VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #2369/01 3172128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132128Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0368
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 3390
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 3311
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1176
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV 4894
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4808
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002369 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES - CAMCMURRAY 
STATE ALSO FOR OES/PCI - LSPERLING 
STATE ALSO FOR OES/ENV - RWING 
STATE ALSO FOR WHA/EPSC - FCORNEILLE 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR MBURR 
EPA FOR TPRATHER 
BRASILIA FOR HUB - JSTORY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV PREL ECON ETRD CI
SUBJECT: U.S.-CHILE ENVIRONMENTAL MEETINGS, OCT 23-24 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  Chile and the United States met in Santiago 
October 23-24 to review bilateral environmental cooperation 
under the Environmental Chapter of the Free Trade Agreement 
(FTA) and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). 
Talks focused on reviewing the successful eight projects 
implemented under the FTA and detailed future areas of 
cooperation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Third Annual Meeting of FTA's Environmental Affairs Council 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶2. A U.S. delegation headed by Oceans, Environment and 
Science (OES) Assistant Secretary Claudia A. McMurray visited 
Santiago October 23-24 to review and broaden environmental 
cooperation begun under the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement 
(FTA).  This was the third annual meeting of the 
Environmental Affairs Council (Chapter 19 of the FTA) as well 
as the second meeting of the Joint Commission of the 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement, since the FTA came into 
force in 2004.  The delegations evaluated the FTA's eight 
joint projects, as well as six projects undertaken through 
the Environmental Cooperation Agreement.  The parties 
identified cooperative measures for the 2007-2008 Work 
Program, seeking to enhance enforcement of environmental 
regulations, promote ecotourism, and build capacity for 
public participation.  Ambassador Cristian Maquieira, Chief 
of the Environment, Antarctic and Oceans Department of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Chilean delegation. 
 
FTA's Eight Projects 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. The eight projects mandated under the FTA are: (1) a 
national Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry (PRTR); (2) 
reduction of mining pollution; (3) capacity building to 
enforce environmental laws; (4) workshop and study tour on 
voluntary environmental efforts; (5) exchange of agricultural 
best practices; (6) a study tour on alternatives to use of 
methyl bromide; (7) capacity building to improve wildlife 
protection and management; and, (8) a pilot project to 
retrofit diesel buses in Santiago to reduce emissions. 
 
¶4. The delegations agreed all eight FTA projects have either 
been successfully completed or are currently being 
implemented.  Both parties agreed to follow up on the eight 
project themes in the ECA Work Program.  The GOC expressed 
particular interest in future amplification of four of the 
programs under the 2007-2008 Work Program: the PRTR, 
reduction of methyl bromide emissions, reduction of mining 
pollution and improvement of good agricultural practices. 
 
2007-2008 Work Program 
---------------------- 
 
¶5. In addition to the mechanism provided by the FTA, the U.S. 
and Chile jointly plan environmental projects under the 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA).  A/S McMurray's 
visit provided the opportunity to convene the second ECA 
meeting to elaborate a 2007-08 Work Program.  The top 
priorities for the 2007-08 Work Program are: (1) enforcement 
of environmental legislation; (2) adoption of sound 
environmental practices, particularly through private sector 
stewardship and sound agricultural practices; (3) sustainable 
management of natural resources and biodiversity 
conservation, including collaboration on ecotourism, 
combating wildlife trafficking; and, (4) fisheries and marine 
protected areas. 
 
Chile Needs Compliance Assistance 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. The GOC singled out enforcement of existing environmental 
legislation as its top priority.  Environmental regulation in 
Chile is in its early stages, and several projects have been 
undertaken in order to improve it.  Chilean officials have 
made field visits to both Washington, D.C. and Seattle to 
work with the EPA, Departments of Justice and Interior, and 
NOAA.  In country, the U.S. has collaborated with the GOC to 
hold judicial workshops to make the courts more cognizant of 
the legal framework of environmental law. 
 
 
¶7. To continue to improve compliance and enforcement of 
environmental legislation, the GOC had several specific 
requests:  (1) the loan of an EPA attorney to advise Chile on 
future legislation; (2) software to assess environmental 
damage and resources, as well as provide economic evaluations 
of the environment; and, (3) an amplified judicial capacity 
building program to further Chilean understanding of 
environmental litigation and legislation. 
 
Public Participation 
------------------------ 
 
¶8. During the public session, representatives from civil 
society voiced several concerns.  The main concerns were: 
(1) lack of transparency in monitoring of aquaculture, salmon 
farming in particular; (2) a tendency for the GOC to view all 
issues, including environmental ones, from a Santiago-centric 
perspective; (3) that as a consequence rural areas often lack 
access to information; and, (4) lack of experience in 
environmental law and compliance among local municipalities 
and judiciaries. 
 
Conclusion 
---------- 
 
¶9. The environmental chapter of the FTA has been faithfully 
implemented by both sides. The successful FTA-related and ECA 
meetings were testament to that fact.  The GOC has a solid 
legislative basis for protecting its environment but would 
benefit from U.S. assistance in developing the capacity to 
implement fully that legislation.  Chile has a growing 
appreciation of environmental issues, and the GOC is keen to 
maintain and enhance environmental cooperation with the U.S. 
The challenge will be finding the USG personnel and resources 
to make sure the environmental leg of the U.S.-Chile 
relationship does not falter. 
KELLY