The American Consulting Engineers Council held its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, May 12-15. The event was opened by Jim Thomas, ACEC s newly inaugurated president, who urged members to actively participate in ACEC s new and aggressive environmental market effort with US-AEP in the Asia-Pacific region. The unveiling of ACEC s expanded International Affairs Program was well-received by the more than 1000 conference participants. A US-AEP/ACEC international session, attended by 30 firms, included an address by Henry L. Michel, former chairman of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc., who emphasized the need to internationalize the engineering profession in light of new market developments. Charlie Scheibal and Peter Gourlay of US-AEP s Environmental Infrastructure component explained how U.S. companies can utilize US-AEP programs and market knowledge to expand their presence in Asia. Angelo Iasiello, director of ACEC s International Affairs Program, with JoAnn Cavanah and Chris Capistran, outlined strategic approaches to these international opportunities and ACEC s services and products available to firms.

US-AEP/Sri Lanka and the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) helped organize a seminar, led by Douglas G. Fox, former president of A&WMA (1993-1994) and research scientist at University of Colorado, to help develop a Sri Lanka chapter. The event, held May 12 in Colombo, attracted representatives from industry, engineering consulting companies, and universities. Michael W. Roy, manager of A&WMA International Programs, was on hand and oversaw the registration of 27 new international members who began setting the framework for the formation the Sri Lanka Chapter. The founding members feel that this is an opportunity to build up a forum, where environmental issues can be discussed effectively. Through US-AEP s Environmental Professional Association Development program, A&WMA and the Water Environment Federation are expanding their activities in nine countries in the Asia/Pacific region giving Asian professionals access to technical and professional resources as well as affiliation with an international network.

A US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grant enabled six representatives from U.S. environmental companies to meet with potential buyers in Chennai, India, May 12-13. The two-day trade mission included one-on-one meetings between EPM Environmental, Inc. (sampling equipment for gaseous emissions), Jayne Products (enviro-cleaners for high volume industrial users), MBI International (applied research and development), Rochester Midland Corporation (speciality chemicals for waste water treatment), Selentec (treatment of soil, water, heavy metals), and Trucks and Parts (used and reconditioned garbage trucks and parts) and a number of Indian companies. One of the members who met with Bharat Petroleum, Cochin Refineries, and Madras Refineries described the event as "a great concept which will pay off." Members of the trade mission also met with U.S. consular officials, US-AEP Tech Reps Kevin Bricknell and Sundaresan Subramanian and senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. US-AEP s Environmental Technology Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.

The Asian Development Bank s (ADB) annual U.S. Business Opportunities Seminars, held in March and April, were a resounding success thanks to the help of US-AEP s Environmental Technology Network (ETNA) staff. ETNA recruited companies in the five cities where the seminars were held Los Angeles, San Jose, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. The two-day program at each stop provided 286 participants to roll up their sleeves with pioneering companies that have successfully entered the Asia market. Senior procurement and consulting specialists made detailed presentations and counseled individual firms on how to compete effectively for contracts and technical assistance financed by ADB. A panel discussion and presentation from representatives of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce's Multilateral Development Bank Operations, U.S. Export-Import Bank, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation enhanced the U.S. business community s knowledge of Asian markets.

In April, the Clean Technology and Environmental Management (CTEM) Information Centers in Manila, Singapore, and Washington, DC, responded to varied requests from US-AEP field offices and partners. For example, when US-AEP/Korea was preparing a speech on the future of incineration technology, the Washington Center provided a copy of its Incineration Packet and additional information on solid, sludge, and hazardous waste incineration. A query from Taiwan focused on pollution prevention in the silicon chip/semiconductor industry. The requestor was provided industry-specific documents on waste reduction activities, technology and economics, environmental management, and environmental compliance. Other requests included information on used oil legislation, pollution prevention in the chemical industry, indoor air pollution prevention, and automotive recycling. Take note: the CTEM Washington Center has recently added two new publications to its library: Encyclopedia of International Associations and What Future for Aid. US-AEP and its partners are encouraged to visit the Center's library located at 1720 Eye Street NW, Suite 600.