USAID Financed Environmental Projects in Romania

Liviu Ionescu
Environmental Technical Advisor, Chemonics International

USAID Financed Environmental Projects in Romania

1.    Started in 1992

2.    Industrial

• Technical Assistance

• Waste Minimization Projects

• Studies

• Study Tour

• Leverage of environmental investment

3.    Environmental Health

• Communities

• Industries

• Study tour

4.    Institutional Strengthening of Environmental Institutions

Main features

5.    Responsive to local needs

6.    Results oriented

7.    Sustainable

• Adapted US experience

• Extensive local involvement

• Built local capacity

• Replicable

Environmental Projects for Industries

8.    Started in 1992

9.    Finalized in 1998

10. Technical Assistance

i. Environmental Assessments (ARO, Petromidia, Rombat, Acumulatorul)

11.  Waste Minimization Projects (Arpechim, Petrobrazi, Astra, Petrotel, Chimcomplex, Darmanesti Refinery, Oltchim, Dacia)

12.  Study Tours

13.  Studies:

• Battery Recycling

• Process Improvement

14.  Leverage of environmental investments

15.  Results:

• Waste minimization programs implemented in Romanian industries

• More than 1.5 mil $ savings (1995)

• Establishment of the Romanian PPC

• Decision makers received first hand information regarding the latest know-how available on the market

• Reduced environmental pollution and improved energy awareness in industriesEnvironmental investments

Environmental Health Projects

16.  Community focus

• Reducing lead exposure of young children

• Zlatna

• Baia Mare

17.  Occupational Health and Safety

• Reducing lead exposure of workers

• Ampellum cooper smelter

• Replicated in the non-ferrous industry

18.  Results

• Community program

• Increased awareness of community

• Involvement of local school and kindergarten in specific educational activities

• Reduced average blood lead level of children from 39.66 (1995), to 28.12 (1997)

• OHS

• Increased OHS awareness

• Lead exposure reduction plans adopted

• Increased capacity, through equipment delivery and training

Institutional Strengthening of Environmental Institutions

19.  Equipment procurement

20.  Institutional Needs Assessment Study

21.  Technical Assistance and Training to Strengthen Inspection Capabilities

22.  Technical Assistance and Training to Strengthen Monitoring Capabilities

23.  Encourage and support communication and access to information

24.  Equipment procurement

• Air monitoring equipment

• Computers, to support Internet access

• Analytical equipment

25.  Institutional Needs Assessment

• December 1997 - January 1998

• Extensive consultation with MWFEP and EPAs

• Laid the ground for subsequent institutional development activities

• Shared with other donors

Technical Assistance and Training to Strengthen Environmental Inspection Capabilities

• New inspection procedure

• Supports Romania's access to EU

• Better use of existing resources

• Involvement of stakeholders

• Adopted by the MWFEP

• Seven EPAs participating in the WB PAP targeted

26.  Activities

• Round Table

• Training Workshop

• Pilot Implementation

• Pilot Implementation Evaluation Workshop

• Training of Trainers

• Roll-out Training

27.  Outcomes

• New inspection procedure: incorporating input from stakeholders / in accordance with the relevant EU directive

• Increased efficiency of environmental inspection

• Introducing of the team approach in environmental inspection

• Cadre of local trainers

Technical Assistance and Training to Strengthen Environmental Monitoring Capabilities

28.  Adoption of internationally recognized and used procedures

29.  Help EPAs to cope with the current lack of monitoring equipment

30.  Support Romania's access to EU

31.  Recognized by the MWFEP

32.  Activities

• Round Table

• Training Workshop

• Pilot Implementation

• Pilot Implementation Evaluation Workshop

33.  Outcomes

• Training of some EPA staff in the use of emission inventories, dispersion modeling and preparation of pollution abatement strategies

• Examples of local strategies developed as case studies

• Monitoring network projects developed for two cities

• Romanian manual developed

• Value of team work demonstrated

Lessons Learned

1.    Importance of pilot implementation

2.    Importance of involving the stakeholders

3.    Need and importance to encourage communication and team work

4.    Importance to use local resources

5.    Partnership approach