Memorandum of Understanding Between the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America and the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Co-operation in the Field of Environmental Affairs, Washington, 1986

________________________________

The Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (‘EPA’) and the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom (‘the Department’) have reached the following understanding regarding co-operation in the field of environmental affairs:

ARTICLE 1

EPA and the Department will maintain and enhance bilateral co-operation regarding environmental affairs (including effects on human health). Such co-operation will proceed on the basis of equality, reciprocity and joint benefit.

ARTICLE 2

EPA and the Department will, for the purpose of this Memorandum, exchange information in the areas of joint interest identified under Articles 3 and 4 below. Other forms of co-operation within such areas may include the holding of joint meetings and reviews, the exchange of relevant personnel and the commissioning of research projects.

ARTICLE 3

The following have been identified as initial areas of joint interest:

(a) management of hazardous wastes; and

(b) acid deposition.

ARTICLE 4

Further areas of joint interest may be identified in addenda to this Memorandum signed by the co-ordinators, as appointed under Article 8 below, or other designated officials.

ARTICLE 5

The details of co-operative activities within the areas of joint interest identified and the terms under which those activities are to be carried out will be established through exchange of letters between the appropriate officials of EPA and the Department. The considerations set out in Article 6 below will apply to all such co-operative activities.

ARTICLE 6

It is expressly understood that the ability of each side to carry out co-operative activities under this Memorandum is subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to its laws and regulations. Each side will bear the direct cost of its participation in co-operative activities under this Memorandum. EPA and the Department recognise that the most effective means of co-operation in respect of a research project may involve the transfer of funds.

ARTICLE 7

Unless otherwise determined, information will not be exchanged under this Memorandum where there is provision for it to be transferred through an international organisation or under an international agreement. Information under this Memorandum will be exchanged in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country providing the information.

ARTICLE 8

Each side will appoint a co-ordinator to be responsible for the planning and management of co-operative activities under this Memorandum. The co-ordinators will in particular:

(a) designate project officers to be responsible for activities under each of the areas of joint interest identified under Articles 3 and 4, above;

(b) review annually the activities carried out under this Memorandum; and

(c) consider future policy directions.

ARTICLE 9

The project officers designated under Article 8(a) above will, as appropriate, make arrangements for the participation of governmental or non-governmental bodies within the United States and the United Kingdom in activities under this Memorandum.

ARTICLE 10

The Memorandum will come into operation upon signature and remain in operation 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. During a five year period the Memorandum may be terminated by either signatory upon six months written notice of such intention. Save as may otherwise be decided, termination of this Memorandum will not affect the validity of arrangements already initiated under its provisions but not yet completed at the date of termination.

ARTICLE 11

This Memorandum may be amended by joint decision of EPA and the Department in writing.

The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America and the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Signed in duplicate at Washington, D.C. on this second day of June 1986. For the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America Lee M. Thomas

For the Department of the Environment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [Signature]