Proposed Classification System for Environmental Technologies Goods and Services

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Proposed Classification System for Environmental Technologies

Goods and Services

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Request for comments on and notice of a public meeting

regarding a proposed classification system for Environmental

Technologies Goods and Services.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is seeking comment on a

classification system to be used to collect data on the production of

goods and services used for measuring, preventing, limiting or

correcting environmental damages to water, air and soil as well as

problems related to waste, noise and ecosystems. The Environmental

Trade Working Group of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee and

the Environmental Technology Initiative have concluded, in response to

requests from industry, state governments and environmental

organizations that consistent and reliable data on

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environmental technologies goods and services are needed. In order to

collect this data a classification system is required. A draft of that

classification is included as part of this notice.

This classification system will be used by Census to conduct a

special survey of firms producing environmental technologies goods and

providing enviromental services. This initiative is being undertaken in

coordination with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development in Paris, France with the objective of developing

comparable data for all countries that are major producers of

environmental technologies goods and services.

PUBLIC MEETING: On September 18, 1995 at 1 p.m. a public meeting will

be held to give all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the

proposed classification system. Comments are particularly sought as to

the level of detail and products and services that should be included

but are not. The meeting will be held at the Department of Commerce in

Room 1414 of the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution, NW,

Washington, DC. While not required, it would be appreciated if those

intending to speak could notify Jonathan Menes at the address below so

as to facilitate the scheduling of speakers.

WRITTEN COMMENTS: Written comments are requested no later than

September 22, 1995. Comments should be addressed to Jonathan Menes,

Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, Room 2815, U.S. Department of

Commerce, Washington, DC 20230. In addition, comments may be submitted

by fax, 202-482-5145 or via internet to ``[email protected]. Questions

regarding this notice, additional information or copies of this notice

can be obtained by contacting Mr. Menes.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Menes, Office of Trade and

Economic Analysis, Room 2815, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington,

DC 20230, (202) 482-5145, fax, (202) 482-4614, internet [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993, President Clinton requested that

Secretary Brown lead an interagency effort to assess the

competitiveness of current environmental technologies and to develop a

strategy to give U.S. companies the trade development promotion efforts

and technical assistance that they need to increase exports and create

U.S. jobs as well as to promote a better environment. The interagency

group charged with responding to that mandate found that very little

data was available and what there was, was inconsistent and based on

very small samples. The interagency group also held a series of

meetings where many from the private sector expressed a need for better

date regarding the environmental industry. As a result an environmental

data working group was established to explore ways to develop better

data.

In order to develop data, the group concluded that a classification

system for environmental technologies goods and services was needed.

Such a system has been developed drawing on inputs from the private and

public sector. In addition, a parallel effort through the Organization

for Economic Cooperation and Development was initiated so as to ensure

the classification system and the data collected using it will be

comparable with environmental data collection in other industrial

countries.

This system will initially be used by the Bureau of the Census to

conduct a special survey in 1996. The proposed classification system is

as follows:

Total environmental products

Total environmental services

Total Air pollution control

Total Air pollution control products

Total Air particulate emissions collectors

Electrostatic precipitators

Fabric filters

Mechanical collectors

Wet scrubbers

Total gaseous emissions control devices

Catalytic oxidation systems

Thermal and direct oxidation systems

Scrubbers (gas absorbers)

Wet FGD systems

Dry FGD systems

Gas adsorbers

Total mobile source controls

Catalytic converters

On board monitoring/control systems

Other

Total Air pollution control services

Modeling

Emissions monitoring

Permitting and Licensing services

Analytical services

Assessment, evaluation, and planning

Total Water Pollution Control

Total Water Pollution Control Products

Total monitoring and analytical products

Freezers

Microtomes

Centrifuges

Gas Chromatography

Mass Spectrometers

Other instruments

Leak detectors

Industrial process monitoring devices

Radiation detection devices

Water treatment chemicals

Total Water treatment equipment

Desalinization equipment

Storage tanks and process vessels

Separators

Gas separators

Fluid filters

Sewage systems--construction

Water supply and delivery--construction

Total Water/Wastewater Services

Hydrogeology services

Ground water resource analysis

Health and ecological risk assessment

Treatment planning and analysis

Analytical laboratory services

Construction and engineering management & design

Sewerage systems--privately operated

Private water supply and delivery

Licensing and permitting

Total Energy Conservation/Efficiency Products

Total Renewable Energy residential/commercial/industrial

Solar residential/ commercial (active)

Solar residential/ commercial (passive)

Wind energy conversion (residential)

Residential photovoltaics

Residential wood stoves

Low & medium temp solar process heat

Alcohol fermentation plant

Methanol/ethanol production (non petroleum based)

Low & medium Btu gas from pyrolysis/ anaerobic digestion/wood

gasification

Industrial wood fired boiler

Utility

Wood fired steam electric plant

Wind energy conversion

Central station solar thermal power

Central station solar photovoltaic

Ocean thermal energy conversion

Geothermal energy conversion

Total fossil energy

Coal benefication

Ash management

Atmospheric fluidized bed combustion

Coal liquifaction

Coal gasification

IGCC

Cogeneration

MHD

Waste-to-energy systems

Total other products

Efficiency/Conservation related services

Load management

Transportation efficencies

Total Solid and Hazardous waste management

Total Solid and Hazardous waste management products

Pit and landfill liners

Waste storage tanks/barrels/drums

Incinerators (conventional)

Incinerators (high temperature)

Compactors

Vehicles (garbage trucks, ect)

Tire shredding machinery

Scrap bailing machines

Spill cleanup/containment equipment

Landfill gas management

Total Solid and Hazardous waste management services

Landfill management

Waste hauling

Facility assessment and monitoring

Engineering, construction, design services

Spill cleanup/containment

Total Environmental Management Services (general)

Public education and training

Worker education and training

Site remediation assessment, analysis, design

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Management consulting

Health, safety, toxicology studies and support services

Human health assessment

Ecological risk assessment

Ecological sciences service

Analytical laboratory services

Information management

Regulatory and compliance audits

Risk and liability assessments

Standards and procedures development

Dated: August 29, 1995.

Jonathan C. Menes,

Director, Office of Trade and Economic Analysis.

[FR Doc. 95-21809 Filed 8-31-95; 8:45 am]

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