RESOLVING INTERSTATE WATER CONFLICTS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES: THE RE-EMERGENCE OF THE FEDERAL-INTERSTATE COMPACT1

ABSTRACT: As population growth occurs in regions of the eastern United States that do not have abundant water supplies, new transbasin diversions may be required. Such diversions are exceptionally politically divisive and are at the core of most of the interstate water conflicts that presently exist in the eastern states. This study examines alternative means by which these conflicts might be resolved. The strengths and weaknesses of these alternatives are examined. The study concludes that the federal-interstate compact should be the preferred alternative by which interstate water conflicts in the eastern United States are resolved.     

环境容量使用权：为节能减排立法

20世纪90年代以来,中国经济发展进入了快速增长阶段,同时也付出了巨大的资源和环境代价。节能减排,成为评价经济发展、考验环境自净能力的约束性指标和必然的政策选择。环境容量使用权理论表明,可转让的环境容量使用权有利于外部性内部化。节能减排立法的重点是权利安排,本文借鉴环境容量使用权理论,并结合国内外环境容量使用权的交易机制以及节能减排的国际行动等实践经验,提出水、土、气等基本要素环境容量总量控制与节能减排目标分解设想,旨在为建设资源节约型、环境友好型社会,应对全球气候变化提供相应的政策选择,为今后的法律行动提供框架性建议。     

非点源污染控制的现状及其立法原则

非点源污染危害规模大,防治困难,已经成为危害中国乃至全球生态环境的一个最重要因素。在管理与控制非点源污染方面,如果仅仅依靠技术层面上和经济层面上的治理,不仅治理难度大,投入成本高,而且在现有的技术条件下效果也不理想。因此,必须从政策法律的层面上来探讨非点源污染的控制。在现有的水污染立法体系中明确非点源污染的指导思想和立法原则,明确法律关系主体间的权利义务,使非点源污染控制有法可依。     

中国水资源刑法保护的立法研究

近年来,水资源的问题引起了人们越来越多的关注,运用刑法对水资源进行特殊保护在中国具有迫切的必要性。但是,中国《刑法》目前还没有明确规定水环境污染罪,没有将水资源的合理开发利用纳入保护范围,水资源刑事保护也缺乏力度,致使中国水资源缺乏切实有效的保护。因此,为了进一步完善中国水资源的刑法保护,需增设专门保护水资源的具体犯罪,如增设水环境污染罪和非法取水罪;在部分水资源犯罪案件中确立无过错责任原则和过错推定原则;追究水资源犯罪危险犯的刑事责任。     

加强环境立法加大执法力度

环境问题作为当前影响人类生存和发展的重大问题,已经受到了国际国内的高度关注,成为国际社会最为重视的问题之一。中国作为国际社会中的重要一员,必然是参与解决国际环境问题的主要力量。然而中国正处于迅速推进工业化和城市化的发展阶段,对自然资源的开发强度不断加大,环境与资源已成为制约国民经济发展的重要因素。党中央一直把环境保护作为中国的一项基本国策,并确定了环境与经济、社会协调发展的指导方针和实施可持续发展战略。实际上,社会主义市场经济体制下的环境法体系尚未完全建立。因此,关于资源环境的立法、执法已经成为一个新的课题。     

我国湿地保护法律的空缺分析与立法建议

法律法规是湿地保护管理制度的基础。我国尚无湿地保护专门性法律,但是针对湿地中的多个要素已经制定了相关法律法规,这些法律法规能否满足湿地保护的需要是湿地保护立法中的关键问题。本文针对湿地保护的法律需求,系统分析了现行法律法规的满足情况和空缺情况,并提出湿地保护立法的建议。分析结果表明：在13个方面的法律需求中,现行法律满足程度为“基本满足”的有3个方面,即湿地野生动物保护管理、湿地野生植物保护管理、外来物种管理;满足程度为“部分满足”的有4个方面,即湿地土地资源管理、湿地水资源管理、湿地水污染管理、湿地渔业资源管理;而满足程度为“难以满足”的有6个方面,即湿地范围界定、湿地保护目标与规划、湿地保护生态补偿、湿地修复、基础管理、体制机制。最后建议我国湿地保护立法应基于政府视角而非仅仅部门视角,对于不同满足程度的方面采取不同的立法策略,并重点构建保护管理体制机制。     

论生态环境建设基本法律原则

在分析我国现有有关生态环境建设的立法现状与问题的基础上,就我国生态环境建设的基本原则加以探讨,以期完善我国生态环境建设的立法规定。     

Sustainability of the dimension stone industry in Zimbabwe—challenges and opportunities

