Israel Ministry of the Enviromental Protection - News

Ministry of Environmental Protection has Published a Tender for a Company to Manage the Western Galilee Asbestos Cleanup Project

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has published a tender for a company to manage the friable asbestos cleanup project in the Western Galilee.

The asbestos waste, originating from the Eitanit asbestos cement plant which operated in Nahariya between 1952 and 1997, was buried or dispersed throughout the city and in the Western Galilee in northern Israel. Inter alia, asbestos was dispersed as a substrate for trails, roads and parking areas, in public and agricultural areas.

Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan has declared the project to be "unique and of national importance, with the aim of stopping public exposure to the carcinogen by means of removal of the hazard."

Senior officials in the Ministry of Environmental Protection estimate that some 150,000 cubic meters of asbestos waste are dispersed in public and private areas in the Western Galilee. The cost of removing this asbestos is estimated at hundreds of millions of shekels, with 20 million shekels allocated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection for implementation at this stage. Minister Erdan has expressed his expectation that local authority heads in the region will fully cooperate and help in the implementation of the project.

According to Ms. Tamar Bar-On, head of the Hazardous Dust Division in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the fact that the population of the Western Galilee is exposed to these severe hazards daily prompted the decision to have the State, by means of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, initiate the process of friable asbestos removal from both public and private sites.

Environmental Protection Ministry Publishes Tender for Preparation of a Packaging and Packaging Waste Policy

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has published a tender for the preparation of a comprehensive policy paper on packaging and packaging waste in Israel as well as a recommendation on the preferred alternative for implementing the policy.

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection packaging waste constitutes 12% of the total weight of household waste in Israel and 14% of its volume, accounting for over 500,000 tons per year.

Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan Minister Erdan has affirmed his intention to give high priority to waste recycling. Within this framework, the ministry has been seeking ways to deal with the large quantities of waste that are produced in Israel, to find alternatives to the landfilling of packaging waste and to encourage reduction of packaging use. By means of the tender, the Ministry of Environmental Protection would like to ascertain the relationship between different policy tools and economic incentives in leading developed countries and high environmental efficacy. Based on a review of regulation and different environmental and economic policy tools in developed countries, the alternative most appropriate for the Israeli economy would be chosen.

Na'ama Ashur ben Ari, in charge of recycling and recovery at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, notes said that the ministry is especially interested in checking two aspects of existing mechanisms in developed countries:

imposition of producer/importer responsibility for the treatment of packaging waste
implementation of legislative and economic tools for the reduction at source of packaging and promotion of reuse and recycling of packaging material in order to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging.

With the completion of the study in a few months, the ministry will formulate its position and will consider the possibility of promoting a bill on the subject.

Minister Erdan: Designate the Lands Adjacent to the Kishon River as Open Space

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Israel's Environmental Protection Minister MK Gilad Erdan has turned to Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and to the Director General of the Israel Lands Administration, Yaron Bibi with a request that they implement their authority under the law to designate the open space adjacent to the downstream part of the Kishon River as open public space to be managed by the Kishon River Authority.

In his request, Minister Erdan notes that the lands extending at least 100 meters from each bank of the river in its downstream part include nature and landscape values. These lands are currently under state ownership, providing the opportunity to designate them as open public space.

In his letter, Minister of Erdan points out that lands may be designated for public space in accordance with river conservation principles which are expressed both in recently approved national outline plans and in the master plan for the Kishon River which was approved by the Israel government in 2001.

Minister Erdan: Growing density in the urban sector obliges us to assure that green open space will be preserved for the benefit and the enjoyment of the public. A few days ago, I toured the area and to the best of my understanding it is possible to develop Haifa Port, whose importance I recognize, while at the same time protecting the vital public need for open and green space in the Haifa Bay area."

Israel Knesset to Celebrate Environment Day - Jun 9, 2009

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Environment Day in Israel's Parliament (Knesset) is being organized by the Social-Environmental Lobby of the Knesset and Life and Environment - Israel's umbrella organization for environmental NGOs.

