EPA
 and Japan
                                                                                 w
 Cooperation on environmental problems between the
 United States and Japan dates back to the early 1970's
 when both EPA and Japan's Environment Agency were
 created. This cooperation led, in August, 1975, to the
 signing of a formal Environmental Agreement for con-
 sultations,  exchanges, and joint projects. A Planning
 and Coordinating Committee meets annually to discuss
 the projects, review policies, and make recommenda-
 tions. Head of the United  States delegation  is EPA
 Deputy Administrator Barbara Blum.
   Thirteen joint projects are conducted under  the
 Agreement. Among the most active are:

 •  Sewage Treatment Technology. EPA  and Japanese
 specialists discuss agricultural use of sewage sludge,
 sludge disposal technology,  treatment of wastes from
 leather tanning, and air pollution from metals during in-
 cineration of sludge.

 •  Management of Bottom Sediments Containing Toxic
 Pollutants.  Japanese methods of dealing with toxic
 pollution of sediments are being investigated. Japanese
 technology in this area may be useful  in  helping  the
 United States deal with such problems as the pollution
 of the James River from Kepone and the Hudson River
 from PCB's.

 •  Solid Waste Management. A joint conference was
 held in Washington in April,  1979 to discuss advanced
 technologies.

  Other projects include:

 • Identification and Control of Toxic Substances.

• Air-Pollution-Related Meteorology.

• Photochemical Air Pollution.

• Stationary-Source Air Pollution Control.
• Closed Systems  for Industrial Waste-Liquid Treatment.

• Automobile Pollution Control.

• Water Conservation and Flow Reduction.

• Controls in Water Quality Management.

• Economic Incentives for Pollution Control.

• Environmental Impact Assessment.
                                                                           vvEPA
                                                                               United States
                                                                               Environmental Protection
                                                                               Agencv

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