In a bid to make environmental information available to the public, the eu has launched a European Pollutant Emission Register (eper). The eper contains data on emissions of key pollutants. It includes satellite images showing locations of industrial facilities, which will be constantly updated.
Following initial feedback on the dossier, European Commission officials stated that the data would be translated into 11 official eu languages. The first edition reports the release of 50 pollutants into the air, water and to offsite wastewater treatment by 9,159 industrial plants in 36 sectors. The next report is due in 2006. It will be based on reporting year 2004.
However, Alain Perroy, chief of the eu Chemicals Industry Association, expressed fears that the register could be a threat to confidentiality and competition. He insisted that the industries should be given the right to comment on published figures.
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