Throughout the day, numerous events and activities will take place with the participation of environmental bodies. Events will include:

1.Ten discussions on environmental issues in different Knesset committees, with the participation of environmental organizations, as follows:

Internal Affairs and Environmental Protection Committee: green building in local authorities; meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection
Economic Affairs Committee: promotion of competition in public transport; clean air regulations on disclosure of air pollution data in vehicle advertising, with the participation of the Minister of Environmental Protection
Labor, Welfare and Health Committee: waste burning at illegal sites and its contribution to global warming and adverse health impacts
Science and Technology Committee: vehicular pollution abatement technologies
Education, Culture and Sports Committee: environmental education; green building in educational institutes
Immigration and Absorption Committee: advancing the establishment of green businesses by immigrants
Finance Committee: green considerations in capital investments
Public Petitions Committee: air pollution in Atlit

2. Joint discussion of the Social-Environmental Lobby and the Local Government Lobby on implementation of the Covenant of the Forum of 15 Major Israeli Cities on Air Pollution Reduction and Climate Protection

3. Special deliberation of the Social-Environmental Lobby with the participation of the Minister of Environmental Protection and the Knesset Speaker on Israel's preparedness for climate change

4. Discussion in the Knesset plenary on environmental issues, including the submission of environmental bills.

In the morning, the environmental NGO Green Course will hold a special display on public transportation at the entrance to the Knesset.

Decision to Prepare a National Plan for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On Jun 9, 2009, the Ministerial Committee on Environmental Protection and Climate Change approved the proposal of Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan to establish a directors-general team to formulate a national climate change plan for Israel. The plan will relate to Israel's preparedness and adaptation to climate change and to measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Minister Erdan emphasized that preparation of a greenhouse gas reduction plan is both an international necessity and a national requirement, which will, first and foremost, save thousands of lives and reduce disease associated with air pollution. In addition, the plan will serve as a driving force for economic growth which will generate workplaces and accelerate the development of Israel's cleantech industry.

The directors-general team will be headed by the Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dr. Yossi Inbar, and the proposed plan will be transferred to the Ministerial Committee on Environmental Protection and Climate Change for approval prior to the UN Climate Convention in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

In order to prepare the national plan, the directors-general committee will appoint work teams on policy in specific fields which are relevant to the Israeli economy, including:

Preparedness and adaptation (e.g., reference to changes in energy demand for cooling and heating, water resources, agriculture, building, public health, biodiversity and natural habitats and tourism).
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., reference to energy conservation and efficiency, climate-conscious building design, greater efficiency in electricity production processes, transportation, renewable energy, water).

The proposed plan for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions until 2025 will be submitted to the Israel government.

More on Climate Change in Israel

Global warming and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions call for joint action by countries worldwide. In the Mediterranean Sea basin, even more than in other parts of the world, the impacts of climate change are expressed in warming and drying trends, on the one hand, and in an increase in extreme weather events (floods and heat waves), on the other hand. Since these trends are associated with adverse impacts on the water sector, agricultural production, drainage systems, the energy sector, the coastal environment and more, adaptation and preparedness are prerequisites.

In order to quantify Israel's mitigation potential, the Ministry of Environmental Protection commissioned a study (prepared by Heifetz A. & Co. Economic Consultants), on options for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Israel. The study anticipates a sharp rise in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with the forecast pointing to a 63% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2025, under a business-as-usual scenario, in relation to 2000.

Greenhouse gas emissions are largely attributed to fossil fuel combustion in the electricity and transport sectors. In order to change this worrying trend, Israel must reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all relevant sectors.

The preparation of a national action plan for climate change will advance, inter alia, the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures which will benefit the Israeli economy and increase the number of people employed in the fields of energy conservation and clean energy production.

Advertising Requirements on Fuel Consumption and Air Pollution Emissions from New Vehicles Approved by the Knesset Economics Affairs Committee

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of its preparations for implementing the Clean Air Law, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is drafting a series of new regulations, including regulations relating to vehicular air pollution. Section 38 of the Clean Air Law relates to the obligation of marketers of new vehicles to advertise data on the level of air pollution emitted from the vehicle and on the vehicle's fuel consumption. According to the law, the Minister of Environmental Protection is authorized to make regulations on the subject, in consultation with the Minister of Transport and with the approval of the Knesset Economics Committee.

On Jun 9, 2009, the Knesset Economics Affairs Committee approved the regulations prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection which require that every advertisement for a new vehicle include data on air pollution, based on air pollutants and greenhouse gases that are emitted from the vehicle. An air pollution level will be determined for each vehicle on a scale from 1 to 15, with 1 representing the lowest emissions and 15 the highest. In addition, the vehicle advertisement will include data on laboratory testing of fuel consumption in urban and interurban driving. According to the law, advertisements and exhibition halls will be required to display a notice in the form stipulated in the regulations. Advertisements in the electronic media will also require disclosure of air pollution and fuel consumption data. Similar requirements are already in effect in some European countries and in the United States.

Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, noted his gratification at standing at the head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection Ministry, which is responsible for the implementation of the law, which he first initiated as a private member's bill in the previous Knesset. He said: "The Ministry of Environmental Protection estimates that more than a thousand people die from air pollution each year in the Tel Aviv area alone and we must do everything in our power to reduce this number. The obligation to advertise the pollution level of a new vehicle, which was approved today, is an important step in integrating environmental considerations among the general public. I hope that the purchase of environment-friendly cars will increase in the wake of this new advertising requirement, bringing about a reduction in air pollution and the attendant damage to the public's health."

Minister Erdan went on to say that the aim of the law is to increase transparency and environmental awareness among consumers. With the coming into force of the regulations, all buyers of cars will have at their disposal data on the level of air pollution and fuel consumption of the vehicle, which should help them choose the cleanest and most fuel efficient car.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has already held meetings with the Israeli Vehicles Importers Association in order to begin preparations for the upcoming advertising requirements.

The regulations are part of a wider process which is currently being advanced by the Tax Authority, which includes tax incentives to environmentally friendly cars - "green taxes." It is anticipated that green taxes will come into force this year.

OECD Environmental Policy Mission Visits Israel: Jun 15-18, 2009

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Within the framework of Israel's accession process to the OECD, an Environmental Policy Mission arrived in Israel for a four day visit beginning Jun 15, 2009, in order to review Israel's policy on environmental subjects.

The delegation, headed by two representatives of the OECD Secretariat, assessed Israel's willingness and ability to implement Council Acts and OECD Recommendations on environmental subjects, including, inter alia, waste management (including hazardous waste), use of economic instruments for environmental protection, water resource management, environmental planning and transport, environmental information, energy and air pollution, noise, and coastal and marine environment.

Although the OECD is first and foremost an economic organization, the environment figures high on its agenda, with one third of its 220 instruments dealing with the environment.

Steps in the Accession Process

Within the framework of its accession process, Israel submitted its Initial Memorandum to the OECD in Jul 2008. The memorandum specified the extent of Israel's acceptance of the obligations resulting from each of the OECD's relevant legal instruments and the compatibility of its legislation and policies with these obligations. At present, steps are being taken to close existing gaps. Furthermore, background documents which survey Israel's legislation, policy and institutional framework regarding chemical management and environmental policy (including waste) were presented to the OECD.

The accession process provides Israel with a unique opportunity to upgrade its policies in several areas, including the environment, and to adopt the high standards set by the organization. Environmental issues are under the responsibility of two OECD Committees: the Chemicals Committee and the Environmental Policy Committee (EPOC), as well as within a number of subcommittees including the Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling. Representatives of the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection are active members in these committees and take part in discussions of additional working groups and task forces on the environment. The present mission related to environmental policy issues. A Chemicals Mission visited Israel in Mar 2009.

Environmental Policy Mission Itinerary

During the current visit, members of the Environmental Policy Mission held discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other government ministries to hear about Israel's preparations for fulfilling OECD requirements. Meetings also took place with members of the Israel OECD Accession Committee on Environmental Policy, which includes representatives of government ministries, the Israel Manufacturers' Association and non-governmental environmental organizations.

In addition to these discussions, the mission visited a number of sites in Israel to observe policy implementation in the field. Visits were made to the hazardous waste treatment site in Ramat Hovav, the Dan Region Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant (Shafdan) and the Nesher cement plant in Ramle.

The mission's visit to Israel concluded with a final session which was dedicated to a review of Israel's status vs OECD Acts and concluding remarks and insights by the OECD in order to facilitate Israel's move to the next stage in the accession process in relation to environmental policy - a hearing will take place in Oct 2009 in OECD headquarters in Paris (with a separate hearing on waste scheduled for Dec). In this hearing, Israel will brief member states on its preparations for fulfilling OECD Acts and Recommendations.

