v>EPA UNEP united States Environmental Protection Agency Administration And Resources Management United Nations Environment Programme Volume 3, Number 3 June 1994 EPA/220/N-94-016 CARIBBEAN CURRENTS Welcome... ...to Caribbean Currents, Volume Three, Number Three. This quarterly newsletter is assembled by INFOTERRA/USA in its capacity as the Regional Service Centre (RSC) for INFOTERRA National Focal Points (NFPs) in the English and French-speaking Caribbean. Although the Currents is assembled at INFOTERRA/USA, the content belongs to you, the readers. You are encouraged to send in any questions, comments, problems, or interesting issues relevant to the Region' for inclusion in the Currents. Please see the Guidelines for Contributions on page 8 for more information. Special thanks to Maritza Alvarez of CIAC for her contribution to this issue. Each issue will also feature a Directory of NFPs in the Region so that anyone with international environmental questions can contact their nearest resource. Please feel free to contact one another as well as your RSC for assistance or materials. Also, please feel free to share Caribbean Currents with your friends and colleagues. The Currents should serve as an informational forum for anyone who lives, works, or is involved in the English and French- speaking Caribbean Region. International Environmental Law Sources Last issue, Caribbean Currents looked at sources of information on U.S. Environmental Laws and Regulations. This issue's insert describes publications which provide information on environmental laws from around the world. This includes different types of materials: • Laws of individual nations • Agreements between nations Treaties • International Conventions The resources on this list include documents which may provide summaries, analysis, or full text of laws. Each entiy indicates the kind of information that the document provides. This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you are aware of any other materials which are ofuse in this field, please let us know. Share any information you have with the RSC (using the address on page 8) and we will include it in a future issue of the Currents. Any information you can provide is useful. Please feel free to fax, write to, or call the RSC with any questions orcomments you may have. Thank you for your assistance. 7a2) Printed on Recycled Paper ------- 4T-* a Environmental Law and the Caribbean Environmental ' Information Center 0 Communities around the world are becoming more concerned with achieving harmony between people and their environment. People are increasingly aware ofthe need for a sound economy without compromisingthe health ofthe environment. Nations everywhere are developing important guidelines to help achieve thisbalance- environmental legislation. Current legislation addresses a wide range of environmental issues and media at the local, national, and international levels. Keeping up with this vast array of sources ofinformation can be time-consuming and costly. The free sharing of environmental guidelines is important for providing citizens, businesses, and government policy-makers with accurate, up-to-date information with which to make community and national decisions. Through the law resources in its collection, the Caribbean Environmental Information Center (CIAC) helps meet the needs of citizens and officials throughout the Caribbean Region. Keeping this in mind, we must consider two criteria when adding to the collection: materials must be up-to-date and relevant to the purpose ofthe collection. By reviewing specialized journals and newsletters and consulting with experts in the field of environmental information, CIAC has been able to meet these criteria. CIAC provides access to overviews and some full text copies of local and federal environmental laws and regulations. Some specific materials used at CIAC include: • The U.S. Code ofFederal Regulations (CFR): ThecompilationofallU.S. Federal Regulations, divided into 50titlesbysubject(Title40isProtectionoftheEnvironment) • TheBNADailyandlnternationalEnvironmentReporters: These resources provide very current pointer information to address the complexity of international environmental laws • MicroJuris: This on-line database is used to supplement materials in the collection Another consideration when looking for legal information is the value of resource sharing. This can take place through electronic networking (such as on-line bulletin boards). It can also take the form of communicating with other organizations. The INFOTERRA Network provides an excellent framework for such communication. Communicating with