Beijing announces comprehensive environmental measures for 2008 Green Olympic

Beijing is planning to implement the preventive measures against air pollution, keeping to its commitment for staging the 2008 Green Olympic. The measures outline detailed steps to be taken in wide range of areas, covering enhanced supply of natural gas, strengthened management of environmental compliances in construction sites, as well as watering and cleaning of major city roads. In addition, Beijing will encourage industry grouping in suburb areas seeking to reduce industrial air pollutants.


EPA awards security planning grant to help small drinking water facilities

As part of EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) continuing efforts to help small drinking water facilities assess their vulnerabilities to terrorist attack, EPA announced the award of US $2 million to National Rural Water Association (NRWA), benefiting approximately 4,400 facilities. This award aims to fundamentally address safety regards in drinking water supply, in which possible exposures of managerial schemes to the terrorists are taken into a careful consideration. The drinking water facilities assisted by this award are required to submit vulnerability assessment reports to EPA by June 20, 2004. In support, NRWA will provide technical assistances in preparing the reports.