VZCZCXRO4500
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1350/01 3470814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120814Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8844
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5373
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 6559
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0103
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP/ISA/AP/ES//
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J00/J005/J006/J01LA/J06/J5//
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001350 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EP, EAP/RSP, EAP/PD, OES/PCI, OES/STC (EILEEN 
KANE) 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR ANE, G/ENV 
STATE PASS TO EPA/OIA (DENNIS CUNNINGHAM AND MARK KASMAN) 
STATE PASS TO EPA/ORD (KEVIN TEICHMAN) 
HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO OGHA/HHS (STEIGER/VALDEZ/ABDOO) 
CDC FOR OGHA (BLOUT), NCEH (SINKS), NIOSH (SWEENEY), AND NCBDDD 
(BOYLE) 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (SHUBERT AND VAN HOUTEN) 
HHS/OSSI/DSI PASS TO FIC/NIH (GLASS) AND NIEHS/NIH 
BANGKOK PASS TO RDMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SENV TBIO KPAO VM
SUBJECT: CZECH REPUBLIC DETAILS DIOXIN CLEANUP EFFORTS AT FORMER 
U.S. AIR BASE 
 
REF: HANOI 1332 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR DISSEMENATION OUTSIDE THE USG 
OR INTERNET POSTING. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  In a December 11 meeting with Emboffs, David 
Jarkulisch, Commercial and Development officer at the Embassy of the 
Czech Republic, detailed November meetings between Czech technical 
and development experts and their Government of Vietnam (GVN) 
counterparts to negotiate dioxin remediation and health projects at 
or near the former U.S. airbase at Phu Cat.  Jarkulisch noted 
progress, but also discussed some bumps in the road.  End Summary. 
 
Czech-Vietnamese Phu Cat Remediation Plan 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In November, the Czech Republic sent a mission to Vietnam 
to agree with the GVN on a scope of activities under the August 2008 
agreement with Office 33 (the entity that coordinates GVN Agent 
Orange/dioxin policy) to remediate Phu Cat airport.  Jarkulisch 
lamented that due to the decline of the Czech koruna against the 
dollar, the Czech government could only fund USD 2.3 million as 
opposed to the USD 3 million originally planned - though that number 
could move back up depending on exchange rate fluctuations.  The 
Czech Republic plans to spend USD 1.5 million from 2009 through 2011 
on airport remediation activities and, starting in 2010, provide USD 
800,000 for health and social projects for persons affected by 
dioxin surrounding the airport and in broader areas of Binh Dinh 
province. 
 
Vietnam Focuses on Containment, Not Remediation 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Though the Czech Republic and Vietnam agreed upon a scope 
of work for surveying and initial remediation at Phu Cat, Jarkulisch 
noted that the scope of work did not follow the priorities preferred 
by the Czechs.  As in our discussions at the Joint Action Committee 
(JAC) Technical Group (Reftel), the GVN demanded the project 
initially focus solely on excavation and passive land filling.  Only 
following completion of this phase would the GVN agree to allow the 
Czechs to pilot remediation methods - whether biological or 
chemical.  Additionally, as we had heard from the UNDP, the new 
Office 33 leadership pressed the Czechs to fund travel and office 
equipment beyond that needed for actual remediation.  According to 
Jarkulisch, the Czechs refused and also pushed back on seemingly 
high initial GVN estimates for landfill construction on site. 
Making work more difficult, the GVN could not produce a detailed 
surface map or geologic map of the site, instead relying on a 
satellite image provided by the U.S. Department of Defense. Finally, 
Jarkulisch lamented the recent departure of long-time interlocutor 
Dr. Le Ke Son from Office 33.  Unlike discussions with the United 
States, Son no longer plays any role in Czech-Vietnamese 
cooperation.  The Czechs have found it more difficult to work with 
his replacements. 
 
Remediation Costs Seem Reasonable, 
Actions will Follow EU Standards 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) At the same time, Jarkulisch noted several positive steps. 
The GVN agreed that USD 1.5 million would cover the costs of 
landfill construction, soil excavation, additional sampling of lake 
sediment surrounding the airport, a workshop for local authorities 
detailing contamination issues, and the eventual piloting of 
remediation technologies.  About half of the total would go towards 
constructing and moving soil to the landfill.  This number is much 
lower than initial GVN estimates and seems consistent with the scope 
of our initial calculations for costs at Danang (Danang costs will 
be higher due to higher volumes of soil and higher dioxin 
concentrations).  Further, the GVN agreed to allow a Czech company 
to be present on site throughout the remediation process for quality 
 
HANOI 00001350  002 OF 002 
 
 
assurance/quality control.  All efforts would meet European Union 
standards.  At this point, Jarkulisch was unsure whether the GVN 
would require the Czechs to use a Ministry of Defense company to 
excavate the soil and construct the landfill or would allow the 
Czech government to bid out the project. 
 
U.S. Engagement Leveraged Czech Efforts 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Jarkulisch highlighted the importance of continued U.S. 
involvement in Agent Orange/dioxin and stated that this engagement 
facilitated approval within the Czech government for this project. 
We agreed to share information on remediation technologies and 
strategies.  We urged the Czechs to join us to advocate for 
remediation beyond passive land filling, which likely will not 
reduce dioxin contamination to acceptable levels.  Depending on 
internal budgetary discussions and Czech perception of continued 
U.S.-Vietnamese cooperation on this issue, Czech involvement in 
dioxin remediation may end following completion of the project at 
Phu Cat in 2011.  Should issues arise after that, we know the GVN 
will again point to the United States for resolution. 
 
MICHALAK