International Activity on Waste, Noise, and Radiation at EPA EPA is involved in several international projects seeking to develop technologies for dealing with solid waste. These include exchanges of information and technology with the Federal Republic of Germany on pyrolysis and resource recovery, a conference with Japan in April, 1979 to discuss advanced technologies for solid waste management, a project on plastic wastes recovery under the auspices of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society, and a seminar on waste technology with members of the Economic Commission for Europe. EPA's international activity in noise abatement has concentrated on noise from motor vehicles. The Economic Commission for Europe is involved in efforts to develop international standards for vehicular noise. The United States is a member of the ECE, and EPA has participated in these discussions. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is sponsoring a conference on noise abatement policies in 1980, in which EPA expects to participate. EPA activity on radiation has focussed on issues of radioactive waste disposal, and on problems caused by natural sources of radiation. EPA participates in several committees of the Nuclear Energy Agency—a sub- sidiary of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. These committees are concerned with setting international standards for waste disposal and other radiation-related issues. EPA has supported, in these discussions, US policies with regard to pro- liferation of weapons-grade nuclear materials, and in opposition to use of the oceans for disposal of radioac- tive waste. EPA and Egypt are involved in a joint project studying the effects on workers of radiation released in phosphate mining and manufacturing. United Slates Environmenul Protection Agency ------- |