Israel's Clean Coast Program Cited in UN Report on Marine Litter

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Within the framework of a comprehensive report on the status of marine litter in seas and coasts, published by the United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Seas Programme and the Ocean Conservancy in Apr 2009, Israel is cited for its Clean Coast Program. The program is dedicated to improving the cleanliness level on the country's beaches through assistance to local authorities, education and information and increased enforcement. The UN report, "Marine Litter: A Global Challenge," relates to the problem of marine litter in UNEP's assisted Regional Seas and the authors analyze the problems generated by litter accumulation in seas and coasts from a regional perspective. The report concludes that marine litter is an environmental, economic, human health and aesthetic problem, whose root lies in "poor practices of solid waste management, a lack of infrastructure, various human activities, an inadequate understanding on the part of the public of the potential consequences of their actions, the lack of adequate legal and enforcement systems and a lack of financial resources." The report repeatedly underlines the importance of regional and global cooperation and collaboration to prevent and solve the problem of marine litter and stresses the need for local community participation as part of the solution. In the Mediterranean chapter of the publication, Israel's Clean Coast Program, which has been operated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection for the past four years, with the active participation of local authorities and the general public, is specifically mentioned. The publication notes that quantifiable results "showed a significant improvement in coastal cleanliness" and that this was achieved "in cooperation with inspectors of the Marine and Coastal Environment Division, wide-scale media coverage and long-term educational plans and cooperation with organizations."

Environmental Protection Ministry Submits Opinion on Environmental Impact Statement for the IDF Training Base City

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has called on the defense establishment to conduct additional odor surveys and to incorporate their findings at the time of planning for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Training Base City, to be situated some 10 kilometers away from Ramat Hovav in Israel's southern region. In parallel, stricter conditions were incorporated in the business licenses of industrial plants in the area for wastewater treatment, air pollution emissions and risks from hazardous waste accidents. Industrial plants in the Ramat Hovav industrial zone are required to comply with guidelines values, based on potential health risks, within a 5 km radius around Ramat Hovav by the end of 2010. In case of non-compliance - stricter business licensing conditions will be set and the possibility of shutting down production lines will be considered, as necessary.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection submitted its professional opinion on the environmental impact statement (EIS) relating to the establishment of an Israel Defense Force (IDF) training base city in the Negev Junction in southern Israel. The opinion was submitted to the southern district planning and building commission of the Ministry of the Interior.

The EIS was prepared by the Ministry of Defense over the past year according to guidelines prepared by the Environmental Protection Ministry. It assesses the exposure risk of the population in the training base city to impacts of air pollution, soil pollution and hazardous substances, originating in the industrial plants and evaporation ponds in the Ramat Hovav industrial area and in Ramat Beka and proposes ways and means of reducing these impacts.

The risk of exposure to air pollution is assessed according to two scenarios: the situation today and the future situation. Analysis of the future situation is based on Environmental Protection Ministry plans to reduce pollutants from different emission sources and to establish new evaporation ponds at the individual plant level for in-house treatment of the wastewater. For the purpose of preparing the EIS, worst case conditions were taken into account with regard, inter alia, to consumption of materials, emission of pollutants and meteorological conditions.

The main points of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's opinion related to the following subjects:

Existing and forecasted air quality level in the training base city area, as a result of air pollutant emissions and odors from different pollution sources in the region, under current conditions and future conditions.
Health risk assessment based on existing and forecasted air quality in the training base city area.
Risk assessment for hazardous substances accidents in the training base city area.

Findings on Long and Short Term Exposure to Pollutants

The Environmental Protection Ministry's professional opinion indicates that concentrations representing continuous population exposure to pollutants in the immediate and long term are lower than the health guideline values established by the Almog Committee, the interministerial committee that determined the maximum concentrations of pollutants in the air, to which respiratory exposure would not cause adverse health impacts to the population, including sensitive populations.

With regard to concentrations representing short term exposure, it was found that under existing conditions, there are five substances whose value is higher than the guideline value determined in the Almog Committee: dimethyl sulfate, carbon disulphide, methylene chloride, PCMM and acrylonitrile.

With regard to short term exposure under future conditions, concentrations higher than the threshold values were not found, with the exception of carbon disulphide (this material, which may exceed the guideline value by 5% in the future scenario, represents an odor nuisance). The assessment of methylene chloride was made according to the more stringent health guideline and no exceedance of this value in the Negev Junction is expected under future conditions.

The EIS also reviewed the possibility of potential risk from synergistic exposure to a number of substances and found no significant risk in the long term to those residing in the training base city. Immediate risk was not found in the short term either, but inspection and supervision of emissions is required, including arsenic and cadmium. An assessment of health risks from skin exposure to the examined substances found no anticipated risk, both in the immediate term and under a future scenario.

