GEF: Regionally Based Assessment
of Persistent Toxic Substances
FIRST REGIONAL TEAM MEETING REGION IX
23-24 July 2001, Apia, Samoa
MEETING REPORT
1.
Participation
A full list of participants is given in attachment 1.
2.
Agenda
A copy of the agenda for the meeting is given in attachment 2.
3.
Opening Remarks and Introduction of the Team Members
Dr Bruce Graham welcomed the participants to the meeting, and gave an outline of the
meeting programme. He then invited each of the team members and other participants to
introduce themselves.
4.
Project Overview and Discussion
Dr Graham gave a presentation which included the history of international concerns about
persistent organic pollutants, the Stockholm Convention, and GEF involvement in this area.
This was followed by a detailed summary of the PTS project, including the methodology, the
expected results and outputs, and the overall project timetable.
5.
TOR for the Regional Team
All members of the Regional Team were provided with a copy of the full project
documentation. This session was used to work through the TORs for the Regional
Coordinator and Regional Teams, to ensure that all Team Members were aware of their roles
and responsibilities.
6.
Definition of PTS
The Team reviewed the background information provided on this topic in the UNEP Report:
Guidance Document for the Collection, Assembly and Evaluation of Data on Sources,
Environmental Levels and Impacts of Persistent Toxic Substances. It was agreed that the work
for the region would focus on the following chemicals: 12 POPs, HCH, PAHs, endosulphan,
atrazine, and organic mercury, tin and lead compounds. The additional PTS chemicals listed
in the questionnaires were also noted, although none of the participants were aware of any of
these being used within the region.
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7.
Presentations on Existing Regional Information
The following presentations were given in this session:
Dr Bill Aalbersberg: USP Survey of POPs in the Pacific
Michelle Rogow: US EPA Activities Within the Region
Dr Bruce Graham: SPREP Surveys of POPs Stockpiles and Other Relevant Activities
8.
Questionnaires
This session was lead by Bill Aalbersberg, who had already started work on completing some
of the questionnaires. The Team worked through several model questionnaires, and a number
of points were noted for discussion under item 9. It was agreed that all data entry would be
done through Bill, using student labour at the University of the South Pacific. Data supplied
by other Team Members or through the Regional Network would be submitted to Bill either in
the form of raw data or completed questionnaires.
It was also agreed that a single map reference would be used when data for individual
countries was spread across 2 or more grid blocks (eg. Fiji)
9.
Teleconference with the Project Manager (Geneva)
This teleconference took place on the morning of 24 July, and was intended to introduce the
Team Members to the Project Manager and vice versa, and allow clarification of some of the
issues that had been raised in previous discussions. The key points covered were as follows:
a) Inclusion in the region of Hawaii, Wake Island and Midway Island this needs to be
resolved with the RC for the North America region.
b) Codes for individual countries (vs sub-regions) Paul agreed that this would be done.
c) Combination of the two technical workshops into one agreed.
d) Data entry the team had questions on units, data age, and the treatment of non-
detects, all of which were satisfactorily resolved.
10.
Data Collection the Regional Network
The need for data input from a wide range of people throughout the region was noted. Some
possible key contributors were discussed and individual Team Members were asked to
forward the relevant contact details to Bruce Graham as soon as possible after the meeting.
11.
Content of the Regional Report
This item was discussed with reference to Annex G of the contract document. There were no
substantive disagreements with the proposed layout and content.
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12.
Discussion
A number of items were covered under this heading as follows:
a) The dates for future meetings were tentatively set as 18 March 2002 for the Regional
Workshop, and 12 August 2002 for the Regional Priority Setting Meeting. An
additional Team Meeting was also proposed for late November 2001, with the
intention that this be used for pulling together the first draft of the papers for
presentation to the Technical Workshop.
b) Responsibility for leading the work on each of the report chapters was allocated as
follows: chapter 1 BG, PF; 2 BG; 3 WA, MR; 4 MR; 5 BG, PF. It was also
decided to ask country delegates to the Technical Workshop to prepare short country
presentations for use in chapters 1 and 5.
c) It was agreed that there should be no need for an additional team member.
d) Funding arrangements for each of the Team members were clarified in individual
discussions with the Regional Coordinator.
