The state of Arizona recently concluded its efforts to rehabilitate the Palico River in the Philippines. These activities were funded by a 1997 US-AEP State Environmental Initiative (SEI) grant to Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Commerce. A week-long trade mission held in early August enabled nine Arizona environmental firms to introduce their products to 80 Filipino companies located along the Palico River. The U.S. firms discussed their capabilities in water purification, wastewater treatment and recycling, waste disposal infrastructure construction, wetlands management, and bioremediation.

The mission�s highlight was an August 5 technology seminar. US Ambassador to the Phillippines Thomas Hubbard gave opening remarks, while the Asian Development Bank�s Stacy Bonnaffons provided an overview on how the bank finances environmental projects. Other key events included meetings of the U.S. firms and the mayor of Muntinlupa, other government officials, and Muntinlupa Development Foundation board members, as well as a market briefing by the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. (Note: US-AEP�s State Environmental Initiative is administered by the Council of State Governments.)

During the past year, Tetrahedron, Inc., a Baltimore, Maryland, environmental company, used a US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grant to conduct a series of seminars in Bangladesh. The four seminars focused on the treatment of arsenic in the country�s groundwater and drew participants from Bangladeshi government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private companies, and private citizens. The company�s outreach effort has produced a contract with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for arsenic treatment and generated proposal invitations from several organizations, including the World Bank, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone, and several private firms. The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development worked closely with Tetrahedron on this project. (Note: US-AEP�s Environmental Technology Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.)

Through the efforts of US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program, Malaysia�s premier environmental policy research institute, LESTARI, was represented at a July 6-17 World Bank course, "Environmental Economics for Development Policy." Ms. Rospidah Ghazali, a LESTARI Science Officer, attended the two-week course in Washington, D.C., where she studied how to use environmental economics in considering environmental problems and resources at the macro, sector, and project levels. The course also provided guidance on analyzing environmental problems, setting priorities, contemplating policy responses, and valuing environmental and health impacts. Ms. Ghazali's participation in the course increased her capacity to analyze policies and programs for sustainable development and prepared her to train and advise Malaysian government officials, managers, journalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) on these topics.

After the course, Ms. Ghazali spent two days with The Policy Group at US-AEP. LESTARI and The Policy Group plan to work together on urban environmental management efforts in Malaysia.

Due in part to a US-AEP Environmental Exchange Program activity last December, Tetra Tech India Limited (TTIL) recently signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chennai Waste Management (CWM) consortium. The MOU outlines TTIL�s agreement with CWM to develop a hazardous waste management facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. With a projected cost of about $3,000,000 for the facility, proceeds of $700,000 are expected to go to TTIL and its parent companies, Tetra Tech EM Inc., a U.S. consulting and engineering firm based in Pasadena, California, and Technofab Engineering Limited of New Delhi, India. Utilizing Tetra Tech experts from the U.S. for much of this work, TTIL will provide CWM with services in facility planning, construction management and design, and coordination of municipal and hazardous waste management in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Last December's exchange enabled eight Indian private and public sector managers�including representatives from TTIL and the state and local Indian pollution control boards�to visit hazardous waste treatment centers run by Tetra Tech and other companies in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, and Buffalo, New York. The participants also met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials who are involved in the treatment of hazardous waste. (Note: US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program is managed by the Institute of International Education.)

US-AEP/Philippines and US-AEP�s partners for environmental association development in Asia�the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA)� recently worked together to host two July 1998 events in Makati, Philippines. On July 21, Technology Representative Alma Madrazo, working with A&WMA�s Philippines� Section, held a technical session on air quality management. "On the Road to Clean Air" attracted representatives from 60 companies, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The event was opened by U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service Senior Commercial Officer Carmine D'Aloisio. Air quality experts from two U.S. firms�Dames and Moore and NAVISTAR International Transportation Corp. of Chicago, Illinois�discussed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency�s air quality program, as well as industry initiatives to improve air quality. In addition, the Philippines� Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) presented the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Program, while other presenters discussed the Philippines� air quality and its impacts on public health.

On July 27, "Managing the Association"�leadership education for volunteer leaders�was hosted by the Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP) and A&WMA�s Philippines� Section, under the leadership of US-AEP/Philippines. Additional support was provided by WEF and A&WMA in the United States. The one-day workshop was conducted by Dr. Quicalee Brown and included the induction of new members to the sponsoring Filipino associations. Approximately 40 individuals attended the event.