VZCZCXRO6558
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGP #2046/01 3190226
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150226Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4408
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2027
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4129
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0113
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SINGAPORE 002046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR A/S MCMURRAY 
BANGKOK FOR JIM WALLER 
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR LINSCOTT, AUSTR WEISEL, AND 
DAUSTR BELL 
EPA FOR MARK KASMAN 
NOAA FOR MATTHEW STRICKLER 
MARAD FOR BRIAN VARNEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ETRD ECON PREL SN
SUBJECT: USG AND GOS CONCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, DISCUSS 
NEXT STEPS 
 
REF: A. SINGAPORE 1883 
 
     ¶B. SINGAPORE 1946 
     ¶C. SINGAPORE 996 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Regional environmental initiatives, 
"green" technologies, and reducing air and water pollution 
were high on the list of future activities discussed during a 
biennial review of the U.S. - Singapore Free Trade 
Agreement's Memorandum of Intent (MOI) for Cooperation on 
Environmental Matters.  The two sides identified three 
principal accomplishments from the MOI's initial 2005-2007 
Plan of Action (POA) and adopted a new POA for 2008-2010, 
which includes seven specific activities.  The United States 
urged Singapore to join a proposed regional dialogue on 
illegal logging.  Singapore expressed new concerns about 
implementing language in the POA related to identifying 
performance indicators for cooperative programs.  The GOS 
again probed for some flexibility in U.S. law that might 
allow Singapore to export endangered arowana fish to the 
United States and were advised to take up the issue with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment, and 
Science Claudia McMurray and Deputy Secretary of the Ministry 
of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Rosa Daniel met in 
Singapore on October 30 to evaluate the accomplishments of 
the 2005-2007 Plan of Action (POA) and adopt a new POA 
covering 2008-2010, which proposes several joint initiatives. 
 They were joined by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative 
(AUSTR) Mark Linscott, as well as OES and post 
representatives.  In addition to MEWR, the Singapore 
delegation comprised officials from: 
 
--Public Utilities Board (PUB) 
--National Environment Agency (NEA) 
--Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) 
--Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and 
--Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA). 
 
A/S McMurray also visited a water conservation project and an 
animal rescue center, delivered remarks at a workshop to 
identify endangered ramin wood, and met with GOS checkpoints 
officials.  She concluded her visit with an interview with 
the Straits Times.  AUSTR Linscott met separately with MTI 
officials to discuss environmental initiatives under the 
World Trade Organization (WTO), the upcoming United Nations 
Climate Change Conference in Bali, and the proposed regional 
dialogue on illegal logging. 
 
Past Accomplishments 
-------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) A/S McMurray and Deputy Secretary Daniel 
highlighted three accomplishments under the 2005-2007 
Memorandum of Intent's Plan of Action, which outlines 
mutually identified goals and suggests mechanisms for 
achieving them. 
 
--Sustainable Cities Program:  Several U.S. experts and 
states participated in the Singapore-led Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Environmentally 
Sustainable Cities Program. 
 
--Climate and Energy:  A GOS delegation visited the United 
States to exchange ideas with U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) officials about greenhouse gas mitigation and 
energy conservation. 
 
--Combating Illegal Trade:  The United States and Singapore 
co-hosted a workshop in Singapore to train port inspectors 
and customs officials from the region to identify illegal 
shipments of endangered ramin wood. 
 
Although not recognized as an accomplishment under the MOI, 
Singapore also noted that the American Waterworks Association 
and the GOS had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work 
together to improve the state of water-related technologies. 
 
SINGAPORE 00002046  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
The 2008-2010 Plan of Action 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The two delegations also adopted a revised POA for 
2008-2010.  Both sides expressed interest in developing new 
ways to advance our environmental cooperation and suggested 
the following areas for collaboration: 
 
--Air Pollution Control:  Singapore proposed technical 
exchanges on air quality management, use of cleaner fuels for 
transportation and industry, and emissions monitoring 
(especially for fine particulate matter). 
 
--Water Safety and Management:  On behalf of the U.S. 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) A/S 
McMurray offered to work with Singapore to develop an 
Integrated Watershed Management (IWRM) plan designed to 
control or eliminate marine degradation from land-based 
activities. 
 
--Energy Efficient Laboratories:  Singapore proposed 
collaborating with the U.S. EPA and Department of Energy 
(DOE) under the Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21) 
program to improve laboratory design to increase energy 
efficiency.  A/S McMurray welcomed Singaporean experts to 
visit U.S. labs. 
 
--Terrain Decontamination:  Singapore proposed sending a 
group from its National Environment Agency (NEA) to the 
United States to gain insights from the U.S. EPA in the area 
of terrain decontamination after a chemical, biological or 
radiological incident. 
 
--Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of 
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Enforcement and Illegal Logging: 
 Both A/S McMurray and AUSTR Linscott raised increased 
participation in bilateral and multilateral initiatives and 
urged Singapore to support a USTR-led regional dialogue on 
illegal logging and associated trade (Ref A).  A/S McMurray 
told Deputy Secretary Daniel that the United States is 
working with origin and destination countries and would like 
to involve Singapore due to its importance as a transshipment 
hub.  AUSTR Linscott explained that the USG was engaging 
China on the issue under our Strategic Economic Dialogue.  He 
noted that we had already signed an MOU on illegal logging 
with Indonesia and were discussing something similar with 
Malaysia.  Deputy Secretary Daniel thanked A/S McMurray and 
AUSTR Linscott for the update.  The two delegations also 
agreed to cooperate to improve the capacity of Southeast 
Asian countries to implement and enforce their environmental 
laws. 
 
--International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution 
from Ships (MARPOL) Annex 1:  The United States proposed 
convening a workshop involving the U.S. Department of Justice 
and relevant Singapore agencies to exchange information and 
share methods to detect and deter illegal discharge of oil by 
ships. 
 
--MARPOL Annex 6:  A/S McMurray urged Singapore to support 
the formation of a Pacific Ports Initiative (PPI) in 
conjunction with the U.S. EPA and Maritime Administration 
(MARAD).  The PPI is intended to bring together major ports, 
terminal operators, shipping lines, etc. with the aim of 
reducing air pollution and other adverse effects of maritime 
shipping and port operations.  A/S McMurray offered to 
provide the GOS with additional information concerning the 
Pacific Northwest Ports Project involving Seattle, Tacoma, 
and Vancouver. 
 
--Benchmarks:  Deputy Secretary Daniel expressed reservations 
about a U.S. proposal to strengthen the POA's "Benchmarks" 
language, saying that it was often difficult to quantify 
achievements.  A/S McMurray acknowledged it could be a 
challenging process but stressed the importance of measuring 
progress.  Both sides agreed to further discussions on the 
 
SINGAPORE 00002046  003 OF 004 
 
 
issue sometime in the near future. 
 
Additional Issues 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In addition to the POA, the delegations discussed: 
 
--Singapore International Water Week:  Deputy Secretary 
Daniel said that the GOS was interested in collaborating with 
the USG and private U.S. companies on the inaugural 
International Water Week (IWW) in June 2008.  IWW will 
showcase water technologies aimed at both developed and 
developing nations.  A/S McMurray suggested that several U.S. 
companies and foundations would likely be interested in 
participating. 
 
--Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network 
(AECEN):  Both sides agreed to clarify their participation in 
AECEN, a group formed in 2005 to promote the regional 
exchange of best environmental practices. 
 
--Arowana:  The GOS asked about possible flexibility in U.S. 
law that would allow Singapore companies to export arowana 
fish to the United States.  A/S McMurray recommended that the 
GOS engage the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to directly 
explore what options, if any, might be available for 
importation of this endangered species. 
 
Public Participation 
-------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) At the USG's invitation, a representative from the 
non-governmental organization TRAFFIC delivered a short 
presentation about his organization's collaborative 
activities with Singapore, which are often funded by the USG. 
 He highlighted training and capacity building efforts such 
as a recent species identification workshop held in Singapore 
and regional workshops to encourage interagency cooperation 
on interdicting illegally traded wildlife.  Singapore is a 
leading participant in the ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network 
(ASEAN-WEN), and has an opportunity to set best practices for 
wildlife trade management, he said.  The TRAFFIC 
representative encouraged Singapore's participation in the 
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking, which currently 
comprises five member countries, including the United States. 
 Deputy Secretary Daniel said the GOS shares TRAFFIC's 
concerns. 
 
Other Activities 
---------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Following the review, A/S McMurray visited 
Singapore's Marina Barrage Project where the Public Utilities 
Board (PUB) delivered an overview of the Active, Beautiful, 
and Clean (ABC) Campaign.  Once complete, the Marina Barrage 
will separate the Singapore and Kallang rivers from the 
ocean, creating Singapore's largest freshwater reservoir. 
The GOS is constructing a visitor center at the Barrage to 
highlight the importance of water conservation and 
Singapore's efforts in sustainable development.  ABC is 
Singapore's master plan to revitalize its waterways and bring 
its citizens close to the source of their drinking water in 
the hopes they will keep it free from trash and other 
pollutants. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) A/S McMurray met with the Immigration and 
Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to learn more about how it 
monitors the flow of cargo into and out of Singapore and 
screens for contraband such as illegal wildlife and wildlife 
products. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) A/S McMurray on October 31 delivered remarks at the 
U.S.-Singapore co-hosted Ramin Identification Workshop.  The 
workshop brought together port inspectors and customs 
officials from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China. 
Trainers offered the officials instruction and provided basic 
tools to help them distinguish endangered ramin species from 
 
SINGAPORE 00002046  004 OF 004 
 
 
other woods that passes through their jurisdictions.  During 
the October 30 review, AVA officials expressed appreciation 
for the workshop and noted that they had yet to seize any 
illegal shipments of ramin. 
 
¶10.  (U) A/S McMurray visited the ACRES Wildlife Rescue 
Center, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2007. 
ACRES, a local non-governmental organization, is constructing 
the center through private donations and grants.  Once 
completed, the center will serve as an educational facility 
as well as a sanctuary for animals rescued from the illegal 
wildlife trade. 
 
¶11.  (U) A/S McMurray and AUSTR Linscott cleared this message. 
 
Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm 
SHIELDS