accidents. The program includes three large-scale experimental facilities, two located in Japan and one in West Germany. The NRC contribution to the program consists of advanced instrumentation, computer codes and analysis. The final phase of the testing at the facility in West Germany and one of those in Japan will be conducted during 1987-1988, with significant data beginning to be obtained during FY 1988. Model Containment Experimental Program. At Sandia National Laboratory the NRC sponsors an analytical and experimental program to determine the mechanical strength and failure modes of containment structures when subjected to severe accident conditions of pressure, temperature and seismic loads. This cooperative program involves the Electric Power Research Institute, France, West Germany and the United Kingdom. NRC's part of the program has totalled $14 million to date. The foreign program participants performed pretest predictions and the tests-to-failure were conducted in July 1987. The results of the pre-test predictions and the test data will be analyzed and compared during the coming months. Seismic Research Cooperation. During FY 1987, Japan continued a massive seismic testing effort series which was begun in 1974. Under the sponsorship of the Japanese Ministry for International Trade and Industry the largest shake table in the world was constructed at the Tadotsu Engineering Laboratory at a cost to the Japanese of approximately $200 million. NRC is participating with the Japanese in the Tadotsu test series to study the response of containment vessels, primary loops, reactor vessels, and reactor internals for both pressurized and boiling water reactors. The estimated total cost of the program (including the aforementioned $200 million Japanese facility) exceeds $500 million. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION The Department of Transportation (DOT) has continued its international science and technology cooperation programs and activities during FY 1987 in accordance with the following objectives: - to access and share transport technology and - to find solutions to common technical and operational problems, particularly in safety and - to participate in multilateral research and - to support U.S. foreign policy: and to promote sales of U.S. transportation equipment and technology. Maritime The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) signed Search and Rescue (SAR) Agreements with counterpart organizations in China and Japan, and continued discussions for similar arrangements with Mexico, Indonesia and the Soviet Union. These reciprocal agreements considerably facilitate communications between and among ships and shore stations which help prevent accidents, effect rescues, and share information on SAR training techniques, thus saving lives, time, cargoes and equipment. USCG liaison officers are stationed in selected U. S. embassies and unified defense commands to advise diplomatic and military officials in their work with host country officials on technical USCG matters, e.g., search and rescue and law enforcement. Further, the USCG, in cooperation with other U.S. Government agencies, provided training to approximately 760 foreign nationals, primarily from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Mediterranean. Significant progress was made in obtaining the cooperation of other countries for implementing the International Maritime Organization-developed technical security measures to prevent unlawful acts against passengers and crews on board ships. This measure was a major U. S. initiative in IMO, drafted by the USCG, following the hijacking of the ACHILLE LAURO and the subsequent on-board murder of a U.S. citizen. Aviation Noteworthy benefits were achieved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through bilateral cooperation with Canada, the United Kingdom and EUROCONTROL. Validation tests of navigation equipment aboard Canadian aircraft were conducted; U.S. secondary radar data were transferred to Canada; and the operating period for the joint evaluation of the Bell 205A-1 helicopter was extended. The aviation security cooperation program with the United Kingdom was implemented. Development of radar systems analysis is progressing under EUROCONTROL auspices. Cost-reimbursable technical assistance to civil aviation entities is provided by the FAA under agreements with 61 countries and organizations in all aviation areas, including air traffic control, navigation, licensing, airport operation, security and airworthiness. FAA arranged cost-reimbursable training (valued at $807,000) at U.S. facilities for 420 foreign students to enhance and promote worldwide aviation safety. In the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), significant progress was made in three major technical meetings on: 1) future air navigation systems to foster the next generation of communication, navigation and surveillance systems; 2) development of standards for enhanced aircraft surveillance (radar improvements) and collision avoidance systems; and 3) development of enhanced methods and training aids for airport and carrier security, and for passenger and baggage screening. Highway Technology from ongoing bilateral cooperative activities with Germany, Japan and Yugoslavia has been gained or is anticipated. Exchanges with Germany on bridge design and highway pavement materials and construction will reduce research costs in both countries. The U.S.