BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE REPORT
A Report developed from the Proceedings of'The NEJAC International Roundtable on
Environmental Justice on the U.S.-Mexico Border (August 19-21, 1999, National City, CA)")
Unheard Voices from the Border:
A Report on Environmental Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
From the Past to the Future
iRREA HAVQUE DARLE L
MLE K Bem» V
Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Acknowledgments
The NEJAC is grateful for the contributions of the border community organizations, the
Environmental Protection Agency in funding and assisting in organizing the Border Roundtable,
the Environmental Health Coalition for guiding the fact-finding tour, as well as Vermont Law
School for providing resources, including work-study funding for research assistants, in the
preparation of this report. The Subcommittee is also appreciative of the work of many border
community activists, including Jose Bravo, Richard Moore, EPA employees Wendy Graham and
Alan Hecht, and many others, without whose help the Roundtable would not have become a
reality. We also had the assistance of law students David Pocius, Michael O'Brien, Arati
Tripathi, Michelle Gulley, Jeremy Hojnicki, Yadirka Diaz, Marc Majors, Heather Spurlock,
Andrea Silberman, Jason Perkey, Thomas Roddy Hughes, Valerie Diden, David Singer, and
Jennifer DeLyon in the preparation of this report. Tetra Tech, Inc., also provided assistance with
the recording of the Roundtable sessions and preparation of the report. Former and current
Subcommittee members Arnoldo Garcia, Caroline Hotaling, Alberto Saldamando, Dianne
Wilkins, Cesar Luna, and Tseming Yang were involved in the drafting and editing of this report.
In addition, the NEJAC thanks the EPA Region VI Office of Environmental Justice for their
contribution of the picture on the cover of this report.
Please note: Though every effort was made to Identify and correctly spell the names of
everyone involved, there may be some unavoidable errors in the report and appendices.
We apologize for those inadvertent errors.
DISCLAIMER
This Report and recommendations hive been written as part of the activities of the
National Environmental Jurtice Advisory Councl, a public advisory committee
providing independent advice and recommendations am the issue of environmental
Justice to the Administrator snd other officials of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
This report has not been reviewed for approval by the EPA, and hence, its contents
and recomsueudations do not necessarily represent die views and the policies of the
Agency, nor of other agencies in the Executive Branch of Ae federal government
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NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
May 5,2003
Administrator Christine Todd Whitman
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Administrator Whitman,
On behalf of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, I am pleased to be
able to forward to you Unheard Voices from the Border: A Report on Environmental Justice in
the U.S.-Mexico Border Region From the Past to the Future (Border Environmental Justice
Report).
As you may know, the International Subcommittee of the NEJAC has worked with the
Office of International Affairs on U.S.-Mexico border environmental justice issues for a number
of years. In 1999, the NEJAC International Subcommittee, along with EPA program offices and
regions (e.g., OIA, OSWER, OECA, OEJ, Region 6 and Region 9) sponsored the International
Roundtable on Environmental Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border in National City, CA. The
International Roundtable was a historical meeting which brought together community activists,
federal, state and local government representatives, and others for a discussion about the border
environment and the communities living there.
The Report provides a historical and present-day overview of environmental justice in the
U.S.-Mexico Border Region. It reviews how race, poverty, and the international border have
affected communities and the management of the shared border environment. It also details the
diverse set of specific environmental justice issues, ranging from pollution, toxics, and public
health matters to labor justice, immigration, indigenous peoples, and language matters, that were
raised by the participants of the International Roundtable. Finally, the Report also draws
conclusions and provides proposals for further agency actions that will improve the Agency's
response to environmental justice problems. The Report appendices also contain a detailed
summary of the proceedings of the International Roundtable on Environmental Justice.
The Report is a valuable contribution to a better understanding of environmental justice
at the U.S.-Mexico border. Its content and conclusions will be important to EPA's continuing
work on the border environment, especially its binational planning efforts with Mexico on the
Border 2012 Plan. For these reasons, the NEJAC urges EPA to carefully consider the content
and conclusions of the Report for implementation in further agency activities.
A Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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NEJAC Border EJ Report
Page 2
In particular, the NEJAC recommends that EPA:
1. Improve Public Participation Processes by building community capacity and
promoting reform of U.S., Mexican, and international institutions, including the
North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and agencies such
that community input is better taken account in programmatic priorities.
2. Broaden environmental protection programs at the border beyond water
infrastructure issues.
3. Strengthen and improve coordination of national and cross-border
environmental enforcement efforts.
4. Strengthen tribal government capacity and involvement in programs of the
U.S., Mexico, and international border institutions.
5. Improve the incorporation of community voices and environmental justice
issues in sustainable development efforts at the border.
6. Continue to address site-specific issues, including illegal hazardous waste sites
on both sides of the border; and,
7. Re-visit the border communities' recommendations made at the Border
Roundtable and provide a follow-up report that details EPA's activities on those
community recommendations since EPA's 30-Day Response to them.
The NEJAC is pleased to present this report to you for your review, consideration,
response, and action. We believe that these are necessary steps to addressing
environmental justice matter&jt the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, the NEJAC
appreciates any assistance you can provide in processing the recommendations in this
report through the Office of Intranational Affairs with consultation as appropriate with
Region 9, Region 6, and the Office of Environmental Justice.
Sincerely,
Veronica Eady, Esq.
Veronica Eady, Esq.
Acting Chair
A Federal Advisory Committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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What is NEJAC?
The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) is a federal advisory
committee established by charter on September 30,1993 "to provide independent advice and
recommendations to the Administrator [of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] on
areas relating to environmental justice." In accordance with the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of October 16, 1972, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the NEJAC has only
advisory functions, including making recommendations to the Administrator. It does not have
the authority to take actions on the advice that it provides to EPA.
The NEJAC is made up of 26 members appointed from environmental justice groups;
academia; non-governmental organizations; industry; and state, local and tribal governments,
who serve on an Executive Council. To facilitate the Executive Council's operations, six
subcommittees exist which focus on issues of air and water, enforcement, health and research,
indigenous peoples, international activities, waste and facility siting, and Puerto Rico.
Subcommittee posts are filled by NEJAC Executive Council members as well as other
individuals.
Each subcommittee has a designated federal official (DFO) and is bound by the
requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Subcommittees meet
independently of the Executive Council and present their findings to the Executive Council for
review. All subcommittee recommendations must be approved by the Executive Council.
Subcommittees cannot make recommendations independently to EPA.
The NEJAC International Subcommittee
The International Subcommittee studies issues related to environmental justice
internationally and provides "independent advice to the Executive Council of the NEJAC and,
through the Council, to EPA" on such matters. Some of the areas on which the subcommittee
has worked include, but are not limited to:
• Promoting cooperative and supportive relationships to ensure environmental justice in
international activities;
• Increasing awareness of issues related to international environmental justice;
• Evaluating the development, implementation, and enforcement of national environmental
justice policies and programs by the EPA Office of International Activities (OIA);
• Identifying administrative and legislative options to improve international environmental
policies, programs, and activities as they relate to environmental justice concerns.
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Unheard Voices from the Border: A Report on Environmental Justice
in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region From the Past to the Future
Preface/Cover Letter
Executive Summary
Introduction 1
I. A Road Map to Environmental Justice in the U. S .-Mexico Border Region: Race,
Poverty, Shared Environments, and the International Border 3
A. Shared Environments and Cross-border Pollution: The Problem of Cross-border
Environmental Protection 3
1. The Nature of Cross-border Environmental Problems
2. Environmental Programs and Institutions at the Border
B. The Familiar Face of Environmental Justice: The Manifestation and Scope of
Border Environmental Justice
C. The Unique Roots of Environmental Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border 8
1. Border Environmental Justice and the Mixed Legacy of Conquest,
Exploitation, and Cooperation in the U.S.-Mexico Border Area
2. Border Environmental Justice and Cross-border Regulation and
Enforcement
a. Protecting Communities: Cross-border Movements of People and
the Unity of Border Communities
b. Enforcement against Polluters
3. Border Environmental Justice, NAFTA, and the Race to the Bottom
4. Border Environmental Justice and Problems of Accountability
D. Recognizing the Importance of Environmental Justice at the Border 16
n. The International U.S.-Mexico Border Roundtable 18
A
The Goals of the Border Roundtable
18
B.
The Roundtable: A Summary Overview
19
C.
The Neglected Issues: Voices from the Border Region
20
1.
Water Pollution
2.
Hazardous Waste and Toxics
3.
Community Health
4.
Environmental Justice and Labor Justice
5.
Immigration, Trade, and Environment
6.
Indigenous People and Border Justice
7.
Border Communities and Public Involvement
D.
Roundtable Recommendations Synopsis
38
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HI. The Future of Environmental Justice at the Border 42
A. Preliminary Outcomes 42
1. Allowing Communities to Speak for Themselves and Educating
Government Officials
2. Initiating Ongoing Participatory, Cooperative, and Inclusive Processes
3. Specific Roundtable Objectives
4. EPA Reactions and 30-Day Response Letter
B. Next Steps: What Must be Done 45
1. Improving Public Participation
a. Community Capacity Building
b. Reform of Government Programmatic Priorities and International
Institutions
2. Beyond Water Issues: Broadening Environmental Protection Programs at
the Border
3. Strengthening Cross-border Environmental Enforcement and Coordination
4. Strengthening Tribal Government Capacity
5. Communities and Environmental Justice: Fulfilling the Promise of
Sustainable Development
6. Remediating Sites on both Sides of the Border: Site-Specific Issues
Conclusion 52
Appendix A Agenda of the Border Roundtable 53
Appendix B Annotated Agenda of the Roundtable w/Extended Summaries of Sessions 56
Appendix C Partial List of Participants (Pre-registered Participants) 100
Appendix D EPA 30-Day-Response to Recommendations 120
Appendix E Maps of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region 154
Appendix F Historical Time-line of the U. S.-Mexico Border Region 158
Appendix G List of International Subcommittee Members 1999-2002 161
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October 2002
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
The NEJAC International Subcommittee is pleased to be able to provide you with its
Report "Unheard Voices from the Border: Environmental Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border
Region From the Past to the Future," based in large part on the proceedings of the International
Roundtable on Environmental Justice on the U.S.-Mexico Border, August, 19-21,1999 in
National City, CA.
The U.S.-Mexico Roundtable was an unqualified success and represents a significant
accomplishment in the efforts of border communities and the NEJAC International
Subcommittee to promote greater awareness and understanding of environmental justice issues at
the Border. Border communities from both countries were able for the first time in history to
speak for themselves about environmental justice issues to representatives of both governments.
Furthermore, EPA and other government officials gained a new and deepened understanding of
the issues.
The delay that has held up the issuance of this border environmental justice report is
regrettable. However, it is also a reflection of the significant efforts that International
Subcommittee members, who all serve in a volunteer capacity and hold full-time employment
elsewhere, made in its preparation. Difficulties of coordination, availability of time, changes of
subcommittee leadership and members, and changes of leadership at OIA as well as in the
regional offices have made the completion of this Report a minor miracle.
The border environmental justice report addresses a diverse set of environmental justice
issues raised by the Roundtable participants. Such concerns ranged from pollution, toxics, and
public health matters to labor justice, immigration, indigenous peoples, and language issues.
Because of its primary focus on issues raised by participants, the Report is also a snapshot of
border environmental justice issues in 1999. We have sought to reference later developments
where appropriate and useful. In this regard, EPA's response and follow-up to the Border
Roundtable, including its public involvement efforts of border communities in the elaboration of
the Border XXI Plan, have been encouraging. However, most issues raised at the Roundtable
remain unresolved and continue to be of importance three years later.
In spite of the delay, we believe that the border environmental justice report can still
serve a valuable purpose in assisting federal, state and local government officials; community
activists; researchers; and others to gain a better understanding of the issues that must be
addressed in order to make environmental justice a reality for all at the Border. Its release is also
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an opportunity to re-focus EPA's commitment to border environmental justice issues and to
commit to a new level of engagement with border communities.
It should be noted that the 1999 Border Roundtable and this report reflect the work of
many individuals. In particular, the Border Roundtable itself would not have become a reality
without the tireless efforts of then-International Subcommittee Chair Arnoldo Garcia, then-
International Subcommittee members Caroline Hotaling, Alberto Saldamando, and Jose Bravo,
former NEJAC Executive Council Chair Richard Moore, and then-Indigenous Peoples
Subcommittee Chair Tom Goldtooth. Their work and that of all others involved in this project
honors the memory of those who have struggled for environmental justice at the U.S.-Mexico
Border area, including Martha Valdes, Dana Alston, Carol Hopkins, Dorothy Purley, and
Jeanne Gauna.
Sincerely,
Tseming Yang, Chair
NEJAC International Subcommittee
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Executive Summary
Even though environmental justice issues have become an important policy concern in
federal environmental regulation and policy, their recognition and implementation have lagged
far behind in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Like other parts of the country, environmental
justice concerns range from media pollution to community health to more general social justice
issues. However, there are also many unique issues that location at the border presents, such as
the historical legacy of the region with regard to conquest and race, the challenges of cross-
border movements of people and pollutants, economic competition pressures of jurisdictional
boundaries for environmental regulation and enforcement, and the problems of accountability of
corporate polluters, governments, and international institutions to border communities. These
issues have not gone un-noticed. Yet, solutions for them have remained elusive.
To address some of these concerns, the NEJAC International Subcommittee and EPA's
Office of International Activities co-sponsored the International Roundtable on Environmental
Justice on the U.S.-Mexico border (August 19-21,1999, National City, CA). The Roundtable
brought together a wide range of stakeholders in border environmental justice issues, including
community representatives from both sides of the Border, federal agencies, state and local
government officials, and representatives of the Mexican government. But most importantly, it
gave border communities the opportunity to address their concerns and expectations about the
environmental future of the region in their awn voices. These issues they raised included
concerns about water pollution, hazardous wastes and toxics, community health, labor justice,
the impacts of government policies with regard to immigration and free trade, indigenous people,
and public involvement of border communities in border decision-making.
Border communities also had many recommendations for federal government action to
address these issues, all of which are set out in Appendix B. Among the key areas for federal
government actions are:
1) improving public participation, including community capacity building, the
creation of a border community-based environmental justice commission, and
reform of government programmatic priorities and international institutions,
2) broadening environmental protection programs at the border beyond water
infrastructure issues,
3) strengthening cross-border environmental enforcement and coordination,
4) strengthening tribal government capacities and involvement,
5) ensuring that sustainable development approaches include broader notions of
environmental justice and broader interests of communities, and
6) addressing site-specific issues.
These areas of federal government action will be crucial for making substantive progress toward
achieving the goal of environmental justice at the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Introduction
Even though environmental justice has become an important issue in federal
environmental regulation and policy, little attention has been paid to it in the U.S.-Mexico border
region until recently. However, its call for protecting and serving all communities regardless of
income, immigration status, nationality, or citizenship, has no less applicability there. Many
border communities are impoverished. Race relations at the border have been troubled. And as
Diane Takvorian of the Environmental Health Coalition has pointed out, "Border communities
bear the impacts of policies and decisions made in both Washington, D.C. and Mexico City."
Yet they have little influence over those decisions. Like many other communities across the
country, they also house industries and the military.
Environmental justice issues faced by these communities are also uniquely intertwined
with the international boundary. As the nexus of international and domestic environmental
regulatory problems of two countries, the border creates special difficulties with regard to the
role of civil society in environmental decision-making and the problem of environmental
discrimination.
The inability of the U.S. and Mexican governments to resolve these issues led the NEJAC
International Subcommittee and EPA's Office of International Activities to co-sponsor a 214-day
conference in National City, California, August 19-21,1999. The International Roundtable on
Environmental Justice on the U.S.-Mexico border brought together community representatives
from both sides of the Border, federal agencies, state and local government officials, and
representatives of the Mexican government to engage them on issues that 'Imperil the health and
future of entire communities and natural habitats."1 It also gave border communities the
opportunity to address their concerns and expectations about the environmental future of the
region in their own voices.
This report is intended to accomplish two purposes: 1) to provide a roadmap to
environmental justice issues in the U.S.-Mexico border region, and 2) to elaborate on the specific
issues raised by border communities.
Section I of the report provides a basic overview of environmental justice at the U.S.-
Mexico border area. First, it sketches out the problem of cross-border environmental protection
and the existing major environmental programs created to address them. It then provides an
overview of the familiar issues of environmental justice in the border region, as they are also
encountered elsewhere in the country. Finally, it considers the unique aspects of environmental
justice at the Border, rooted in the region's history, the special problems of cross-border
pollution, and the special problems of accountability to environmental justice communities.
Section n summarizes the discussions and events of the Roundtable. It outlines the major
environmental justice issues raised, and provides a synopsis of the recommendations issued by
the Roundtable participants. In particular, it elaborates on issues of:
1 See Arnoldo Garcia's comments, Appendix B, p. 9.
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1) Water Pollution;
2) Hazardous Waste and Toxics;
3) Community Health;
4) Environmental Justice and Labor Justice;
5) Trade, Migration, and Environment;
6) Indigenous Peoples and Border Justice; and
7) Border Communities and Public Participation.
Appendix C contains a detailed description of the events and a full list of the community
recommendations. Unfortunately, due to funding limitations, a complete written transcript of the
proceedings is not available.
Section HI looks to the future by reviewing some of the preliminary outcomes of the
Roundtable, including EPA's preliminary response to the Roundtable recommendations. This
section also puts the community recommendations into the context of existing EPA programs
and border institutions. It seeks to explain in concrete terms what EPA needs to do to improve
the handling of environmental justice issues, including:
1) improving public participation, including community capacity building and the
creation of a border community-based environmental justice commission as well
as reform of government programmatic priorities and international institutions.
2) broadening environmental protection programs at the border beyond water
infrastructure issues,
3) strengthening cross-border environmental enforcement and coordination,
4) strengthening tribal government capacities and involvement,
5) ensuring that sustainable development approaches include broader notions of
environmental justice and broader interests of communities, and
6) addressing site-specific issues.
These recommendations also set out suggestions for how EPA and border institutions can
incorporate these concerns into existing programs and policies.
The Report's examination of environmental injustice problems at the U. S.-Mexico border
is ultimately useful not only to a better understanding of environmental justice issues, but also of
the correlation between cross-border phenomena and environmental problems more generally in
this region. As the U.S. and Mexico seek to improve their economic relations, they must give
priority to the protection of the environment and the citizens for whom that environment is home.
This report should serve as a stepping-stone for positive change in the future. As Rub&i Solis of
the Southwest Workers Union stated, the border is not a divide between two different countries,
but an opportunity to build bridges and connect people.
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I. A Road Map to Environmental Justice in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region: Race,
Poverty, Shared Environments, and the International Border
As the interface between a developed nation and a developing nation, the border is the
place where two very different cultures, political systems, and economies meet. The most
noticeable feature is the vast disparity in wealth. A short trip from San Diego, California to
Tijuana, Mexico is one vivid illustration. At the Border, first-world expectations and promises
of a better life meet with third-world poverty, infrastructures and living conditions. These
conditions have special impacts on problems of environmental justice in that area.
To understand the problem of environmental justice in the U.S-Mexico border region and
how it can be addressed, it is thus necessary to understand:
• the separate problems of transboundary environmental regulation and environmental
justice;
• the combined effect of these two problems on the difficulties regulators face; and
• the unique historical and regional challenges associated with the border area.
This section briefly reviews the problem of transboundary environmental regulation and the
programs at the U.S.-Mexico border designed to address them, the issues of environmental
justice that are familiar elsewhere, and finally the problems that are specific to environmental
justice at the Border.
A. Shared Environments and Cross-border Pollution: The Problem of Cross-
border Environmental Protection
There are special challenges to protecting the environment in the proximity of an
international boundary. Governmental regulatory efforts have dominated attempts to address
these cross-border environmental problems.
i. The Nature of Cross-border Environmental Problems
The international border is an artificial geographic boundary that divides natural habitats
and ecological systems straddling the Border. More problematically, by dividing political and
regulatory jurisdictions, the border impedes regulatory efforts to address problems of
environmental degradation, such as "pollution spill-over" and economic competition effects.
Pollution "spillovers" are situations where pollution affects not only the country that is
creating it, but also "spills" across the border and into another country.3 Those within the same
2 See generally Tom Barry & Beth Sims, The Challenge of Cross-Border Environmentalism: The U.S.-
Mexico Case (1994) (discussing the U.S.-Mexico Border environment); Shared Space: Rethinking the U.S.-
Mexico Border Environment (Lawrence A. Henug, ed, 2000) (discussing the U.S.-Mexico relations in the
borderlands).
3 See generally Thomas W. Merrill, Golden Rules far Transboundary Pollution, 46 Duke L. J. 931 (1997)
(discussing transboundary pollution regulation inienistiaiiaUy).
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jurisdiction as the polluter can seek redress through legal and other channels if they are adversely
affected. However, those on the other side of the border usually cannot obtain such remedies
even though the pollution impacts may be the same. The persistence of cross-border air and
water pollution, including pollution of the New River, the Rio Grande River, and the waters off
the Pacific Coast, illustrate these problems.
Problems of economic competition have more indirect, though no less serious,
environmental consequences. In such instances, economic competition between two countries
for industrial investment, economic development, and jobs can create a "race to the bottom" with
regard to environmental protection standards. Pressure to lower standards or not to enforce them
in order to make industrial operations cheaper for polluting industries can create a pollution
haven. In border areas, these effects can be especially severe because another political
jurisdiction may be just a few miles away. Such geographical proximity can create opportunities
for businesses to evade a whole range of government regulations and enforcement, including
environmental and worker safety regulations, while retaining many of the original location's
benefits, such as easy access to consumer markets. In the U.S.-Mexico border area, this is
particularly visible in the maquiladora industry, where many businesses, large and small, have
located facilities just across the border in Mexico. There, they can take advantage of financial
incentives and, arguably, more industry-friendly regulations, while staying close to the U.S.
consumer market.4
2. Environmental Programs and Institutions at the Border
To address these problems, the U.S. and Mexican governments have collaborated through
several programs to protect the border environment. Of particular relevance are the U. S.-Mexico
Border XXI Program, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), the North
American Development Bank (NADB), the International Boundaries and Waters Commission
(IBWC), and the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NACEC).
U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Program and EPA Regions 6 and 9
EPA, especially Regions 6 and 9, has been engaged in various bi-nationalcooperative
efforts with Mexico, especially through the nine border workgroups of Border XXI. Border XXI
is a direct outgrowth of the 1983 La Paz Agreement.5 It was established as a response to
environmental harm caused by the maquiladoras and to bring together the diverse U.S. and
Mexican federal entities responsible for the border environment. Its main goal has been to'
protect the environment and public health and to promote sustainable development at the U.S.-
Mexico Border. Border XXI has sought to achieve these goals by emphasizing three strategies:
4 See, e.g., Edward J. Williams, The Maquiladora Industry and Environmental Degradation in the United States-
Mexico Borderlands, 27 St. Mary's L.J. 765,784-807 (1996) (discussing ftctories along the U.S.-Mexico Border).
5 Agreement Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States on Cooperation
for the Protection and Improvement of the Environment in the Border Area, 221.L.M. 1025 Aug 14
1983. '
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1) increasing public participation in environmental policy-making;
2) encouraging decentralization of environmental management by strengthening
state and local governments; and
3) improving cooperation and communication among national, state and local
agencies.
Border XXI is currently one of the most significant bi-nationalprograms designed to
address environmental issues related to the dramatic surge in population and industrialization in
the border region. Its efforts are intended to address problems ranging from infrastructure
improvement needs in the region, such as sewage treatment, waste disposal, and drinking water
supplies, to other environmental needs, such as air pollution, habitat destruction, and
biodiversity.
The Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American
Development Bank (NADBank).
The BECC and NADBank came into existence through the BECC-NADBank Agreement
in November 1993. Their purpose was to create an environmental infrastructure program at the
Border. The BECC is a bi-nationalorganization created to help border states, localities, and the
private sector develop and find financing for environmental infrastructure projects. Its primary
mission is to work with state and local governments to identify appropriate projects for support.
The NADBank is a bi-national financial institution that provides loans, loan guarantees, and
other assistance to projects certified by the BECC. Its mission is to create opportunities for
public and private investors to invest in these projects.7
The institutions maintain a preference for water pollution, wastewater treatment, and
municipal solid waste projects. Related matters include industrial and hazardous waste projects,
water conservation projects, water and wastewater hookups for housing, and recycling and waste
reduction projects. Both institutions are unique in that the/ address only issues of environmental
infrastructure in the border area.
The U.S. and Mexico have recognized that these institutions are not perfect and "that
immediate measures [are] needed to strengthen the performance of NADBank and BECC to
identify and fond environmental infrastructure projects on the Border."8 As a result, a bi-
6 Environmental Protection Agency, Border XXI Framework Document at
http://www.epa. gov/usmexicoborder/efhtm (Last updated on 1/22/97). Its work is conducted by nine In-national
workgroups consisting of EPA staff and their Mexican counterparts: 1) water, 2) air, 3) hazardous and solid waste,
4) pollution prevention, 5) contingency planning and emergency response, 6) cooperative enforcement and
compliance. 7) environmental information Twaupxs, 8) patera! resources, and 9) environmental health. These
workgroups seek to bring together agencies that historically have not wotted together or have not focused on
environmental issues. In doing so, the program ensures that persons working on bolder issues understand the
structures in which they must work.
7 See North American Development Bank 1995 Annual Report 6 (1996) [last visited April 18,1998],
^ttp;//ww,mdt>pH,gr«
Joint Statement by Presidents Vincente Fox and George W. Bush, Sept 6,2001, available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010906-8.html.
5
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national working group, including EPA and the International Boundaries and Waters
Commission (IBWC), has been developing joint recommendations about appropriate changes.
The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
The CEC was established by the North American Agreement on Environmental
Cooperation (NAAEC) to address regional environmental concerns, to prevent potential conflicts
between trade and environmental protection interests, and to promote the effective enforcement
of environmental law. Its provisions complement the environmental provisions of NAFTA.
Much of its work has focused on establishing bi-national, cooperative initiatives to
address pollution impacts on public health and the environment. Of particular note, it also
administers the Article 14 citizen submission process of the NAAEC, under which citizens may
bring a NAFTA country's failure to effectively enforce its environmental laws to the CEC for
investigation. However, the submission process's sole remedy is the preparation of a factual
record that may be made public by decision of the three parties. The CEC has no independent
power to sanction a NAFTA country for failure to effectively enforce its environmental laws.
Nineteen (19) of thirty-four (34) citizen submissions filed since 1995 have been closed
without factual records. Three (3) submissions have resulted in published factual records.
Twelve (12) submissions remain active; seven (7) of these are in the process of having a factual
record developed. One of the three published factual records found that Mexico had done little
to enforce its environmental laws. In that matter, the Metales y Derivados case, no further action
has been taken and the hazardous waste site at issue remains largely unremediated.
International Boundary Waters Commission.
In 1944, the U.S. and Mexico created the International Boundary and Water Commission
(IBWC), the successor of the International Boundary Commission, which was responsible for
U.S.-Mexico border issues. The IBWC's mission is to administer the numerous boundary and
water treaties between the two nations. These treaties address issues of water rights in the Rio
Grande and of the Colorado River, flood protection, border sanitation and other water quality
problems, and demarcation of the international boundary.
B. The Familiar Face of Environmental Justice: The Manifestation and Seme of
Border Environmental Justice
In spite of the numerous border environmental programs supported by the U. S. and
Mexican governments, little attention has been focused on environmental justice issues. In feet,
none of the border programs described above has made environmental justice a programmatic '
priority. However, as activists in environmental justice communities understand well, and as
government officials have slowly begun to recognize, problems of environmental justice exist in
the border region just as they do elsewhere.
