US DOD SEEKS ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION PROGRAM WITH VIETNAM MILITARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001712 SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO USAID DEFENSE FOR PADUSD VEST, LSTERN BANGKOK FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT OFFICER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS EAID VM US SUBJECT: US DOD SEEKS ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION PROGRAM WITH VIETNAM MILITARY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01712 01 OF 03 101336Z SUMMARY ¶1. FROM JUL 31-AUG 3, A FOUR-PERSON USDOD TEAM VISITED VIETNAM FOR TALKS WITH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS ON ENHANCING COOPERATION ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH ISSUES. AGREEMENT WAS REACHED TO CONSIDER U.S. SUPPORT TO THE GVN IN EFFORTS TO HOST A REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP IN THEIR ROLE AS THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) CHAIRMAN; PURSUE A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN VIETNAM (AMCHAM),THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEERS (SAME),AND THE VIETNAMESE PARTY TO HOLD AN ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP OR TRADE FAIR TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY (WITH EMPHASIS ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS); AND TO CONSIDER A SERIES OF JOINT WORKSHOPS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH CONTAMINATED MILITARY SITES INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVING HERBICIDE ORANGE AND TEAR GAS (CS). US AND VIETNAM OFFICIALS WILL FURTHER DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR MILITARY-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. END SUMMARY. VEST DELEGATION VISIT ¶2. FROM JUL 31-AUG 3, A FOUR-PERSON USDOD TEAM VISITED VIETNAM FOR TALKS WITH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS REGARDING ENHANCING COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ISSUES. THIS USDOD TEAM ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION WITH VIETNAM WAS LED BY MR. GARY VEST, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01712 01 OF 03 101336Z PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY, AND INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM HQ USAF, HQ PACAF, AND HQ USCINCPAC. EMBOFF'S INCLUDED DATT AND STE. ¶3. PRIOR TO MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS, THE TEAM MET WITH THE AMBASSADOR AND COUNTRY TEAM REGARDING THE APPROACH TO TAKE IN ITS DISCUSSIONS. THE AMBASSADOR EMPHASIZED THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE ALLEGED HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RESULTING FROM THE USE OF HERBICIDE ORANGE (HO). HE BELIEVES WE NEED TO APPROACH THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE WITH SOME CONCRETE INITIATIVES TO DEVELOP TRUST AND CONFIDENCE WITHOUT VIOLATING U.S. LAW. THE AMBASSADOR ALSO EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE TEAM WOULD FRAME THIS ISSUE IN THEIR BROADER NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH CONTEXTS, AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE TO ENHANCE THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO DEAL WITH ITS OWN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. ¶4. DURING THE VISIT, THE TEAM MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRIES OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HANOI. THE TEAM ALSO TRAVELED TO DA NANG AIRPORT TO VISIT A SITE SUSPECTED TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH HO. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MEETING ¶5. ON AUG 1 THE DELEGATION MET MR. NGUYEN MANH HUNG, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01712 01 OF 03 101336Z DIRECTOR OF AMERICAS DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. MR. HUNG ASKED ABOUT HO AND MR. VEST EXPLAINED THE US NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES (NIEHS) EFFORT AND UPCOMING MEETINGS. MR. HUNG IS CONCERNED WE WILL ONLY HAVE SCIENTISTS LOOK AT THE ISSUES, BUT THE REAL-LIFE ISSUES WILL STILL REMAIN AT THE FORMER-U.S. INSTALLATIONS AND THE AREAS WHERE HO AND CS WERE EMPLOYED. MR. HUNG IS ALSO CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL COSTS TO CLEAN UP THE CONTAMINATED SITES. MR. VEST EXPLAINED THE IDEA OF LEVERAGING PRIVATE INDUSTRY IN REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND SOLICITING SUPPORT OF NGOS. MR. HUNG AGREED TO CONSIDER U.S. SUPPORT TO THE GVN IN EFFORTS TO HOST A REGIONAL MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOP IN THEIR ROLE AS THE ARF CHAIRMAN. HE WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH HIS MINISTER AND CONTACT THIS POST WITH THE DECISION. AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AMCHAM) MEETING ¶6. LATER ON AUG 1, THE TEAM MET WITH AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AMCHAM) REPRESENTATIVES. THEY CONFIRMED ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS OF THE COUNTRY IS HIGH. