Conducting Evaluation of USAID Agent Orange Cleanup Project in Vietnam

By David Quinn, Chief Technical Officer | Feb. 14, 2019

In 2007, the U.S. Congress began appropriating money to carry out Agent Orange/dioxin health and remediation activities in Vietnam to reduce dioxin contamination in the country. Much of this funding was channeled toward environmental remediation at Da Nang Airport, where high dioxin concentrations could still be found. Accordingly, USAID and the Vietnam Ministry of National Defense (MND) jointly implemented the Danang Airport Environmental Remediation Project, aimed at eliminating the risk of exposure to dioxin, while developing Vietnamese capacity to implement remediation and related activities at similar sites. 

Integra was tasked with undertaking an independent assessment of the project’s overall effectiveness in addressing dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment, as well as documenting the benefits of USAID/MND cooperation on the project. This engagement included an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the methods used to remediate the dioxin. Recognizing the political sensitivities of the project, Integra rapidly assembled a team of economists and remediation experts from non-U.S. countries with experience in environmental remediation and rigorous evaluation.  This engagement was conducted under the USAID Learning, Evaluation and Analysis Project (LEAP III) from July to November 2018 and will inform future dioxin remediation activities throughout the country.  Major outcomes from the evaluation are discussed below, the findings of which are informing the Bien Hoa Airport remediation project.

1. Assessed the Project’s Effectiveness in Remediating Dioxin
   Integra’s evaluation determined that the project achieved its high-level goal of remediating dioxin-contaminated areas. Our review concluded that contaminated material was treated beyond the accepted standard, with dioxin levels significantly less than the project target of 150 parts per trillion. Our analysis also found, that underestimations of soil and sediment volumes required additional treatment that added to the forecasted project costs. Integra highlighted the importance of estimating factors that will inform future remediation efforts to improve both budget and schedule plans. 
   
   
2. Documented the Benefits of USAID/MND Cooperation on the Project
   USAID/MND cooperation was a key element on the project design and effort to ensure a sustainable infrastructure. Integra conducted key informant interviews to supplement project documentation and build the knowledge base for comparable future efforts. The remediation project built the capacity 520 employees and Government of Vietnam (GVN) staff through 24,482 hours of training on health and safety issues. GVN officials were also trained in monitoring, soil sampling, and different remediation technologies. Beyond the expansion of the remediation knowledge base, Integra found that a mutual respect and trust had developed between GVN and USG counterparts as a result of the training activities conducted. Integra believes that this shift will only increase the level of impact to be achieved by U.S. and Vietnam development efforts moving forward. 
   
   
3. Conducted a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Project's Treatment Technology
   Using data from project records and public sources on the Danang remediation and similar projects worldwide, Integra conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) that estimated the cost of the In-Pile Thermal Desorption (IPTD) treatment used at Danang. The assessment found that similar remediation efforts around the world were generally costlier for the results achieved. Furthermore, the CEA found that cost-per-unit treated is not the only factor that should be considered when determining a treatment method. Factors such as local standards and norms, site conditions, and the duration and volume of treatment should also be considered in order to achieve the most effective impact. 
   
   

The Performance Evaluation of USAID/Vietnam’s Environmental Remediation Project at Danang Airport found that the project had achieved its goal of remediating dioxin-contaminated areas and provided numerous benefits to Vietnam. Nearly 30 hectares of remediated land, once off-limits, can now be used for economic development. People living near the airport are benefiting immediately from the reduced potential for exposure to dioxins, and the capacity of Vietnamese personnel trained by the project has been significant. Integra anticipates that the identification of these lessons will contribute to more impactful, subsequent remediation activities in Vietnam. In the near term, findings from Integra’s evaluation will enhance USAID efforts in the upcoming dioxin remediation efforts at Bien Hoa airport.