Feb132017

Notice: BA12 0SS, Mrs Caroline Wheatley Hubbard: environmental permit application advertisement

DEFRA
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Updated: The operator details have changed.

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for waste operations, mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities. The arrangements are explained in its Public Participation Statement

These notices explain:

  • what the application is about

  • which Environment Agency office you can visit to see the application documents on the public register

  • when you need to comment by

The Environment Agency will decide:

  • whether to grant or refuse the application

  • what conditions to include in the permit (if granted)

Feb132017

Beijing bans higher emission vehicles from road

East Asia
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Beijing will ban high-emission vehicles from its urban areas starting Wednesday, authorities said Monday.

Starting from Feb. 15, light-duty gasoline-powered cars that fail to meet the National Emission Standard III will be banned from entering Beijing’s fifth ring on weekdays.

Violators will be fined 100 yuan (US$14.50) for every four hours that they drive on the road. Substandard cars will also be taken off the road through annual inspections or spot checks.

The Chinese capital currently requires new cars to comply with the “Beijing VI” emission standard, which is higher than the widely-used National Emission Standard V and equivalent to the Euro VI standard, the strictest in China.

The National Emission Standard I was introduced in 1999 and the National Emission Standard II followed in 2004.

“After weeding out yellow-labeled cars [outdated and heavy-polluting vehicles], vehicles consistent with the National Emission Standards II and III release most of the pollutants on the roads,” said Yu Jianhua, chief engineer of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau.

Higher-polluting gasoline vehicles account for less than 10 percent of vehicles on the road, but discharge over 30 percent of nitrogen oxide and 25 percent of volatile organic compounds, according to Yu.

Beijing’s 5.7 million vehicles produce 500,000 tonnes of various pollutants annually and account for 31 percent of locally-generated PM 2.5, a particulate matter associated with hazardous smog, making it the prime source of PM2.5, according to the environmental authority.

Plagued by smog over the past decade, the capital city has initiated a series of regulations to improve its air quality.

It has moved out high-polluting industries, pulled outdated cars off the road, continued to improve the public transportation system and rolled out policies to support new energy vehicles.

Average density of PM 2.5 in the capital was 73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2016, down 9.9 percent from the previous year, according to the Beijing Municipal Reform and Development Commission.

Feb132017

Press release: More than 50 Welsh companies expected at major UK Government export summit

HM Government
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A major summit on exports is set to draw together a range of Welsh companies with experts on hand.

More than 50 Welsh companies are expected at a major export summit set up by the UK Government to help exporters sell more across the globe.

The event, being hosted on 6 March at Cardiff City Hall by the Wales Office and the Department for International Trade, will bring together a range of exporters under one roof who can offer practical advice on:

  • Applying for grants or financial help with exports
  • Getting market intelligence in countries around the world
  • Negotiating around rules and red tape in new markets
  • How the UK Government can support trade fairs and exhibitions abroad
  • Advice on protecting your ideas from the Intellectual Property Office

Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, said:

Wales is already a successful exporter – shipping aircraft wings to the world, cooling technology to the Middle East and TV formats to dozens of countries. Our export market is worth around £11bn a year.

Leaving the European Union will create new trade opportunities. The role of this summit is to help connect our brilliant Welsh business community with expert guides and tutors to ensure they are off to a flying start as we strike new trade deals.

This is about gathering a range of experts in one place who can plug your business into new markets. I urge everyone who wants to sell more abroad – or even just explore the options – to attend.

There will also be presentations from successful companies including thermal equipment manufacturer SPTS Technologies, civil engineers Dawnus and Cloth Cat Animation – a creative agency which has just won a major deal with Chinese broadcasters.

The summit is free to attend – you can register online here