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT VIETNAM PASSING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND DECREES IS VERY SIMPLE. THE PROBLEM COMES IN DEVELOPING IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS AND FUTURE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAME. AMCHAM CAN PLAY A ROLE IN THIS AS A LOBBY/ADVISOR. THEY CONCUR THAT A WORKSHOP OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY, NGOS, AND THE MILITARY WOULD BENEFIT VIETNAM, IN FACT, THEY MENTIONED IT WOULD BE "IRRESISTIBLE" TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR. MR. VEST DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF ENLISTING THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN MILITARY ENGINEERS (SAME) AS THE LEAD AGENT FOR SUCH A WORKSHOP. LT COL MILLER, U.S. DEFENSE ATTACHE IN HANOI, MENTIONED THE COMMUNIST PARTY MAY BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE VIETNAMESE ORGANIZATION TO SPONSOR SUCH AN EFFORT, SINCE IT CROSSES GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONAL BORDERS. AMCHAM WILL WORK WITH TDA TO BRING THEM INTO THE EFFORT. AMCHAM RECOMMENDED THE WORKSHOP BE TIMED TO FOLLOW CLOSELY AFTER THE SENATE RATIFIES THE TRADE AGREEMENT, ANTICIPATED TO BE FIRST QUARTER OF CY01. REALISTICALLY, IT WILL TAKE 12-18 MONTHS TO ORGANIZE SUCH A WORKSHOP. THE FIRST STEP IS TO IDENTIFY ALL PLAYERS AND START ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS. DUSD(ES) WILL COORDINATE THAT EFFORT. MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE MEETING ¶7. ON AUG 1 THE TEAM MET WITH A NINE-PERSON VIETNAM MINISTRY OF DEFENSE TEAM INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, THE CHEMICAL COMMAND, THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01712 02 OF 03 100909Z MILITARY MEDICINE ACADEMY, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT. THE MOD DELEGATION IDENTIFIED THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND TREATMENT OF HO EFFECTS ON HUMANS AS THEIR NUMBER ONE ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITY. THEY REVIEWED THEIR RESEARCH EFFORTS TO DATE. (COMMENT: THIS MEETING WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS POST WAS MADE AWARE THAT MOD WAS WORKING THIS ASPECT OF THE ISSUE. END COMMENT). ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND IN A FORMAL DOCUMENT THE VIETNAMESE REPRESENTATIVES ASKED THE TEAM TO FUND EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, AND STUDIES ASSOCIATED WITH RESEARCHING HEALTH EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO HO AND CLEANUP OF SITES ALLEGEDLY CONTAMINATED BY HO AND CS. THE US TEAM STRESSED REPEATEDLY WE COULD NOT FUND SUCH EFFORTS, BUT WOULD PROVIDE THE GVN THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ON THE TOPICS. THE TWO PARTIES AGREED TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING A SERIES OF JOINT WORKSHOPS ON COMPREHENSIVE APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH CONTAMINATED MILITARY SITES, INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVING HO AND CS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE WORKSHOPS WOULD BE TO SUPPORT VIETNAM MOD EFFORTS IN BUILDING INTERNAL INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY BY PROVIDING AND DISCUSSING INFORMATION ON CLEANUP METHODOLOGIES AND AVAILABLE SITE INFORMATION. THE TWO PARTIES PLAN TO RAISE THESE ISSUES FURTHER IN THE WEEKS AHEAD WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS. THE USDOD WILL PROVIDE A PROPOSED AGENDA FOR THE FIRST WORKSHOP WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS WERE UNANIMOUS IN EXPRESSING THEIR APPRECIATION TO THE USG FOR SENDING THE USDOD TEAM TO INITIATE MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01712 02 OF 03 100909Z FIELD VISIT - DA NANG AIRPORT ¶8. ON AUG 3, THE TEAM TRAVELED TO DA NANG AIRPORT FOR A FIRST HAND TOUR OF A PORTION OF THE FORMER US AIRBASE SUSPECTED TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH HO. THE MOD DELEGATION SHOWED THE US DELEGATION A LOCATION AT THE NORTH END OF THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY WHERE THEY SUSPECT THE USAF