Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO2369
2006-11-13 21:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

U.S.-CHILE ENVIRONMENTAL MEETINGS, OCT 23-24

Tags:  SENV PREL ECON ETRD CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #2369/01 3172128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132128Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0368
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 3390
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 3311
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1176
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV 4894
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4808
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002369 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES - CAMCMURRAY
STATE ALSO FOR OES/PCI - LSPERLING
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV - RWING
STATE ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC - FCORNEILLE
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR MBURR
EPA FOR TPRATHER
BRASILIA FOR HUB - JSTORY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL ECON ETRD CI
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHILE ENVIRONMENTAL MEETINGS, OCT 23-24

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002369

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES - CAMCMURRAY
STATE ALSO FOR OES/PCI - LSPERLING
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV - RWING
STATE ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC - FCORNEILLE
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR MBURR
EPA FOR TPRATHER
BRASILIA FOR HUB - JSTORY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PREL ECON ETRD CI
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHILE ENVIRONMENTAL MEETINGS, OCT 23-24


1. SUMMARY. Chile and the United States met in Santiago
October 23-24 to review bilateral environmental cooperation
under the Environmental Chapter of the Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA).
Talks focused on reviewing the successful eight projects
implemented under the FTA and detailed future areas of
cooperation. END SUMMARY.

Third Annual Meeting of FTA's Environmental Affairs Council
-------------- --------------


2. A U.S. delegation headed by Oceans, Environment and
Science (OES) Assistant Secretary Claudia A. McMurray visited
Santiago October 23-24 to review and broaden environmental
cooperation begun under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement
(FTA). This was the third annual meeting of the
Environmental Affairs Council (Chapter 19 of the FTA) as well
as the second meeting of the Joint Commission of the
Environmental Cooperation Agreement, since the FTA came into
force in 2004. The delegations evaluated the FTA's eight
joint projects, as well as six projects undertaken through
the Environmental Cooperation Agreement. The parties
identified cooperative measures for the 2007-2008 Work
Program, seeking to enhance enforcement of environmental
regulations, promote ecotourism, and build capacity for
public participation. Ambassador Cristian Maquieira, Chief
of the Environment, Antarctic and Oceans Department of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Chilean delegation.

FTA's Eight Projects
--------------


3. The eight projects mandated under the FTA are: (1) a
national Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR); (2)
reduction of mining pollution; (3) capacity building to
enforce environmental laws; (4) workshop and study tour on
voluntary environmental efforts; (5) exchange of agricultural
best practices; (6) a study tour on alternatives to use of
methyl bromide; (7) capacity building to improve wildlife
protection and management; and, (8) a pilot project to
retrofit diesel buses in Santiago to reduce emissions.



4. The delegations agreed all eight FTA projects have either
been successfully completed or are currently being
implemented. Both parties agreed to follow up on the eight
project themes in the ECA Work Program. The GOC expressed
particular interest in future amplification of four of the
programs under the 2007-2008 Work Program: the PRTR,
reduction of methyl bromide emissions, reduction of mining
pollution and improvement of good agricultural practices.

2007-2008 Work Program
--------------


5. In addition to the mechanism provided by the FTA, the U.S.
and Chile jointly plan environmental projects under the
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). A/S McMurray's
visit provided the opportunity to convene the second ECA
meeting to elaborate a 2007-08 Work Program. The top
priorities for the 2007-08 Work Program are: (1) enforcement
of environmental legislation; (2) adoption of sound
environmental practices, particularly through private sector
stewardship and sound agricultural practices; (3) sustainable
management of natural resources and biodiversity
conservation, including collaboration on ecotourism,
combating wildlife trafficking; and, (4) fisheries and marine
protected areas.

Chile Needs Compliance Assistance
--------------


6. The GOC singled out enforcement of existing environmental
legislation as its top priority. Environmental regulation in
Chile is in its early stages, and several projects have been
undertaken in order to improve it. Chilean officials have
made field visits to both Washington, D.C. and Seattle to
work with the EPA, Departments of Justice and Interior, and
NOAA. In country, the U.S. has collaborated with the GOC to
hold judicial workshops to make the courts more cognizant of
the legal framework of environmental law.



7. To continue to improve compliance and enforcement of
environmental legislation, the GOC had several specific
requests: (1) the loan of an EPA attorney to advise Chile on
future legislation; (2) software to assess environmental
damage and resources, as well as provide economic evaluations
of the environment; and, (3) an amplified judicial capacity
building program to further Chilean understanding of
environmental litigation and legislation.

Public Participation
--------------


8. During the public session, representatives from civil
society voiced several concerns. The main concerns were:
(1) lack of transparency in monitoring of aquaculture, salmon
farming in particular; (2) a tendency for the GOC to view all
issues, including environmental ones, from a Santiago-centric
perspective; (3) that as a consequence rural areas often lack
access to information; and, (4) lack of experience in
environmental law and compliance among local municipalities
and judiciaries.

Conclusion
--------------


9. The environmental chapter of the FTA has been faithfully
implemented by both sides. The successful FTA-related and ECA
meetings were testament to that fact. The GOC has a solid
legislative basis for protecting its environment but would
benefit from U.S. assistance in developing the capacity to
implement fully that legislation. Chile has a growing
appreciation of environmental issues, and the GOC is keen to
maintain and enhance environmental cooperation with the U.S.
The challenge will be finding the USG personnel and resources
to make sure the environmental leg of the U.S.-Chile
relationship does not falter.
KELLY