Senate Press release…

Says U.S. should consider withdrawing funding for Mekong River Commission if environmental standards are not met

October 27, 2010

Senator Jim Webb, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, today warned that the lack of cooperation on infrastructure development in the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) posed “devastating consequences” to the region. He urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will be attending the LMI meeting later this week, to take steps to strengthen cooperation and to promote the sustainable development of mainstream hydropower dams on the Mekong River. 


“The United States and the global community all have a strategic interest in averting regional conflict by preserving the health and well-being of the more than 60 million people who depend on the Mekong River,” said Sen. Webb. “The Lower Mekong Initiative’s top priority should be to prevent dam construction that would devastate the Mekong River and upend the regional security balance. This will require stronger cooperation on infrastructure development and the sharing of technical knowledge and environmental expertise with the Lower Mekong partners.” 


Studies show that constructing just one mainstream dam could irrevocably alter the productivity and sustainability of the river system, which flows through China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Approximately 26 mainstream dams are currently being planned along the river. On September 22, the Government of Laos submitted notification of its intention to construct the first dam along the Lower Mekong River mainstream. This triggers the Mekong River Commission’s consultation process with regional governments. It is expected that a decision to build the dam will be made within six months.


“As a donor to the Mekong River Commission, the U.S. should be prepared to consider withdrawing that contribution if the plans for this dam fail to meet internationally accepted environmental standards for hydropower dams,” said Sen. Webb

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In his letter, Sen. Webb asked that Sec. Clinton raise these issues at all levels and with all regional partners, including Thailand and China—two key financiers of planned dams.



Senator Webb has noted repeatedly that in addition to the Lower Mekong Initiative, the financing of infrastructure projects by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank presents an opportunity to influence regional environmental practices. To this end, Senator Webb introduced legislation last month to curtail funding for hydropower and electricity projects funded by ADB and the World Bank if they do not meet accepted environmental standards. This language would instruct the U.S. executive director at the Bank to oppose financing a project unless the Treasury reports to Congress that the project adheres to internationally recognized environmental standards, protects the rights of individuals affected by the project, and reflects a multilateral approach to development along the Mekong River.


Over the last year, Sen. Webb has traveled to all of the countries in mainland Southeast Asia and examined water use practices and plans for the Mekong River’s development. He has engaged numerous U.S. and regional diplomats, policymakers, environmental engineers, and academics who conveyed the importance of the Mekong River to Southeast Asia’s economic and social development and the risks associated with disrupting the river’s ecological balance.



The text of Sen. Webb’s letter is below:

October 27, 2010


Dear Secretary Clinton:



I am writing to express my concern about the lack of cooperation on infrastructure development in the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). As you prepare to attend the LMI meeting later this week, I would urge you to strengthen this pillar of the initiative and develop meaningful programs that will promote sustainable infrastructure development and prevent the devastating consequences of the construction of mainstream hydropower dams on the Mekong River.



Over the past year, in my capacity as Chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I have traveled to all of the countries in mainland Southeast Asia and have examined water use practices and plans for the Mekong River’s development. I have engaged numerous U.S. and regional diplomats, policymakers, environmental engineers, and academics who conveyed the importance of the Mekong River to Southeast Asia’s economic and social development and the risks associated with disrupting the river’s ecological balance.



On September 23 of this year, I chaired a subcommittee hearing to examine this issue and was troubled to learn that—although infrastructure is a pillar in the LMI—to date the main activities of this program have focused on health and climate change, including $3 million of USAID assistance to study the effects of climate change on the Mekong River basin. As our experts testified, and as I have observed in the region, the problems of transboundary water management and infrastructure development along the Mekong River are much more immediate questions than the future, long-term effects of climate change. 


The construction of hydropower dams is the greatest challenge to the Mekong River and the health and well-being of the more than 60 million people who depend on this river for food and livelihoods. Along the Lower Mekong River, up to 13 dams are planned along the mainstream of the river as well as number dams along the river’s tributaries. Additionally, along the headwaters of the Upper Mekong River, China is planning to construct more than 15 dams along the mainstream. 


This past year, the Mekong River Commission—a multilateral organization created to facilitate regional cooperation in the use and development of the river—commissioned an independent Strategic Environmental Assessment of the implications of mainstream dams on the Lower Mekong River’s ecology and economy. This assessment found that the construction of one dam alone would irrevocably alter the river system’s productivity and sustainability.



Despite this assessment, plans for hydropower dam construction proceed. On September 22, the Government of Laos submitted notification for the Xayaboury Dam on the Mekong mainstream. This dam, which would be the first along the Lower Mekong River mainstream, is being developed by one of Thailand’s largest construction companies, Ch. Karnchang. Laos’ notification triggers the MRC’s consultation process with regional governments, and it is expected that a decision to build the dam will be made within 6 months.


Consequently, it is vital that the United States support the Mekong River Commission’s basin-wide impact assessment capabilities and regional coordination on this matter. I would encourage you to develop infrastructure programs in the LMI that share technical knowledge and environmental expertise with the Lower Mekong partners, with the aim of preventing dams that would devastate the Mekong River and upend the regional security balance. I would also encourage you to raise this issue at all levels and with all regional partners, including Thailand and China—two key financiers of planned dams. As a donor to the Mekong River Commission, we should also be prepared to consider withdrawing that contribution if the plans for this dam fail to meet internationally accepted environmental standards for hydropower dams.


Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,



Jim Webb
United States Senator

Jim Webb is United States Senator for the State of Virginia

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