STELLA assisted the European Commission in monitoring the implementation of projects financed by the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)-Third Countries. The assignment covered a wide geographical area including 12 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza), Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Albania in the Balkans, and St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad in the Baltic region. STELLA managed the monitoring of more than 70 projects focusing on capacity building in the fields of environment and sustainable development, including integrated coastal zone management, water and wastewater management, solid waste management, and legislation and regulatory support. STELLA reviewed and assessed progress made by projects and identified potential administrative, technical, and financial problems encountered on the ground. STELLA also played an important role in strengthening the communication and liaison between the Commission and the LIFE-Third Countries beneficiaries, as well as promoting the dissemination of lessons learned and success stories.

For the European Commission, STELLA coordinated the selection of the best project proposals to receive financial support from the EC Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) Third Countries (TCY). LIFE TCY aims at contributing to the establishment of capacities and administrative structures needed in the environmental sector and developing environmental policy and action programmes in third countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. In response to a call for proposals for the extension of LIFE III, the EC received about 100 new proposals from 13 eligible countries and territories (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza, and the Baltic shoreline of Russia: St Petersburg and Kaliningrad regions) and from international organisations. The objective of the assignment was to select the best project proposals in accordance with the criteria in the LIFE Regulation and to provide technical support and assess the projects considered eligible by the Commission services. STELLA led a team of seven evaluators who assessed eligible proposals according to the following criteria: Technical and financial reliability of the applicants; Conformity with the scope of LIFE TCY, as defined in the LIFE regulation; Coherence and quality: projects should be technically and financially feasible; Institutional/capacity building effect, viability and sustainability; Interest of the project; and Dissemination/visibility.

For the European Commission, STELLA conducted an independent evaluation of RIET, an EC-Singapore initiative facilitating technical, economic, and industrial cooperation between Europe and Asia in the environment sector by promoting best environmental practices. The EU and Singapore used the evaluation report to commit additional financial resources. The STELLA team assessed RIET's services, summarising RIET's activities and performance services in meeting its objectives. The team also analysed RIET's capacity to achieve the goals of Technology Windows, as well as RIET's internal structure, its revenues, organisation, and management. The report concluded that RIET was meeting its stated objectives and was playing a significant role in raising the EU's profile in Southeast Asia, thus justifying additional EU support.

For the European Commission, STELLA prepared a Europe-Asia environmental cooperation strategy covering 17 Asian countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Based on the overall objective of the EU environmental cooperation programme with Asia (assisting Asia in protecting its natural resources and abating its pollution), STELLA reviewed the environmental challenges in Asia, stakes for Europe, and existing environmental cooperation with Asia. After several internal consultation meetings with the European Commission's Directorate Generals and one public consultation meeting, STELLA established Europe-Asia environmental cooperation objectives. STELLA prepared a report summarising the results of its review and specifying criteria for selecting Europe-Asia environmental cooperation activities and for the strategy's implementation.

For the European Commission, STELLA conducted an independent evaluation of the Support Programme to the Environment Sector in Cambodia (SPEC). SPEC was a 20 month programme with a budget of 3 MECU financed by the European Commission. SPEC's goal was to strengthen Cambodia's Ministry of Environment (MoE) in three steps: (1) define global strategies and environmental programmes; (2) assist the MoE in water pollution control, solid waste management, conservation of natural resources, and sustainable management of the Great Lake of Tonle Sap; and (3) implement pilot projects in the sectors above. STELLA assessed the coherence of SPEC's work plan with the financing agreement, evaluated the performance of SPEC's various project components after nine months, and recommended a revised action plan enabling the delivery, within the time and budget constraints, of successful pilot projects in line with SPEC's overall objectives. STELLA also recommended a follow-up project on pollution prevention and sustainable development of the Great Lake of Tonle Sap.