The rapid expansion of the dimension stone and black granite industry in Zimbabwe in the 1990s, a result of increasing domestic and international demand for black granite, has ushered in new challenges and opportunities for producers and beneficiaries alike. This article investigates the social, environmental and economic challenges emanating from the export boom, the economic opportunities presented by the expanding market and the potential role the robust industry could play in regional economic development and poverty alleviation. The article evaluates the long-term sustainability of the dimension stone industry and recommends the reinvestment of revenues into diversification of the regional economic base, upgrading of local infrastructure, further processing of rough stone before export and encouragement of micro-businesses to enhance sustainability. The author argues for modification of economic incentives to incorporate environmental and social objectives in order to enhance sustainability. The need for a holistic approach to policies affecting the exploitation, processing and marketing of granite resources and their products is recognized. More research on the operations of the industry is called for.     

Legislating child restraint usage -Its effect on self-reported child restraint use rates in a central city

Objective

To assess the effect of the newly enacted child passenger safety law, Wisconsin Act 106, on self-report of proper restraint usage of children in Milwaukee's central city population.

Method

A prospective, non-randomized study design was used. The settings used were (a) a pediatric urban health center, and (b) two Women, Infants and Children offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Participants included 11,566 surveys collected over 18 months that spanned the pre-legislation and post-legislation time periods from February 2006 through August 2008.

Results

The study set out to assess appropriate child passenger restraint. The results showed that the changes in adjusted proper restraint usage rates for infants between the pre-law, grace period, and post-fine periods were 94%, 94%, and 94% respectively. For children 1-3 years old, the adjusted proper usage rates were 65%, 63%, and 59%, respectively. And for children 4-7 years old, the rates were 43%, 44% and 42%, respectively. There was a significant increase in premature booster seat use in children who should have been restrained in a rear- or forward-facing car seat (10% pre-law, 12% grace period, 20% post-fine; p < 0.0005). There was no statistically significant change over time in unrestrained children (2.1%, 1.7%, 1.7%, p = 0.7, respectively).

Conclusions

The passage of a strengthened child passenger safety law with fines did not significantly improve appropriate restraint use for 0-7 year olds, and appropriate use in 1-7 year olds remained suboptimal with a majority of urban children inappropriately restrained. Although the number of unrestrained children decreased, we identified an unintended consequence of the legislation - a significant increase in the rate of premature belt-positioning booster seat use among poor, urban children.

Impact on Industry

The design of child restraint systems maximizes protection of the child. Increasing reports of misuse is a call to those who manufacture these child passenger restraints to improve advertising and marketing to the correct age group, ease of installation, and mechanisms to prevent incorrect safety strap and harness placement. To ensure accurate and consistent use on every trip, car seat manufacturers must ensure that best practice recommendations for use as well as age, weight, and height be clearly specified on each child restraint. The authors support the United States Department of Transportation's new consumer program that will assist caregivers in identifying the child seat that will fit in their vehicle. In addition, due to the increase in premature graduation of children into belt-positioning booster seats noted as a result of legislation, promoting and marketing booster seat use for children less than 40 pounds should not be accepted. Child passenger safety technicians must continue to promote best practice recommendations for child passenger restraint use and encourage other community leaders to do the same.     

水环境有毒重金属污染的防控与监管路线

有毒重金属污染已成为我国的重大环境问题。对有毒重金属污染进行有效监管,首先,必须明确认定,对第一类污染物实施《源头总量控制》是污控执法和促进经济结构改革的保证条件。这种监管方式自2008年《笫一次全国污染源普查工业产排污系数手册》公布以来,更具有切实实施的可行性。《源头总量控制》与《水环境容量总量控制》两种监管方式既是各自独立、缺一不可,又是相互依赖和相互补充的关系,目前一些地方的规划管理者模糊和混淆了两类污染物和两种监管的内容和方式,笼统以《水环境总量控制》来监管所有污染物,丢弃了《源头总量控制》,使本应严加管理的饮用水水源地丧失了控制第一类污染物的能力。我国《地面水环境质量标准》(GB3838-88)中第一类污染物的水质指标与我国实际的水环境背景值有很大差距,存在"放宽允排量"和"价态转化引发危害"的问题,以一个10t电解铅的企业为例,证明两种监管方式的铅允排量相差甚大。总之,把第一类污染物与第二类污染物统一实施《水环境容量总量控制》将带来众多的危害,应当严格实施《源头总量控制》与《水环境总量控制》相结合的监管方式。