Febnlar^3^*1944^ ™E UNITED States of America and Mexico, 59 Stat. 1219, Signed in Washington D.C. on
6
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Many of them reflect former-Reverend Benjamin Chavis' notion of environmental
racism10 and EPA's definition, which focuses on discrimination against racial or socio-economic
groups in the meaningful involvement in environmental decision-making and disproportionate
environmental burdens. Others are also rooted more generally in exclusion and political
marginalization of communities and larger questions of social justice and equity. For example,
urban communities in San Diego, such as Barrio Logan, and border communities surrounding the
maquiladora industries are exposed to the same health and safety risks as those experienced by
urban communities and workers elsewhere. Questions have been raised about the environmental
regulatory compliance of major military installations, such as the naval base in San Diego, and
their responsiveness to community concerns about pollution emissions and toxics. Rural
communities face significant pesticide exposure issues that stem from pesticide applications in
fields that are often near their homes. These problems are as ubiquitous and urgent at the border
as in other parts of the country.
Problems of environmental justice are closely related to broader social justice issues on
both sides of the border. Poverty in particular poses a direct challenge to public health and
environmental protection goals. Poor communities cannot afford to take prudent environmental
and public health measures. For example, inability to afford appropriate means of disposing of
household sewage, such as via a septic system, can lead to groundwater contamination. Building
shanty homes in unoccupied rural areas, such as the colonias, can lead to habitat destruction and
impair the survival of endangered species.
Poverty also challenges government assumptions about public health risks resulting from
varying levels and types of exposures to pollution, pesticides, and other toxic contaminants and
government responses to public health impacts. As has been well illustrated in many developing
countries, the poor frequently must forego measures to protect themselves against pollution and
toxics and are unable to seek appropriate health care when adversely impacted.
Problems of environmental justice also have a similar close association with worker and
human rights issues. When workers are exploited, it is not uncommon to find that they must
endure unhealthy or otherwise dangerous workplace circumstances as a condition of
employment. These workers may be forced to work without safety equipment or to engage in
other practices that endanger their health. Furthermore, when workers, and by extension their
families, are not protected by their workplace rights, their livelihoods become more vulnerable,
and they are more easily and severely affected by pollution, contamination, and poor
environmental conditions.
Ensuring labor rights can also be directly connected to regulatory compliance. Violations
of labor rights may be the direct result of attempts to retaliate against workers' efforts to assure a
See Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Foreword, in Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices from the
Grassroots 3 (Robert D. Bullard ed. 1993) (including discrimination in regulation and enforcement, deliberate
targeting in waste fitciUty siting, official sanctioning of dangers and liiiMhreatening conditions, and historical
exclusion from the environmental movement leadership of people of color).
See, e.g., Robert Kuehn, A Taxonomy of Environmental Justice, 30 Envtl. L. Rep. 10681,10683-84 (2000).
7
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healthy and safe workplace or to obtain company compliance with regulations and standards
designed to protect the natural environment and surrounding communities. When workers are
not assured that their rights in the workplace are protected, they cannot be counted on to assist
government agencies in the enforcement of environmental laws. In fact, a workplace that does
not respect workers' rights is also unlikely to be concerned about environmental compliance and
pollution control. Efforts to address environmental justice cannot ignore such broader problems.
C The Unique Roots of Environmental Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border
In spite of the many similarities to environmental justice issues elsewhere, the border's
history and circumstances have also made environmental justice issues there unique in many
respects.
1. Border Environmental Justice and the Mixed Legacy of Conquest,
Exploitation, and Cooperation in the U.S.-Mexico Border Area
Issues of discrimination, exclusion and marginalization have been uniquely shaped by the
Border. Like elsewhere, racial minorities in the southwest U.S., and in particular those of
Mexican descent, experience discrimination. Such discrimination has had long historical
antecedents.12
The border arose out of the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848, when the U.S.
conquered and Mexico ceded most of the present-day southwestern United States in the Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo.13 The territories include much of present-day Arizona, New Mexico, and
California. The redrawing of political boundaries caused significant social dislocations of native
populations, turning them into foreigners in spite of having lived there for many generations.
Some Native American tribal communities were cut in two by the redrawn boundary, with tribal
lands that still straddle the U.S.-Mexico Border. Native Mexican citizens suddenly became
foreigners in their own homes. They were largely prohibited from gaining U.S. citizenship.
Many other rights, such as the ability to testify in court and to vote, were sharply restricted.14
Problems of discrimination and exclusion also have roots in other contemporary issues,
especially negative images and stereotypes associated with those of Mexican ancestry. For
example, the politics of immigration with its current backlash against illegal immigrants, the
attempts to fence the Border, and the war on drug smuggling at the border have created images
and stereotypes of these individuals as foreigners, illegal immigrants, or drug criminals. They
fuel images of the U.S. being invaded by illegal workers from the South. Such attitudes have
been exacerbated especially by law enforcement's focus on illegal immigration and drug
smuggling.
12 See generally Juan Perea et al., Race and Races: Cases and Resources for a Diverse America (2000).
13 See Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 9 Stat. 922, T.S. No. 207 (Feb. 2, 1848). Dale Hathaway, Allies Across
the Border: Mexico's "Authentic Labor Front" and Global Solidarity, iv (2000). In the subsequent
Gadsden Purchase (1853), Mexico ceded additional territory to the United States, which resulted in today's U.S.-
Mexico border.
14 E.g. People v. De La Gverra, 40 Cal. 311 (1870).
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Of course, many of Mexican ancestry are either citizens, permanent residents, or
otherwise legally in the U.S, and assumptions about lack of U.S. citizenship and illegal status is
an oftentimes a false stereotype. More insidiously, such images also ignore the history of
government-sponsored programs that have brought migrant worker movements into the U.S. in
the past. The presence of significant numbers migrant workers from Mexico in the U.S. is a
phenomenon that stretches back at least to World War n when the Bracero program created a
precedent for the large-scale importation of agricultural workers from Mexico. Instituted in 1942
as a guest laborer program in response to World War II labor shortages,15 the Bracero program
allowed the recruitment and transport of workers to the U.S. for work in the agricultural industry
and subsequent return.16 The practice continues to this day, though on a smaller scale.
The program might have had promising beginnings. However, its actual^operation
depressed agricultural wages and resulted in the exploitation of many workers. Bracero
workers frequently were paid less than their contracted wages or not being provided the
contracted-for housing and food.18 When the Bracero Program expired in 1964, many laborers
in northern Mexico were left unemployed. Pressures for labor to search for work in the North
have continued to this day.
To the extent that border residents are non-citizens, discrimination and exploitation have
been presented a special problem. Their lack of citizenship and undocumented status usually
makes them less likely to seek help or redress from government authorities if they believe
involvement of government officials, and thus immigration officer, may result in their
deportation.20
2. Border Environmental Justice and Cross-border Regulation and
Enforcement
Government responses to environmental and public health problems have also been
uniquely shaped by the Border. International borders limit not only the reach of direct
governmental power and regulation over polluting activities but also the political accountability
of regulatory authorities to the populations that are affected by pollution. These issues raise
particular concerns for environmental justice issues there with regard to:
15 Title V of the Agriculture Act of 1949 (formally 7 USCA section 1461-1468). See also Richard B. Craig,
The Bracero Program: Interest Groups and Foreign Policy ix a 1 (1971). "Bracero" is a Spanish term
literally meaning one who works with his arms. The nearest English equivalent is "field hand".
16 See Craig at 43.
17 Kitty Calavita, Inside the State: The Bracero Program, Immigration, and the I.N.S., 19,71 (1992).
18 See Id. at 42. See also U.S. Immigration Policy And The National Interest: Staff Report Gp The Select
Commission On Immigration And Refugee Rmjcy To The Congress And President Of The Untied States,
673 (Apr. 30,1981).
19 See Kitty Calavista, United States Immigration Policy: Contradictions and Projections for the Future, Ind. J.
Global Legal Stud. 113,146 (1994) (noting that the Bracero Program stopped in 1964 because of President
Kennedy's intolerance ofhnman rights abuses occurring in the program).
20 See Barry, supra note 6, at 27-52.
31 See generally Tom Barry et al., Crossing the Line: Immigrants, Economic Integration, and Drug
Enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico Border (1994).
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1) adequate protection of non-citizens under environmental and health and safety
laws and regulations as well as bi-national communities, and
2) enforcement of environmental laws and regulations against polluters who move
across international borders.
a. Protecting Communities: Cross-border Movements of People
and the Unity of Border Communities
Cross-border movements and the unity of many cross-border communities raise
significant issues about the adequacy of protections accorded to non-citizens under
environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.
Theoretically, environmental standards and health and safety protections in the U.S. do
not distinguish or discriminate between citizens and non-citizens. In fact, the U.S. Constitution
prohibits most forms of discrimination by government officials in this regard. However, the
practical reality is oftentimes different.
Non-citizens cannot vote and thus are not members of the political community to which
government officials at the federal, state, and local level are accountable. The practical result
may often be that environmental, health and safety protections for them are lesser, whether
because of government failure to promulgate necessary environmental and health and safety
regulations to ensure non-discriminatory protections or due to the failure of government officials
to take appropriate actions to enforce and implement protections on the books.
As noted above, such difficulties are greatest for illegal immigrants, who have no legal
status in the United States and are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by those who prey on
marginalized groups. The most concrete example can be seen in the health and safety
protections accorded to migrant farmworkers, many of whom are non-citizens or even
immigrants. Their migrant status keeps them in any one community only for short periods of
time, and local government officials may derive few political benefits from protecting them
against exploitative actions by local residents. The inadequacy of existing environmental and
health and safety protections, the weakness of enforcement mechanisms and the prevalent
Mure of government officials to enforce health and safety protections accorded to farmworkers
are well known.32
Similar difficulties arise with bi-national communities that straddle the border. Such
communities are most clearly exemplified by Native American tribes whose aboriginal tribal
lands were divided by the international boundary and whose tribal members continue to reside on
both sides of the Border. They also include other non-Native Americans living at the border, for
instance those living on one side of the border and working on the other. They may have friends
and family living or working on both sides and regularly utilize various services, obtain health
12 See id.
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care, or frequent stores and establishments in both countries. The many sister cities that have
sprung up on both sides of the Border, such as San Diego-Tijuana or Ciudad Juarez-El Paso,
show the close connection between the two sides. The political separation created by the border
results in inconsistent environmental and health and safety protections that, from the bi-national
community's perspective, may be arbitrary and unjustified.
Political accountability by government officials is also limited by the political boundary.
Just as non-citizens are excluded from the political community, so is everybody and everything
on the other side of the Border. Government officials may even be non-responsive to the
problems of their own citizens if on the other side.
b. Enforcement against Polluters
Significant issues of regulatory enforcement arise because of the ease of polluters cross-
border movements. The basic premise of regulatory oversight of polluting industries is that an
entity subject to environmental laws and regulations will be amenable to government
enforcement actions when a violation occurs. The validity of that premise is questionable m the
U.S.-Mexico border region.25
The ease of cross-border movements creates the possibility that violators of
environmental laws in the border region can escape enforcement actions simply by crossing the
border to the other country.26 There are practical limits to this possibility. Industrial plants and
manufacturing facilities cannot usually be moved easily. Fleeing the jurisdiction is also unlikely
to be seriously considered by reputable industrial operators. However, that may not apply to
unscrupulous polluters who are ready to amply abandon their facilities or when a company has
no ongoing industrial operations. Arguably, the ability of such polluters to profit from their
violations and escape with impunity may be seen as a reward for their misdeeds.
Extradition treaties and better cross-border enforcement cooperation can alleviate some
of these shortcomings. Authorities can thus request the investigative and enforcement assistance
of authorities on the other side of the border.
However, the notion of the border as a bi-national and multi-agency region can cause
significant confusion about who really is responsible for environmental enforcement at the
border. Given the lack of political accountability of regulatory and enforcement authorities to
the population on the other side, and without the public attention given to particularly egregious
civil or criminal violations, the reality is th«t enforcement authorities are unlikely to have much
incentive to expend enforcement or investigative resources when such actions do not directly
benefit their constituents.27 Since successful enforcement efforts require cooperation between
owmwiwu.
24 See Ruth Buchanan, Border Crossings: NAFTA, Regulatory Restructuring, and the Politics ofPum, 21ND. J.
Global Legal Stud. 371,385-87 (1995) (aiguing that the U.S.-Mexico Border is an artificial political boundary).
25 See David Hunter et al., International Environmental Law and Policy 483-87 (2ded. 2002); see also
Lakshman D Guruswamy et al., International Environmental Law and World Order 24-40 (1994).
26 See Williams, supra note 4.
27 See generally Alexandra Maravel, Constructing Democracy in the North American Free Trade Area, 16 Nw. J.
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the enforcement authorities of both jurisdictions, failure of either to cooperate can effectively
thwart an enforcement action.28 Without effective and strong international and interagency
cooperation, bi-national border enforcement is unlikely to occur.
3. Border Environmental Justice, NAFTA, and ike Race to the Bottom
The premise of the utility of free trade is that trading nations can benefit from each
other's competitive advantages through cheaper goods.29 However, competitive advantages may
result not only from different levels of resource wealth and technological capabilities, but also
from differences in economic and political conditions. Lesser politically developed countries
may have comparatively weak governmental regulatory systems, including those protecting the
environment and workers. Such conditions can be associated with lower regulatory compliance
costs. However, the by-product may also be laxer regulatory requirements and thus lessened
protection of the environment and public health. Ultimately, the result is likely to be greater
externalization of pollution costs to the environment and the population.
Apart from the moral issues that exploitation of such competitive advantages poses,
increased international trade linkages and increased economic integration of international
markets can lead to the familiar "race to the bottom" with regard to wages, worker rights, and
environmental standards.30 Significant economic and social dislocation of people and
communities can follow. When a company goes out of business because of foreign economic
competitive pressures, employees are laid off and the community's social welfare is adversely
affected.31 If no equivalent economic opportunities arise in that community, laid-off employees
may be left in poverty32 or induced to migrate to other places where employment opportunities
Int'lL. & Bus. 331 (1996) (discussing public access and government accountability in NAFTA and its side
agreements).