For the European Commission, STELLA conducted the mid-term evaluation of the Asia Eco-Best (AEB) programme. Financed by the EC, the five-year AEB programme (€8 million) promoted European environment best practices and business in Asia. AEB sought to (1) promote environmental-friendly economic growth in Asia, (2) increase exposure and access of Asian businesses to environment-related know-how, capacities and standards in the EU, and (3) increase trade and investment flows between the EU and Asia, based on competition that is not detrimental to the environment. The Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (RIET) implemented AEB and provided services to AEB recipients through co-financing, including conferences and seminars, training and information material, Environmental Impact Assessment, and business networks. STELLA led the evaluation team and reviewed how effectively RIET was implementing AEB. STELLA analysed answers to a questionnaire sent to grant recipients and comments from the AEB Advisors. The evaluation team met representatives from AEB and RIET, European partners in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France and Asian partners in Singapore, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and India. STELLA concluded that AEB had a positive impact on European SMEs and was very successful. STELLA also made suggestions to strengthen AEB and RIET.

For the European Commission, STELLA prepared a proposal to finance Asia Pro-Eco, the second phase of the Asia Eco-Best (AEB) programme --a five-year programme to improve the environment in Asia and promote trade and investment in European environmental technologies. The proposal described the contents of Asia Pro-Eco, its organisation, operation, instruments, and costs. The team led by STELLA developed (1) the programme's objectives and content, (2) the institutional framework to implement the programme, and (3) the programme budget. Asia Pro-Eco aims at promoting economic co-operation between the EU and Asia in environmental technology transfer of European environmental know-how and technology, and co-operation among environmental business and institutions in the Asian region. The program design team met with the main stakeholders in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, UK, and Ireland) and Asia (China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines) to seek their inputs for developing Asia Pro-Eco.

STELLA participated in the mid-term evaluation of the Municipal Environmental Cooperation Programme (MECP), a programme of environmental cooperation between European and Asian municipalities financed by the European Commission and managed by the Paris-based United Town Development Agency. This three-year programme had a budget of more than 500,000 ECUs and aimed at facilitating the transfer of European know-how and engineering expertise to Asia. Environmental fields in the programme included water distribution, drainage, sewage collection and treatment, solid and hazardous waste collection, treatment and recycling, air and noise pollution abatement, green space planning and energy saving. STELLA assessed MECP's technical, financial, organisational, and managerial effectiveness. STELLA designed and sent a 20-page questionnaire to 66 interested parties (cities and associations of cities, NGOs, international institutions, consultants). In parallel, STELLA staff met officials from four European cities (in Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom) and seven Asian cities (in Cambodia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). Based on these visits and the responses to the questionnaire, STELLA made specific recommendations to the European Commission regarding MECP's future.

For the European Commission, STELLA managed the Malta Environmental Approximation Project (MEAP). MEAP's goal was to develop and provide a realistic programme for the transposition, implementation, and enforcement of the EU environmental acquis. Implementing EU environmental legislation in Malta had significant administrational and institutional changes and required significant financial commitments in terms of investments, operation and maintenance costs, costs of enforcement, inspection and monitoring, etc. STELLA has identified four environmental sectors for which the approximation of the acquis will result in the largest investments: water supply and wastewater treatment, waste management, air pollution control, and industrial pollution control. In each of these sectors, STELLA has identified the cost components and established the frameworks to calculate total investment and annualised costs.

As a candidate for EU membership, Cyprus had to transpose the EU environmental acquis into its national legislation. This had a major impact on solid waste management practices for the municipalities of Cyprus. With funding from the European Commission (SMAP Programme), STELLA has conducted a project to identify and evaluate options for composting and for segregated collection in the Greater Limassol Area (GLA). To identify and evaluate these options, the project reviewed composting and segregated collection in Europe. It also collected data on solid waste generated by the Greater Limassol Area (in particular, hotels and restaurants) and on the markets for recycled materials (e.g., glass, paper and cardboard, plastics, metals, and compost) in Cyprus and in other countries. STELLA assisted the local pilot-recycling manager in designing the pilot project and the local public awareness specialist in designing awareness activities. STELLA provided the Team Leader for this project and prepared two sectoral reports. Finally, the project included the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the design of a composting plant, and provided an overview of the tools used by European municipalities to encourage segregated collection.

