459 Enviromation
Reprinted from the Environment@Gowlings newsletter global warming as a means towards achieving California’s
dated December 12, 2008, Volume 5, No. 5, published goal to cut carbon emissions to 30 per cent below pro-
by the Gowlings Environmental Law Group, which consists jected business-as-usual levels by 2020. Among the mea-
of environmental law specialists and practioners in sures detailed in the plan are a requirement that 33 per
Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and B.C. (www.gowlings.com/ cent of electricity be from renewable sources, regional
environment). transportation emissions targets, and a cap-and-trade
system for cutting industrial pollution.
The move has been described by James Duran, Cali-
Quebec fornia Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Legislative Affairs
Chairman, as ‘‘an economic train wreck waiting to
Regulation Respecting the Mandatory happen’’ — a view supported by some economists who
Declaration of Water Withdrawals claim that the analysis is full of rosy assumptions and
ignores potential problems. However many others,
Notice of the draft Regualtion was published in the including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, believe that
´
Gazette Officielle Du Quebec, November 5, 2008. The the plan will provide ‘‘a road map for the rest of the nation
draft Regulation deals with the mandatory declaration of to follow’’ and will spur action on climate from the United
water withdrawals pursuant to Section 124 of the Environ- States Congress.
mental Quality Act.
The draft Regulation requires the main water with-
U.S. EPA’s Decision Delays Coal Plants
drawers in Quebec such as industries, business, institutions
that are not supplied by water supply works in municipali- The fate of scores of new coal-burning power plants is
ties to send to the Minister of Sustainable Development, now in limbo. A US Environmental Protection Agency
Environment and Parks a declaration on their withdrawal (‘‘EPA’’) Environmental Appeals Board (‘‘EAB’’) decision
activities. Specifically they are required to identify the published 13 November 2008 rejected a federal permit for
number of withdrawal sites that are operated, and the spe- Deseret Power’s Utah coal plant at Bonanza, Utah (USA).
cific location of the nature of withdrawals. Those subject to The panel sided with the Sierra Club, saying EPA’s Denver
the regulation will be required to measure volume of with- office failed to adequat