The US Agency for International Development (USAID) on April 24 gave anupdate on the progress of the dioxin detoxification project at DaNang airport in the central city.

The pressbriefing was attended by US Consul General in Vietnam An Le, Directorof USAID in Vietnam Joakim Parker and Deputy Commander of Vietnam ’sAir-Air Defence Force Major General Le Huy Vinh.

TheUSAID said it has signed the third and final contract to get rid ofdioxin at the airport using thermal treatment. The contractors havecompleted the construction of a yard to store contaminated soil and anapproximate 3,200 cu.m. of contaminated soil have been moved here to dryup before the next step of treatment. All the water leaked from thesoil will be collected and treated before disposal.

The contractors are building the treatment pile structure.

Parker said he was pleased that the project was on schedule, and washappy with the effective cooperation of the Vietnamese Government’sagencies, especially the Ministry of Defence.

The project is expected to be finished by 2016.

Parker also said that USAID will work closely with Da Nang cityauthorities to ensure its people have enough information on the project.

Da Nang International Airport is adioxin “hot spot” due to the high level of contamination in its soilafter the war. With the approval of the Vietnamese Prime Minister in2011, USAID and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence have worked togetherto clean up dioxin from the airport.

USAID hopesthe Da Nang airport project will help Vietnam develop its owncapacity to implement similar activities in other regions.-VNA