• US-AEP supports NPPR spring conference.
• ACEC sets sights on Manila for regional office.
• Florida firm markets flow meter technology in Asia.
• Philippines hosts water/wastewater technology workshop.
• Taiwan holds hazwaste management seminar.
• Korea Tech Rep receives environmental appointment.
• New Pocket Guide available.
• Welcome to...

US-AEP's newest partner, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), held its 1997 Spring Conference in Denver, Colorado, April 1-4. This three-day conference attracted an international audience of 500 people from public and private sectors to discuss pollution prevention (P2) developments in the U.S. and abroad. In support of NPPR's bid to develop P2 roundtables in Asia, US-AEP sponsored the participation of 24 delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and India through its Environmental Exchange Program. This group exchange was organized by the Institute of International Education, with the help of NPPR's Technical Coordinator for International Development, Kevin McDonald. US-AEP offered additional support through speeches, presentations, and panel discussions. US-AEP Acting Director Richard Sheppard, spoke to the Business Roundtable'an organization of chief executives of U.S. companies'of the opportunities for U.S. businesses to engage in the transformation of Asian industry to clean production practices. In her presentation to a breakout session, Julie Haines, Managing Director of US-AEP's Industry and Clean Technology Program, provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities related to advancing pollution prevention and cleaner technologies in Asia. In a discussion following the presentation, participants identified options for cross-cultural collaboration. In a similar panel discussion, John Butler, Director of US-AEP's Policy and Framework Affairs, presented his views on the use and application of governmental policy instruments, regulations and incentives to accelerate pollution prevention efforts in Asia.

As part of its new privatization effort with US-AEP, the American Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC) will open a regional office in Manila, the Philippines, after considering other sites in Singapore and Malaysia. This Asia-based office will partner U.S. firms with local project developers and engineering firms working on environmental infrastructure projects, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and solid and hazardous waste management. It will also serve as a catalyst for matching investors and financial institutions with projects throughout the region. A candidate for the director of this Asia office will be appointed later this month.

AMJ Equipment Corporation, sponsored by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, received a US-AEP Environmental Technology Fund grant to establish representative sales organizations in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. AMJ manufactures a flow meter especially designed to accurately measure flows in small to very large pipes for the water and wastewater industries. The Florida company is targeting water authorities and consulting and electrical engineers in its three target countries, then plans to expand to other Asian markets. The Environmental Technology Fund is managed by the National Association of State Development Agencies.

US-AEP/Philippines, in close coordination with US-AEP's Environmental Exchange Program, organized a water supply and wastewater treatment technologies workshop, March 19-22, held in Cebu, the Philippines. The workshop, sponsored by Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP), Woodward-Clyde International, and Operations Management International, included presentations of technical papers on selection of water and wastewater treatment technologies, cost effective operation and maintenance strategies, and information on the available sources of funds and different types of financing schemes for water and wastewater projects. In addition to the presentations by the co-sponsors, the workshop included discussions led by officials from Waste Management International, the Regulatory Compliance Manager of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Maryland), and local experts from the private and public sectors. Concurrent with the workshop was a catalogue show of 140 U.S. environmental companies.

US-AEP/Taiwan, in cooperation with Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (TEPA), held an abandoned hazardous waste workshop, March 13-14, to examine site management techniques and remediation technology. More than 200 representatives of Taiwan's central, provincial, and local EPAs, environmental engineering firms, and industry participated in the two-day conference. Nine U.S. remediation experts -- six of them sponsored by US-AEP's Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) -- led the workshop and represented such U.S. companies as Woodward-Clyde International, Weston, IT Corporation, ENSR, and CH2M Hill. EEP is implemented by the Institute of International Education.

US-AEP has updated the Asian Pocket Guide for International Environmental Executives. This handy reference identifies resources, organizations, and programs available to U.S. executives wanting to gain entry into the Asia-Pacific environmental market. Please send requests for copy(s) to Janet Redden (TSSC receptionist) via e-mail: jredden@usaep.org, phone: 202-835-0333, or fax: 202-835-0366.