Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TRIPOLI511
2006-09-17 19:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tripoli
Cable title:
LIBYAN ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY: HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
how-tonull Brooke F Adams 09/19/2006 11:20:44 AM From DB/Inbox: Brooke F Adams Cable Text: UNCLAS TRIPOLI 00511 SIPDIS CXCAIRO: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL NAMRU IPS FAS DCM AID MGT DISSEMINATION: SCI CHARGE: PROG VZCZCCRO990 PP RUEHEG DE RUEHTRO #0511 2601945 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171945Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1226 INFO RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 1389 RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0425 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0447 RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0553 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0023 RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA 0107 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0309 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000511
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG GAVITO, OES FOR BOB SENSENEY; COMMERCE FOR
MASON; HHS FOR JANE
COURY, BILL STIEGER; CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDONE, NAMRU 3
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO UNEP EPA HHS LY
SUBJECT: LIBYAN ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY: HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
PLANNING
UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000511
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG GAVITO, OES FOR BOB SENSENEY; COMMERCE FOR
MASON; HHS FOR JANE
COURY, BILL STIEGER; CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDONE, NAMRU 3
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO UNEP EPA HHS LY
SUBJECT: LIBYAN ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY: HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
PLANNING
1. Summary: On September 13, 2006 ESTH Officer met with Dr.
Abul-Hakim Al-Waer, Secretary of the Libyan Environment
Authority (LEA),or as he joked with, "The EPA without the
protection." The meeting took place on the margins of the
ongoing NDF Chemical Weapons Destruction Assistance Program.
Dr. Waer mentioned specifically that the LEA had been charged
with destroying/incinerating/neutralizing several caustic and
hazardous agents/wastes in accordance with various environmental
agreements to which they had either signed, or aspire to sign.
These items for destruction included PCB's, transformer oil,
pesticides left from Italian residents in the 1930's, and
hazardous medical wastes. He inquired as to the utility of the
CWD incinerator and neutralization equipment in such an
operation. The incinerator and neutralization equipment being
installed for the chemical weapon and precursor destruction
activities is not technically sufficient to provide this sort of
service. In addition, its proposed remote location in the
Libyan desert would not lend itself as a practical solution to
the LEA's responsibilities. Dr. Waer desires to establish a
solution to the immediate problem of existing waste stockpiles,
with additional consideration of disposing of future waste. Dr.
Waer said he had a budget of LD 57 Million in 2007 funds to
address this disposal problem, (including PCB's, Medical Waste
and other hazardous wastes) and would be seeking solutions in
2007/2008. End Summary.
--------------
PCB's Deemed Toughest to Destroy
--------------
2. According to the NDF team's chemical experts attending the
meeting, the PCB's are the toughest to destroy of the materials
he listed. Dr. Waer mentioned the Government of Libya (GOL)
might subcontract PCB disposal to a country with existing
expertise. He cited that Libya routinely provided transit
rights through its territorial waters to South Korean vessels
carrying PCB's enroute to France for destruction. Considering
South Korea's technical prowess, and the fact that they
subcontract this work, Dr. Waer believed it would be fruitless
to pursue such technologies internally.
--------------
Medical Waste First Priority
--------------
3. The medical waste, however, Libya intends to process
locally. Dr. Waer discussed creating mobile station operations
or establishing collection routes for a central disposal
facility, but did not have a concrete idea as to how the LEA
might establish such a program. Embassy requests any expression
of interest in cooperating with the LEA on this issue. Dr. Waer
indicated that Liquid Clinical Waste from medical facilities was
the primary concern as the existing stores were a burden to
contain and that this category of waste is continually
generated.
--------------
Future Steps:
--------------
4. ESTH Officer requested a meeting with Dr. Waer to further
discuss where the U.S. may be able to offer guidance either
through assisting in establishing legislation on waste disposal
(whether medical or industrial) or offering technical expertise
in planning and/or funding. Pending HHS and OES interest in
such a dialogue, Embassy will engage as appropriate.
GOLDRICH
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/MAG GAVITO, OES FOR BOB SENSENEY; COMMERCE FOR
MASON; HHS FOR JANE
COURY, BILL STIEGER; CAIRO FOR DR. MARIE RICCIARDONE, NAMRU 3
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO UNEP EPA HHS LY
SUBJECT: LIBYAN ENVIRONMENT AUTHORITY: HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
PLANNING
1. Summary: On September 13, 2006 ESTH Officer met with Dr.
Abul-Hakim Al-Waer, Secretary of the Libyan Environment
Authority (LEA),or as he joked with, "The EPA without the
protection." The meeting took place on the margins of the
ongoing NDF Chemical Weapons Destruction Assistance Program.
Dr. Waer mentioned specifically that the LEA had been charged
with destroying/incinerating/neutralizing several caustic and
hazardous agents/wastes in accordance with various environmental
agreements to which they had either signed, or aspire to sign.
These items for destruction included PCB's, transformer oil,
pesticides left from Italian residents in the 1930's, and
hazardous medical wastes. He inquired as to the utility of the
CWD incinerator and neutralization equipment in such an
operation. The incinerator and neutralization equipment being
installed for the chemical weapon and precursor destruction
activities is not technically sufficient to provide this sort of
service. In addition, its proposed remote location in the
Libyan desert would not lend itself as a practical solution to
the LEA's responsibilities. Dr. Waer desires to establish a
solution to the immediate problem of existing waste stockpiles,
with additional consideration of disposing of future waste. Dr.
Waer said he had a budget of LD 57 Million in 2007 funds to
address this disposal problem, (including PCB's, Medical Waste
and other hazardous wastes) and would be seeking solutions in
2007/2008. End Summary.
--------------
PCB's Deemed Toughest to Destroy
--------------
2. According to the NDF team's chemical experts attending the
meeting, the PCB's are the toughest to destroy of the materials
he listed. Dr. Waer mentioned the Government of Libya (GOL)
might subcontract PCB disposal to a country with existing
expertise. He cited that Libya routinely provided transit
rights through its territorial waters to South Korean vessels
carrying PCB's enroute to France for destruction. Considering
South Korea's technical prowess, and the fact that they
subcontract this work, Dr. Waer believed it would be fruitless
to pursue such technologies internally.
--------------
Medical Waste First Priority
--------------
3. The medical waste, however, Libya intends to process
locally. Dr. Waer discussed creating mobile station operations
or establishing collection routes for a central disposal
facility, but did not have a concrete idea as to how the LEA
might establish such a program. Embassy requests any expression
of interest in cooperating with the LEA on this issue. Dr. Waer
indicated that Liquid Clinical Waste from medical facilities was
the primary concern as the existing stores were a burden to
contain and that this category of waste is continually
generated.
--------------
Future Steps:
--------------
4. ESTH Officer requested a meeting with Dr. Waer to further
discuss where the U.S. may be able to offer guidance either
through assisting in establishing legislation on waste disposal
(whether medical or industrial) or offering technical expertise
in planning and/or funding. Pending HHS and OES interest in
such a dialogue, Embassy will engage as appropriate.
GOLDRICH