With financing from the European Commission's PHARE programme and as part of Romania's accession to the European Union, STELLA analysed seven specific requirements of the environmental acquis, assessed their costs, identified institutional provisions required for implementation, and made specific recommendations to the Romanian authorities for future implementation. The seven requirements dealt with water and wastewater, noise, air, Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control, Seveso, laboratories and environmental management systems, and biodiversity.

For Romania's Ministry of Environment and Water Management (MEWM) and with financing from the PHARE programme, STELLA provided the team leader, financing expert, and expert in charge of industrial pollution prevention and control. STELLA staff assessed the costs associated with the implementation of EU environmental directives and evaluated the financial needs for this implementation. STELLA developed tools to facilitate the implementation of EU environmental directives (cost benefit analysis, development of cost recovery mechanism, least cost-analysis of environmental law implementation). STELLA also elaborated a sound environmental financing strategy with sector and regional priorities, possible funding sources, and models for preparing feasible environmental investment projects. We analysed MEWM's training needs for environmental implementation and trained MEWM staff in relation to the activities of the project. STELLA also developed matrices of unit costs for the heavy investment directives, in particular, the urban wastewater treatment, drinking water, landfill, and waste management directives. We have developed the list of priority projects to be financed by ISPA and the EU Cohesion funds using various criteria such as the financial capacity for public services. The project has trained MEWM staff and staff from the local and regional Environmental Protection Agencies.

For the European Commission, and as part of Romania's accession process into the European Union, STELLA managed a study that constitutes a credible and useful basis for assisting Romanian authorities in the accession negotiations. The study makes a realistic assessment of the costs and benefits of transposing in five of Romania's industrial sectors the European environmental directives that require the heaviest investments, in particular the Industrial Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) and Large Combustion Plants (LCP) directives. The study also recommends policies that ensure an efficient transition towards European standards, produces an agenda for adopting these standards, and identifies timeframes for reaching them. It reviews the situation in five sectors -production of chemicals and petrochemicals, steel, energy, construction materials, and mining- providing recommendations for possible immediate ways to improve the situation in each case. In each of these sectors, STELLA evaluated the unit costs of various options to comply with the EU directives and prepared methods to calculate annualised costs and benefits.

For the Government of Ukraine, the Council for Approximation of Legislation chaired by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, STELLA, as partner of the Ukrainian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre (UEPLAC) supported Ukraine in the process of European integration and legal approximation. The overall objective of the project was to support the understanding, implementation, and ownership by the Ukrainian authorities of the whole process of approximation to EU principles and laws in all of the areas foreseen in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and in the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan. The specific objectives were to assist in preparing approximated legislation work, strengthen the Ukrainian policy-making/legislative process according to Ukraine's objective for EU integration, and build Ukrainian capacity in understanding and being able to implement the process of approximating Ukrainian legislation to EU legislation. STELLA assessed the Ukrainian legislation in the environmental field against EU environmental acquis communautaire. We carried out a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) of transposing and implementing the EU acquis on road transport in the Ukrainian legislation for the Ukrainian road haulers. We also provided policy recommendations on the integration of energy and environment policies into transport policies in light of the EU directives and experiences of the New Member States and gave our expert opinion and legal support on draft laws by comparing with the EU acquis and best practices. We have also reviewed the Ukrainian legislation on drinking water quality and river protection, and analysed the sustainability of Ukraine's legal system and the measures and needs for more approximation. Finally, STELLA has advised line ministries on strengthening environmental policies and prepared Ukraine's environmental policy for 2020. We have participated and organised workshops, work meetings, and round tables to provide expert advice on environmental protection policies.

