Lillian Almodovar, Senior Manager of the U.S. Army Engineer Institute for Water Resources, participated in the First Hemispheric Convention on Port Environmental Protection sponsored by the Organization of American States, Inter-American Committee on Ports (OAS-CIP), and the Government of Parana, Brazil. The Convention was held July 22 - 25, 2009 in Fox de Iguacu, Brazil. Representatives from various OAS member countries and others participated in this event. PIANC USA has had a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with OAS-CIP since 2005.
The main focus of the Convention was to exchange information and best practices on how the ports can contribute to preserving and protecting the environment while balancing economic development and social needs. The Convention addressed nine major topics: port environmental licensing; administration of contaminants; emergency and contingency plans for environmental disasters; sustainable development and port development; ports and communities; dredging impacts; innovative environmental experiences; international cooperation; and, global climate change and its impact on the port industry. Mr. Jean-Michel Cousteau was the keynote speaker and emphasized the importance of protecting marine resources for future generations.
Ms. Almodovar represented PIANC USA and IWR. Her presentation on planning for the future and environmental protection based on the USA experience focused on how the USACE leverages opportunities for ecosystem restoration as part of the implementation of navigation projects within a sustainability paradigm. The topic of beneficial uses of dredged material generated much interest, and the potential of adopting this approach was discussed. |
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Photo :Lillian Almodovar, USACE (l), and Kathleen Bailey, EPA (r), with keynote speaker Jean-Michel Cousteau, who talked about the importance of protecting marine resources for future generations.
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