At the request of incoming USAID/Indonesia Mission Director Terry Meyers, US-AEP is formulating a rapid response plan to help address the critical environmental problems facing Indonesia. Threats to the country�s water supply are a major concern: Pollution intensity in industrial effluents has increased by 15 percent over the last several months, despite the fact that manufacturing output has decreased by 18 percent. The wastewater discharge is killing large numbers of fish�a particularly serious problem since seafood exports have the potential to play a significant role in the economic recovery process. In addition, water authorities are considering the option of allowing untreated water to flow through the municipal water system because of the high cost of chemicals and the inability of residents to pay higher tariffs. Due to these hazards, US-AEP�s efforts in Indonesia will focus in part on ensuring the maintenance of health standards for clean water. Look for more details in a future issue of UPDATE.

A six-week tour of several U.S. cities enabled Mr. Jae-Ho Ryu, Korea�s Senior Secretary to the President for General Affairs, to gain an in-depth look at U.S. air, water, and solid waste management methods. This US-AEP Environmental Fellowship, held July 5-17 and arranged by the Environmental Exchange Program, enabled Mr. Ryu to spend time with federal and regional Environmental Protection Agency offices in Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; and Seattle, Washington. During these visits, he learned about air and water management strategies, as well as the relationships and functions of these agencies. While in Chicago, Ryu participated in a watershed management conference. And in locations across the United States, he visited solid waste and recycling facilities, observing the division of responsibilities between federal and local governments.

Mr. Ryu hopes to join the Environmental Administration of the Korean government, where he will use knowledge gained during this fellowship to help bring about a cleaner Korea. Americans benefitted from the exchange, too: It provided an opportunity for U.S. government officials at both the state and federal levels to strengthen their ties with the Korean government. (Note: The Environmental Exchange Program is implemented by the Institute of International Education.)

Over the past several years, US-AEP�s office in Mumbai, India, has pioneered activities to address improper handing and treatment of medical waste. Most recently, the office was one of several sponsors of an April 17-19, 1998, national medical waste workshop. One outcome of this event was the formation of a national panel to update India�s medical waste legislation. US-AEP/Mumbai Technology Representative Suneel Parasnis has been an active member of the panel, and reports that the legislation has been finalized and accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Central Pollution Control Board. Parasnis� proposed five-step strategy�waste minimization, segregation at the source, disinfection, treatment, and disposal�were emphasized in the final document, along with his recommendations on modes of treatment. To meet the requirements of the legislation, Parasnis estimates that 11,000 Indian hospitals and 27,000 nursing homes must collectively spend $2 billion over the next decade on waste treatment and disposal equipment. In addition, the facilities will need consultants to provide training and troubleshooting services. In the coming months, US-AEP/Mumbai plans to hold seminars to highlight the needs of the Indian facilities as well as the opportunities for prospective American suppliers.

In efforts to reduce industrial noise and chemical pollution, the Singapore government announced a new tax incentive in April 1998: Companies that purchase noise and chemical pollution control equipment may apply for a one-year, accelerated depreciation on their capital investment. Building on the government�s initiative, the Singapore Confederation of Industries� Information Center for Clean Technology and Environmental Management�supported by US-AEP�held a July 31 seminar, "Preventing and Controlling Noise and Chemical Pollution Hazards." The event featured speakers from Singapore�s Ministry of Manpower, Center for Environment and Occupational Health, National University of Singapore, Mobil Oil Singapore, and Ernst & Young consultants. More than 30 participants from Singapore industry attended the event and found it "very useful" and "a great opportunity to talk to the government representatives."

US-AEP/Sri Lanka is working with the local division of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) to host an ISO 14000 workshop on August 26. The objective: to establish a Users� Association that will help organizations obtain ISO 14001 training and certification. Senior executives, environmental managers, and environmental policy makers from the private and government sectors are expected to attend the workshop, which will be conducted primarily by U.S. consultant Jim Highlands. Highlands played a key role in a US-AEP/AMCHAM workshop on ISO 14000 held in Sri Lanka last year. The event is being sponsored by Sri Lanka�s Technology Initiative of the Private Sector (TIPS) project, Agro Enterprise project (AgEnt), and local financial institutions that support investment in environmental technology.

Supported by US-AEP�s Clean Technology and Environmental Management component, this workshop is part of US-AEP�s effort to establish an ISO 14000 certification body in each of the program�s focus economies. US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program (EEP), managed by the Institute for International Education, is supporting the Sri Lanka workshop.