13.
Closure
The meeting concluded at 1500h on 24 July. Dr Graham thanked the Team Members for their
useful contributions to the discussions and said he was looking forward to working with the
team over the next 18 months.
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GEF: Regionally Based Assessment
of Persistent Toxic Substances
FIRST REGIONAL TEAM MEETING REGION IX
23-24 July 2001, Apia, Samoa
AGENDA
Monday 23rd July 01
0845-0900: Opening Remarks and Introduction of Team Members
0900-1015:
Project Overview and Discussion
1030-1200:
TOR for the Regional Team
1300-1330:
Definition of PTS which chemicals are priorities for the region?
1330-1500:
Presentations/discussions what do we already know about PTS in the region?
1515-1630:
Review and discussion on the Questionnaires, and procedures for data
collection and entry
1630-1645:
Teleconference Paul Whylie/Project Manager, UNEP Chemicals Geneva
Tuesday 24th July 01
0845-0915:
Confirm decisions on questionnaires
0915-1000:
Data collection (i) team member inputs
Data collection (ii) other potential contributors (the Regional Network)
1015-1100:
Discussion Technical workshops (2) and Regional Priority Setting Meeting
(purpose, format, team member inputs, timing, preliminary thoughts on
participants)
1100-1130:
Discussion - need for an additional team member?
1130-1230:
Allocation of responsibilities, and work timetable
1330-1430:
Financial matters (regional budget, funds to support team members and data
collection, contracts)
1430-1630:
Any other matters?
1630:
Second Teleconference Paul Whylie (if necessary)
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GEF: Regionally Based Assessment
of Persistent Toxic Substances
FIRST REGIONAL TEAM MEETING REGION IX
23-24 July 2001
SPREP Secretariat, Apia, Samoa
PARTICIPANTS LIST
Dr Bruce Graham
Ph:
(685) 21929
Coordinator-Waste Management & Pollution Prevention
Fax:
(685) 20231
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Email: bruceg@sprep.org.ws
P O Box 240
APIA, Samoa
Dr Pita Taufatofua
Ph:
(676) 32253
Deputy Director & Head of Research and Extension Division
Fax:
(676) 32132/24271
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Email: mfresrh@kalianet.to
P O Box 14
NUKUALOFA, Tonga
Ms Michelle Rogow
Ph:
(415) 744 2335
Environmental Engineer
Fax:
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
Email: rogow.michelle@epamail.epa.gov
75 Hawthorne Street (SFD-6)
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States of America
Prof. Bill Aalbersberg
Ph:
(679) 312 952
Professor of Natural Products Chemistry
Fax:
(679) 300 373
University of the South Pacific
Email: aalbersberg@usp.ac.fj
Laucala Bay Rd
P O Box 1168
SUVA, Fiji
Observers
Mr Tom-Twinning Ward
Ph:
(685) 23670/71/72
Environment Adviser
Fax:
(685) 23555
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Private Mail Bag
APIA, Samoa
Mr Hans Thulstrup
Ph:
(685) 24276/22156
Science Adviser
Fax:
(685) 22253
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
P O Box 5766
APIA, Samoa
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Mr Bill Cable
Ph:
(685) 22561
Registrar of Pesticides
Fax: (685) 22171
Ministry of Agriculture
Email: bcable@ipasifika.net
P O Box 1874
APIA, Samoa
Mr Trevor Gilbert
Ph:
(685) 21929
Marine Pollution Adviser-COMSEC
Fax:
(685) 20231
South Pacific Regional Environment
Email: trevorg@sprep.org.ws
P O Box 240
APIA, Samoa
Mr Chris Peteru
Email: chrisp@sprep.org.ws
Editorial/Publication Officer
SPREP, Samoa
Herve Dropsy
Email: herved@sprep.org.ws
Information Technology Manager
SPREP, Samoa
Mr Matt McIntyre
Email: mattm@sprep.org.ws
Environmental Assessment & Reporting Adviser
SPREP, Samoa
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