The findings of the EIS show that odor nuisances may occur in the summer months (Jun-Sep), largely emanating from the existing evaporation ponds of the Ramat Hovav Industrial Council. These ponds will be shut down beginning in 2011, a year before the training city will be populated. However, in its opinion, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has instructed the Ministry of Defense to conduct additional odor surveys in the summer months and to incorporate the findings in the planning process of the city. This requirement is expected to further reduce pollution and odor nuisances in the buildings and facilities of the planned training city. It is worthy to note in this connection that the quality of the effluents discharged to the ponds as of Jan 2008 has been significantly improved in comparison to the past.

Pollution Abatement Plan for Ramat Hovav

The Ministry of Environmental Protection is determined to accelerate its plan for the prevention of environmental nuisances in the Ramat Hovav industrial area, which was initiated in 2005 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011, more than a year before the training base city will be populated. Within this framework, industrial plants in the area were required to undertake a number of actions, including rehabilitation of the Industrial Council's evaporation ponds, implementation of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) requirements, installation of facilities for air pollution treatment from point sources, implementation of a plan for emission reductions based on best available techniques (BAT) and implementation of a Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program and risk reduction from hazardous substances accidents. These actions will bring about a significant reduction in pollution levels emitted from the industrial area.

A clear trend of significant reductions in the scope and concentration of pollution generated by Ramat Hovav (air, soil and water) is already evident as a result of advanced wastewater treatment, installation of innovative technological solutions in all point sources of air and pollution, leak detection and repair and remediation of the hazardous waste treatment site in Ramat Hovav.

Air Quality Sampling in the Ashdod Industrial Area Reveals High Pollutant Concentrations

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a preliminary assessment of air quality in the northern industrial area of Ashdod and Nir Galim, conducted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Ashdod-Yavne Association of Towns for the Environment, high concentrations of pollutants, including carcinogens, which exceed health guideline values, were discovered. In light of the findings, it was decided to conduct more comprehensive surveys in 2009 and to initiate activities for emission control in the industrial area.

In Sep 2008, preliminary tests were conducted in the northern industrial area of Ashdod and in nearby Nir Galim. The tests were conducted in six sampling points, not including the city of Ashdod itself, and included three series of diurnal tests on three consecutive days. The measurements were taken within the framework of efforts by the Environmental Protection Ministry to measure air pollutants which are not routinely measured in monitoring stations throughout the country.

The measurements are conducted in order to characterize air pollution in different regions and to identify and treat emission sources which contribute to air pollutant emissions.

The pollutants checked included: suspended dust, respirable particles smaller than 2.5 microns, metals, hydrogen sulfide, volatile organic compounds, polyaromatics (as benzo(a)pyrene), dioxins and furans.

Findings

In some of the tests, findings which indicate exceedances of standards or annual and short term guideline values were discovered for the following pollutants: suspended dust, respirable particles smaller than 2.5 microns, metals (arsenic, manganese, lead), hydrogen sulfide, benzene (carcinogen), trichloroethylene, benzo(a)pyrene (carcinogen) and dioxins and furans.

The annual and short-term guideline values for toxic substances express the maximum permitted concentration of a given pollutant in the air, in which, with respiratory exposure, adverse health effects are not expected to the general population, including sensitive population groups (the elderly, children, pregnant women, patients with respiratory diseases, etc.).

As for carcinogens or suspected carcinogens, the assumption is that there is no safe exposure threshold and that theoretically any amount of carcinogen, even the smallest, may lead to the development of malignancies in the future. Therefore, guideline values established on the basis of carcinogenic effects express the maximum concentration of the pollutant for which the additional anticipated risk to contract cancer does not exceed 1:100,000 over a lifetime (70 years).

It should be borne in mind that results which show values which exceed the annual guideline value or standard only relate to a small number of measurements which do not represent an entire year. Therefore, additional measurements should be taken over time to check whether the values do or do not exceed the annual guideline value or standard.

Conclusions

In light of the results, the Ministry of Environmental Protection intends to take the following steps:

To conduct a more comprehensive survey in 2009, which will include sampling points within the city of Ashdod.
To identify, in cooperation with the Ashdod-Yavne Association of Towns and the municipality of Ashdod, potential sources of pollution in the industrial area and to treat them. The Environmental Protection Ministry intends to require plants, identified as high pollution potential plants, to implement best available techniques (BAT) within short timeframes in order to bring about maximum emission reduction of both point and fugitive emissions.
To undertake additional tests in the future in order to check the efficacy of actions taken in terms of improved air quality in the region.

