ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RAHHAL WELCOMES U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000100

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TDA AND EPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2020
TAGS: SENV ECON EFIN ENRG EPA PGOV PREL KGHG AID LE
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RAHHAL WELCOMES U.S.
ASSISTANCE FOR UNDERFUNDED MINISTRY

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Water management, reforestation and solid
waste management were the Environment Ministry's key
priorities, new Environment Minister Mohammed Rahhal told the
Ambassador on January 28. Rahhal pledged continued
cooperation with USAID reforestation programs and asked for
assistance in removing solid waste from the 2006 oil spill
clean-up off Lebanon's shores. He would emphasize
alternative energy moving forward, Rahhal said, and he
described a proposal to provide financial incentives for
alternative energy vehicles. Rahhal also broached obtaining
U.S.-made hybrid vehicles for ministry employees to raise
environmental awareness. We propose pursuing a Rahhal visit
to the United States, considering a U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (TDA) feasibility study on alternative
energy, and working with USDOC-FCS on hybrid vehicle
procurement. End summary.

WATER TOP PRIORITY
--------------


2. (C) Water management and sanitation are two of his main
priorities, Rahhal told the Ambassador in a January 28
courtesy call. During negotiations over the ministerial
statement, Rahhal pointed out, Prime Minister Saad Hariri
emphasized clean-up of the Litani River, which passes through
50% of rural villages and irrigates up to 70% of fertile
land. Rahhal, who just completed a three-year "master plan"
for the ministry, noted that his ministry is a player in
preventing pollution, and he underscored the importance of
working with the United States to improve water sanitation.
(Note: The lead players in the water sector are the Ministry
of Energy and Water and the four regional water authorities.
End note.) The Ambassador noted the success of USAID-funded
waste water treatment plants in the West Biqa' and Chouf
regions.

MINISTRY WELCOMES USAID REFORESTATION EFFORTS
--------------


3. (C) Reforestation is another ministry priority, Rahhal
noted, and the Ambassador described the extensive U.S.
activities in this area. With Department of Defense
Humanitarian Assistance funding, the Office of Defense
Cooperation (ODC) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just
completed a fire station in Ehmej (Jbeil) the Ambassador
reported. In addition, USAID -- in conjunction with the
United States Forest Service (USFS) -- had sponsored
wilderness fire origin investigation training via a local NGO
partner. As part of its new five-year strategy, USAID plans
to support reforestation efforts that provide short-term jobs
in rural areas, the Ambassador continued, and USAID has
tentatively identified funding for that purpose. One
proposed USFS project, she explained, would teach a more
efficient tree planting method that would increase the rate
of reforestation, boost short-term job growth, and emphasize
sustainability. Rahhal expressed enthusiasm about the plans
and admitted that previous planting efforts had fallen short
because of lack of follow-on; he wanted all future
reforestation contracts to include a seven-year maintenance
plan.

SOLID WASTE CONCERNS BECOMING URGENT
--------------


4. (C) Because the Naameh waste treatment plant has almost
reached capacity, solid waste management is becoming
increasingly important, Rahhal said. The ministry plans to
issue new tenders, he said, after cabinet approval of a
national solid waste strategy that the ministry has yet to
submit. Rahhal expressed interest in visiting sites in the
U.S. using "waste-to-energy" technology in addition to
talking to experts on the field. PM Hariri plans to visit
similar alternative energy sites in Germany, Rahhal noted,
and a TDA feasibility study on the topic would be well
received in Lebanon. (Note: TDA has been active in Lebanon,
completing 14 feasibility studies in various sectors since

1992. End note.)


5. (C) Rahhal requested that the U.S. help remove stored
waste from the USAID-assisted 2006 coastal oil spill
clean-up. The waste -- divided into polluted sand, debris,
and oil -- was stored in sealed containers in the north,
Zahrani, and Jiyyeh, Rahhal said, but the ministry needs
international assistance to dispose of the oil-covered solid
waste. (Note: USAID closed out this project in February 2009
after completing its pledged portion of the oil spill



clean-up activities; this is the first time we have heard of
this additional request. There are no FY-10 or FY-11 USAID
funds designated for additional activities in this area.
Greek and Italian reconstruction funding in this sector has
also ended. End note.)

A MARGINALIZED MINISTRY
--------------


6. (C) Describing the weaknesses of his ministry, Rahhal
explained that many ministries have overlapping mandates
regarding the environment, and his ministry is unable to
enforce its will because it is too "young" and lacks broad
prerogatives. The ministry, with a staff of only 53, also
lacks human and financial resources, he said. Nonetheless,
Rahhal underscored, the environment is important to PM
Hariri, who has placed environmental issues on the cabinet
agenda in four of six cabinet sessions, and Rahhal expected
significant progress from his ministry. After completing a
series of studies on solid waste, the Litani River, dam sites
and quarries, Rahhal plans to meet with international donors
to seek funding to develop a "comprehensive" environment
strategy. Rahhal also laid out his intention for the
ministry to play a "coordinating" role in de-conflicting
international funding to the environmental sector.

PROMOTING HYBRID VEHICLES
--------------


7. (C) Rahhal proposed that companies producing hybrid
vehicles, such as Ford Motors, provide hybrid cars for
environment ministry employees to raise public awareness and
garner positive advertising. According to Rahhal, the
finance ministry has secured funding to conduct a feasibility
study on replacing Lebanon's taxi fleet -- totaling
approximately 200,000 cars, he said -- with hybrids. Rahhal
also outlined his idea for establishing an "environment fund"
that would provide financial incentives for the purchase of
hybrid cars and other "environmentally friendly" energy
vehicles. In addition, Rahhal proposed coordinating with the
ministry of public works to create an artificial reef off
Lebanon's coast using scrap buses. Similar projects using
old trains have succeeded in the U.S., Rahhal said, and he
expressed interest in learning more about such schemes.


8. (C) Comment: As a young, first-time minister, Rahhal
displayed his activist background in his first meeting with
the Ambassador. Because he is a creative and willing partner
for U.S. initiatives, we propose pursuing a U.S. visit for
the minister, with stops at the Environmental Protection
Agency and relevant academic and private institutions to
discuss waste-to-energy systems and other alternative energy
prospects. Rahhal was keen on a TDA solid waste feasibility
study, and we will seek input from TDA on next steps. We
will also work with the Department of Commerce (FCS) to
pursue Rahhal's hybrid vehicle proposals for the taxi fleet
and the Ministry.
SISON