Memorandum of Understanding Between the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America and the Ministry of Environment of Italy Concerning Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, Rome, 1987

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States of America and the Ministry of Environment (The Ministry) of Italy, recognizing that strong national environmental programs contribute not only to the protection of national environments but to that of the global environment as well, that cooperation between national environmental authorities is of mutual benefit at both the national and global level, that sound economic and social policies require the development and application of anticipatory environmental controls, and that harmonious policies, regulations and practices contribute to the social and economic well-being of States and groups of States,

have agreed as follows:

EPA and the Ministry will undertake a programme of cooperation in the field of environmental affairs on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, within the framework of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Italy for scientific and technological cooperation.

EPA and the Ministry will provide each other with information on environmental issues and on significant common policy, research, and economic and regulatory elements of their respective programs. A list of such common interests will be developed, and will be modified in line with future program and priority changes. Unless otherwise agreed, information on toxic substances and radioactive waste will be transferred through the OECD and other multilateral organizations. Otherwise, information may be exchanged on a bilateral basis. The exchange of information under this MOU will be subject to the laws and regulations of the country providing the information. EPA and the Ministry will seek to assure the accuracy of data and information exchanged pursuant to this Memorandum but without consequential liability for any inaccuracy.

In addition to exchanges of information, other forms of cooperation may be undertaken appropriate to the nature of the topic. Work in these areas may include exchanges of personnel and joint projects on research, pollution measurement and control, and development and demonstration of environmental techniques and technologies as well as organization of joint scientific symposia and conferences. The terms of such activities shall be established through exchange of letters between appropriate officials of EPA and of the Ministry. At the outset, the following subjects have been identified as having mutually high priority and are being pursued at appropriate levels of effort:

1. Hazardous and municipal solid waste management, including health and environmental hazards arising from waste sites and waste incineration;

2. Development, field test, demonstration and evaluation of environmental technology in areas such as control of hazardous waste sites and air pollution from stationary sources, rehabilitation of contaminated land, and waste water treatment;

3. Research on:

- A)

Acid deposition resulting from air pollution, including photochemical oxidants;

- B)

Global CO2 buildup, the greenhouse effects, and possible associated sea level rise;

- C)

The interaction of Chlorofluorocarbons and other chemicals with the ozone layer;

- D)

Indoor air pollution;

- E)

Development of pollution control and monitoring equipment as well as of techniques to measure low-level chemical exposure to tissues;

4. Prevention of chemical accidents; contingency planning for and emergency response to accidents involving the release of toxic chemicals.

The heads of the International Office of EPA and of the Pollution Prevention and Environmental Reclamation Service of the Ministry of Environment shall be the coordinators responsible for the management of this cooperative program. The coordinators shall make an annual review of cooperation, evaluating the existing program and determining policy and implementation plans for future work. As progress is made in the areas identified in article III, and as respective national priorities permit, the coordinators will consider possible additional topics for inclusion in the work program under this Memorandum. They shall also be responsible for furthering the appropriate participation of other U.S. and Italian organizations (governmental, business, and academic) in the activities conducted under this Memorandum.

Unless otherwise agreed, there shall be no exchange of funds, each side providing resources adequate to carry out its responsibilities. It is expressly understood that the ability of each side to carry out long-term activities is subject to the availability of appropriated funds. No financial commitment can be made without concurrence of appropriate authorities on each side.

The parties agree that protection of copyrights and confidential information, and the treatment of inventions or discoveries made or conceived under this MOU, shall be as set forth in the agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Italy for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, and the relevant Annex thereto.

This Memorandum shall enter into force upon signature and shall remain in force for five years, and be automatically renewed for further five year periods unless either party notifies the other, three months prior to the expiration of one of those five year periods, of its desire that the Memorandum be terminated. The termination of this Memorandum shall not affect the validity of any arrangements initiated under its provisions, but not yet completed at the time of termination.

This Memorandum may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of EPA and the Ministry in writing.

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Done at Rome in duplicate, in the English and Italian languages, both texts being equally authentic, this day of March 3, 1987. For the United States Environmental Protection Agency John W. Holmes Charg d'Affaires ad Interim

For the Italian Ministry of the Environment F. De Lorenzo Minister