JURIST - Paper Chase: Environmental brief ~ San Francisco announces plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions

In Tuesday's environmental law news, the San Francisco mayor's office has issued a new action plan (not yet available online) aimed at reducing the city's greenhouse emissions by the year 2012 by 20% of 1990's emission levels. The plan emphasizes rewarding recycling efforts, the conversion of city buildings and vehicles to "green power" and the utilization of public bus transportation and bicycles. The official press release is here. The plan is here [PDF]. The San Francisco Chronicle has more.

In other environmental law news...

Mirant Corporation has filed a consent decree with the US District Court in Alexandria to avoid a lawsuit for exceeding Virginia limits on nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 100% in the summer of 2003 at its coal-burning plant in Alexandria. The company agreed to pay a $500,000 fine and install modern pollution control equipment on its 4 power plants in the area- expecting to cost the company more than $100 million. The Baltimore Sun has the full story.
US-based Monsanto Co. has been "prodding" Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay to pay the company for the use of its bio-engineered Roundup-Ready soy plants. Seeds from the plants are widely available on the black market in those countries and Monsanto and US farmers argue that it gives growers in those countries a competitive edge. Monsanto is working with the domestic legislatures to develop a royalty payment plan for the crops. Reuters has the full story.

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