others who work with the same topics makes it easier to cope with the increasing internationalization of legal environmental issues. submitted by Maritza Alvarez CIAC Director Looking Jor Laws... -2- ------- International Environmental Law Sources This is a list of selected publications which provide information about environmental laws, treaties, and agreements around the world. It is not a comprehensive list, but does provide a good starting point for locating useful information. Although some of these materials are no longer available from the publisher, they are included because they provide some form of access that is otherwise unavailable. You may wish to check with a local library to consult these materials. A list of publisher contacts is included at the end of this fact sheet. INTERNATIONAL LAW RESOURCES These resources provide information on laws, treaties, and agreements between countries. BNA International Environment Reporter Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) [ISSN: 0149-8738] Contents: Laws, Treaties, Agreements/Conventions Global coverage; provides brief analysis of major environmental activities, policies, agreements, and decisions worldwide; Bi-weekly publication, with a quarterly cumulated index. A Business Guide to European Community Legislation John Wiley & Sons (1993) [ISBN: 0-471-93698-7] Contents: Agreements/Conventions Topical analysis of directives in the EC and how they affect business operations; environment is one of 20 topics. Includes an index. Status of Multilateral Treaties in the Field of Environment and Conservation International Union for Conservation of Nature & Resources-IUCN (3rd ed., 1993) [ISBN: 2-88032-090-9] Contents: Agreements/Conventions Foldout charts divided into two sections: list of conventions open worldwide and multilateral restricted to specified states. Indicates status of each agreement by country in a checklist format. Basic Documents of International Environmental Law Kluwer Academic Press (1992) [ISBN: 185-333-628-9] Contents: Laws; Treaties; Agreements/Conventions Global coverage; organized by subjects with full texts of many documents. Directory of Community Legislation in Force and Other Acts of the Community Institutions UNIPUB (1993) [ISBN: 92-77-54034-6] Contents: Laws A topical pointer to legislation of the EC, including environmental legislation and agreements. Useful to identify law numbers, but does not include texts. International Environmental Law: Basic Instruments and References Transnational Publishers (1992) [ISBN: 0-941320-68-5] Contents: Treaties; Agreements/Conventions Global coverage; contains topical checklists for over 800 agreements and full text for 85. Yearbook of International Environmental Law -3- ------- International Environmental Law Sources Kluwer Academic Publishers Vol. 3 (1992) [ISBN: 1-85333-791-9] Vol. 2 (1991) [ISBN: 1-85333-718-8] Vol. 1 (1990) (no longer available from publisher) Contents: Agreements/Conventions Texts and discussions of major international agreements; annual publication with (so far) 3 volumes; some of the documents are also available electronically (sent with publication). Each volume is well-indexed. International Agreements to Protect the Environment and Wildlife U.S. International Trade Commission (1991) (no longer available from publisher) Contents: Treaties; Agreements/Conventions Provides summaries of treaties and agreements, all of which include U.S. as a party. Many entries indicate which U.S. Agency is responsible for administration of the agreement. Arranged by subject with an index. International Environmental Law Primary Materials Transnational Publishers (1991) [ISBN: 0-941320-67-7] Contents: Agreements/Conventions Includes texts of bilateral, regional, and global agreements through 1990, some of which include lists of nations which are party to the agreements. Selected Multilateral Treaties in the Field of the Environment State Mutual Book Service Vol. 2 (1991) [ISBN: 92-807-1212-8] Vol. 1 (1983) [ISBN: 92-807-1025-7] Contents: Laws; Agreements/Conventions Truly a world-wide resource, providing full text and capsule summaries. Very good index and table of contents. Two volumes so far. The North Sea: Basic Legal Documents on Regional Environmental Cooperation Kluwer Academic Publishers (1990) [ISBN: 0-7923-0919-7] Contents: Treaties; Agreements/Conventions Contains texts of environmental agreements relating to the North Sea Region. Includes some back- ground and summary material. Includes a thorough index. Environmental Policy of the European Communities; Kluwer Academic Publishers (1989) [ISBN: 1-85333-225-9] Contents: Laws Two-volume set giving brief summaries of EC environmental activities and agreements on specific subjects. Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment United Nations (UNIPUB) (1989) (no longer available from publisher) Contents: Treaties Listing (with brief summaries) of environmental agreements between nations around the world. International Wildlife Law: An Analysis of International Treaties Concerned with the Conservation ¦4- ------- International Environmental Law Sources of Wildlife State Mutual Book Service (1985) [ISBN: 0-906496-46-2; Paperback, 0-906496-22-5] Contents: Treaties Texts of some of the documents, commentary and analysis for others; strictly wildlife laws. SOURCES OF NATIONAL LAWS These resources provide information on the individual laws of different countries. International Environmental Law Special Report Government Institutes (1992) [ISBN 0-86587-305-4] Contents: Laws Overview of laws for specific countries, primarily in Europe and Asia. Provides good background information and some checklists. Air Pollution Control in the European Community; Implementation of the EC Directives in the Twelve Member States Kluwer Academic Publishers (1991) [ISBN 1-85333-567-3] Contents: Laws Discusses the implementation of EC Air Directives in each of the 12 Member States (e.g., Lead Content of Petrol). Clean Air Around the World; Murley, Loveday International Union of Air Pollution Prevention Associations (1991) [ISBN: 1-871688-01-9] Contents: Laws Provides overviews of major air pollution concerns in several nations (primarily European) and de- scribes the laws and regulations in force to address these concerns in each nation. International Environmental Law Sourcebook Butterworth Legal Publishers (1991) Contents: Laws Primarily Western and Industrialized nations; provides a discussion of environmental legislation and regulation; some entries include lists of primary laws. Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements Taylor and Francis (1990) [ISBN: 0-85066-833-6] Contents: Laws; Treaties; Agreements/Conventions Contains very brief synopses of U.N. organizations and international agreements; You must know the full, correct name of a law or agreement to track it easily. Law and Practice Relating to Pollution Control in... Commission of the EC (1982) {no longer available from publisher) Contents: Laws This series presents (in one nation per volume) an overview and detailed summaries of environmental problems and regulations in the EC. Each volume is indexed. -5- ------- International Environmental Law Sources PUBLISHER CONTACTS B N A Books: Div. of Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. 1231 25th St, NW Washington, DC 20037 USA Telephone: 202-833-7480 U.S. Toll Free Number: 800-372-1033 Butterworth U. S., Legal Publishers, Incorporated 8 Industrial Way., Bldg. C Salem, NH 03079-2837 USA Telephone: 603-890-6001 U.S. Toll Free Number: 800-548-4001 (orders) Government Institutes, Incorporated 4 Research PI., Suite 200 Rockville, MD 20850 USA Telephone: 301-921-2355 International Union of Air Pollution Prevention Associations 136 North Street BriglitionBNl 1RG UNTIED KINGDOM Telephone: 44-273-26-313 IUCN Publications Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland SWITZERLAND Telephone: 41-22-999-0001 Kluwer Academic Publishers 101 Philip Dr., Assinippi Pk. Norwell, MA 02061 USA Telephone: 617-871-6600 State Mutual Book & Periodical Service, Limited 521 Fifth Ave., 17thFlr. New York, NY 10175 USA Telephone: 212-682-5844 Taylor & Francis, Incorporated 1101 \fermont Ave., Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 USA Telephone: 202-289-2174 U.S. Toll Free Number: 800-821-8312 Transnational Publishers, Incorporated 1 Bridge St. Irvington-on-Hudson, NY 10533 USA Telephone: 914-591-4288 UN1PUB 4611 -F Assembly Dr. Lanham,MD 20706-4391 USA Telephone: 301-459-7666 U.S. Toll Free Number: 800-274-4888 Wiley, John, & Sons, Incorporated 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158-0012 USA Telephone: 212-850-6000 U.S. Toll Free Number: 800-225-5945 (orders) FOR MORE INFORMATION Please feel free to contact 1NFOTERRA/USA if you have additional questions or problems. Although we do not serve as a depository for international environmental laws, we may be able to suggest additional sources that would be of use to you. May 1994 ------- Welcome to The Bulletin Board Each issue, we will publish questions or concerns of interest to Currents readers. Anyone who has materials or information that they feel will be helpful should feel free to respond You may either respond directly to the reader who has placed the item, or send the materials