Environmental reform measures and remedial measures; Committee on Health and the Environment

The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States Executive Directors of the Multilateral Development Banks to— vigorously promote a commitment of these institutions to— develop and implement management plans to ensure systematic and thorough environmental review of all projects and activities affecting the ecology and natural resources of borrowing countries, including— vigorously promote changes in these institutions in their preparation of projects and country programs that will prompt staff and encourage borrower countries to— vigorously promote a commitment of these institutions to develop and implement plans for the rehabilitation and management of the ecological resources of borrower nations on a sustained basis. Special attention shall be paid to soil conservation, wildlife, wetlands, estuaries, croplands, grasslands, forests, and fisheries, including— place an increased emphasis on upgrading the efficient use of energy and other resources by borrower nations. Such efforts shall include, but not be limited to— The Secretaries of Treasury and State, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, shall ensure and coordinate a thorough evaluation within the United States Government of the potential environmental problems, and the adequacy of measures to address these problems, associated with all proposed loans for projects involving large impoundments of rivers in tropical countries; penetration roads into relatively undeveloped areas; and agricultural and rural development programs. The potential environmental problems to be addressed in such evaluations shall include those relating to deterioration of water quality; siltation; spread of waterborne diseases; forced resettlement; deforestation; threats to the land, health and culture of indigenous peoples; wetlands disruption; topsoil management, water logging and salinization in irrigation projects; and pesticide misuse and resistance. The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State shall regularly undertake and continue diplomatic and other initiatives, in addition to those mentioned in subsection (a)(5), to discuss measures to improve the environmental performance of the Multilateral Development Banks with the representatives to these institutions, and with ministries from which they receive their instructions, of borrower and donor nations. In particular, joint efforts shall be undertaken with borrowers and donors to ensure cooperative implementation of the reforms described above. The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State shall propose formally that the Boards of Governors of each Multilateral Development Bank hold a special meeting within the next twelve months, focused specifically on environmental performance and better implementation of multilateral development policies designed to protect the environment and indigenous peoples. The Secretary of the Treasury shall prepare and submit to the Committees on Appropriations by January 15, 1987, and annually thereafter, a report documenting the progress the Multilateral Development Banks have made in implementing the environmental reform measures described in paragraphs one through eight of subsection (a). In the report of the Secretary of the Treasury required by subsection (e), regarding the implementation of staffing measures suggested in subsection (a)(1)(A), the Secretary of the Treasury shall specifically discuss the progress of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in upgrading and adding environmentally trained professionals to each of its six regional offices to review projects for their prospective ecological impacts. The Administrator of the Agency for International Development in conjunction with the Secretaries of Treasury and State shall— If a review required by subsection (g)(1) identifies adverse impacts to the environment, natural resources, or indigenous peoples, the Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States Executive Director of the Multilateral Development Bank to seek changes to the project necessary to eliminate or mitigate those impacts. The Administrator of the Agency for International Development shall appoint a Committee on Health and the Environment to examine opportunities for assisting countries in the proper use of agricultural and industrial chemicals and processes and alternatives such as integrated pest management. The committee shall be broadly representative of industry, agriculture, labor, health and environmental interests and shall report its preliminary findings to Congress before hearings on the fiscal year 1988 budget.