STELLA assisted the regional and national environmental authorities - Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Housing (MDPWH) and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD) - with the proper and timely implementation of an environmental infrastructure grant scheme for local authorities. The objective of this project was to improve environmental protection at the local and regional levels through supporting investments for the public sector and strengthening the institutional capacity to manage grant schemes and future structural funds. STELLA increased the number of local authorities aware of the opportunities offered by the grant scheme for financing small environmental infrastructure projects. We also increased the number of bankable environmental infrastructure projects proposed to ensure a complete absorption of the EC funds available. Furthermore, we trained members of the Regional Evaluation Committees for evaluating and selecting projects; we trained staff from MDPWH, MESD, Regional Environmental Protection Agencies (REPAs), Local Environmental Protection Agencies (LEPAs), and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in monitoring the grants. We also trained the beneficiaries of the investment grant schemes in all aspects required for the sound implementation of the grant contracts, including secondary procurement and monitoring. STELLA also assisted local authorities in preparing tender documents for environmental infrastructure projects, such as master plans, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments and economic and financial analysis. Through the raised awareness of the relevant regional and local authorities, this project has supported the implementation of the environmental infrastructure investment grant scheme for the public sector at the regional and local levels.

Each year between 2008 and 2011, STELLA successfully implemented 28 Information Sessions on behalf of the European Commission and in collaboration with the EU Member States. Annually, we organised one Session in each EU Member State and two in Belgium. The Information Sessions aimed to inform potential beneficiaries about the LIFE+ Programme, whether it is the best financing programme for their project, how to submit a good proposal, and how to manage a LIFE+ project. Each Session was conducted in the official language of the Member State (with the exception of Ireland and Malta, where the Sessions were in English) and included an official Presentation approved by the European Commission, and presentations by the national LIFE+ contact points and successful LIFE / LIFE+ projects. Over the past four years, the Information Sessions have reached annually up to 2,700 potential LIFE+ applicants across Europe, and the high quality LIFE+ PowerPoint Presentation and other materials reached an even wider audience via the European Commission LIFE website.

For the Haute-Normandie Regional Council, STELLA and Ecosphère have prepared a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) complying with the requirements of the 2001/42/EC directive, also known as the SEA directive, and using the EU guidelines as presented in the "SEA Handbook for Cohesion Fund (2007-2013)". STELLA's experts performed a screening in order to determine to which extent the ROP for Haute Normandie is falling under the provisions of the SEA directive. In the scoping stage, we prepared an evaluation matrix that we applied to every measure proposed in the ROP. We also defined direct and indirect quantification indicators. To draft the environmental report, we proposed alternative solutions and conditioned the existing measures with eco-clauses. The environmental report produced is consistent with the agreed scope of the assessment. STELLA's experts have assisted the Haute Normandie Regional Council in the public consultation process and the conclusions and evaluation of the public consultation process are in the report. STELLA and Ecosphère have prepared monitoring tools and indicators for the evaluation throughout the entire implementation of the ROP.

STELLA participated in the preparation of a financing proposal for the decentralisation and restructuring of the Aden National Water and Sanitation Authority (NWSA) branch and five sub-branches. A team of three experts went to Aden and the towns covered by the Aden NWSA sub-branches to meet with key stakeholders in Yemen. The formulation team assessed the current situation of the NWSA (management structure, staffing, technical capacity, financial situation), estimated the current and future population's needs for water supply and sanitation, and identified the institutional and technical needs of Aden NWSA branch and sub-branches. The team developed a project proposal describing the objectives and contents of the upcoming project, including its main activities, specific tasks, a preliminary timetable, and a cost estimate.