to INFOTERRA/USA for forwarding. mi "Mi Bulletin Board ¦ : ::: c , . *4* ^ * . ... jgp| Si DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE INFOTERRA/USA has free copies of the following publications available. Ifyou would like copies of any ofthese documents, please let us know. • Chemicals In Your Community • Your Car (orTruck) and the Environment • School Recycling Programs: A Handbookfor Educators • Ride the Wave of the Future, Recycle Today! (poster) • EPA Pollution Prevention Accomplishments: 1993, Policy Leads to Action • On the Trail of the Missing Ozone (educational comic book) T o request copies of these documents, just write to INFOTERRA/USA using the contact information on page 8. Information Needed on Pollution Prevention INFOTERRA/USAreceives many requests for information on pollution prevention programs. Although we have a number of publications on pollution prevention in the United States, we are interested in collecting information on programs in yourcountries. Any materials that you can provide, including contacting information, would be greatly appreciated. We are interested in national or local programs. Please contact INFOTERRA/USA using the information on page 8 ifyou can provide any assistance. Thank you for your participation! * -; \\\ y-iff - i ' ¦ > '¦[ - - _ K 1 ''' «. Send your Bulletins to the RSC for publication in the next issue. See the Directory on page 8 for information on submitting items. -7- ------- About the NFP Directory This directory reflects changes and additions to the 1NFOTERRA Directory of National Focal Points distributed by INFOTERRA/PAC, dated April 1993. Please check this information to verify that it is correct and up-to-date. If you have any changes or corrections, please notify the RSC as soon as possible. We will be happy to relay the information to the PAC. NFP DIRECTORY Dr. Donald Cooper MargueriteBlemur Department ofEnvironmental Health Services Ministere de I'Agriculture et des Resources Naturelles P.O.BoxN-3729 et du Developpement Rural Nassau, THE BAHAMAS P.O.Box 1441 Telephone: (809)3224908 FAX: (809) 322-3607 Port-au-Prince, HAITI Telephone: 509-22-1867 FAX: 509-22-3599 Vernese Inniss Administrative Officer (Environment) Jeanetta Phillips Ministry of Labour, Consumer Affairs and Natural Resources Conservation Divison the Environment Ministry of Tourism & the Environment Marine House, Hastings 53 1/2 Molynes Road, P.O. Box 305 Si Michael, 29, BARBADOS Kingston 10, JAMAICA Telephone: (809)426-8999 FAX: (809)426-8959 Telephone: (809) 923 -5155/5125 FAX: (809) 923-5070 Jaime Villanueva Vanesta Moses-Felix Fisheries Department Government Documentalist Princess Margaret Drive Ministry of Planning, Personnel, P.O.Box 148 Establishment, and T raining Belize City, BELIZE Documentation Center Telephone: 501-244552 FAX: 501-2-32983 P.O. Box 709 Castries, ST. LUCIA Mr. Felix Gregoire Telephone: (809)453-2005 FAX: (809)453-2506 Forestry and Wildlife Division Ministry of Agriculture, Botanical Gardens Regional Service Centre (RSC): Roseau, DOMINICA Emma J. McNamara Telephone: (809)448-2401 FAX: (809)448-7999 INFOTERRA/USA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mavis Taylor Headquarters Library, 3404 INFOTERRA Director 401MStreeI, S. W. c/oUNDP Washington, D. C. 20460, USA P.O.Box 10960 Telephone: (202)260-5917 FAX: (202)260-3923 Georgetown, GUYANA FAX: 592-262942 Guidelines for Contributions to Caribbean Currents Any organization or individual operating or involved in the English and French-speaking Caribbean Region is welcome to contribute to the content of the newsletter. Please note that submissions should meet the following criteria: • They should be relevant to environmental issues • They must be of interest to or directly involve the Region • They must not endorse or recommend any product or commercial service either explicitly or implicitly • They must be brief-preferably under 250 words; Bulletin Board requests should be kept under 100 words • They must be received by the posted deadline (see below) Please feel free to contact the Caribbean Currents coordinator if you are interested in submitting a longer article. You should contact the coordinator to discuss your topic and any size or content restrictions beforehand. Be aware that once your article is submitted, it is subject to editing as needed. Final decisions on editing and inclusion of any contributions are left to the INFOTERRA/USA Manager. Please contact INFOTERRA/USA using the address above to contribute any comments, questions, problems, or ideas. DEADLINE FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO Vol. 3, No. 4: August 5,1994. ------- |