Philippine users fee
program yields positive results.
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) reported that after six
months of implementing its innovative Environmental Users' Fee program,
industrial wastewater discharges into the watershed have been reduced by
about 2 million kg of BOD (a measure of organic pollution). LLDA General
Manager Carlos Tomboc explained that about half of this amount was due to a
substantial reduction by five highly polluting facilities--a 78 percent
reduction on average--that brings these firms into compliance with the
wastewater standard of 50 mg/L. The other 1 million kg of BOD was eliminated
by the voluntary closure of seven production facilities. This good news was
delivered during the 1997 Philippine International Wastewater Treatment
Congress, organized by Asian Expo & Convention Management Group, in
cooperation with US-AEP, on September 2-3 in Manila. Tomboc and other LLDA
staff recently participated in two US-AEP environmental exchanges to further
their understanding of urban watershed management and U.S. federal and state
government enforcement of regulations on water pollution discharges into
rivers and lakes. The
Environmental Exchange Program is administered by the Institute of
International Education.
U.S. expert helps
Indonesia draft environmental legislation.
In July, under US-AEP's
Short-Term Technical
Assistance program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Dan Wrye of the Washington State Department of Ecology, provided his
expertise in discharge permitting to the Indonesian Environmental Management
Agency (BAPEDAL). Wrye worked with BAPEDAL to develop environmental
parameters for inclusion in new Indonesia government environmental
regulations which will allow provincial governments to collect fees from
industry for waste disposal into Indonesia's rivers. At the conclusion of
Wrye's assistance, he delivered a one-day workshop, co-sponsored by BAPEDAL
and the US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program, on discharge permitting and
revenue management to representatives of Ministries of Environment, Home
Affairs, Finance, and Provincial Government. The new
Environmental Legislation was passed by the Indonesian Parliament in August.
Action Teams offer
courses in compliance and enforcement.
In late July, two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Actions Teams, under the
sponsorship of US-AEP, traveled to Indonesia to deliver training programs in
"Principles of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement" and "Environmental
Policy" to staff personnel from the newly formed regional offices of the
Indonesian Environmental Management Agency (BAPEDAL). Courses were presented
in Bandung (Java), Pekanbaru (Sumatra), Ujung Pandang (Sulawesi), and
Denpasar (Bali). These courses will be offered three times in Indonesia in
order to train a cadre of trainers and facilitators who can continue to
train and interact with BAPEDAL regional staff, provincial environmental
officers, environmental study centers at provincial universities, and local
NGOs.
ACEC Regional
Director opens Manila office.
Welcome to Philip P. Costas, who has been hired by the American
Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC) as the Asia Regional Director under
ACEC's cooperative agreement with US-AEP. Philip, who is co-located with the
US-AEP's Technology and Infrastructure Representatives in Manila,
will work closely with all US-AEP representatives to link U.S. firms with
local developers and engineering firms bidding on environmental
infrastructure projects in the Asia region. He will also serve as a catalyst
for bringing multilateral and private financing to firms interested in
projects. Phil brings to the project 25 years of power sector consulting
experience in Asia and has lived in Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan. He
comes to US-AEP from a parallel position at the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association where he served as regional administrator for Asia.
In that capacity, Phil worked closely with USAID, Trade Development
Agency, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and various local ministries,
infrastructure agencies, development banks, industries, and consulting
engineering firms throughout Asia, including China and Vietnam.
Phil's experience in utility financing was gained during his tenure
with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Financing Corporation. While
with Indiana University and Doxiadis Associates (Athens, Greece), he focused
on urban development planning.
Register now for
upcoming EEP events.
US-AEP's
Environmental Exchange Program has several upcoming training programs,
workshops and study tours. For further information or to register, please
fax (202-326-7709) or e-mail the contact person listed below at the
International Institute of Education.
Green Design Textiles Workshop (Hong Kong) September 22-25.
Explore costs, process options and environmental awareness associated with
greening the textile industry supply chain. Application deadline: September
10. Contact: David Moldavsky.
PCB/PWB Study Tour (United States) September 29-October 10. Visit
manufacturing facilities and technology suppliers to see clean technologies
and process change opportunities in the PCB/PWB industry. Application
deadline: September 12. Contact: David
Moldavsky.
Industry Self Monitoring Workshop (United States) October 6-10.
Government regulators will learn the benefits of and technical methods for
mandatory industry self-monitoring and disclosure programs.
Application deadline: September 8. Contact:
Lynne Steingass.
Voluntary Environmental Information Disclosure (United States)
October 20-24. Learn how public information disclosure on industrial
emissions can be a cost-effective way to reduce pollution and promote
sustainable development without adversely affecting competitiveness.
Application deadline: September 15. Contact:
Lynne Steingass.
Infrastructure (Thailand) October 27-31. Municipal and local level
government officials will examine the various options for selecting
appropriate financing for private infrastructure projects. Application
deadline: September 30. Contact: Patty
Castellani.
Soil Remediation (Korea) November 3-7. Practical knowledge about
the problems and solutions to soil contamination including regulatory
framework, site assessment, remediation technologies and long term
maintenance and monitoring. Application deadline: October 8. Contact:
David Moldavsky.
US-AEP Fellowship Program. In commemoration of US-AEP's 5th
anniversary, 20 fellowships will be awarded for a two-year masters degree in
environmental management or engineering. Application deadline: September 30,
1997. Contact: Lynne Steingass.