PERFORMED LOADING, STORAGE, AND AIRCRAFT WASHDOWN OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF HO. (COMMENT: SOME AREAS WERE OBSERVED TO BE DEVOID OF VEGETATION. END COMMENT). THE MOD HAS CONTAINED THE RUNOFF IN THE AREA WITH A CONCRETE CHANNEL RUNNING TO A THREE CHAMBER CONCRETE CATCHMENT BASIN. THE MOD DELEGATION INFORMED USDOD THE CATCHMENT BASIN IS ACTUALLY THE RUNOFF FILTRATION SYSTEM CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY TEN TONNES OF CARBON. THE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE REMOVING CONTAMINANTS TO THE 10-PPT LEVEL. THE MOD BELIEVES THERE IS APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR OF LIFE LEFT IN THE FILTER AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE CARBON AFTERWARDS. MR. VEST PROPOSED THAT USDOD COULD ATTEMPT TO COLLECT EXISTING INFORMATION IT HAS CONCERNING THE SITE AND PROVIDE IT TO THE MOD. USDOD WOULD COMPILE AS MUCH EXISTING DATA AS IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM SOURCES SUCH AS UNIT HISTORIES, RECORD SEARCHES, AND INTERVIEWS OF KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE. MR. VEST ALSO SUGGESTED THAT USDOD COULD MAKE AVAILABLE EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS FAMILIAR WITH HO AND THE CLEANUP OF HO AT AN AIR BASE IN GULFPORT, MS. SUMMARY MEETING ¶9. LATER ON AUG 3, THE TEAM RETURNED TO HANOI TO SUMMARIZE FINDINGS AND TO FORM A CONSENSUS ON FUTURE ACTIONS. MR. VEST EXPLAINED THERE ARE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING USDOD FROM ENGAGING IN CLEANUP OF FORMER BASES, AND THAT THERE ARE RESTRICTION TO WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN THE WAY OF EQUIPMENT AND CAPITAL WITHIN A MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATIVE PROGRAM. HE COMMITTED TO DETERMINING HOW MUCH FLEXIBILITY USDOD MAY BE ALLOWED IN THESE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. THE GROUP AGREED TO CONSIDER AT LEAST ONE OR TWO WORKSHOPS. AT THE WORKSHOPS, THE USDOD WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ON EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, METHODOLOGY, COSTS, AND EFFICIENCIES ASSOCIATED WITH SITE CLEANUPS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE DA NANG AIRPORT. USDOD WOULD ALSO DISCUSS THE SHORT-, INTERMEDIATE-, AND LONG-TERM ASPECTS OF SITE MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ALREADY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01712 03 OF 03 100939Z EMPLOYED. FOR THIS EXAMPLE AND MODEL BUILDING, WE WOULD BRING AS MUCH APPLICABLE EXISTING DATA AS IS A SECOND WORKSHOP WOULD BE OF A SIMILAR APPROACH, BUT WOULD DISCUSS CS. THE TWO SIDES AGREED THESE EFFORTS NEED TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ¶10. PADUSD VEST FOLLOWED UP THE SUMMARY MEETING WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE EMBASSY ANNEX. MEDIA REACTION HAS BEEN REPORTED IN REUTERS NEWS SERVICE AND THE NEW YORK TIMES. CONCLUSION AND COMMENT ¶11. THE USDOD TEAM VISIT ON MILITARY ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION WITH VIETNAM LED BY PADUSD VEST WAS A SUCCESS AND ACHIEVED A SIGNIFICANT COUNTRY TEAM OBJECTIVE. THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT APPRECIATES THE VISIT AND THE ATTENTION IT SIGNIFIES ON OUR PART. VIETNAM IS CONSIDERING THE ENHANCED COOPERATION THAT WILL HELP THE COUNTRY ADDRESS ITS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS -- AKEY U.S. OBJECTIVE HERE. PADUSD VEST STRUCK JUST THE RIGHT NOTE IN ALL OF HIS MEETINGS AND IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE. HE CONVEYED EFFECTIVELY THE MESSAGE THAT THE USDOD IS NOT INSENSITIVE TO VIETNAMESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS RELATING TO HO AND CS AND THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO COOPERATE TO BUILD VIETNAMESE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO MANAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, INCLUDING THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH HO AND CS. THE INTER- AGENCY TEAM DID NOT OFFER TO CLEAN UP FORMER U.S. INSTALLATIONS OR SITES SUSPECTED TO BE CONTAMINATED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01712 03 OF 03 100939Z WITH HO OR CS. ¶12. POST LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH USDOD AGENCIES IN FOLLOWING UP THE VARIOUS COMMITMENTS MADE AND IDENTIFYING WAYS TO SUPPORT ENHANCED ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION WITH VIETNAM. RECOMMEND ALSO THAT CINCPAC INCORPORATE THESE ACTIVITIES INTO PACOM'S ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY AND PLAN. PETERSON UNCLASSIFIED