These are selections from the comments and questions we have received from readers of Initiatives.

Q: Referring to the DOIT Update, which states are involved in the Western Governors' Association? How can I get more information?

Robert Smith
Environmental Liaison, Packaging Technology (no company name given)
Tacoma, Washington

A: The following are members of the Western Governors' Association.

 	Alaska		Montana		Texas
 	Arizona		Nebraska	Utah
 	California	Nevada		Washington
 	Colorado	New Mexico	Wyoming
 	Hawaii		North Dakota	American Samoa
 	Idaho		Oregon		Guam
 	Kansas		South Dakota	Northern Mariana Islands

The four working groups and the coordinating group of the Federal Advisory Committee To Develop On-Site Innovative Technologies have produced reports. Limited copies are available by calling (615) 576-8401. Give the name and number of the publication.

Coordinating Group Report (DOE/OSTI-11682)
Military Munitions Waste Working Group Report (DOE/OSTI-11681)
Abandoned Mine Waste Working Group Report (DOE/OSTI-11683)
Waste Contaminants at Military Bases Working Group Report (DOE/OSTI11680)
Mixed Waste Working Group Report (DOE/OSTI-11684)

For more information about DOIT in general and each of the working groups, call the WGA Information Line at (800) 659-5858. By recorded message, you will be asked to key in your fax number (beginning with 1 + the area code) so information can be sent to you.

Q: Demonstrate energy saving and pollution prevention technologies in developing nations. Conduct more joint DOE/EPA/AID waste minimization projects in developing industrialized nations.

William J. Lacy
Lacy & Co.• Alexandria, Virginia

A: DOE has a domestic pollution prevention and waste minimization program that currently supports three activities. With the Department of Defense, DOE is working to eliminate duplication of effort and to develop technologies that can reduce waste through modification, material substitution, or recycling. In the dismantlement of arms, DOE worked on technologies for recycling, treatment, and disposal processes. DOE is also developing analysis tools to help decision makers select optimum processes based on information about costs and environmental impacts. Now that DOE has domestic pollution prevention activities in place, the next step will be to move to the international arena.

DOE's Office of Technology Transfer and Program Integration is already pursuing international collaboration on environmental restoration and waste management activities. DOE's objective is to identify world-wide solutions and available technologies that meet U.S. environmental needs in general, and DOE's Environmental Management Program's cleanup needs in particular. Another objective is to establish mechanisms for transferring federal environmental technologies to the U.S. private sector for commercialization and export.

Susan Johnson
Program Manager, International Technology Exchange Staff,
Office of Technology Transfer and Program Integration, DOE

Q: The ProTech software sounds like a great way to match new technologies with existing DOE problems. What type of computer do I need to use it?

Eric Dunlap
Troxler Electronics • Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

A: ProTech runs on hypercard on a Macintosh computer, however, DOE is closing out its funding for the ProTech software so only a limited number of software packages are available. You still will be able to access technology profiles of six integrated demonstrations with descriptions of more than 100 innovative technologies through the Internet on the anonymous FTP: 131.167.239.40. The ProTech technology profiles will be maintained through a new system called EnviroTRADE (see article, "EnviroTRADE goes international).

David Biancosino
Program Manager, Volatile Organic Compounds
in Soils Integrated Demonstration, DOE

Q: As a student I am interested in potential job opportunities in the DOE system (contractors, etc.) Is it possible to include job listings or contacts for future workers like me?

Thomas E. Huston
University of Florida, Dept. Nuclear Engineering • Gainesville, Florida

A: DOE Headquarters Job Information Line, (202) 586-4333, offers a recorded message listing vacancies in the Washington, D.C. and Germantown, Maryland, offices. You must call from a touch-tone phone. Have a pencil ready to write down the job number because the job listings are read quickly.

Q: Is there any published information re: transfer of technologies concerning opportunities as a result of the approval of NAFTA?

Art Rives
AER Associates • Woodbridge, Virginia

A: In general, for information about NAFTA related technology transfer and environmental policy issues, call Jay Camillo (202) 482-0621 or Catherine Vial (202) 482-0616 at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In an article in the June 1994 issue of EM International, I summarized three specific NAFTA-related activities of DOE's Office of Environmental Management. First, scientists from the Mexican Institute for Nuclear Investigation visited Los Alamos National Laboratory under a memorandum of understanding promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy to learn how to destroy polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated oils. Second, DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Partnership for Environmental Technology Education, and several other federal agencies are working with Mexico to develop the International Institute for Environmental Technology Management. The institute will foster the training of technicians and other professionals in environmental technology management and waste operations. Finally, through funding provided by the Agency for International Development and DOE, scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, PEMEX (a petroleum firm in Mexico), and IMP (the research and development arm of PEMEX) participated in a technical exchange meeting with representatives from DOE's Office of Environmental Management on integrated demonstration projects at DOE's Hanford, Washington site in March 1994.

George Economides
Program Manager for Latin American, NATO, and International Organization Issues,
International Technology Exchange Staff, DOE