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) signed in September 2012 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, 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:

• Emergency Response Study Tour
• Administrator Jackson Visit to Israel
• Superfund Delegation Visit
• Agreements
• Partners
• Learn More

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As an outcome of the September 2012 Memorandum of Understanding, a delegation from the Ministry of Environment in Israel, as well as participants from the Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Society and the Israel Institute of Energy and Environment met with EPA offices at headquarters (Dec 4-5, 2013), Region 9 (Dec 9-10, 2013), and Region 2 (Dec 11-12, 2013) on disaster recovery, emergency response and preparedness and toured EPA operations centers. The delegation met with FEMA to discuss their role and how they work with other federal agencies during a disaster. They also met with CalEPA and NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

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Former 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.

 

Our collaboration will be an opportunity to expand EPA’s role in environmental technology development and deployment while supporting innovation and sustainability in the U.S. by learning from Israel’s experience. Former Administrator Jackson has expressed her support for greater engagement between the U.S. 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 U.S. economy and greater export of U.S. developed technologies.

 

To make those commitments concrete, on September 12, 2012 former Administrator Jackson signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to guide the coming years of collaborative activities between the two countries.

 

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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.

 

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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