Land Gains Tax – Vermont

The state of Vermont uses a Land Gains Tax to protect rural land from short-term speculation. First effective in 1973, the tax imposes very high taxes on sales of land held a short time and sold for a large profit.

The land gains tax is imposed on the gain from the sale or exchange of Vermont land that was held less than six years, and the land is not part of the first ten acres beneath or contiguous to the seller’s principal residence.

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Hazardous Waste Tax

A hazardous waste tax is assessed on generators when the waste is shipped, or when facilities recycle, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. The tax is based on the quantity of of the hazardous waste and its ultimate destination (e.g., whether it is destined for recycling, treatment, or land-disposal.)

Vermont has by far the highest tax rates on hazardous waste. As of 1995, waste generators pay a $.44/gal liquid or $112/ton solid waste disposal fee for land disposal, a $.33/gal liquid or $84/ton solid waste disposal fee for long term storage, a $.22/gal liquid or $56/ton solid waste disposal fee on waste blended, treated, or chemically treated, and a$.11/gal liquid or $28/ton fee solid waste disposal fee on reclaimed or recycled waste.

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Corporate Good Character Law – Indiana

The State of Indiana has a good example of a corporate "Good Character Law" when it comes to environmental protection.

Accordingto Indiana’s law, a company seeking a solid waste or hazardous waste permits from the IN Dept. of Environmental Management can be denied ona number of grounds. A company seeking a permit must submit a disclosure statement indicating any past wrongdoing. Denial of the permit can result if the IDEW Commissioner finds that:

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Recycling and Solid Waste

During the past decade, the national recycling rate (including composting) has climbed to 32%. Hundreds of communities have surpassed this level. Dozens report waste reduction levels above 50%. What features are common to these successful programs? It is usually a combination of good rules that together help to achieve a high rate of recycling and composting. … Read More

Cell Communication Towers

According to the Center for Municipal Solutions, there have been more than 150,000 communication tower facilities erected in the last 5 years and industry estimates are that more than 1 million more will be needed in the next few years. CMS suggests that as many as 50% of the towers erected in the last 5 years … Read More

Local Wood vs. Tropical Wood

Jim Keating, Executive Director of Rainforest Relief has been engaging communities to limit their use of tropical hardwoods in waterfront development. To that end the group has developed a model ordinance that cities can use to ensure that the use of tropical hardwoods and the associated environmental impacts are minimized. One modification to this ordinance under consideration is that there should be a provision that materials come from within 500 miles of the point of use. The New Rules Project supports this preference for a local alternative to tropical hardwoods as a modification to the model ordinance.… Read More

European Chemical Regulations

The European Commission approved a framework for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) (COM(03) 644 (01)) in October 2003.  Following two years of negotiation on the Commission’s original proposal and following the European Parliament’s first reading opinion, the Council reached a Common Position on June 27, 2006.

TheEuropean Commission supports achieving final agreement on REACH at Second Reading. Final adoption of the proposal is expected by the end of 2006.

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CFC Phaseout

In 1989 the U.S. Congress enacted a tax on eight ozone depleting chemicals (ODC’s) as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It extended this tax to 12 additional chemicals and raised the tax on the original 8 chemicals in the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. The Clean Air Act (Title VI)established caps on most CFC’s as agreed upon under the Montreal Protocol, with a complete phase out occurring around the year 2000. Thetax on CFC’s was $1.37 a pound in 1990 and 1991, about twice the then current product price. Recycled CFC’s were exempted from the tax.… Read More

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