MOP presents environ. audit manual

Chile's public works ministry (MOP) has published a manual for environmental auditing of public works projects, which includes new demands that all contractors carry ISO-14000 and 14001 environmental certification, the ministry announced. The manual will have to be followed by concessionaires and participating contractors, not just the ministry and its departments, the report said. "I think this is a change of mentality for the MOP," public works sub-secretary Clemente Perez was quoted as saying. "The signals we're giving to the private sector are extremely important." The new norms and processes reflect those already in place in the US, Canada and the European Union, and should help Chilean public works projects receive funding from the countries, which are also commercial partners with Chile. The manual is available on the internet at www.dgop.cl/semat.asp.