See Elaine Moore Hebard, A Focus on a Bi-national Watershed with a View Toward Fostering a Cross-border
Dialogue, 40 Nat. Resources J. 281 (2000) (discussing the problems of cross-border cooperation in the context of
a shared aquifer). Additionally, cross-border enforcement problems are hardly limited to environmental issues. The
U.S. and Mexico have a rich history of success and failures in other cross-border enforcement actions such as in
drug enforcement.
29 In a nutshell, the argument asserts that when countries are allowed to focus on what they do best and produce the
goods that they are best at making - what they have a competitive advantage in - international trading in such goods
can create mutual gains and thus benefit eveiyone. See Neumayer, supra note 4; see also Richard B. Stewart,
International Trade and the Environment: Lessons from the Fedreal Experience, 49 Wash. & LeeL. Rev. 1329
(1992); Johnstone, supra note 3, at 34-45.
Alternatively, competition pressures may keep environmental standards low. When such low standards are
combined with increased pressures for industrialization and economic development, the overall impacts on the
environment and populations may be similar.
31 See, e.g., Dina ElBoghdady, Stitching Together A Strategy; Levi Strauss to Move Manufacturing Overseas, WASH.
Post, Apr. 9,2002, at El (describing Levi's move overseas after a long history of U.S. manufacturing); Warren
Vieth, President Pushes Lawmakers to Expand Trade Legislation, L.A. Times, Apr. 5, 2002, at C3 (describing the
arguments between the President and Senate Democrats over additional funding for wakers displaced by foreign
competition).
32 Evelyn Iritani, High-Paid Jobs Latest U.S. Export, L.A. Times, Apr. 2,2002, at A1 (discussing the loss of
engineering, design, and other high-paying jobs in the U.S., with misplaced workers having a hard time finding
replacement jobs).
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are available. In essence, trade links not only markets and economies, but also the fate and
welfare of distant people and communities.
Such issues have raised important questions about the impacts of NAFTA. Many have
suggested that competitive pressures have kept environmental standards and worker protections
lower on the Mexican side of the border than on the U.S. However, other insidious effects have
also arisen. At the border, holding government officials responsible for protecting border
communities and the environment is already difficult because of competitive pressures and
economic development. When added to images of people who are associated with a third-world
nation and stereotypes of populations usually linked with illegal immigrants and criminals, it is
often difficult to foster attitudes that first-world environmental standards and protections should
be accorded them. Instead, weak environmental and health and safety standards or lax
enforcement are seen as a necessary price for achieving development needs and economic
prosperity. Thus, the failure of government officials to take complaints of environmental
injustice more seriously is not surprising
4. Border Environmental Justice and Problems of Accountability
Finally, the border also raises issues of responsibility and accountability by polluters,
governments, and international institutions for ensuring a healthy environment for all, including
environmental justice communities.
Corporate Responsibility.
What is a corporation's responsibility for protecting workers, communities, and the
environment from the adverse effects of pollution and other hazards created by its operations? It
means more than just complying with applicable laws and regulations. After all, a lack of
applicable regulatory standards does not necessarily imply environmental safety. Instead, it may
be a manifestation of inadequate regulation.
In the U.S., corporate image and consumer choice have a substantial effect on a
corporation's performance in the marketplace. Their operation can be a powerful force in
inducing a corporation to act responsibly towards workers, communities, and the environment.
However, to the extent that the poor, minorities, and other marginalized groups are unable to
exercise significant market power, third-world images and stereotypes suggest that such
populations do not need the same levels of health, safety, and environmental protections as
wealthier populations. In feet, physical distance of corporate officials from such problems,
whether in other countries or in marginalized and "invisible" communities, will leave them with
33 The argument has been made that it is not free trade but market failures and weak regulations that are responsible
for environmental degradation. However, free trade is oftentimes an essential ingredient for the exploitation of
inaiketfiulures and weak regulations and thus the creation of the observed social, economic, and political
dislocations. See generally Jagdish Bhagwati, Trade and the Environment: The FaUm Conflict? in Trade and the
Environment 159-90 (Durwood Zaelke et al. eds., 1993); Michael Raubcher, International Trade, Factor
Movements, and the Environment 6-15 (1997). In the end, such arguments about causal factors are less
assertions about causal connections and more normative or public policy judgments that are premised on the
inherent value of free markets.
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little reason to go beyond what is legally required,
mind."
Governmental Responsibility
In the end, "out of sight" is also often "out of
Of course, voluntary efforts, based on appeals to the moral sensibilities of corporate
officers and shareholders, can supplement existing regulatory structures. However, they cannot
substitute for government regulations since only such obligations are legally enforceable.
While the performance of the U.S. EPA in the border region has been far from a
resounding success, complaints about the Mexican government have been even greater. The
demands for industrial development and job creation in the border region arguably have made
the Mexican government a poor champion of the environmental and health and safety needs of
the border communities. Mexico's political system relies on a strong central government with
decision-making focused in Mexico City. As a result, government agencies have been even less
responsive to local and environmental justice concerns than U.S. government agencies.
Reorganization of the environmental regulatory agencies in Mexico and enactment of
stronger environmental laws have sought to improve environmental protection. But these
changes have not resolved many complaints about the Mure of Mexican government officials to
enforce environmental and health and safety standards. Complaints persist about failures to
protect maquiladora workers or to ensure that contaminated sites are appropriately cleaned up.34
Lack of resources devoted to environmental enforcement and remediation have been a
persistent theme of Mexican environmental regulation.35 For example, with regard to
contamination by hazardous wastes, Mexico has no fund similar to the U.S.' Superfund law.36
And in spite of statutory requirements requiring the remediation of contaminated sites and
making die contamination of soils illegal, there is no public information and Mexico has never
made available information to counter persistent complaints that such laws have not been
enforced.37
The Mexican government itself reported recently that the Tijuana office of PROFEPA
(the Mexican Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection) had as of 1993 a
total of 14 staff persons, including 6 inspectors and 2 lawyers, who worked on
proceedings relating to the maquiladora industry (740 companies in September
2000) as well as natural resources.... [A] total of 1,200 proceedings have been
instituted since 1993, and 800 of than remain open. [However,] 4 or 5
proceedings may relate to the same company.38
34 Metales y Derivados, Final Factual Record (SEM-98-007), North American Commission for Environmental
Cooperation [Metales Factual Record], available at
httn://www.cec.org/citizen/submissions/dfitails/index.cfm?varlan-english&TT>=67>
35 Id. at 42-45.
345 Id.
31 Id. at 44.
38 Id. at 43.
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According to EPA, "between August 1996 and March 2000, a total of 210 new maquiladoras
were built in Tijuana or an average of one per week, while in that same period the number of
inspectors and other personnel of the Profepa State Office in Tijuana remained essentially the
same."39
The U.S. government has been comparatively more diligent in this regard. Yet, many
have suggested that at the border, its programmatic efforts remain inadequate. Rather than
confining its programmatic activities to the U.S. side of the border region, its efforts should
address border environmental justice issues more comprehensively. Pollution and environmental
degradation are not only affected by government regulatory activities where the facility is
physically located. For example, U.S. corporations may receive U.S. government support for
their profit-making activities outside of the U.S., such as through loan guarantees extended by
federal government agencies to corporate business activities abroad.
More broadly, U.S. involvement in the activities that have affected the development of
the border, such as co-sponsorship of the Bracero program, also suggests at least some minimal
moral responsibility for contemporary problems at the border. The U.S. was intimately involved
in the creation of the Bracero Program. Ending the program in 1964 led to increased
unemployment as well as pressures for the establishment of programs to promote ^
industrialization in northern Mexico and the establishment of the maquiladora industry.
Moreover, U.S. corporations that relocate operations and facilities across the border to Mexico
frequently continue to benefit the U.S., such as through repatriated profits. When one considers
the pro-active and assertive efforts of the U.S. government regarding issues such as drug
smugglings the lack of significant comparable efforts related to environmental enforcement
matters is troubling.
International Institutions
The creation of international institutions such as the BECC, the NADBank, and the CEC
has not provided ready solutions. As noted, none have made environmental justice a
programmatic priority. Their responsiveness to concerns raised by the poor and minorities
continues to be inadequate. The institutions are accountable only to U.S. and Mexican
government officials, rather than to citizens directly. Their lack of interest and commitment to
environmental justice issues inevitably reflects the low priorities that their party states truly
assign to issues of equity and public participation, border environmental justice issues are
simply not of sufficient importance to warrant expending serious political capital with another
39 M at 43.
40 See Overseas Private Investment Corporation, at http://www.opic.gov (last visited June 5,2002); David
Ivanovich, The Fall of Enron: Government Aid to Enron Could Haunt Taxpayers, Hous. Chron., Feb. 21,2002, at
13 (discussing OPIC's role in the Enron corporation's foreign investment).
41 Tom Barry, Ed. Mexico A Country Guide, 76 (1992). Under the maquiladora program, foreign corporations
were given financial incentives to invest in manufacturing and assembly facilities on the Mexican side of the border.
See Joel L. Silverman, Note, The 'Giant Sucking Sound'Revisited: A Blueprint to Prevent Pollution Havens by
Extending NAFTA's Unheralded 'Eco-Dumping'Provisions to the New World Trade Organization, 24 Ga. J. Int'l
and Comp. L. 347,350 (1994).
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government. Instead, transfer of authority and financial resources to these institutions permits
member governments to deflect criticism about their own failures with regard to cross-border
environmental problems.
For example, creation of the CEC was designed to create an international organization
charged with illuminating environmental matters in North America. The citizen submission of
the NAAEC was to allow citizens some direct input into such international environmental
efforts. The process allows citizens to challenge a government's failure to effectively enforce its
environmental laws. However, there are no substantive remedies for such a failure. In large
part, this is a reflection of the nature of most international institutions and their lack of direct
accountability to individuals, a persistent problem of international environmental governance.43
However, it also illustrates the lack of commitment by the member states to real and substantive
public participation by citizens and local communities. In the end, international institutions that
are neither transparent nor responsive to citizen input are important contributors to cross-border
environmental justice problems.
D. Recognizing the Importance of Environmental Justice at the Border
Lack of responsiveness by government programs to the poor and people of color,
communities that straddle the border, and non-citizens has led to significant community distress
and anger at the Border. It implies that such communities are marginal not only socially and
economically, but also as a matter of governmental priority. It confirms that second-class
citizenship is not just a socially created fact, based on private discriminatory actions, but that it is
also reinforced and adopted by government officials.
Thus, as Jose Bravo of the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice
(SNEEJ) put it, border communities needed to "come together as environmental justice
[advocates] and let federal agencies really know how [the border community] really feels.. .as
well as hold [them] accountable on all issues." In essence, efforts at environmental protection at
the border, such as sustainable development planning, cannot occur without the participation and
input of local communities and myopically focus on ecological issues alone. Steps to address
social and human development problems must be integral parts of such planning.
Then-OIA Assistant Administrator William Nitze acknowledged such community
frustration and the need for more programs such as Border XXI, the BECC, and the NADBank
during Roundtable discussions. Such concerns, including the need for EPA Regions 6 & 9 to be
more responsive to environmental justice concerns, were raised prior to the Border Roundtable.
EPA Region 6 & 9 appear to have continued their efforts to address environmental justice issues.
In particular, they have engaged in further outreach efforts to communities and industry,
42 See Margaret Wilder, Border Farmers, Water Contamination, and the NAAEC Environmental Side Accord to
NAFTA, 40 Nat. Resources J. 873 (2000) (discussing CEC's citizen submission process in the of Mexican
fanners).
43 See James Cameron & Ruth Mackenzie, Access to Environmental Justice and Procedural Rights in International
Institutions, in Human Rights Approaches to Environmental Protection 124-52 (Alan E. Boyle & Micy.1
R. Anderson eds., 1996).
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including holding further roundtable discussion in the border region on the next 5-year-plan
under Border XXI.
These efforts are to be commended. However, government efforts to address
environmental justice issues must go much farther than they have in the past. EPA, its Mexican
counterparts, and the border institutions must recognize that their responsibilities to the border
communities go far beyond their explicit regulatory powers or specific mandates. As Alan Hecht
recognized, conscientious discharge of government agencies' responsibilities for the border
communities requires not only use of their regulatory powers but also their political and
persuasive powers to ensure the success of efforts that will improve the lives and environment of
those living and working in the border region. This must become one of the highest priorities for
government programs addressing border issues.
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EL The U.S.-Mexico Border Roundtable
A. The Goals of the U.S.-Mexico Border Roundtable
The International Roundtable on Environmental Justice at the U.S.-Mexico border arose
out of longstanding concerns communities have had about environmental justice issues at the
border. In particular, it sought to engage a range of constituencies about the nature of the
racially, socially and economically disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation in the
border region. Participants included representatives and members of communities of color;
indigenous peoples; women; labor, environmental justice and environmental protection
advocates and activists; affected communities and grassroots groups; the private sector; the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other U.S. federal agencies; and Mexican
government officials.
Its functions were three-fold. First, the Roundtable was to provide an opportunity for
stakeholders to raise problems and concerns that have not been adequately addressed and to
provide recommendations to EPA on how things can be improved. Second, the Roundtable was
intended to educate federal, state, and local government officials in the U.S. and Mexico about
border environmental justice concerns in depth and to give them an opportunity to hear first-hand
from the communities directly affected. It transformed environmental justice issues from an
abstract issue into human faces M specific problems. Third, the Roundtable was intended to
formally initiate an ongoing participatory, cooperative, and inclusive process among diverse
stakeholders to address border environmental justice issues, including the development of an
environmental justice strategic work plan.
