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International Programs

Israel

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The United States and Israel focus on scientific and technical collaboration to protect the environment, by exchanging scientific and technical information, arranging visits of scientific personnel, cooperating in scientific symposia and workshops, and undertaking cooperative research projects concerning problems of common interest. This work takes place under a new bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (4 p, 953K,  About PDF Files) recently signed in Tel Aviv between the EPA and the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, which updates the existing bilateral agreement.

In addition, EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center is collaborating with Israel on water security issues, risk assessment and water decontamination. This work is based on the Bilateral Statement of Intent on Security of Water Supply Systems (PDF) (2 p, 555K,  About PDF Files), which expresses the intent of U.S. and Israel to work collaboratively to address present and future water security issues in both countries.

The activities conducted in Israel fall under two of EPA’s six International Priorities: Building Strong Environmental Institutions and Legal Structures, and Cleaning Up E-Waste.

Explore our Activities in Israel:


Administrator Jackson Visit to Israel

EPA Administrator Jackson and a delegation from EPA traveled to Israel from September 10-14, 2012, meeting with a range of government officials, industry representatives, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and community representatives to understand how Israel has successfully fostered a startup culture around environmental issues.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa Jackson, and Israeli Environmental Minister Gilad Erdan sign agreement to broaden environmental cooperation between the two countries. ( September 12, 2012)

Our collaboration will be an opportunity to expand EPA’s role in environmental technology development and deployment while supporting innovation and sustainability in the US by learning from Israel’s experience. Administrator Jackson has expressed her support for greater engagement between the US and Israel on environmental issues not only through greater government collaborative activities, but joint private sector ventures that will facilitate greater Israeli investment in the US economy and greater export of US developed technologies.

To make those commitments concrete, on September 12, 2012 Administrator Jackson signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (4 p, 953K,  About PDF Files) to guide the coming years of collaborative activities between the two countries.

Delegation from Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection meets with EPA specialists to learn more about hazardous waste site management and the Superfund program, May 2010.

Superfund Delegation Visit

In May 2011, the Director General of the Israeli Environment Agency, Dr. Yossi Inbar, led an 11-member delegation to the DC area the week of May 10 to learn more about Hazardous Waste Management, including Superfund, to inform continued work on soil contamination in Israel. At the time of the visit, there were two draft soil contamination restoration bills under review in Israel.

The delegation visited the Maryland Department of Environment and two Superfund sites in Baltimore: Kane and Lumbard Streets Drum Site and the 68th Street Dump Site. The delegation also held discussions with EPA staff on issues such as legislation development, liability, finance, site reuse, risk assessment, site cleanup technologies and vapor intrusion. In addition, Director General Inbar met with his counterpart, Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe.

 


Civil Enforcement Training in Israel

In April 2010, EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and the U.S. Department of Justice developed and conducted a training course for the Israeli Government. Israel has no civil enforcement program, so was eager to learn from the U.S. experience.

Over 40 people, representing federal ministries, regional district directors and district enforcement coordinators, were in attendance. The workshop emphasized the importance of essential elements of the U.S. civil enforcement program, such as: a very clear enforcement policy, including prioritization of activities; the importance of consistent enforcement of "technical" offenses, such as non-provision of information; and the need to prepare detailed calculations of the economic benefits gained by a polluter by violating the law.


Continuing Cooperation on Radiological Emergency Management

In follow up to a July 2009 workshop on emergency management and environmental operations, cooperation continues between the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Radiological Emergency Management.

A mission took place to Israel in July of 2011 to learn more about Israel's Radiological Emergency Management Systems. DOE and IAEC have signed a letter of intent on cooperation in the fields of nonproliferation, arms control and regional security.


AGREEMENTS

KEY PARTNERS

Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection Exit EPA disclaimer Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) Exit EPA disclaimer
US Department of Energy US Embassy Israel

LEARN MORE ABOUT ISRAEL

 

Back to: EPA's Programs in the Middle East

Contacts

For additional information on EPA's work in the Middle East, contact:

Shereen Kandil
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2650R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: kandil.shereen@epa.gov
(202) 564-6433

 

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