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

1. An Innovative Approach to Toxic and Hazardous Substance Management: The Mongolian Experience Presented By: Ms. Candace Chandra CEO, Canary Strategies, LLC PO Box 684902 Austin, Texas 78768 Phone: 512-785-6346 Email: candace@canarystrategies.com

2. Presentation Overview • Mongolian Context • Project Description • Legislative Project Component • Public Awareness Component • Recommendations for the Future • Success Story?

3. 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

4. “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

5. 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. 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

6. Customs, Transportation, Industrial Points of Interest in Mongolia

7. Erdenet Mining Company, a copper mine Excess stores of H2SO4 at Erdenet Mining Company. Machines mixing lime with copper ore at Erdenet.

8. 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

9. 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

10. Technical Background Research Presentations and Advisory Role Revised Legislation put to vote in Parliament Outdated Chemical Legislation National Workshops and Parliamentary Working Groups WWF Mongolia Liaison and Coordination with Parliament Working Groups Revising & Researching Legislation and Regulations Advisors to Standing Committee on Nature and Environment Disposal Technologies Positive and Negative incentives Prioritization of banned chemicals with funding Risk Assessment International Standards Goal 1: Legislative Component Flow-Chart

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. WWF MN TV Announcement about Batteries

15. Information on public awareness strategies Correspondence with WWF Mongolia project implementers Taglines & Key Issues Sample indicators Strategic Plan and Timeline Newspaper Articles Initial Agreement between the World Bank and WWF Mongolia WWF Mongolia Public Awareness Implementation Radio Programs Training in Indicators and Sample Campaigns Training for Schoolchildren Television Announcements Professional Trainings Outcome indeterminate, as no feedback mechanism used in tracking indicators Indicator Data collection delayed but forthcoming Goal 2: Public Awareness Campaign Flow-Chart

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Success Story? • Local NGO involvement • Cooperation among Mongolian ministries and agencies • Designing and Implementing Public Awareness Campaign • Opportunities for knowledge transfer • World Bank Role

20. 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

21. 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 Cooperation of 23 Mongolian Ministries & Agencies

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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