International Cooperation
International Visitors
If you would like to visit Region 10, contact Cindy C. Schuster (schuster.cindy@epa.gov) at 206-553-1815.
Region 10's proximity to Canada and other Pacific Rim countries provides a unique opportunity to help address global environmental problems through international cooperation. Below are examples of EPA and our partners working across international boundaries to protect human health and the environment.
Canada
Puget Sound Georgia Basin: Seven million people in the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin region in the U.S. and Canada share an airshed, a watershed, a flyway for migratory birds, habitat for fish, and urban growth pressures. Local, tribal, state, provincial and federal governments are working across political boundaries to protect one of the most ecologically diverse and uniquely valuable ecosystems in North America.
In January 2000, EPA and Environment Canada signed a statement of cooperation for the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin. This agreement guides cooperative work by EPA and Environment Canada to preserve and protect the area’s shared ecosystem. Work under this agreement has been a positive example of transboundary ecosystem management. For more information contact Lisa Chang (chang.lisa@epa.gov) at 206-553-0226.
Upper Columbia River: Upper Columbia River Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study - Contamination from Canada has crossed the border and impacted hundreds of miles of river in Washington State. In 2006, the U.S. government and a privately owned Canadian company signed a historic agreement to study the contamination in accordance with U.S. Superfund cleanup laws. For more information, contact Kevin Rochlin (rochlin.kevin@epa.gov) at 206-553-2106 or Monica Tonel (tonel.monica@epa.gov) at 206-553 0323.
Taiwan
In 2008, EPA staff met with EPA-Taiwan in Taipei to plan future environmental cooperation.
Region 10 works with our Headquarters office on environmental cooperation with EPA-Taiwan. We are focusing on sixteen environmental priorities, including transboundary air pollution, voluntary programs to control greenhouse gases, toxics and waste management, and marine pollution. For more information contact Kathleen Veit (veit.kathleen@epa.gov) at 206-553-1352.
Other Countries and Programs
In 2008, EPA Toxicologist Michael Watson spent three months working as a Science Fellow at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China on environmental issues affecting the Pearl River Delta region.
Region 10 also sends experts abroad, from Central America to Africa to Asia, to share their environmental knowledge on topics such as air pollution, safe drinking water, and protection from toxic pollution.
- In fall 2008, EPA representative Theogene Mbabaliye spent six weeks working as a U.S. Embassy Science Fellow with the City of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on solid waste management planning and pollution prevention.
- Also in 2008, several Region 10 staff visited Central American countries in support of the Central America Free Trade Agreement's provision of strengthening review of environmental impact assessments.
- In fall and winter 2007-2008, at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank, EPA ecosystem scientist Michael Rylko traveled to Bangkok,Thailand, to lead technical seminars on cross-jurisdictional ecosystem indicators, in support of a six-country initiative to protect the Greater Mekong Basin ecosystem. Participating countries included Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Yunan Province of China.
International Visitors
In 2007, a delegation from Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment learned about sediment contamination and made a presentation to the Duwamish Tribe at the Duwamish River Festival in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of Jim McGowan, Roosevelt High School)
International visitors, primarily from Canada and Asia, come to Region 10 to exchange environmental information. Nearly 50 international representatives visited the Region in 2008.
For more information about visiting Region 10, contact Cindy C. Schuster (schuster.cindy@epa.gov) at 206-553-1815.