STELLA is assisting Romania's Government in its implementation of its Environment Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP ENV). In this new 1.16 million EUR project, STELLA is in the Interdevelopment consortium in charge of assisting Romania's Intermediate Bodies (IB) in evaluating the proposals submitted by various institutions in response to the calls for proposals under SOP ENV's Priority Axis 4 (nature and biodiversity). We will summarise the results of this assistance in technical reports on the selection of projects under PA 4. STELLA is also organising a large number of training sessions on project cycle management, cost-benefit analysis, nature conservation and management of Natura 2000 sites and protected areas, legislation, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These sessions use interactive-oriented training methods (e.g., questions and answers and discussions) and engage the trainees to work on practical exercises. The training sessions include five four-day and five three-day sessions with 30 participants per session and 24 one-day sessions with 40 participants per session. Finally, STELLA is organising 16 "ad-hoc" training sessions. The topics of these sessions will be decided jointly with the IB depending on their needs; we will schedule these sessions quickly in order to provide the IB with the support they need.

For UNESCO and Morocco's Ministry of Environment (Observatoire National de l'Environnement du Maroc), STELLA staff developed a national strategy for environmental protection and sustainable development. STELLA staff reviewed past, current, and future environmental policies and development programmes. STELLA staff estimated expenses associated with these policies and the costs of environmental degradation, such as health effects due to high ambient concentrations of lead and particulate matter, infant mortality due to diarrheic diseases, revenue losses from non-recycled materials, and loss of agricultural production due to erosion. Using an economic approach, STELLA staff evaluated the impact of these costs on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Based on this analysis, STELLA staff worked with the Ministry of Environment to establish environmental quality objectives that will ensure sustainable development and explained how environmental protection measures such as pollution prevention, economic incentives, and institutional strengthening will allow Morocco to reach these objectives.

As part of the Environmental Management Project financed by a World Bank loan to the Kingdom of Morocco, STELLA staff worked with the Ministry of the Environment to establish measures to reduce pollution and promote resource conservation, use appropriate technologies, and increase public environmental awareness. STELLA staff also designed a long-term plan for institutional development and capacity building through training, both in-country and overseas. After preparing an environmental code that provides a framework for environmental laws, STELLA staff reviewed existing laws on hazardous materials and wastes and suggested changes to increase prevention. STELLA staff also proposed a format for collective environmental protection agreements between industrial sectors and the government.

For the World Bank/Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP), STELLA staff managed the organisation of two three-day workshops (one in English and one in French) and two two-week courses for senior Mediterranean government officials. Training was in English in Damascus (Syria) for participants from Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Slovenia, Syria, and Turkey, and in French in Mohammedia (Morocco) for participants from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia. The primary goals of the training programme were to (1) foster an improved understanding of the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, (2) provide analytical tools and procedures for integrating environmental considerations into national economic development initiatives, (3) develop environmental planning and management capabilities, and (4) promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants. Training topics included: understanding the link between development and the environment, exploring the direct and indirect causes of environmental degradation, planning for environmental action, coastal zone management, targeting environmental policies, selecting implementation tools, financing environmental programmes and projects, conducting risk assessments and environmental audits, and engaging the public. The course also covered specific topics such as waste management, water supply and sanitation, and air pollution control. Participants prepared their own back-at-work action plan.

STELLA staff provided technical support to the World Bank in drafting an urban environmental strategy for the Middle East and North Africa region. STELLA staff reviewed specialised literature (World Bank project documents, national environmental action plans, United Nations Development Programme reports, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements reports, World Health Organisation reports, Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme papers, etc.) and analysed trends in urban population growth and poverty. STELLA staff then prepared a regional urban environmental profile highlighting three priority issues: land use and coastal zone management, waste management, and air pollution control. For each priority issue, STELLA staff examined the nature, causes and impacts of environmental degradation, and formulated strategy options for improving the environment. STELLA staff prepared a draft strategy paper with specific recommendations to protect and improve the urban environment in the Middle East and North Africa.

