EPA and
the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Devel-
opment (OECD) was established in 1960 to promote
economic growth among its member nations, to pro-
mote international financial stability and to expand
world trade. Its 25 members include Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, the
Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzer-
land, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United
States. Yugoslavia is an Associate Member.
In 1970 the Council of the OECD set up an Environ-
ment Committee as a forum for discussion of environ-
mental issues and for cooperation in dealing with com-
mon problems. The Environment Committee held a
Ministerial-level Meeting in Paris in May, 1979, to assess
the state of the international environment, to assess the
actions of their governments on environmental issues,
and to discuss future policies and programs. EPA Ad-
ministrator Douglas M. Costle presided.
The communique issued at the conclusion of the
meeting confirmed progress made over the past decade
in many fields. The report highlighted, in particular,
achievements in the control of pollution in fresh water
bodies and urban areas, reduction of the flow into the
environment of certain persistent chemicals, the exten-
sion of national and regional parks and the protection
and rehabilitation of sites of social or cultural value. It
said "these improvements in environmental quality have
generated significant benefits, without in most cases
negative effects on the economy."
The communique said, however that " environ-
mental quality remains a source of concern in certain
fields, such as the supply and quality of water, in-
cluding, in particular areas, drinking water; the adverse
effect of the excessive use of fertilizers; the impact on
ecosystems of the long-range transport of airborne
pollutants; air pollution by recently recognized pollu-
tants; increasing noise levels in some areas; the risk of
accidents involving hazardous substances; and, in
general, the growing evidence of linkage between en-
vironmental deterioration and human health." Reflect-
ing growing concern over toxic chemicals, the Ministers
called for a high-level OECD meeting in 1980 to consider
technical issues of toxic chemical control.
EPA is actively involved in OECD projects involving
toxic chemicals. Among these is a project aimed at
developing international standards for good laboratory
practices, so that tests performed in one country may
be acceptable in others. EPA is encouraging OECD na-
tions to adopt American standards for public releast ^f
health and safety data on toxic substances. These pro-
posals are largely due to the stringent import and export
provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Com-
mon testing and regulatory standards between the
United States and other OECD nations will greatly
facilitate implementation of that law.
EPA is active in several OECD subsidiary groups. One
group will hold a seminar on urban transport and the en-
vironment in July, 1979, followed by a tour of American
mayors to European cities to inspect European concepts
of traffic control. Another group will hold a conference
on noise abatement policies in 1980. Other groups are
working on water management, air management,
economic issues, wildlife sampling and analysis, and
pollution control for particular industries.
EPA contributes to the work of the Nuclear Energy
Agency of the OECD. A particular concern of the
Nuclear Energy Agency is development of international
policies for disposal of radioactive waste. EPA has
urged member nations to adopt land disposal methods
rather than ocean dumping.
f/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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