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New
schedule for UPDATE.
Please note that UPDATE will be going to a
biweekly schedule on a trial basis for the next three months. The next issue
of UPDATE will be September 13.
US-AEP
examines options for the conversion to unleaded fuel in Vietnam.
On August 9, US-AEP�s Vietnam Office of Technology Cooperation hosted a
stakeholders meeting to discuss the country�s conversion to unleaded fuel.
The Hanoi meeting included representatives of the World Bank, the Ministry
of Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Transportation, the
Directorate for Standards and Quality, and the state-owned companies
Petrolimex and Petrovietnam. According to US-AEP Technology Representative
David Wagner, "The informal discussion revealed a lot of energy and
commitment to the changeover."
Although Vietnam banned unleaded fuel in 1995, the conversion from leaded
fuel has not taken place. However, according to Mr. Wagner, Vietnam is in an
excellent position to switch from leaded to unleaded fuel: presently all of
its fuel is imported, eliminating the need to re-equip refineries, and
Vietnam�s vehicle stock is relatively small and well-suited for unleaded
fuel use. The cost of the switch would be low and the net environmental and
health benefits high.
To reinforce these points, Mr. Wagner will bring a Vietnam delegation to
Bangkok to discuss conversion issues with their Thai counterparts on August
30�31. Thailand has successfully converted to unleaded fuel use, and Thai
officials will share their technical expertise, lessons, and strategies.
Look for the results of the conference in a future edition of UPDATE.
In addition, Mr. Wagner is exploring the possibility of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, through their cooperative agreement with
US-AEP, leading a workshop on unleaded fuel conversion in Hanoi this fall.
New on the
US-AEP website: EEP's Gender Initiative.
Since 1998, US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program
(EEP) has been developing and implementing a Gender Initiative to share
USAID�s commitment to include women in the development process. The main
objective of the Gender Initiative is to incorporate gender sensitivity into
relevant EEP programs and encourage women to take advantage of EEP-sponsored
environmental and technical exchanges. Information about the Gender
Initiative is now available on the US-AEP website at
https://www.usaep.org/ouractiv/eep_gender.htm.
Singaporean
OPF participants assist in development of new technology for U.S. firm.
A US-AEP Overseas Program Fund (OPF) training session for Singapore
officials had the unforeseen benefit of leading to the development of new
environmental technology for a U.S. firm. Cooke Companies International (CCI)
of Chapel Hill, North Carolina�who participated in the OPF training
session�has developed a new low-cost dioxin sampling and analysis system for
testing emissions from ambient and industrial sources. The Singapore
delegation�s "critique of the system allowed us to make significant
improvements in the first commercial units," stated Dr. Marcus Cooke of CCI
in a recent letter to US-AEP Technology Representative Chan Yiu Kei.
The February 22 to March 9 training, which was conducted by the Midwest
Research Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, and Wilmington, Delaware,
included the collection and analysis of actual stack samples from a
hazardous waste incinerator. OPF supported the participation of
representatives from the Singapore Ministry of Environment and the Singapore
Productivity and Standards Board, as dioxin emissions from municipal waste
combustion is an important environmental concern in Singapore.
During the course of the training, the Singapore participants assisted
with the testing of CCI�s new equipment. Dr. Cooke was appreciative of the
Singapore delegation�s contribution to the development of their new
technology and stated, "We will be sure to credit Singapore with the first
trials and initial demonstration test." [Note: OPF is administered by the
National Association of State Development Agencies.]
Infrastructure privatization the key topic for Asian municipal officials at
Bangkok conference.
US-AEP and the Kenan Institute-Asia (KIAsia), a
US-AEP partner, sponsored a technical training workshop in Bangkok,
Thailand, for municipal officials considering infrastructure privatization.
Thirty-five participants from five countries attended "Infrastructure
Privatization Procedures for Municipal Managers: The Steps for Success" on
July 20�22, which highlighted infrastructure privatization projects in the
areas of water, wastewater, and solid waste management. US-AEP�s
Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) supported the attendance of eight
participants from Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The
workshop emphasized the importance of transparency and risk management,
while outlining the key foundations of the privatization process. [Note:
EEP is administered by the Institute of International Education.]
US-AEP/GIN-Asia hold policy workshop on electronics industry in Hong Kong.
US-AEP and the Greening of Industry Network-Asia (GIN-Asia) co-hosted a
public policy workshop in Hong Kong, August 11�13, focusing on the
electronics industry. Senior policy-makers and experts from Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United
States attended the workshop. Participants discussed the feasibility of
using public policies organized by the industry sector to help direct local
governments toward sustainable development. During the three-day discussion,
participants made presentations on sector-based policy programs in their
respective countries. The results of the workshop will be published as a
companion piece to the current US-AEP publication, "Place-Based Public
Policy in Southeast Asia," and presented at the Greening of Industry
Network�s annual conference in North Carolina in November.
Exchanges
in July bring U.S. experts to two conferences in Malaysia.
US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program sent U.S. experts to Malaysia to
make presentations at two conferences in July. Dr. Syed Qasim, professor in
the Department of Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington,
presented two papers at the World Engineering Congress 1999 in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, July 12�24. Dr. Qasim also conducted a short course entitled,
"Wastewater Treatment Plants: Theory and Design." The Congress presented an
opportunity for Dr. Qasim to foster relationships with his colleagues in the
Universiti Putra Malaysia, INDAH Water Konsortium, and the Institution of
Engineers.
Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, senior technical director for Eckenfelder, Brown
and Caldwell, and Dr. Clarence Baugh, president of Customs Biologicals,
Inc., made presentations at Enviro Malaysia 99 Conference, July 13�19. The
conference, sponsored by the Environmental Management and Research
Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH), focused on industrial pollution
prevention and waste minimalization activities and technologies. Dr.
Eckenfelder gave a presentation on "Innovative Technology Management" and
conducted a one-day workshop on industrial wastewater following the
conference. Dr. Baugh spoke on "Innovative Methods of Remediation" and,
following the conference, provided laboratory training to employees of the
University of Panang. |