Under the Water Resources Sustainability activity, STELLA staff has implemented a soil and water resources conservation pilot project in the Oued Nakhla watershed between Tétouan and Chefchaouen. The five-year project included direct interventions to reduce soil erosion originating from croplands, existing gullies, ravines, and degraded matorral. Activities included planting olive and almond trees, repairing irrigation channels, controlling gullies, planting trees for firewood production and perennial grasses for livestock forage and encouraging the use of fuel alternatives to wood in households. The pilot project reduced (1) soil losses in the watershed by over 12,000 tons per year and (2) the annual rate of loss in dam reservoir storage capacity by about 2.5%. STELLA staff also fostered active participation from the farmers to improve long-term management of the watershed's resources. STELLA staff conducted numerous workshops covering all topics relating to project implementation activities. These topics included construction of "cuvettes", beekeeping, goat production, grass strips, agricultural implements, improved crop production techniques for wheat and forages, disease and pest control in olives, cooking stoves, and replication of project activities.

STELLA staff completed two Desk Studies (DS) for the US Trade and Development Agency. First, STELLA staff reviewed a proposal by Sadat International and Edgeboro International for a feasibility study of a solid waste landfill in the city of Sidi Abdellah, Algeria. Given the strong opposition from environmental NGOs and because of the difficulty of collecting tipping fees, STELLA staff recommended that the first phase of the feasibility study focus on cost recovery and financial feasibility. Second, STELLA staff reviewed a proposal by Brown, Vence & Associates (BVA) for a feasibility study of Solid Waste Management (SWM) projects in Jijel, Algeria. BVA's proposal was to develop a SWM plan for Jijel, but with no direct link to a specific project. STELLA staff suggested that BVA improve their proposal by collecting more data on Jijel's municipal SWM budget and focusing on a more specific project with a measurable rate of return.

Using methodologies developed under the Water Resources Sustainability activity to control soil erosion in the Nakhla watershed, STELLA staff implemented a similar watershed protection management activity in the Souss-Massa River Basin. These methodologies include multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, participatory approaches, social assessments, direct involvement of farmers and villagers, rapid implementation of actions that directly or indirectly reduce soil erosion and increase water conservation, implementation of activities that generate additional income for participants (in particular women), and careful monitoring of indicators towards progress. STELLA staff has conducted feasibility studies of soil conservation, water conservation, rangeland and forest management, irrigation management, and income generating activities. Sustainable forest conservation and management activities improve conservation and productivity of Argan and Thuya forests as well as animal grazing management as measured by extent of adoption of practices such as rotational grazing, animal exclusion, and development of alternative feed sources. They also reduce the amount of wood collected for fuel by women, thanks to increases in energy efficiency (cooking stoves) and adoption of alternative fuel sources. STELLA staff fostered broad public participation through participatory workshops and training sessions to disseminate the project approaches and methods to potential beneficiaries in the Souss-Massa basin where similar projects can be implemented.

In support of the Water Resources Sustainability (WRS) activity, STELLA staff prepared and facilitated two three-day workshops on the cost-benefit analysis of water and environmental projects. Using adult learning participatory techniques (brainstorming, working groups, exercises), we trained about 50 professionals (25 during each workshop) from Moroccan government agencies (central and local) and NGOs in assessing and comparing the economic and financial costs and benefits of water and environmental projects. We prepared the training materials and documentation in French, including tailor-made overhead transparencies, Moroccan case studies, and background reading materials. The training programme emphasised the need for and methods to understand and internalise the costs of environmental degradation. We organised a field trip to observe first-hand the types and costs of environmental degradation resulting from human activities (e.g., erosion resulting from poor land farming practices). Six months after these two training workshops, we organised follow-up hands-on workshops with the same participants to assess the costs and benefits of the three pilot projects to be implemented by the WRS activity.

