Senior officials from Vietnam and the U.S. have attended today [Oct 18] the start of the second and final phase of a dioxin contamination treatment at the Danang airport, the first project which marks the Washington’s official financial support to solve wartime consequences. This phase will remediate a second batch of approximately 45,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment under a project that is greatly benefiting the people of Danang and is of historic importance for the bilateral relationship, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, vice minister of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius and senior U.S. and Vietnamese government officials, representatives of foreign embassies, development partners, and media representatives attended the event. “I am encouraged by how this project continues to be a symbol of our honesty about the past, dealing with what remains, and turning an issue of contention into one of collaboration. Both Vietnamese and Americans together enjoy great benefits from our growing friendship,” said Ambassador Osius. The Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contamination at Danang Airport Project, managed by the USAID and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, will treat an estimated 90,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil and sediment. The second phase of thermal treatment is expected to be completed in mid-2017 with site restoration and demobilization expected in 2018. The long-term impact of the project will be the elimination of potential health risks associated with dioxin exposure from the site. The governments of the United States and Vietnam have collaborated on issues related to Agent Orange/dioxin since 2000. During his visit to Vietnam in May, President Obama announced a U.S. commitment to partner with Vietnam to make a significant contribution to cleaning up dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa. (www.usaid.gov [1] Oct 18, Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Oct 18)
