The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under US-AEP sponsorship, recently completed an India Hazardous Waste Action Team mission in Chennai, India. The mission took place at the request of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, which needed assistance in ensuring the satisfactory completion of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for new hazardous waste disposal facilities. Action team members Randall Breeden and David Schaller of EPA's Denver office traveled to Chennai in early February to help the Board review EIAs for facilities in Siruseri and Mannelure and recommended improvements in the documentation for each. As a result, the Pollution Control Board is now able to target areas for additional impact assessment work in future stages of these projects. Further, the Board is better equipped to evaluate EIAs for seven additional hazardous waste disposal sites and an incinerator that are planned for the near future. US-AEP Technology Representative Sundaresan Subramanian supported the EPA's efforts in Chennai.

A US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) activity arranged by US-AEP/Chennai, India, has resulted in an agent-distributor agreement between CECO Filters, Inc., of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and IAEC Industries Madras Ltd. of Chennai, India. The August 1997 exchange enabled IAEC Director N.K. Ranganath to visit the U.S. facility and receive an orientation on CECO's products. CECO is unique in its ability to offer fiber bed filter systems, high-temperature baghouse filter fabric and bags, scrubbing technology, and on-site air quality monitoring systems. IAEC is a leading manufacturer of boilers, heat exchangers, and pollution control equipment, including several products sourced from the United States. The synergy between the two firms is expected to result in substantial exports of U.S. products and technology.

The American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), a US-AEP partner, held its International Washington Forum on February 18 in Washington, D.C. Fifty consulting engineering firms from across the United States--representing various areas of expertise and levels of international business experience--took this opportunity to learn about international market opportunities. Panelists from the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency discussed innovative means by which public and private entities can work together in the international marketplace. In turn, participating firms were offered the opportunity to share their challenges and needs. ACEC plans to hold subsequent forums this year that include representatives from the Multilateral Development Banks and U.S. Export Promotion Agencies. For more information, contact ACEC's JoAnn Cavanah at 202-347-7474, ext. 326.

On February 20-22, US-AEP/Hong Kong co-sponsored an exhibition, workshop, and symposium, "Designing Hong Kong--The Kaitak Example." Close to 200 people attended the event, which enabled architects, developers, and politicians to contribute ideas to the redevelopment of the Kaitak airport. Attendees participated in brainstorming workshops, followed by a full-day symposium that fostered discussion of the ideas submitted. US-AEP sponsored one of the event speakers, Amory Lovins, an energy efficiency expert.