POSSIBLE U.S.-BRAZIL COOPERATION ON WATER RESOURCES ISSUES

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001052 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/PCI LSPERLING STATE FOR WHA/BSC WPOPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TNGD KSCA EAGR BR SUBJECT: POSSIBLE U.S.-BRAZIL COOPERATION ON WATER RESOURCES ISSUES REF: BRASILIA 0144 ¶1. As discussed in reftel, Brazil's Ministry of the Environment has proposed discussions to investigate the possibility of bilateral technical cooperation in water resource issues. ¶2. As this is the first area of proposed cooperation where there is bilateral agreement since the establishment of the Common Agenda for the Environment (CAE) Technical Working Group, it might serve as the topic around which we can hold our first DVC. Post is proposing a DVC through which Brazilian technical experts and representatives from U.S. technical agencies could exchange information to identify areas of common interest. ¶3. Per reftel, Post is presenting a summary of the areas of possible cooperation in water management issues. The specific topics were suggested by Brazil's Water Resources Secretariat (SRH) and their National Water Agency (ANA),but presented to us by the Ministry of the Environment. A DVC would be useful in allowing the SRH and ANA representatives to further detail their objectives and USG technical agencies would be able to solicit the additional information necessary to later ascertain their ability or desire to collaborate. ¶4. AREAS OF POSSIBLE BILATERAL COOPERATION IN WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: (a)process of elaboration of basin committees (b)relationship between federal and state level authorities in water resources issues (c)legal aspects of mineral and underground water (d) the management of borderline water resources (e) desalinization of brackish underground water for supply (f) procedures for preventing problems in underground water (g) evaluation of potential for small hydro electric plants (h) removing pollution from rivers; and (i) modeling for the measurement of transport of sediment in rivers. ¶5. Training in mapping and predicting critical events, development of hydrological applications, development of sensing technology and measurements would also be discussed. ¶6. If subsequently there is bilateral agreement on areas for collaboration, a summary could be reported to the CAE technical working group. ¶7. Post awaits Department's advice and suggested June date for DVC. SOBEL