Specific objectives identified by the International Subcommittee for the Roundtable
included:
• Defining and tracing the evolution of national and international environmental justice
issues;
• Identifying environmental justice issues on the border (i.e., colonias, water/sanitation,
commercial development, ate clean-up, international laws that cause impacts or alleviate
environmental justice issues, etc.);
• Providing an overview of domestic and bi-national border programs (federal, state, and
local, as well as non-governmental, academic, etc.) and exploring ways to address
environmental justice concerns through these existing programs or processes;
• Developing environmental justice border policies, acquiring resources, and implementing
strategies that ensure that impacted communities, local initiatives, and populations are
included in regional growth plans addressing economic, environmental, and equity issues
for the border;
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• Identifying existing enforcement and cleanup processes to address environmental justice
issues;
• Focusing on the education of ALL participants (for example, by discussing case studies,
presenting an overview of environmental activities along the border, providing answers to
commonly asked questions, conducting a tour of local sites);
• Reviewing the effectiveness of existing community involvement opportunities and
develop recommendations for improvement (for example, community monitoring);
• Identifying new opportunities for communities to participate in border activities and
developing recommendations.
B. The Roundtable: A Summary Overview44
The Roundtable was held from Thursday August 19 to Saturday August 21,1999. The
first day was dedicated to a fact-finding tour by Roundtable participants and a public dialogue
period. On the fact-finding tour, participants visited areas around Tijuana, Mexico and San
Diego, California, including communities and industrial sites on both sides of the border. The
public dialogue period saw 22 participants from local community groups express concerns about
specific regional issues and environmental conditions along the border.
On the following day, the Roundtable opened with remarks from Arnoldo Garcia, then-
Chair of the NEJAC International Subcommittee, William Nitze, then-Assistant Administrator of
the EPA Office of International Activities, and Jose Bravo of the Southwest Network for
Environmental and Economic Justice. Following these remarks, two panels addressed EPA
environmental justice programs on the border and Regions 6 and 9 intentions to integrate
environmental justice into its work plans. The first panel, made up of senior managers from
various divisions within the EPA, focused on international programs in the region, including the
Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance work group, the Border XXI program, the La Paz
Agreement, the BECC and NADBank. The second panel, featuring representatives from EPA
Region 6 and Region 9 and their Mexican counterparts, provided an overview of current border
programs and outlines for future integration of environmental justice into its work plans.
Keynote speakers Greg Cooke, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 6, Felicia
Marcus, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 9, Diane Takvorian, Executive Director of the
Environmental Health Coalition, and Richard Moore of the Southwest Network for
Environmental and Economic Justice then addressed the participants during the lunch period.
The reminder of the afternoon was dedicated to smaller work groups addressing the
following specific environmental justice concerns:
44 A more detailed description ofthc events and the discussions ofthe Roundtable are set out in Appendix B.
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1) Environmental Justice and Labor;
2) Immigration, Trade, and the Environment;
3) Indigenous Peoples and Border Justice; and
4) Environmental Health.
These sessions were led by a moderator and included a diverse panel of speakers designed to
facilitate dialogue between participants. Members from federal, state, and local government;
community groups; indigenous groups; and other organizations participated. Each work group
prepared a list of recommendations for future action in the border region.
The third final day of the Roundtable was dedicated to de-briefing reports by the
individual work groups to the remainder of the Roundtable participants and reflection on the
conclusions of the meeting. Each work group reported on the topics of discussion,
commitments, and recommendations resulting from their discussions. The combined
recommendation list provides an example of the long list of problems and concerns that border
communities hope to resolve through a new, cooperative approach to addressing environmental
issues along the border.
C. The Neglected Issues: Voices from the Border Region
The issues raised at the Roundtable do not include all the environmental problems found
in the border region. Rather, community participants focused on those concerns that are largely
unaddressed or neglected by regulatory agencies, yet are of serious concern to communities.
Such matters ranged from traditional pollution control and toxics concerns to community
frgalth labor, anrf related social issues. The recommendations address matters of substance, such
as the inadequacy of applicable environmental health and safety standards and unsatisfactory
outcomes of EPA enforcement or regulatory actions. They also address issues of process, such
as the lack of opportunities for environmental justice communities to be meaningfully involved
in the decision-making processes of border institutions and language barriers to the accessibility
flnr) use of environmental information. Accompanying the communities' general concerns were
also site-specific issues, such as the abandoned Metales y Derivados lead battery-recycling
facility.
For organizational purposes, community concerns have been grouped thematically as
follows:
1) Water Pollution,
2) Hazardous Waste and Toxics,
3) Community Health,
4) Environmental and Labor Justice,
5) Trade, Migration and Environment,
6) Indigenous People, and
7) Border Communities and Public Involvement.
45 The recommendations of the workgroups are set out in detail in Appendix B.
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Several of these themes track the concurrent work group sessions conducted at the Roundtable
and address the issues raised there. Some of them also overlap significantly, illustrating the
interrelationship of the issues to each other.
Three general concerns pervaded the Roundtable discussions. The most significant was a
call on EPA to ensure greater involvement and input by environmental justice communities in
the policy formulation process of planning the border environment. The second was the need to
raise environmental health and safety standards along with other protections for communities on
both sides of the border. Finally, communities called on the EPA and the federal government to
act sooner rather than later - to take responsibility for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being
of border communities rather than engaging in exercises of assigning blame.
Ultimately, the environmental and public health problems of the border region must be
considered in the larger context of the region's social, political, economic, and historical
background. Isolating and abstracting particular issues leaves out important components and
relations that may be crucial to understanding their impacts and importance to the border
communities. It is in that sense that these problems must be solved together.
1. Water Pollution
As has been apparent from the past activities of the Border Environment Cooperation
Commission, the North American Development Bank, and EPA, water pollution issues,
including the provisioning of drinking water, have been the highest priority for border
institutions and government agencies. The majority of NADBank funding aid other institutional
activities have focused on construction of sanitary sewage treatment facilities, such as the
International Wastewater Treatment Plant, creation of potable water systems, and related
programs.
Water issues are undoubtedly of great importance to communities at the border.
However, EPA, BECC, and the NADBank efforts must address the continuing community
concerns about groundwater contamination stemming from industrial waste discharges and
agricultural pesticide usage, in addition to sanitary wastes.
Roundtable participants were aware of an EPA investigation at the Muro Farm Labor
Camp regarding direct sewer discharges in contact with the drinking water supply.46 Roundtable
participants also raised many concerns about other sources of drinking water contamination,
ranging from trichloroethylene (TCE) in Tucson, Arizona's water supply47 to the use of former-
toxic waste drums used to store drinking water.48 In addition, tribal participants expressed
concerns about pesticide run-offs and other polluting substances ailecting groundwater.49 More
broadly, communities have been frustrated about the quantity of available dean water, noting
46 See Summary of Fact-Finding Tour infra Appendix B p. 2.
47 See Ms. Cecilia Campillo's comments infra Appendix B p. 6.
nSee Recommendations related to Environmental and Labor Justice infra Appendix B p. 38.
49 See Summary of Fact-Finding Tour infra Appendix B p. 2.
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that it has been very difficult for impoverished communities to compete for water resources with
more established industrial users.
2. Hazardous Waste and Toxics
Hazardous wastes and toxics have been another important concern of Roundtable
participants. EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Steve
Herman, reported progress in the enforcement of hazardous waste laws, especially through the
bi-national Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance work group. Such efforts have sought to
promote cooperation in the bringing of enforcement cases, demonstrated for example by an
investigation in which two U.S. firms and a Mexican target were caught attempting to transport
waste across the border. In addition, efforts by EPA Region 6 have provided community grants,
supported sister city emergency response plans, made available public information centers, and
managed the HAZTracks waste transportation monitoring system.
Nevertheless, these efforts have not fully mitigated hazardous waste problems.
Complaints were especially serious with regard to facilities on the Mexican side of the border
and the failure by border institutions, such as the BECC and the NADBank, to respond
adequately.
Abandoned Hazardous Waste Sites and Illegal Disposals
Abandonment of hazardous wastes has been a serious problem because of the apparent
ease with which responsible parties have been able to avoid enforcement actions by crossing the
border. While cooperation between U.S. and Mexican enforcement authorities should
theoretically prevent such occurrences, complaints about abandoned or unremediated sites and
the failure to hold the responsible parties accountable have been persistent.
Chief among them has been a site in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico commonly known
as Metales y Derivados. The Metales y Derivados site is a severely contaminated location that
contains an abandoned lead battery recycling plant, formerly operated by New Frontier
Corporation. After operating the open-air facility for 10 years, the plant was closed without
remediation of the lead-laden soil. A cement wall was placed around it by Mexico's
environmental administrative agency (PROFEPA) in 1994 and the plant was closed. However,
such measures have neither ensured that the public cannot access the site nor prevented
contaminated soil and dust from escaping and contaminating neighboring properties. No
substantive remediation has taken place.
Another notorious rate has been the Alco Pacifico facility in Tijuana, Baja California,
Mexico. The Alco Pacifico site was formerly operated by its U.S.-based parent, RSR Chemetco,
and later abandoned. RSR has reputedly been responsible also for other contaminated sites in
Mexico; West Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and North Carolina. Some time after the
site was abandoned, contaminated soil from the site was excavated and placed in a landfill.50
30 See Summary of Fact Finding Tour infra Appendix B pp. 2-3. Placement of this waste in Hennosillo has led
residents there to file a citizen submission under the NAFTA environmental side agreement. PROFEPA officials
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Hazardous waste sites have also affected urban communities, such as San Diego's Barrio
Logan. There, the Crosby Street Park was constructed in response to nearby residents' requests
for access to the bay to fish. However, in the end the park was built on a brownfields site with
low-level petroleum contamination, and fishing is prohibited due to contamination in the bay.
Related to illegal and abandoned waste sites is the problem of entities and individuals
who have previously abandoned a polluted site and who later begin operation of a new facility
elsewhere. One example of such an occurrence is in Anthony, New Mexico, where the owner of
a proposed metal plating facility had previously abandoned two metal finishing plants in El Paso,
Texas. Even though the community strongly opposed the proposed construction of the facility,
EPA's response was that its jurisdiction over such matters was narrowly limited.51
Siting Issues
Industrial and waste facility siting has also been a prevalent issue of concern for border
communities. In the U. S. and Mexico, a portion of industrial facility problems is attributable to
mixed zoning where land is used for industrial and residential development Like in many other
environmental justice communities, highly polluting industries are frequently located just steps
from neighborhoods and schools.52 Among the solutions sought by community participants for
such problems is the establishment of buffer zones and the imposition of moratoria on industrial
developers with a track record of polluting or violating local ordinances.
Participants also raised waste and toxics issues when members of poor and minority
communities purchase land. Because impoverished communities do not have easy access to
information concerning the past uses of land, they have on occasions been severely taken
advantage of with regard to potentially contaminated land. For example in New Mexico,
impoverished migrant farmers were sold undeveloped land located over a landfill. As these
fanners built their community on this land, they encountered significant legal and other problems
in dealing with the contamination issues.
Participants also alleged that the dump operating in Sierra Blanca, Texas violates the La
Paz agreement.53 This concern has been supported by a resolution signed by the Mexican
Ambassador to the U.S. along with 600 Representatives and 200 Senators of the Mexican
government, requesting that the dump be shut down. Apparently, the Texas Natural Resources
Conservation Commission (TNRCC) approved the sludge dump without conducting a public
hearing and without issuing a permit, approving it on the premise that it would study the
beneficial uses of the sludge. Much of the waste originates from sources in New York and other
have stated that the Alco Pacifico facility has been cleaned up. However, Francisco Pavlovich and Jose Bravo both
asserted that the site had not been comprehensively cleaned, and that the community around the site "was not even
touched."
51 See Roger Pefia's comments infra Appendix. B p. 5.
52 One example of this is Cesar Chavez High School in Houston, TX. See Juan Porras's comments infra Appendix
Bpp. 3-4. San I^ego's Barrio Logan is another example of this problem. See Summary of Fact-Finding Tour infra
Appendix B pp. 1-2.
53 See Bill Aldington's comments infra Appendix B p. 4.
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states. Although Texas assertedly applies the more stringent law of either the sending or
receiving state, and even though the waste would not be suitable for disposal in the dump under
New York law, the TNRCC approved the dump without a permit. A Title VI complaint filed
with EPA was dismissed on procedural grounds.
Effects of Hazardous Waste on Water and Health
Community participants also alleged adverse impacts from hazardous waste on water and
health issues on both sides of the border. Complaints include hazardous chemicals
contaminating drinking water sources depended upon by large portions of the population. Since
communities are frequently unaware of the contamination, responses to health problems
connected to the contaminated water are unnecessarily delayed. In Mexico, communities believe
that many of the public health problems are caused by the illegal releases of toxic substances into
the communal water supply. Participants pointed to an unusually large number of children with
learning disabilities in Mexico. Participants also noted that community exposure to U.S. Air
Force-released trichloroethylene in drinking water has exposed residents to increased health risks
in Tucson, Arizona.
Regulatory Enforcement
Crucial to addressing hazardous waste and toxics problems are enforcement actions
responding to regulatory violations. Community participants asserted the need for heavier
sanctions for regulatory violations as well as for quicker responses to complaints related to the
illegal transboundary transport and dumping of hazardous wastes. Increased coordination efforts
by EPA and the Mexican government in this regard, notably through EPA's HAZTracks system
and its Mexican counterpart, have been a positive step. However, greater efforts at ensuring that
wastes are repatriated to the country of origin, as required under the La Paz Agreement, are still
necessary.
Transboundary and local pollution effects on environmental justice communities also
emphasize the need for more cross-border cooperation in bringing enforcement actions against
maquiladora plants and other industrial facilities. Greater involvement of citizens in facilitating
enforcement efforts and closer attention to community complaints is crucial. Community
residents are frequently the first to notice violations. And they will frequently also be the most
knowledgeable of health and environmental concerns of the community, the specific facilities
associated with such concerns, and the adequacy of remedial actions.
3. Community Health
Community health concerns were among the most important issues raised by community
participants. Many of these concerns were related to the adequacy and enforcement of
environmental standards designed to protect community health, the processes by which health
54 For example, Mr. Manuel Llano, a former chemical industry engineer, stated that he had written numerous letters
to Mexican authorities documenting the illegal transportation of hazardous waste by businesses, yet has received no
response. See Manuel Llano's comments infra Appendix B p. 17.
