EPA and the Federal Republic of Germany W The majority of contacts and exchanges between EPA and the Federal Republic of Germany take place under an Environmental Agreement signed in Bonn in May, 1974. The Agreement is both a government-to-govern- ment agreement, and an agency-to-agency agreement between EPA and the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Much of the work on the German side is done within the Interior Ministry by the Federal Environment Agency, located in Berlin. The efforts of each side are managed by coordinators who meet annually to review projects under the Agreement and to discuss possible new proj- ects in which mutual benefit can be anticipated. Current projects are: • An exchange of data bases and other forms of infor- mation on toxic substances, on environmental research and development, and on the general question of design and operation of information and communica- tions systems; • Development of a bank for storage of environmental samples to permit retrospective studies in the future. The U.S. National Bureau of Standards has joined this project, and is assisting in developing the rationale and operation of such a bank; • An exchange of information on pyrolysis and resource recovery; • Discussions of siting new sources of air pollution; • An exchange of information and design improve- ments for postcombustion removal of participates, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide, with the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology and the Atomic Research Center in Julich; • Discussions of philosophy and methods for accurate and cost-effective enforcement of regulations. Other subjects, such as auto emissions, radiation, toxic chemicals, noise, and environmental impact assessments, are the subject of discussions and ex- changes from time to time. N-/EPA United Slates Environmental Protection Agency ------- |