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US, Vietnam Make Progress on Agent Orange Clean Up
FrontLines - March 2010
By Richard Nyberg
HANOI—Vietnam and the
United States are working to
clean up soil and sediment contaminated
with dioxin, a chemical
in the defoliant Agent Orange.
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Dr. Lai Minh Hien of Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources
and the Environment (center) explains dioxin contamination in
Sen Lake, near Danang Airport, to, left to right, USAID Vietnam
Director Frank Donovan; Nguyen Manh Hung of East Meets West;
Andrew Herrup, environment, science, technology & health officer
from the U.S. Embassy; and Vietnamese officials.
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A recently signed memorandum
of understanding outlines
how the U.S. and Vietnam governments
will continue to
improve environmental, health,
and social conditions around
Danang Airport, where Agent
Orange was stored during the
Vietnam War.
Michael Michalak, the U.S.
ambassador to Vietnam, said the
agreement “marks an important
milestone and a new level of
commitment in working together
to find new and innovative solutions
to a complex problem.”
Signed by Vietnam’s Ministry
of Natural Resources and the
Environment and USAID, the
memorandum addresses how
U.S. funds, currently amounting
to $9 million, will support remediation
of dioxin-contaminated
sites in Vietnam and carry out
health programs in communities
near those sites.
USAID’s director in Vietnam,
Frank Donovan, added that the
memorandum “strengthens an
already exceptional development
partnership.”
An environmental impact
assessment is the first step in the
remediation process. Results of
the study, due early this year, will
help experts develop the appropriate
technical approach to dioxin
containment and remediation.
To reduce dioxin exposure,
Vietnamese authorities
restricted access to contaminated
areas at the Danang Airport
and prohibited residents
from fishing in a lake.
Subsequent tests showed that dioxin levels in people who live near the airport declined dramatically in recent years.
Since 2001, Vietnam and the United States—under the leadership of the U.S. ambassador and with active involvement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and State Department—have worked together to address dioxin contamination. USAID joined the dioxin containment efforts in 2009.
The United States has also provided financial and technical assistance and equipment to boost Vietnamese capacity to respond to dioxin contamination and to develop health and environmental strategies.
★
FrontLines is published
by the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
U.S. Agency for International Development
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by mail to Editor, FrontLines, USAID,
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by FAX to 202-216-3035; or by e-mail to frontlines@usaid.gov
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