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studies were conducted to measure health impacts, and the existing health care infrastructure
designed to prevent and respond to health concerns once they had been raised.
Health Impacts of Pollution and Toxins
Border immunities are exposed to a wide variety of health risks, including pesticides,
toxins, and other carcinogenic chemicals at work, in the air, and in the water. To address such
problems, regulatoiy efforts must address the sources of such exposures proactively. In
particular, a human health-centered perspective requires that prevention of health impairments be
the primary focus of governmental efforts, in addition to better treatments following exposure.
Roundtable participants pointed to the common field use of pesticides by the agricultural
industry, including at time alleged application of DDT, without community consent or input. For
agricultural workers, such exposure problems are exacerbated by a lack of training in handling
toxins and inadequate warnings about their health effects. While the EPA mandates that
warnings be placed on dangerous chemicals and substances in the U.S., such regulations do not
exist on the Mexican side of the border. Furthermore, proper training on the safe use of such
toxic chemicals is rare. Providing use and handling training as well as follow-up health risk
assesjerwftnt tests that would evaluate the effects of pesticide residues on the health of the
community members could prevent many of these problems.
Serious concerns were also raised about the environmental health risks posed by
maquiladoras, especially to women workers exposed to heavy metals, organic solvents, and acids
on a daily basis. These exposures have been closely associated with the unusually large
percentage of babies born in the border area with neural tube defects.
Communities have responded through projects such as the Environmental Health
Coalition's efforts to train women to be promoters, or lay environmental health activists.55
Another community-based environmental health project is Aqua 21, which aims to improve
health through improved water sanitation. Its efforts focus on both improving water purification
and infrastructure and promoting basic water safety education through small, community-based
organizations in the most impoverished neighborhoods. Much of the program's success has been
attributed to the number of organizations working together in bi-national cooperative efforts.56
Finally, participants also expressed interest in integrating the concerns, programs, and
activities of different environmental justice groups operating along the border. Participants
pointed to the use of health-related issues as a unifying theme, specifically recommending the
use of health based standards for environmental protection rather than cost-benefit-based
standards. In ^HHitinn participants suggested that the EPA support and promote standardization
among the health registers maintained separately by the U.S. and Mexico.
"See Martha Vald&'s comments infra Appendix B p. 33.
56 See Claudia Laffont Castellon's comments infra Appendix B pp. 33-34.
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University Research Programs and Health Studies
Participants noted various problems with university programs that fund health studies
along the border. The three main concerns were deficiencies in community involvement at the
planning stages, reports back to the community, and follow-up health care for residents whose
ailments have been studied. The net result is that health studies frequently do not translate into
improved health care for communities in studied areas.
One participant noted that border communities are attractive study sites for universities
because of their demographics and obvious health problems. However, the research group may
not address issues that the community feels are important in its area. Participants suggested that
academic institutions be required to prepare and implement a plan for the active implementation
of research findings to solve, not just analyze, community problems.
Many community members present were concerned that communities often were not
involved in the planning process for these studies, resulting in a lack of accountability on the part
of the university to the studied community. Participants urged that communities should be given
greater influence over research plans by allowing them to play a larger role in the process of
awarding grants for research and in matters regarding funding to implement portions of the
research program. Participants also pointed out that the most important step is to involve
communities at the planning stage of any research program in the region. This includes
obtaining input from communities about health issues perceived to be the most important and
including them at the beginning of any research program. Furthermore, participants felt that
better communications between communities and researchers should be established early on in
the planning stages in order to increase the sharing of data and findings.
While problems exist with many of the research programs conducted in the region, it was
noted that some programs, particularly those at Howard University and Johns Hopkins
University, provide excellent examples of programs that practically benefit the communities.
These programs have demonstrated a proven ability to positively affect the social and
environmental quality of life in surrounding communities. Such examples should serve as a
model for future health studies in the region.
Participants expressed frustration with the low level of community involvement in
decisions and lack of participation in the development of public health studies sponsored by
government agencies. They urged EPA to strengthen policies that ensure community
participation in the development and implementation of programs, such as mandating fiscal
sharing by applicants with local organizations in carrying out health studies.
One participant noted that through a forma* congressional add-on, the EPA had been able
to award up to $250,000 to universities doing research along the border that would partner with a
community organization in its efforts. However, many community members attending the
session stated that reintroducing such a program would be inadequate due to insufficient
community influence. Currently, they explained, many universities are teamed with community
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organizations that represent a very small part of the surrounding community and are not
receiving substantial community input.
Innovative Technology and Data Analysis
A problem associated with health studies is the need for innovative research techniques to
analyze environmental health problems. Often a health effect cannot be traced back to a single
source due to the number of potential contributing causes. It was suggested that much of the
environmental monitoring currently being conducted on the border did not measure true border
resident exposures. To improve research, participants suggested as an example the idea that air
quality monitoring be conducted through devices placed on people rather than on rooftops or
other stationary locations. Other data and technology recommendations focused on promoting
low-cost technologies, both software and hardware, for the gathering of environmental and
health information. Just as important, they stated, is the building of accurate and accessible data
and information programs in both English and Spanish.
Health Care Infrastructure, Capacity Building, and Women's Health
Health problems related to exposure from toxins in all forms directly raises issues of
health care availability to address or prevent such problems. Presently there is a lack of funding,
trained professionals, and clinics available to those in need. Throughout the region, particularly
on the Mexican side of the border, there is a shortage of existing, affordable community clinics.
Existing government health services and environmental agencies are not properly equipped to
meet the needs of these communities. Their structures are oftentimes impediments to solving
health care issues. Participants suggested that existing agency structures should be re-evaluated
in this light with the goal of improving responsiveness to the needs of the surrounding
community.37 Funding to establish more clinics, including clinics dealing with specific diseases
like AIDS and tuberculosis, among others, should be considered in this context.
Efforts to meet border health care needs are also affected by area residents routinely
crossing the border for such purposes. This leads to difficulties in monitoring health data in the
region. More bi-national cooperation to monitor and disseminate health and data and to
provide funding must occur. Ideally, EPA and the Mexican government should treat the border
area as a single unified region regardless of the political boundary. In other words, funding for
the border region should not be so heavily concentrated along the U.S. side of the border; rather,
there should be a more equitable dispersion of project funding using already existing
mechanisms. Thus, funding should support communities presently lariring any nearby health
care, allowing clinics to focus on local health issues.
The United States and Mexican governments must also cooperate to fill regulatory g»rg
existing between the sides of the border. Participants suggested that concerns about the human
health impacts from trade exposures often take a back seat to the drive for economic benefits and
increased industrial development The health needs of both Mexican and United States
57 See Beth Hailstock's comments infra Appendix B p. 33.
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in the region cannot be ignored and will require increased regulation, enforcement, funding for
clinics, and dissemination of health data in both Spanish and English.
Community efforts moved forward in this regard. One organization, the Border Health
Initiative, has established 37 community clinics in Tijuana, Mexico.58 However, community
efforts alone are not enough and require further government support. Funding requests to
expand training on environmental health for promotoras and health professionals, establish
contingency funds for community and environmental health clinics, and create a liaison position
between EPA and environmental justice communities have been made.
Participants also described in detail situations in which women of all ages work in
maquiladoras where they are exposed to a variety of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals for at least
48 hours a week. Due to financial and time constraints, it is often impossible for them to see a
doctor except to treat an acute problem. One participant noted that recently in one border
community, a women's clinic is open one Saturday per month, specifically examining women
for cervical cancer and providing mammograms. In one day, she reported, the clinic may see
approximately 70 women from various nearby communities seeking out these needed services.
4. Environmental Justice and Labor Justice Issues
Even though labor issues are not traditionally viewed as environmental issues, the broad
view of environmental justice held by many communities includes matters of economic justice
and labor.39 The connection may be direct, when workers are forced to work in unsafe or
unhealthy surroundings. However, it may also be indirect, when labor rights violations are a
retaliatory response to worker efforts to assure a healthy and safe workplace or to obtain
company compliance with regulations and standards designed to protect the natural environment
and surrounding communities. In fact, a workplace that does not respect worker rights is
unlikely to be concerned about environmental compliance and pollution control more generally.
Maquiladoras, assembly and manufacturing plants on the Mexican side of the border
raise many concerns related to wage and hour discrimination, dangerous safety conditions,
gender inequalities, exposures to toxic substances, and antagonism to the formation of labor
unions. EPA and other government agencies on both sides of the border must cooperate more
closely to improve oversight of maquiladora environmental permitting as well as compliance
with environmental and labor laws. A key concern for government officials ™n«t be to
strengthen existing environmental and labor laws in Mexico and to vigorously enforce the laws
on both sides of the border.
Female workers at maquiladoras face especially serious problems. They often work in an
atmosphere that includes sexual assault, violence, wage inequality, and discrimination
pregnant women. Crucial to addressing such problems is the strengthening of laws ag^ct
gender discrimination and greater efforts by government agencies to encourage women to come
forward and report cases of discrimination and to investigate and prosecute any offenders.
58 See Carmen Cutter's comments infra Appendix B p. 33.
59 See Jose Bravo's comments infra Appendix B p. 22.
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According to a U.S. Department of Labor representative, it has sought to respond to some
of these workplace issues through the labor side agreement to NAFTA under its National
Administrative Office (NAO).60 Other participants described experiences with labor and
environmental justice ranging from maquiladora61 and migrant workers' issues,62 to economic
justice and fair treatment of border communities.63 For example, maquiladoras offer low
salaries, they expose workers to toxic substances, fail to train them in the proper use of such
substances, engage in gender discrimination, and even engage in sexual assault and violence,
particularly against young women.64 Moreover, border communities have a history of
exploitation. The economic development promoted in these communities are jobs that are not
wanted elsewhere, such as prisons, incinerators, dumps, hazardous materials, and mining. These
jobs are often associated with significant health problems, and occupational health and safety
standards are too low to adequately protect workers and communities.65
These side effects of NAFTA have largely remained unaddressed, even under the
NAFTA side-agreements. Workers have filed complaints and organized better labor unions to
protect themselves, but companies have retaliated by firing workers engaged in these activities.
Even strikes have been ineffective, as companies can replace the workers the very next day. In
order to compensate for these problems, participants argued that NAFTA needs to ensure a living
wage, the right to organize, and the need for just transition programs for those workers adversely
affected by NAFTA itself.66
See Eida Saragoza's comments infra Appendix B pp. 21-22. The NAO's direct functions include informing the
public about their labor rights; informing other agencies, such as the EPA and the U.S. State Department, about
violations; and promoting good corporate activities, with the overall aim of improving working conditions and living
standards in three NAFTA countries. The NAO has held public hearings to bring media attention to labor issues, to
inform political representatives, and to bring stakeholders together to discuss and address the issues. In addition,
former Secretary Alexis Herman created a women's bureau within the Labor Department, design^ to «*vgag«> in
community outreach to persuade women to come forward with their cases of sex discrimination.
Its function most directly related to maquiladora workers has been to accept complaints about violations of
labor laws in any of the NAFTA countries. The NAO has received complaints in Mexico against the United States,
as well as in the United States against Mexico. They include complaints from violations of worker health and safety
laws, wage and hour discrimination laws, and right to association laws. Unfortunately, the current status of the
NAO is unclear.
61 See Manuel Llano's comments infra Appendix B pp. 13-14 (describing the negative effects of working in the
chemical industry); Cipriana Jurado Herrera's comments infra Appendix B p. 23; Teresa Leal's mmmmn infra
Appendix B p. 23 (advocating the creation of a buffer zone around industries to combat pollution concerns);
Francisco Pavlovich's comments infra Appendix B p. 16 (describing the violations at the Cytrar site).
62 See Fernando Cuevas's comments infra Appendix B p. 21 (describing issues with regard to migrant farm workers
in the U.S.); Carlos Marentes's comments infra Appendix Bp. 6 (emphasizing that low wages, health risk* and lack
of health benefits continue to present serious problems for farm workers); Alan Valencia's infra
Appendix B p. 17 (describing the risks that pesticides pose to farm workers).
63 See, e.g., Cesar Luna's comments infra Appendix B p. 23 (commenting on the U.S. Navy's plan to build a large
home-port for nuclear-powered vessels in south San Diego).
64 See Cipriana Jurado Herrera's comments infra Appendix B p. 23.
a See Ruben Solis's comments infra Appendix B p. 22.
66 Id
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Topic-specific Discussions
Wage Discrimination. Participants urged strongly that the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) become more involved in labor issues at the border.
Community participants indicated that the EEOC has been very responsive in Texas and has
brought successful wage discrimination complaints. Community participants also raised
concerns about industries moving to lower-wage countries and suggested that such companies
should have to pay their workers the same wages as in the U.S.
Participants also called for development of a "Just Transition" programs under NAFTA
to assist workers affected by the migration of firms to other countries. Such programs must be
'just" and include elements to address medical health concerns of the displaced workers.
Funding for the medical benefits program should come from the U.S. government and polluting
industry.
Maquiladoras. Participants raised the need to view concerns with maquiladoras as a
global issue that is not limited to the joint U.S.-Mexico border. Key priorities in this regard
include increased oversight of environmental permitting and compliance by both the U.S. and
Mexican governments, the "repatriation" of waste to the country of origin of the maquiladora,
and investigations into the general and reproductive health of workers in maquiladora industries.
Other key concerns include strengthening weak sanctions for violations of labor and
environmental laws and extending requirements for the recycling of wastewater. Finally,
companies must be prevented from escaping stricter environmental laws in one country by
moving to the country with weaker standards, but instead held to the stricter standards.
Site-Specific Concerns. Participants also raised concents about several industrial sites
and affected communities located in Mexico and the United States. In addition to requests for
assistance in remediating the Cytrar and Metales y Derivados sites, participants called for action
in Anapra, Chihuahua; Candados Presto; ARASCO; Sierra Blanca, Sunland Park, New Mexico;
Valle Juarez; and the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo watershed basin.67
Bilateral Cooperation and Agreements. Participants raised significant dissatisfaction with
the inadequacy of protections afforded to border residents under existing bi-national agreements.
