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

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