US-AEP Thailand reports $7.7 million contract between ICF Consulting and the Pollution Control Department.

After providing counseling to the Thai Pollution Control Board (PCD) and ICF Consulting, US-AEP Thailand reports that ICF has been awarded the consulting contract for the PCD Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project worth $7.7 million. Under this Cleaner Production for Industrial Efficiency project, ICF will implement a pollution prevention program in the province of Samut Prakarn. The aim of the project is to reduce wastewater generation, improve water quality, and reduce energy consumption.

ICF�s role will include design and implementation of a public-private partnership with industry; publicity and outreach; and conducting demonstration projects to manufacturing plants. "Implementing cleaner production techniques represents an opportunity for companies in any manufacturing industry or country to contribute to environmental protection, while also increasing efficiency and saving money," remarks ICF Executive Vice President, Peter Linquiti.

US-AEP Office of Technology Cooperation in Sri Lanka and the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka have been working with the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to facilitate the adoption of the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.

GLOBE is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. The GLOBE program will help schools with environmental societies where students can conduct projects and hold discussions to raise environmental awareness and find solutions.

Mr. Shaun Donnelley, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and the Chairman of CEA, Mr. T.K. Dissanayake, recently signed an agreement to implement the GLOBE program in Sri Lanka. The CEA plans to expand the GLOBE program to 30% of schools this year.

California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) received words of commendation from the Governor of Bangkok, Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, for its work with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on environmental law enforcement. US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) and CalEPA, a US-AEP partner, collaborated on a three-week exchange from June 4-26, 1999, to help BMA strengthen its Environmental Enforcement Division. Mr. Mike Berriesford, supervising investigator for the Criminal Investigations Branch of CalEPA, worked closely with BMA staff to establish the division�s administrative structure as well as action plans for media-specific enforcement and public awareness campaigns.

Governor Bhichit remarks, "I, and BMA, would like to thank US-AEP, CalEPA, and Mr. Berriesford for the work regarding the improvement of Hazardous Waste Enforcement in Bangkok as well as the kind donation of equipment and useful information." This component of CalEPA�s work with BMA focuses on improving BMA�s capacity to manage environmental regulation, monitoring, and enforcement. The Governor further adds, "I hope that US-AEP will continue its support to the BMA on environmental development." [US-AEP�s Environmental Exchange Program is administered by the Institute for International Education.]

The Council for State Governments (CSG), a US-AEP partner, will hold the first "Summit of the States on Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution" in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 8-10. The summit will focus on developing effective Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) methods that are cost-effective and using ADR methods to foster better communication between public, government, interest groups, and businesses. For more information, contact Mr. Bert Harberson, (606) 244-8228 or <bharberson@csg.org>.

The U.S. Commercial Service will hold an "Environmental Technologies Catalog Show" in eleven cities in South Asia throughout the month of February. US-AEP Technology Representatives will participate at the shows in India. This program is a tool for presenting the latest environmental technology, products, and services to the key players in the regional markets. Attendees will include agents/distributors, members of local chambers of commerce and industry associations, and representatives from government-owned and private companies seeking partners and consultants. For more information on this show, visit our website: <www.usaep.org/conference>

Mr. Subramanian Sundaresan, US-AEP Technology Representative in Chennai, India, has been appointed to the Energy Sub-committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry Southern Region (CII-SR). Mr. Sundaresan had previously been appointed to the CII-SR Environmental Sub-Committee.

These committees are influential in planning India�s environmental and energy activities. Its members are leaders of industry who are extremely active in South India for their work with the environment. Mr. Sundaresan's participation on these committees shows the growing recognition of US-AEP Chennai�s activities and contribution to the energy and environmental sectors.

The National Association of State Development Agency (NASDA) awarded a Technology Fund grant to Filtration Treatment Systems, Ltd. (FTS) to help develop markets for solvent recovery equipment in the Philippines. FTS centrifuge separator is designed to recover multiple solvents that are currently being dumped into the waste stream. FTS will demonstrate its wastewater technology at the Laguna Technopark to the Philippine Industrial Technology Development Institute. Under the grant, FTS will also conduct a series of workshops to the Philippines Business for the Environment. The project will address environmental issues such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, wastewater reuse, and waste minimization.

US-AEP Regional Office (Mr. Dennis Zvinakis and Ms. Vikki Dagohoy) has moved to the 15th floor of the Ramon Magsaysay Center in Manila.

The new address is: