An Innovative Approach to Toxic and Hazardous Substance Management: The Mongolian Experience

Presented By:

Ms. Candace Chandra CEO, Canary Strategies, LLCPO Box 684902Austin, Texas 78768

Phone: 512-785-6346Email: candace@canarystrategies.com

Presentation Overview Mongolian Context

Project Description

Legislative Project Component

Public Awareness Component

Recommendations for the Future

Success Story?

Mongolian Context Local and National governments working hard to promote

legislative change and public awareness

Transportation/customs issues on Russia and China borders

Industrial chemical use increasing nationwide

Striving to meet requirements of International Conventions Stockholm Convention on POPs defines banned and restricted

Persistent Organic Pollutants and encourages their regulation Rotterdam Convention on international trade and prior

informed consent promotes shared responsibility and transparency in international trade of chemicals

Basel Convention on transport and disposal of hazardous waste provides legal framework for controlling the movement of toxic wastes

“Wet” or “blue” hides at the family-run tannery, the blue color is caused by the presence of Cr+4.

Family-run tannery drying and stretching hides outdoors

Leaking railcar container used to store bags of cyanide, ammonia, and Cr+3 near the UB tanneries, intended for sale to other tanneries in the area.

Storage space at Belon Tannery used for excess chemicals and wet skins. The floor is wet with Cr+4 contaminated water

Belon Tannery, machines for tumbling skins with solutions. Wooden slats in the lower left of the picture are covering the open sewage line which channels the drained solution from these machines.

Customs, Transportation, Industrial Points of Interest in Mongolia

Excess stores of H2SO4 at Erdenet Mining Company.

Machines mixing lime with copper ore at Erdenet.

Erdenet Mining Company, a copper mine

Project Description

Project Objective: Provide input for amendment of existing laws on toxic substances Goal 1: Review existing legislation, and

develop recommendations for improvement of existing laws and regulations

Goal 2: Design a national-level public awareness campaign

Goal 1: Review of Existing Legislation on Toxic & Hazardous Substances Assist with upgrade of national legislation

on Toxic & Hazardous Substances Develop strong working group for

legislative review Ensure corresponding regulations updated Include in amended legislation:

Risk assessment Penalties Customs issues Disposal technologies Compliance with International Conventions

Goal 1: Legislative Component Flow-Chart

Outdated Chemical Legislation

Technical Background

Research

Presentations and Advisory Role

Working Groups

Advisors to Standing Committee on Nature and Environment

WWF Mongolia Liaison and Coordination with Parliament

National Workshops and Parliamentary Working

Groups

Revised Legislation put to vote in Parliament

Revising & Researching Legislation and

Regulations

Prioritization of banned chemicals

with fundingInternational

Standards

Risk Assessment

Disposal Technologies

Positive and Negative incentives

Goal 1: Accomplishments Law amended and agreed upon by all

relevant partners

Over 300 regulations updated to reflect changes in amended law

Working group established new channels of communication

International Conventions incorporated into new legislation

Goal 2: Design a National-level Public Awareness Campaign

Collaborate with WWF Mongolia and Working Group on audiences, taglines and message

WWF Mongolia produces and distributes materials including press releases and fliers

WWF Mongolia presence at professional workshops and presentations

Suggest methods for gathering feedback

Goal 2: Public Awareness Campaign Outputs Documentary film “Silent Death” TV Advertisement on hazards of batteries TV & radio interviews of WWF Mongolia Toxics Officer News releases on proper disposal of household waste Article published about mercury contamination Radio program based on brochure “Chemicals in the

Household” Handbook on International Conventions and Decisions

on Toxic Chemical Safety Mongolian translation of FAO’s “Pesticide Storage and

Stock Control Manual” Workshops on chemical regulation

WWF MN TV Announcement about Batteries

Goal 2: Public Awareness Campaign Flow-Chart

Strategic Plan and Timeline

WWF Mongolia Public Awareness

Implementation

Television Announcements

Professional Trainings

Newspaper Articles

Outcome indeterminate, as no feedback

mechanism used in tracking indicators

Information on public awareness strategies

Correspondence with WWF Mongolia project

implementers

Sample indicators

Initial Agreement between the World Bank

and WWF Mongolia Radio Programs

Training for Schoolchildren

Taglines & Key Issues

Training in Indicators and

Sample Campaigns

Indicator Data collection delayed but

forthcoming

Goal 2: Accomplishments Implementation of numerous workshops,

flyers, radio, print, and TV interviews

Distribution of informational newsletters targeting teachers and schoolchildren

Trainings conducted for customs officials, university students, and professionals

Short documentary under development targeting general public

Short-term Recommended Next Steps

Amnesty Program Take place at Nadaam Festival 2006 Implement idea of positive incentives for limiting public chemical use Regulate unlabeled and expired chemicals stored around Mongolia Train the public in newly classified banned chemicals & their disposal Develop system for testing, storage, and disposal of chemicals onsite at

festival Research and develop system to track efficacy of training

Consider broadening scope to focus on classes of chemicals such as halogens, VOCs, and on industries other than mining

Train local implementers in indicator development, feedback mechanisms, and statistical data gathering

Create a glossary of terms with detailed definitions of technical and policy terms

Establish effective feedback mechanisms for public awareness campaign

Amnesty Program Take place at Nadaam Festival 2006

Implement idea of positive incentives for limiting public chemical use

Regulate unlabeled and expired chemicals stored around Mongolia

Train the public in newly classified banned chemicals & their disposal

Develop system for testing, storage, and disposal of chemicals onsite at festival

Research and develop system to track efficacy of training

Success Story? Local NGO involvement

Cooperation among Mongolian ministries and agencies

Designing and Implementing Public Awareness Campaign

Opportunities for knowledge transfer

World Bank Role

Local NGO Involvement Liaise with Parliament and Working Groups

Technical presentations to National Conference

On-the-ground public awareness activities

Publications and data gathering

Media interviews

Cooperation of 23 Mongolian Ministries & Agencies

Parliament of Mongolia Ministry for Nature and

Environment Ministry of Food and

Agriculture Ministry of Trade and

Industry Ministry of Justice and

Home Affairs Ministry of Health Disinfection Society Ministry of Social Welfare

and Labor Institute of Social Health

State Specialized Supervision Agency

General State Customs Office

National Center for Standardization and Meteorology

The Institute of Chemistry Mongolian National

University National Chamber of

Commerce and Industry Eco Asia Institute Health Emergency

Management Agency

Opportunities for Knowledge Transfer

Ministerial Working Groups drew heavily from World Bank Advisor’s international policy expertise

Staff from office of local implementer presented at international conferences

Designing and Implementing Public Awareness Campaign

Good rapport between WWF Mongolia project staff and international consultants

Collaborative effort designing and implementing campaign

Local implementers in-country with expert support from consultants

World Bank Role Initially held advisory role in project

Later, local implementers requested hands-on expertise, particularly with public awareness campaign

Canary Strategies Research expertise Technical expertise Public awareness expertise International, Central Asian expertise