EPA Collaboration with Chile

Chilean Presidential Palace
La Moneda, the Chilean Presidential Palace.
The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement entered into force in January 2004. Recognizing the importance of protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development, the governments negotiated an associated Environmental Cooperation Agreement, which is the basis for our environmental cooperation. As a global partner in trade and the environment, Chile is a priority country for U.S. environmental cooperation.
 

Explore our work with Chile: 

Past Activities

Environmental Justice

In November 2023, as a part of a visit to Santiago, Chile, EPA collaborated with the Chilean Ministry of Environment (MMA), Environment Superintendency (SMA), and Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) in a meeting entitled “Challenges in the implementation of the Escazú Agreement: Guaranteed Informed Participation as Part of the Principle Environmental Justice.”

During this meeting, EPA OECA staff gave a presentation on the history, legacy, and definition of Environmental Justice in the United States. The presentation outlined how EPA incorporates EJ into its work, including in its plans and policies, enforcement, tools, and grants. Examples given included EJ in Regulatory Development, working with Indigenous Populations, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Enforcement.

Environmental Governance

EPA has worked with a variety of Chilean Agencies, such as the Environment Superintendency (Superintendencia del Medioambiente)  and the Ministry of Environment to strengthen environmental enforcement and compliance of environmental laws and regulations. Activities have included:
 
  • Development of curricula for judges on adjudicating environmental enforcement cases.
  • Training on inspection and enforcement for the Environment Superintendency (Superintendencia del Medioambiente- SMA) inspectors.
  • Technical consultation and assistance on a variety of environmental enforcement issues as requested.
  • Training and launch of NEPAssist, a tool that facilitates the environmental review process and project planning in relation to environmental considerations. NEPAssist was deployed in Chile in March 2014.
  • Under Chile’s  leadership, EPA supported the creation of the South American Environmental Enforcement Network (REDSUFICA) -- now Latin American Environmental Enforcement Network (REDLAFICA)  -- bringing together enforcement officials  from Central and South America and the Caribbean to strengthen enforcement and compliance with environmental laws. 
  • Workshop on environmental emergency response, focused on the development of a response protocol for environmental emergencies, which resulted in a best practices guide for environmental emergency management.
2nd annual meeting of South American environmental enforcement network
EPA participated in the annual meeting of the South America Environmental Enforcement Network. (2014)

This work has produced the following selected results:

  • As a result of EPA cooperation with Chile’s Environment Superintendency (SMA), trainers previously taught by EPA have now trained 520 inspectors across Chile.
  • SMA has also adopted a total of 7 new policies/protocols  to enhance environmental protection in the following areas:
    1. Inspections of liquid wastes;
    2. Inspection procedures at thermoelectric plants;
    3. Protocols for the use of Continuous Air Emissions Monitoring;
    4. General enforcement procedures;
    5. Penalty calculation methodology;
    6. Inspection planning procedures; and
    7. Policy on coordination with other sector ministries during inspections. 

Air Quality

In January 2017, EPA and the Chilean Ministry of Environment launched the Megacities Partnership for the Santiago Metropolitan Region, within the framework of the United States-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement. The partnership was designed to help improve air quality, protect the climate and provide important public health benefits. The program culminated with a regional air quality management workshop held September 3-7, 2018 in Santiago.

Learn more about the Santiago Megacities Partnership.

Mining

To strengthen institutional capacity in the institutions that govern the mining sector, EPA aimed to build the capacity of Chile’s Ministries of Mining (Ministerio de Minería)  and Environment (Ministerio del Medio Ambiente)  with a variety of collaborative workshops and information exchanges. Specific efforts intend to increase the capacity of Chilean government representatives regarding:
 
  • Management of environmental aspects of mine closure
  • Abandoned mine risk evaluation
  • Remediation of contaminated mining sites

This work has produced the following selected results:

  • Participants from a variety of Chilean government entities were trained on financial assurance mechanisms in mining.
  • Representatives from over 10 Chilean entities participated in an environmental risk assessment in mining seminar in Santiago, Chile.
  • Representatives from 15 Chilean entities were trained on regulatory structure, characterization, risk assessments, mapping, selection of remedial options and enforcement measures at mining sites.

Public Participation

To increase environmental public participation in decision-making, EPA partnered with the Chilean Ministry of Environment and other Agencies such as the Environmental Evaluation Service (Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental)  to build the capacity of Chile’s government institutions in this area. 
 
This work included the delivery of workshops to foster public participation and enhanced government outreach, and exchange best practices.
 
This work has produced the following selected results:
  • Over 60 Chilean representatives were trained in involving the public in environmental decision making.
  • 28,000 public guides for access to environmental information were developed and disseminated.
  • EPA's Public Participation Guide was translated into Spanish.

Environmental Education

To enhance educator knowledge of environmental issues and improve teaching skills in formal and informal programs, EPA partnered with the Chilean Ministry of Environment to exchange best practices. 
Chilean environmental education workshop in 2013
Chilean environmental education workshop. (2013)
 
This work was accomplished through a workshop with Chile’s government agencies and non-government institutions to exchange best practices, as well as a series of workshops geared towards effective learning and teaching about environmental issues in an outdoor setting. EPA also led a seminar designed to help participants in the South of Chile to develop a strategic plan for the Region.
 
To date, over 100 Chilean government and non-government representatives were trained in various environmental education aspects.
 

Agreements and Relevant Documents

Key Partners

The following links exit the site

Learn More About Chile

Contacts

For additional information on EPA's work with Chile, contact:
Laura Zoellner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs (2650R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
(202)-564-4003
 

International Cooperation

Contact Us about International Cooperation
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on October 31, 2024