Frustration included the level of protection afforded by the La Paz Agreement with regard to
mining industry activities, particularly facilities employing cyanide to leech out ore. Because
drops in the metals market might encourage owners to abandon mines without cleanup,
participants called for the establishment of an international tribunal to address the shutdown and
remediation of closed mines. In addition, several participants called for NAFTA be renegotiated,
along with the side agreements for the BECC and the NADBank. In particular, entities such as
the CEC Labor Commission should be given independent decision making power and granted
the capacity to enforce the agreement.
Participants also requested an international border commission to specifically address
issues related to environmental justice on the U.S.-Mexico border. Such a commission would be
67 For more detailed recommendations, see page 40.
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better able to ensure that environmental justice communities are treated and viewed as an equal
partner in the decision-making.
Civil Rights Concerns. Many participants expressed dismay at the status of
administrative complaints filed with EPA under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title
VI). They characterized the implementation of EPA's administrative guidelines as "a failure"
because of the lack of any positive decisions in response to a community complaint. Urging the
EPA to be more proactive in investigating complaints rather than dismissing them out of hand,
the participants stated that the agency needs to revise its implementing procedures and develop
"community-friendly," understandable guidelines that clearly describe what complaints are
appropriate and acceptable.
5. Immigration, Trade, and Environment
The effects of increased trade on the environment have already been the subject of
significant interest by environmentalists. However, the relationship of immigration to
environmental issues, and particularly with regard to environmental justice for border
communities, has been largely neglected. Government agencies have also largely Med to
understand the link between immigration and environmental degradation.
According to Arnoldo Garcia, the challenge of the relationship between immigrating
trade, and the environment consists of "how... we combine environmental protection with
human rights issues framed as environmental justice issues, given that the authority of EPA in
this instance is very limited." He suggested that the limitations of orthodox views about this
relationship require that one "expand the mindset" of how environmental protection takes place
within the context of immigration and trade by examining the cause of immigration; determining
how trade impacts our communities on political, economic, and environmental levels; and
becoming more familiar with how we think of the border. It raises questions about whether the
border is just a political boundaiy or a different type of metropolitan region with different
dynamics of growth. Close scrutiny suggests that while the border may raise different obstacles
to achieving environmental justice, the fundamental policy goals of environmental justice should
not be different from those applicable domestically.
NAFTA's closer economic trade linkage of Mexico and the United States has amplify
the concentration of people and industries in the environmentally sensitive border region. The
result has not only been economic shifts of industries, including the growth of the maquiladora
industries in the northern parts of Mexico and changes in the economy elsewhere, but also
migrations of workers and their families.
Migration may be the result of a number of contributing factors, including poor economic
and development practices, environmental degradation, and the negative consequences of
globalization.68 TTiere are also important antecedents for massive migrations to northern Mexico
68 See Cathy Tactaquin's comments infra Appendix B p. 26; Maria Antonia Flora's comments infra Appendix B p.
26 (addressing deteriorating labor opportunities in El Paso and migration).
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and across the border to the U.S. in the Bracero and maquiladora programs.69 Some of that
migration now manifests itself as illegal immigration into the U.S. by those seeking employment
and a better life.
Government efforts to stop illegal immigration have had some direct environmental
consequences. Aggressive immigration enforcement has forced migrants to attempt more
dangerous crossings in high-mountain or desert areas. The resulting efforts by thousands of U.S.
border agents with cars, vans, and other equipment seeking to stop illegal immigration have put
additional stress on the sensitive border ecosystem. The riskier crossings have also led to many
more illegal migrants dying in their attempt to enter the United States.
Migration patterns, including illegal immigration, are thus connected to larger
international economic restructuring trends, as environmental degradation oftentimes is. Linkage
of markets results not only in the restructuring and disruption of national economies but also of
local economies. This recognition points out an insidious and unjust premise in the judgment of
those who blame immigration for environmental degradation rather than economic development,
consumption patterns in industrialized countries, and free trade. Inherent in blaming illegal
immigrants and the poor in developing countries for environmental degradation, rather than the
lifestyle and need for economic expansion of the economies of industrialized countries, is the
notion that the wealthy are entitled to be wealthy while the poor should stay poor. Instead, one
might argue, it is the economic needs of markets in the industrialized nations and their impacts
on local economies elsewhere that are the root causes of migration and the environmental
degradation that liberalized trade brings.
As a result, addressing traditional ecological problems and environmental justice issues at
the border will require not only efforts in addressing the causes of environmental degradation,
but also associated causes of social and economic disruption and inequities. It is the inextricable
linkage of these associated causes of social and economic inequities with environmental justice
that requires integrated efforts on all fronts to achieve environmental justice for border
communities.
Participants noted a number of issues relevant to immigration and trade, including more
general issues of globalization,70 human rights,71 and environmental racism. Participants
believed that a bi-national approach is crucial to solving these and other bi-national problems.
Mr. Roberto A. Sanchez-Rodriguez presented four recommendations for community
revitalization and improved environmental justice across the border. First, communities should
adopt a broader perspective when discussing the border and environmental justice. The agencies
and community groups must understand that the economy relates to the environment and the
social consequences that come from this dynamic. The border complicates these issues because
two nations and societies are involved. Even if Mexico's economy may have improved with
69 See Domingo Gonzales's comments infra Appendix B p. 28.
70 See Cathy Tactaquin's comments infra Appendix B p. 26.
71 See Roberto Martinez's comments infra Appendix B p. 27 (likening the "triple wall" near the International
Wastewater Treatment Plant to a demilitarized zone).
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NAFTA on the whole, ensuring the fair distribution of such benefits must be considered more
closely. Second, communities must also build coalitions among environmental justice groups
that include community organizations, labor unions, local authorities, federal and state agencies,
and business groups, avoiding the myth that business and industry are enemies. Third, coalitions
should set a positive precedent illustrating how cooperative efforts can function, so as to
accomplish overall change, rather than just individual victories. Finally, communities should
take advantage of existing organizations to create new opportunities for achieving environmental
justice, including greater reliance on sustainable development.
Mr. Sanchez-Rodriguez also suggested that the EPA must understand that NAFTA is
driving immigration from Mexico to the U.S. and that international trade agreements such as
GATT and NAFTA present the greatest threats to U.S. environmental laws. One recent example
included a Canadian NAFTA challenge to a California law banning certain toxics. More
significantly, however, free trade agreements effectively turn over democratic rights to multi-
national corporations whose interests are represented by NAFTA and GATT, leaving the local
communities at risk.
Lastly, Mr. Sanchez-Rodriguez also recommended that the EPA should provide an
agency progress report describing how the agency is being perceived, what progress has been
made, and how the agency can be improved. This information should be available to
communities to empower them to affect change.
Finally, since it is unlikely that NAFTA will be rescinded, participants acknowledged that
concerned parties will have to work within the parameters of NAFTA to improve the situation at
the border. However, the reality remains that populations at the border will continue to grow
exponentially, and people will move into environmental justice communities because there is no
other place for them to go. Thus, EPA will need to develop a bottom-up process to help solve
such problems, including investment in the education and training of border community
residents.
Topic-specific Discussion
Interagency and Bi-national Cooperation. The participants explored how various
agencies are working together to resolve border and environmental justice issues and how border
issues are being addressed on a bi-national level. OIA Deputy Assistant Administrator Alan
Hecht commented that the issue of government agencies cooperation is complicated because in
many instances the various agencies are not linked in any way to each other. However, the U.S.
and Mexico periodically do engage in cabinet-to-cabinet communications regarding high-level
policy issues. There have been suggestions to make Border XXI an organization that convenes
all agencies, though to-date, few multi-agency meetmgs have been held.
Many agencies have not been responsive to efforts to incorporate social justice issues in
their work. Community advocates could alleviate some of this resistance by framing the issues
facing border communities through broader perspectives. For example, approaching a border
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issue as one affecting many different types of communities would broaden the scope of the
problem and perhaps encourage other agencies to become involved.
Enforcing Environmental Regulations. The group explored the relationship between
trade, immigration, and the difficulties of environmental enforcement in the wake of NAFTA.
Enforcement has become more difficult with the advent of free trade as multinational companies
claim infringement of free trade as a method of defeating local environmental regulations.
Community Involvement. The issue of community participation arose when the group .
discussed the proposed triple wall in Mexico. A representative of the U.S. Border Patrol stated
that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE) had been contracted to convene a focus group
to discuss the proposed triple wall. Focus group meetings held since April 1999 have included
representatives of 20 environmental and cultural groups. Various participants stated that the
triple wall illustrates the difficulties of balancing environmental protection with trade and the
lack of community participation in the decision making process. The wall threatens the
environment by damaging estuaries and the river shed that cuts across the border. An
environmental impact study was performed on the wall areas; however, since the study was
conducted in sue separate, independent sections, it was unable to convey a comprehensive
picture. Participants also expressed concerns about the process employed by USACE to involve
members of affected communities. They noted that no members of Mexican communities
participated in focus group meetings and that no information had been communicated to them.
To date, the USACE has failed to respond to such concerns.
EPA's role in this regard could serve to improve border issues by supporting community
empowerment through education and health development. EPA was also urged to include
communities in its decision-making by actively seeking their input, instead of imposing
unilaterally determined solutions.
6. Indigenous People and Border Justice
Participants included tribal citizens, representatives from tribal communities including
the Mojave Elders Group, and the EPA staff working at tribal levels. The group highlighted the
environmental injustices occurring within the border region and the impacts on all. Three firm
recommendations were agreed upon:
• Increase community participation and communication at the local level. Community
members should be involved in policy issues that affect them. More effective communication at
the local level must be established. Direct communication links must also be established
between the Mexican Government and EPA Region 9 in order to increase effective dialogues.
Redefinition and modification of public participation for the upcoming Border XXI planning
process is essential.
• Tribes in Region 9 should meet with California Governor Gray Davis. Felicia Marcus (EPA)
agreed to request a meeting with the tribes living in Region 9 with Governor Davis and to
provide a written copy of the request to the tribes.
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• Include the Colorado River Watershed/Delta as part of the Border XXI program. Tribal
people living along the Colorado River outside the 100 km definition of the border zone, as
defined by Border XXI, are affected by border contamination. However, since these tribes are
outside of the 100 km zone, they are not protected by nor benefit from Border XXI legislation
and funds. Inclusion of this region through a watershed approach would better address their
needs.
Topic-specific Discussion
Wactp Dumps on Indigenous Borderlands. Participants referred to the disproportionate
number of environmental justice cases affecting tribal lands throughout the session. Historically,
tribal lands have been adversely affected by low economic growth and lack of political influence.
The radioactive Waste Dump in New Mexico (WEPP), the petroleum contaminated soil releases
at the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, and widespread pesticide contamination on Mexican
farmlands exemplify this phenomenon. Participants agreed that all these issues need attention
and deserve a response not only because of the destruction of the land, but because of the effects
these practices have on public health. Participants discussed studies associating children's health
and environmental contamination and, in particular, a study on the increased number of children
with learning disabilities in Mexico affected by the toxic unloading. Alberto Saldamando, in
summary, said, "Areas of national sacrifice tend tp be Indian land. In the name of development,
people lose their rights. People are in great distress."
Impacts of NAFTA on the Environment. With liberalized and increased trade across the
border, participants feared a race to the bottom with regard to environmental standards as well as
an increase in environmental injustice. Thus, the U.S. economy might emulate Mexico by
creating pressures to lower labor, land, resource costs and to relax regulations, resulting in
further exploitation of the border region. The participants discussed the functions of the U.S.-
Mexico border, suggesting that it does not serve to keep U.S. companies out of Mexico, nor
contamination in Mexico out of the U.S.; rather, it serves as an artificial divide for the creation
an(j maintenance of environmental injustice.
Tribal Sacred Sites. One participant recounted an incident in which the U.S. Government
decided to measure the spirituality of the land at Ward Valley, California. According to the
participant, the government representative surveyed each person as to how many tim^s he or she
prayed on the land in an attempt to quantify the sacredness of the land. Such efforts are bound to
be unsuccessful in creating a measurable unit of sacredness of the land. Drawing on this
experience, the participants identified as essential a new relationship with the government; one in
which both parties understand and respect one another.
Bud Actor Law. Participants expressed outrage at the fact that Alco Pacifico and similar
companies have been allowed to relocate operations "time and time again" and continue to
destroy the environment and harm people's health. Participants agreed that the EPA should stop
companies that have a history of environmental injustice and not allow them to do it again.
"Three strikes and you're out!" they urged.
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Conclusions. Many common themes kept reappearing throughout the discussion, such as
the inadequacies of the Border XXI100 km zone definition, lack of indigenous representation,
and the need for effective legislation to reflect indigenous peoples' values. Participants
described the ensuing environmental destruction on the border as affecting not only the people
living within the 100 km zone but a much larger area. Moreover, areas on both sides of the
border need to be addressed in the same manner.
These preceding recommendations could not address all the issues discussed during the
session, and participants agreed to defer discussion of the following issues to a subsequent
meeting:
• Contaminants, water quality and resource protection
• Children's health
• Border XXI Process
• EPA commitment to apply Presidential Executive Orders regarding government-to-
government relations with tribes to all its international programs
• Application of all Executive Orders regarding tribal people to international programs
• Bad Actor Law
7. Border Communities and Public Participation
Border communities represent a diverse group of people, history, culture, language, and
socio-economic status. However, they also share much in common with regard to the economic,
political and environmental challenges of the border, including the adverse effects of water
pollution, hazardous waste, health concerns, labor, migration, and indigenous issues. Four issues
have been of particular concern to such communities:
1) the need for greater community participation in planning and decision-making
processes;
2) the need for improved environmental education and training programs to help
communities prevent problems or address them by themselves;
3) the need for greater accessibility and availability of information in both English
and Spanish; and
4) resolution of cross-border politics and jurisdictional issues.
