不力的困境。从反身法理论来阐释,是由于这两种规制模式忽略了法律系统与其他社会子系统自身的独特运行逻辑,法律系统具有运行的封闭性与认知的开放性,有效的规制模式必须实现不同系统之间的结构耦合。反身规制是一种对自我规制的规制,其在承认法律自身规制局限性的基础上,培育其他子系统的反思结构,为提升当前环境治理绩效提供了一个新路径。实现对环境风险的反身规制,需要从信息披露、程序设计及商谈规范方面建构相应的法律制度。     

对广东北江镉污染事件的立法评析—兼评《水污染防治法》

本文选取环境问题比较突出的水污染领域进行集中探讨,从分析“广东北江镉污染”这一具有典型意义的水污染突发事件入手,首先分析导致北江污染事件发生的具有普遍意义的共性原因,然后总结1996年《水污染防治法》存在的问题并提出修订法律的必要性,最后通过对2008年新修订的《水污染防治法》相关制度的解读与评说,来提出进一步完善新法的一些立法建议。     

对企业实施环境保护信用等级管理的探讨——以滨州为例

为推进企业环境保护信用等级管理,滨州市环保和监察部门联合制定工作方案并向所辖县区下发文件专门部署,结合日常执法监管对市控以上企业从环保专项行动、排污情况、污染事故、治污设施、排污费和行政处罚、环境安全、建设项目、环境信访八个方面综合评定信用等级,实施有针对性的环境监督管理,有效解决了执法成本高、执法人员不足的问题,使有限的执法资源得到最合理的优化配置,进一步规范了企业环境行为,实现了引导企业自主守法和提高执法效率的双赢。