-Japan program for sharing results of research on wind and earthquake effects on transport structures added new insights on methods, materials and physical data for improved designs. Basic research on predicting behavior of soft soils, being carried out in Yugoslavia under Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsorship, will be used in improving highway and bridge embankment and foundation design procedures. During FY 1987, 390 visitors from 45 countries benefited from FHWA's special study and training programs, planned in cooperation with state highway agencies, universities and the private sector. These visits significantly increase possibilities for exporting U.S. highway technology, equipment and consulting services. Pooling and task-sharing of highway research on a multilateral basis has paid handsome dividends. FHWA's participation in the OECD Road Transport Research Program (RTRP), where known expertise from member countries is tapped, has produced reports on: 1) guidelines for pavement management systems; 2) guidelines for economical design of low-traffic roads; 3) dynamic traffic management systems to manage urban congestion; and 4) a review of toll and private sector financing ideas for building needed roads where there is a lack of public funds available. Ongoing RTRP activities of particular interest to the United States include: 1) comparative full-scale pavement tests; 2) effects of heavy loads and climate on road wear; 3) safe movement of hazardous goods and materials; and 4) international standards for radio-transmitted driver information and guidance systems. FHWA's membership in the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses provides direct access to foreign advanced technology, while participation in a group which is setting international standards for road and tunnel lighting, traffic signs and signal configurations assures consideration of U.S. views and requirements in setting standards. FHWA sponsors the International Road Federation's annual collection, publication and worldwide dissemination of abstracts of ongoing research in over 80 countries. Traffic Safety The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has worked closely this past year with the Japanese Ministry of Transport to harmonize motor vehicle safety standards. This effort, carried out in cooperation with a U.S. manufacturers' trade association, resulted in identification of the eight most troubling (U.S. export-inhibiting) Japanese standards and in proposals for their modification. Agreements were reached on five standards and work on solutions to others will be continued. The Eleventh International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles was hosted by the United States in May 1987, and an NHTSA representative participated in OECD / RTRP research efforts. A symposium on the role of heavy freight vehicles in traffic accidents resulted in continued exchanges on highway freight transport problems. The harmonization of regulations on passenger car brakes, vehicle lighting systems, rear view mirrors, side impact protection and other technical issues has been actively pur sued by NHTSA representatives in the UN/ECE Group of Experts on the Construction of Vehicles. NHTSA has also promoted the reorganization of the Group to increase its effectiveness. The major benefits are the enhancement of vehicle safety, the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade, and the reduction in potential for such barriers. Rail Mutual benefits were gained this year from bilateral cooperative programs with Canada and Japan, and excellent groundwork laid for carrying out technical exchanges with China, France and possibly the Soviet Union in 1988. Meetings between Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Transport Canada engineering specialists addressed in-depth discussions on latest developments in hazardous materials transport, vehicle dynamics and other aspects of railway safety. FRA and the East Japan Railway Company (EJRC) continued mutually beneficial technical exchanges and briefings on EJRC privatization schemes, high-speed rail and magnetic levitated vehicles. CHAPTER 3: BILATERAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION In addition to benefiting American science, bilateral S&T cooperation makes an important contribution to our political, economic and security relations with many countries. The Presidential Science and Technology Initiatives with India and Brazil demonstrate U.S. interest at the highest level in closer ties with those countries. Similarly, the signing of the U.S.Polish bilateral science and technology agreement is a clear signal of improved relations. With respect to national security, FY 1987 witnessed increasing participation by our allies in the Strategic Defense Initiative. Improved consultation and cooperation with a number of countries concerning the transfer of militarily useful technology to potential adversaries has been a particularly important result of bilateral activities. Maintaining and improving the competitive position of American industry is a high Administration priority. Several countries, including Singapore and Korea, have significantly improved their intellectual property laws, following bilateral consultations with the U.S. Additionally, in the negotiation or renegotiation of science and technology agreements, special attention has been given to ensuring that the intellectual property rights of American participants are safeguarded and that American scientists have full access to foreign facilities. Bilateral S&T relations with selected countries are described below. Appendix I provides a listing of cooperative S&T programs on these and other countries. A summary of the Agency for International Development's science and technology activities overseas is at Appendix III. ARGENTINA Argentina has long ranked high among South American countries in S&T achievements, particularly in nuclear sciences and biomedicine, and Argentines have earned Nobel Prizes in chemistry, physiology and medicine. With the most advanced nuclear program in the region, Argentina seeks to become a supplier of nuclear material and technology to the developing world. The continuing framework for S&T cooperation between the U.S. and Argentina is the government-to-government agreement of 1972. Fruitful joint activities have been conducted in physics, mathematics, marine geology, agriculture, biology and biomedicine. In recent years, however, joint activities have declined somewhat due to budgetary constraints. The range of bilateral interagency agreements remains modest. Cooperation in the nuclear area is limited by requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. Argentina has not |