STELLA staff contributed to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a proposed ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol plant in Venezuela, partially financed by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC). In compliance with the World Bank's environmental guidelines for projects of this nature, the EIA reviewed relevant Venezuelan and international environmental regulations on solid and hazardous waste, direct wastewater discharges to surface waters such as the Maracaibo Lake, indirect discharges to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), air pollution, and noise. The EIA described current environmental and socio-economic conditions near the proposed PRALCA plant site. STELLA staff identified and evaluated potential environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the plant, and proposed measures to prevent or mitigate these impacts. The EIA found that wastewater discharges to the sewer line would not meet the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) limits due to the high TDS content of the well water used by the cooling tower. To remedy this potential problem, the EIA suggested either using an alternative source of water or treating the well water to reduce its TDS content prior to discharge to the sewer.

For a member of a start-up joint venture, STELLA staff conducted environmental audits of three units producing graphite electrodes for steel plants in France and Italy. The audits were to verify compliance with existing and anticipated French and Italian environmental laws and regulations, as well as EU directives. STELLA staff evaluated the risks from discharges, emissions, and wastes from these units. STELLA staff then estimated the costs of bringing these units into compliance with current and future standards. The client used these cost estimates to revise its financial contribution to the joint venture.

Following the sale of the group "Knoll" by 21' International to Westinghouse, STELLA staff conducted environmental audits of six furniture (wood or metal) manufacturing units in France and Italy. The purpose of these audits was to verify compliance with existing and anticipated French and Italian environmental laws and regulations, as well as EU directives. STELLA staff also evaluated the risks posed by the discharges, emissions, and wastes from these units. 21' International implemented the audits' recommendations under the direction of STELLA staff. Specifically, STELLA staff prepared an inventory of air pollution sources and wastes generated by these six units and managed (1) the construction of four wastewater treatment plants, (2) the removal and replacement of two PCB transformers and 22 underground storage tanks, and (3) the excavation and disposal of soils contaminated with trichloroethane (TCE).

STELLA staff coordinated the preparation of a complex and comprehensive study to evaluate the impact of the construction of a tourist resort (golf course, hotels, apartments) along the Atlantic Ocean and the dunes of the southwest coast of France. The study evaluated the impact on several rare plants and trees (royal osmund, common smilax, cork oak) and endangered species (otter, European mink, and genette). STELLA staff directed the preparation of a hydrogeological study to analyse the equilibrium between the salt and fresh water and evaluate the impact on the Lareuillot and Montagne du Bec wetlands. STELLA staff also estimated the impact on ecosystems within protected areas such as Etang Noir de Seignosse, Marais d'Orx, and Lac Noir d'Ondres. STELLA staff recommended and estimated the costs of various measures (during construction and operation of the resort) to mitigate or reduce the impacts.

For the World Bank/Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP), STELLA staff coordinated the environmental audits of Tripoli/El-Mina, Lebanon, and Oran, Algeria. STELLA staff also provided solid waste expertise for the environmental audit of Limassol, Cyprus. Finally, STELLA staff reviewed the environmental audit and strategy reports prepared for two other cities (Sousse, Tunisia and Tangiers, Morocco) and synthesised the five municipal environmental audits. In Oran, STELLA staff directed data collection and analysis efforts by one team of 12 local and international experts, and was responsible for preparing the final audit and strategy report. The audit team assessed the existing situation and evaluated the costs of several options to improve the environment, including the ""no-action"" approach. The audits identified priority projects in water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, coastal zone management, and land use.

STELLA staff assisted the Ministry of the Environment in preparing the Lebanon 2001 State of the Environment Report (SOER). The 2001 SOER used a "dual framework" methodology to describe and analyse environment-development linkages in Lebanon. It described the state of different environmental media (water, air, biodiversity, and soil/land) and the key linkages between them and various socio-economic development sectors (population, agriculture, industry, construction, transport, tourism and recreation, and energy). To prepare the 2001 SOER, STELLA staff met with more than 60 professionals and key stakeholders and reviewed about 150 new reports and references to provide the most up-do-date assessment of the state of the environment in Lebanon. STELLA staff prepared the 2001 SOER (240 pages) in English and Arabic, and in HTML format for easy browsing on the Internet.