Ensuring the health and safety of workers carrying out USAID’s dioxin remediation work, as well as airport/airbase personnel and local residents, is the most important consideration in our work. Mitigation measures include:

Unexploded Ordinance (UXO)
USAID oversees Vietnam Ministry of National Defense (MND) clearance of UXO in all work areas before remediation work begins.

Site Access
USAID works with MND and local civilian officials to restrict access by non-essential personnel to all dioxin-contamination areas until remediation work is complete.

Contaminated Soil and Sediment Management
USAID follows international remediation best practices to ensure that contaminated soil and sediment does not leave project work areas. Examples include:

• Installing silt fences and barriers to capture soil/sediment in storm water runoff;
• Minimizing construction activities during the rainy season;
• Protecting the project site during heavy rains; and
• Decontaminating all vehicles, equipment, and personnel before moving from contaminated to clean areas.

Dust Management
USAID applies international best practices and engineering controls to ensure that contaminated dust does not leave project work areas. Examples include:

• Monitoring wind speed and ensuring that activities are not conducted during high winds;
• Spraying down areas with water to suppress dust; and
• Covering soils in trucks during transportation.

USAID conducts dust monitoring and air sampling at the limits of the excavation area to ensure that contaminated dust is not leaving the project site. MND and local environmental regulators perform spot checks on this monitoring.

Wastewater Management
USAID collects, tests, and treats if necessary, all water generated during remediation activities before it leaves the project site. MND and local environmental regulators perform spot checks on these activities.

Rainy Season
During rainy season periods, both the Danang and Bien Hoa sites are susceptible to extreme weather conditions such as typhoons. USAID limits project activities during these periods to ensure that project facilities are maintained and that no environmental incidents occur as a result of extreme rainy season weather events.

Site Workers
USAID monitors the health and safety of all project workers. USAID requires workers to wear personal protective equipment appropriate to the specific task they are performing, and contractors to follow internationally accepted safe work practices for hazardous waste sites.