Israel Presents its Preparations for Accession to the OECD to the Chemicals Committee

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Within the framework of Israel's accession process to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Dr. Yossi Inbar, presented Israel's preparations for implementing the organization's decisions and recommendations on chemicals to the Chemicals Committee on Jun 8, 2009.

Although the OECD is first and foremost an economic organization, the environment figures high on its agenda, with one third of its 220 instruments dealing with the environment, of which 21 relate to chemicals. Accession to the OECD presents a unique opportunity to upgrade Israel's policies in several areas, including the environment and the chemicals sector, in line with the policy of the organization.

Within the framework of the accession review by the OECD Chemicals Committee, Dr. Inbar presented a general overview of Israel, including an economic-environmental survey, with special emphasis on the legislative framework, the major stakeholders in the chemicals sector and the relevant institutional frameworks. In addition, Dr. Inbar presented the activities which Israel intends to implement, including:

Establishment of a mechanism for the registration and management of chemicals in industry.
Establishment of a public notification system on pollutant emissions from industrial and other sources (transportation, agriculture).
Participation and notification of the public on preparedness during hazardous material accidents.
Implementation of an integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) system in industrial plants with major environmental impact.
Notification on the export of restricted or banned chemicals.
Ratification of international conventions dealing with hazardous materials.

A copy of Israel's presentation to the Chemicals Committee is available for download below.

Environmental Protection Minister Calls on Accountant General to Promote Hybrid Government Cars

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan: "The State should serve as an example and encourage the purchase of hybrid cars in government ministries. It is unreasonable to incentivize the public to buy hybrids and to prevent this possibility from civil servants."

In a letter to the Accountant General in the Ministry of Finance, Minister Erdan notes that there is no tender in force today for the purchase of hybrid cars for the government service. At a time when a "green tax" program has been agreed upon with the Tax Authority, which includes the promotion of hybrids and a 500 shekel tax reduction for the monthly value of use in comparison to a gasoline or diesel powered car of similar value, the time has come to prepare a new tender for the entire civil service system.

In his request, Minister Erdan also pointed out that a switch to hybrid vehicles will reduce adverse environmental impacts and air pollution, will bring about significant fuel savings and will reduce the direct and indirect costs of government offices. The minister stressed that the State must serve as an example and therefore this subject should be advanced as soon as possible.

Local Council and its Head Fined for Environmental Offenses

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On Jun 10, 2009, the Nazareth Magistrate's Court convicted the Yavniel Local Council, situated in the Lower Galilee, and the council head of causing unreasonable air pollution and unreasonable odor, refraining from stopping the pollution and odor emanating from a waste disposal site and not complying with business licensing regulations. The local council was also convicted of littering and dumping waste in the public domain and the head of the council was convicted of breaching his responsibility as a functionary to prevent the commission of these offenses by the council and its employees.

The court imposed a fine of 120,000 shekels on the Yavniel Local Council and a 10,000 shekel fine on its head.

The indictment was filed against the council and its head for environmental offenses committed during the years 2004 - 2005 in an illegal waste disposal site which was operated by the council and generated severe environmental nuisances. This is the second indictment to be filed against this local authority and its head for environmental offenses. In 2000, the local council was convicted and fined 30,000 shekels.

Att. Dalit Dror, the Environmental Protection Ministry's legal adviser, stated that she rejected the defendants' proposal for a plea bargain whereby the head of the local authority would be deleted from the indictment and insisted on his conviction and fining. She noted that heads of local authorities and directors of corporations must recognize their responsibility for the prevention, cessation and removal of nuisances and their liability for punishment and for paying a personal price in case of failure to act as required. Att. Dror added: "We will no longer agree to their deletion from an indictment and/or for lenience in the penalties imposed on functionaries, and where appropriate, we will appeal against lenient court rulings and not hesitate to reach the Supreme Court, so as to ensure that the penalty level reflects the severity which should be ascribed to cases in which environmental harm is caused to the public."

Environmental Cooperation between Environmental Protection Ministry and President's Residence

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In anticipation of a meeting between the President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, and the Minister of Environmental Protection, Gilad Erdan, a joint team has been set up to plan for the advancement of a number of environmental projects:

Special award for excellence in the promotion of environmental subjects: Beginning next year, a special prize will be awarded to institutions, individuals or companies which excel in promoting environmental subjects such as energy conservation, environmental education, environmental technologies, sustainable development and more. The prize will be awarded by the President of the State of Israel and by the Minister of Environmental Protection on a fixed date each year, such as Earth Day.
The President's Residence in Jerusalem will be transformed into a green home in accordance with green building principles and the rational use of resources. Special attention will be focused on energy efficiency, water conservation and savings, waste reuse and recycling, sustainable gardening, etc.
The President of the State of Israel will help advance an environmental revolution in the educational system: The aim of this joint project is to incorporate environmental subjects into the school curriculum, to certify green schools and kindergartens and to spearhead an environmental approach in the entire educational system, focusing on recycling and energy and water savings.

According to Environmental Protection Minister Erdan, additional cooperation will be reviewed in such areas as: joint regional sewage projects for Israelis and Palestinians, participation of the Ministry of Environmental Protection in the Presidential Conference entitled Facing Tomorrow scheduled for Oct 2009, presidential assistance vis a vis international funds investing in environmental projects and joint tours for promoting environmental subjects.

18^th Maccabiah to Promote Clean Coast Message

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New cooperation between the Maccabiah and the Ministry of Environmental Protection

The world's largest Jewish sports competition, opening in Israel on Jul 12, 2009, will feature, for the first time, an environmental theme during popular events which will take place on the country's coasts. Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan has stated that thousands of Jewish youth from around the world should find an exciting and challenging common denominator in protecting the environment during the course of the Maccabiah events.

Alongside the sports competitions, in which thousands of athletes from around the world will take part, mass sporting events, dubbed popular Maccabiahs (or PopMacc), will be open to the public for the first time with the goal of bringing Israel's citizens closer to the events of the 18th Maccabiah. The slogan "Going for a Clean Coast" will accompany the popular competitions which will take place on five beaches on Fri, Jul 10, 2009 and will include a range of events and activities to which the public is invited, free of charge.

Competitions, performances and activities with an environmental theme which will take place during the course of the Maccabiah will include the following:

Film clip competition on the theme of "Going for a Clean Coast" - this competition, initiated by the Maccabi World Union and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, aims to promote awareness of marine and coastal protection in Israel and to increase community involvement. The first three winners will be presented, inter alia, on the Maccabiah website.
Popular Maccabiah events featuring the Clean Coast theme: Within the framework of the 18^th Maccabiah, popular sporting events will be open to the general public simultaneously on several of Israel's most attractive beaches, from the Nahariya coast in the north to the Ashkelon coast in the south. In recognition of the importance of the subject, the Maccabiah has decided to increase awareness of environmental protection, in general, and beach cleanliness, in particular. Events targeted at the general public will include beach competitions (volleyball, beach soccer, frisbee and paddle ball), aerobic exercise guided by professional trainers and accompanied by music, and a wide range of fun activities for the whole family.
The beach event will take place on the coasts of Nahariya, Netanya, Herzliya, Ashdod and Ashkelon on Jul 10, 2009 while a mass cycling event, expected to bring together the largest number of participants for an Israeli event of this kind ever, will take place in Tel Aviv on Jul 17, 2009.

Israel Ministry of the Enviromental Protection - News

Ministry of Environmental Protection has Published a Tender for a Company to Manage the Western Galilee Asbestos Cleanup Project

Environmental Protection Ministry Publishes Tender for Preparation of a Packaging and Packaging Waste Policy

Minister Erdan: Designate the Lands Adjacent to the Kishon River as Open Space

Israel Knesset to Celebrate Environment Day - Jun 9, 2009

Decision to Prepare a National Plan for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction

Advertising Requirements on Fuel Consumption and Air Pollution Emissions from New Vehicles Approved by the Knesset Economics Affairs Committee

OECD Environmental Policy Mission Visits Israel: Jun 15-18, 2009

Israel's Clean Coast Program Cited in UN Report on Marine Litter

Environmental Protection Ministry Submits Opinion on Environmental Impact Statement for the IDF Training Base City

Air Quality Sampling in the Ashdod Industrial Area Reveals High Pollutant Concentrations

Israel Presents its Preparations for Accession to the OECD to the Chemicals Committee

Environmental Protection Minister Calls on Accountant General to Promote Hybrid Government Cars

Local Council and its Head Fined for Environmental Offenses

Environmental Cooperation between Environmental Protection Ministry and President's Residence

18th Maccabiah to Promote Clean Coast Message

18^th Maccabiah to Promote Clean Coast Message