Public Participation
Among the most effective ways to begin the process of resolving border environmental
justice issues would be to increase community involvement in decision-making process. The
Mure to do just that has been especially remarkable with regard to border environment planning
under the Border XXI Program, since ensuring public involvement is one of its three primary
strategies. Transparency and openness of policy planning at the border may have significantly
improved over the years. However, without the actual ability of communities, in particular
environmental justice communities, to influence such activities, such transparency has little
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meaning. The lack of involvement by environmental justice communities is a key failing of the
Border XXI program to-date and will need to be addressed.
Public participation problems have also arisen in other environmental programs. For
example, the Baja Agua project, a program intended by EPA to provide water quality ^
infrastructure for the Rio Bravo has been criticized for not including affected communities.
This failure undermined the program' implementation and led to resistance from the very people
it sought to help. Similar public participation problems also occurred in the context of siting the
Sierra Blanca nuclear waste dump in Texas73 as well as issues in Tucson, Arizona 74
To be successful, public participation must occur at the earliest stages possible, before
commitments are made that may have adverse effects. Community input must be substantively
taken into account rather than discarded. A solid dialogue between border communities and
government agencies from both sides of the border can facilitate a candid and cooperative
relationship beneficial to all parties. Even if not every community concern can be addressed by
government agencies, a constructive dialogue can foster an atmosphere of respect that can result
in progress towards solving other issues. Models for such efforts have been set out in the Model
Plan for Public Participation prepared by the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
(1996).
Environmental Education and Training
Environmental education programs help empower communities to address many issues
themselves. For example, proper training on the use of chemicals, pesticides, and other toxics
can prevent many illnesses and contamination problems. Training on the proper use of safe
water handling and transportation can also prevent water-borne illnesses.
Mr. Che Lopez of Southwest Public Workers Union urged that youth be integrated into
the decision-making process since they are more vulnerable to the impacts of contamination and
pollution. He requested that the EPA financially support youth to educate other youth about
issues related to environmental and economic justice.
72 See Oscar Romo's comments infra Appendix B pp. 12-13 (noting the community participation problems,
particularly that all communication occurs between Washington, D.C. and Mexico City, leaving little room for
public involvement).
See Richard Boren's comments infra Appendix B p. 4. Allegedly, the State opposed educating Latinos about it
out of fear of their opposition. In addition, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission flailed to provide
a Spanish translation r»f thf <»mrirrwvnm»«tgi impact assessment, limited community participation where possible, and
refused to hold hearings altogether. Finally, when the EPA held a public comment period in El Paso, TX regarding
the Border XXI plan, most of the made concerned the Sierra Blanca Dump, yet not one sentence in the
Border XXI plan covered the dump.
74 See Rose Augustine's comments infra Appendix B p. 5. Input from communities on a lengthy environmental
document prepared by federal agencies was not solicited until they were asked to provide comment within 30 days.
This was fer too short a time in which to comment on such a large document. Communities need legal, financial,
and other assistance in order to fully present their concerns and desires with agency {dans.
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Language Accessibility
Lack of availability of environmental information in Spanish has not only been a
significant barrier to community participation in environmental planning and decision-making,
but also a more general impediment to appropriately protecting border communities. Not only
are non-English-speaking residents unable to review environmental documents or health and
safety regulations, but they also cannot understand warning and danger signs, pesticide labels, or
notices about environmental hazards.
Some private efforts, such as that of Mr. Gabriel J. Cano of the National Safety Council,
have sought to address this problem. Mr. Cano's organization, the National Latino Lead
Education Program, has been engaged in educating Latino communities about prevention of lead
poisoning. He reported that the program features a 30-second video, a week-long series of
public service announcements for radio, reference sources for Internet web sites, and posters for
distribution in Spanish, which are also featured on buses in big cities.
However, such private efforts are not enough. While information in English is available
on the Internet, such information is usually not simultaneously available in Spanish. The EPA
was urged to devote more resources to providing Spanish-language versions of its resources,
such as Right-to-Know laws and the toxic effects of chemicals. Such information should also
include EPA programs, EPA data on hazardous waste transportation and violations, health data
on both sides of the border, health study reports, and other pertinent information that would help
communities and groups gain a better understanding of what government agencies are doing in
the border region. Health and waste violation information can provide valuable insights for
communities and groups which could aid them in holding politicians accountable for health and
environmental problems, as well as the polluters. Such efforts should also include the creation of
a list of communities in need of such information and resources and the assembly of a panel
made up of affected communities along the border to determine specific informational needs.
Cross-Border Politics of Environmental Regulation and Enforcement
Finally, problems of regulatory and enforcement jurisdiction, along with border politics,
are also in need of resolution. While laws and sanctions against polluters and law violators must
be strengthened, effective enforcement must come first. The EPA must work more closely with
its Mexican counter-parts and take a proactive role in assuring that they address environmental
justice issues in as determined a manner as possible.
D. Roundtable Recommendations Synopsis
The full and unedited list of Roundtable recommendations can be found in Appendix C,
as part of the Extended Meeting Summaries. The synopsis of the community recommendations
here has been re-organized along thematic groupings and has been shortened and edited. In
addition, Roundtable participants issued several key consensus recommendations for EPA.
These are set out below.
75 See Adrian Boutuieira's comments infra Appendix B p. 7.
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Key Roundtabie Recommendations for EPA
• Develop an Environmental Justice Commission on the U.S.-Mexico Border, 75 percent of whose members
should be community-based environmental justice organizations
• Commit to a response to the tribal people as to EPA^s capabilities
• Address every issue/recommendation discussed with a list of those that will be committed to and recommend
methods for handling the remaining topics
• Distribute this information more effectively at the local level
• Address these issues directly rather than responding through the NEJAC
• Commit to total cleanup of the Candados Prestos, Ciudad, Juarez, Mexico and Metales y Derivados, Tijuana,
Mexico sites, as well as a site assessment of the Gato Negro site located outside Matamoros, Mexico.
Environmental Justice Community Participants Recommendations
(A full and unedited listing can be found in Appendix C as part of the conference summaries.)
1. Public participation
la. Environmental Justice Community Involvement in Decision-making and Planning
• Ensure that next round of the Border XXI Plan incorporates citizens' voice and concerns.
• Improve outreach efforts in lower income, rural, and unincorporated areas by EPA and other federal agencies
• Utilize more heavily as informational resources in identifying violators and in determining
regulations in need of improvement
• Provide grant assistance for community coalition building as precedents for further cooperative efforts.
• a community liaison position within EPA for border environmental justice communities.
lb. Accessibility and Dissemination of Information/Environmental Education
• Make all EPA information available in Spanish.
• Develop nmfrrgtsinftaMft, "community-friendly" guidelines explaining requirements for Title VI complaints.
• Establish an EPA office in Mexico near the border.
• Provide a list of all available EPA documents and how to gain access to them.
• in More outreach, tours, and conferences for local leadership, other agencies, and school boards.
2. Beyond Water Infrastructure Development: Broadening Environmental Protection
Programs at the Border
2a. Community Health
• Integrate public health and environmental protection and encourage more cooperation in this regard.
• Emphasize public health in the development of environmental standards, rather than economic ramifications.
• Develop bi-national environmental health funding and monitoring.
• Improve bi-national health cue.
• Encourage bender environmental health research that is responsive to the piddic.
multiple exposures (i.e. home, workplace, schools, etc.) and test for multiple chemicals.
2b. Strengthening Enforcement
Investigate and address T
instead of rejecting them.
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• Enforce a Bad Actor Law to keep known polluters from repeatedly polluting, take past history of a company
into account in enforcement actions, and seek enactment of effective legislation and enforce it.
• Increase authority of NAFTA-related institutions such as the CEC and Labor Commission to enforce and levy
sanctions.
• Address environmental justice and maquiladora issues in the entire country, not just in border regions.
3. Strengthening Cross-border Environmental Enforcement and Coordination
• Do not allow operation of any maquiladoras in Mexico that leave the U.S. because they have not complied with
U.S. laws and standards.
• Ensure that maquiladoras transport wastes back to the country of origin.
• Ensure that maquiladoras adhere to environmental protection laws of their countries of origin, or whichever are
more stringent.
• Ensure that actions taken on the U.S. side of the border are also taken on the Mexican side of the border.
4. Strengthening Tribal Participation in Decision-making
• Apply a holistic approach to Border XXI that is consistent with indigenous peoples values, including social,
political, economic, environmental and cultural considerations.
• Apply all Presidential Executive Orders related to tribal people to international programs.
• Include indigenous representatives from each nation in Border XXI and other bi-national policymaking
programs.
5. Communities and Environmental Justice: Fulfilling the Promise of Sustainable
Development
5a. Integrating Social Impacts with Environmental Protection
• Review NAFTA and its side agreements/institutions with respect to labor, transportation, agricultural,
environmental, and human rights issues.
• Consider broader social and economic consequences for communities, including the social makeup of those
who are benefited, when considering the border and environmental justice.
• Develop links to other agencies through more aggressive implementation of sustainable development principles.
• Create a just transition program for all affected parties, such as workers and communities, as equal players.
• Invest in human capital with a 10-20 year outlook and ensure that models for development are bi-nationally
based.
5b. Labor Justice and Immigration
• Prohibit the Bracero program in the United States to ensure the protection of farmworkers.
• Require maquiladoras to guarantee salary scales similar to those of their country of origin.
• Guarantee the right of workers to organize in the United States and Mexico.
• Use a bi-national approach to immigration and the environment.
6. Remediation of Sites on both Sides of the Border: Site-Specific Issues
• Facilitate a meeting between the Environmental Health Coalition and the Navy for an equal and fair exchange
of information regarding nuclear homeport plans for the San Diego Naval Station.
• Perform a health study in Anapra, Chihuahua, where 55-gallon drums previously used as toxic waste drums are
now being used for domestic water storage by the local people.
• Prevent AS ARCO from being opened and address contamination-related health issues of local children by
conducting studies, evaluating environmental risks and informing and educating the local communities.
• Close the WIPP program in New Mexico and resume its investigation despite DOE pressure to stop.
• Close the dump in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
• Renegotiate and reevaluate water rights in Valle de Juarez, Mexico to ensure that irrigation waters are sufficient
and clean enough to meet the needs of the local farmers, as irrigation waters are currently heavily mmtnminatBH
by maquiladoras in the area.
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• Examine involvement of NADBank and BECC in the primary treatment plant in Valle de Juarez and challenge
the current plan to spread the plant sludge in Valle de Juarez as fertilizer.
• Reconsider and revise plans to clean up the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, since prior studies were conducted during
high flow season and cannot be considered representative.
• Remediate the CYTRAR site completely with regard to heavy metal contamination and return the full volume
of wastes to the U.S.
7. Recommendations Directed at Border Communities Themselves
• Community activists need to acknowledge that measuring progress takes time. Engagement between the
agencies ami communities should grow. We need to build mechanisms for more open participation in the short
and long term.
• Through congressional representatives and community activism help support the EPA efforts to build projects
in Mexico.
• Build coalitions among environmental justice groups that include community organizations, labor unions local
authorities, federal and state agencies, and business groups. The myth that business and industry are
must be broken.
• Tmpmve involvement by African-American communities in border organizing efforts.
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ID. The Future of Environmental Justice at the Border
A. Preliminary Outcomes
1. Allowing Communities to Speak for Themselves and Educating
Government Officials
The Roundtable was an unqualified success in regards to its goals of: 1) providing border
communities an opportunity to raise problems and concerns of importance to them about
environmental justice issues and 2) educating federal, state, and local government officials on the
U.S. as well as Mexican side about the specific problems and concerns of the environmental
justice communities at the border. In attendance were many border community representatives
and leaders as well as high-level EPA officials, including Assistant Administrators and Regional
Administrators. Many staff members of other federal agencies, border institutions such as the
BECC, NADBank, and CEC, state and local officials, and several Mexican government officials
of SEMARNAP and PROFEPA participated as well. Communication and mutual education
were far ranging and in-depth, as the descriptions of the proceedings show. As a result, the
Roundtable constituted an unprecedented opportunity for border communities to make their case
with regard to issues of concern.
It was also apparent that the Roundtable presentations and discussions were very valuable
in educating officials of government agencies and border institutions about the needs and
concerns of environmental justice communities. As Deputy Assistant Administrative Alan Hecht
noted, the tour of "environmental justice areas was an excellent opportunity to see first-hand
areas of particular concern to communities." At the same time, the Roundtable also provided a
valuable opportunity for border community representative to gain a better understanding of EPA
programs and resources and to initiate contacts with relevant agency staff to bring their concerns
more readily to bear on government actions.
2. Initiating Ongoing Participatory, Cooperative, and Inclusive
Processes
The Roundtable also set as a goal the formal initiation of ongoing participatory,
cooperative and inclusive processes among diverse stakeholders to address international
environmental justice issues at the U.S.-Mexico border and to lay the groundwork for an
environmental justice strategic work plan for the border, specifically Regions 6 and 9 of the
EPA. EPA officials, such as Regional Administrators Felicia Marcus and Gregg Cooke, made
commitments to engage the border environmental justice communities more deeply in their work
at the border were encouraging. For example, EPA Region 9 Administrator FeHda Marcus
indicated that she was at the Roundtable "to share progress and listen to see how [EPA] can do a
better job.... We need your support to help us figure out how to do it." The outcomes in this
regard have been less clear. This issue is discussed further below.
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3. Specific Roundtable Objectives
The International Subcommittee also hoped to accomplish a number of specific
objectives through the Roundtable. Many have been directly addressed by the work of the
participants at the Roundtable and the recommendations that were crafted as a result. These
policy and site-specific recommendations are addressed further below.
• Defining and tracing the evolution of national and international environmentaljustice
issues
These issues were discussed by participants and are set out in this report.
• Identifying environmental justice issues on the border (i.e., colonias, water/sanitation,
commercial development, site clean-up, international laws that cause impacts or alleviate
environmental justice issues, etc.)
These issues were discussed and identified during the Roundtable and are set out in Section
n.
• Providing an overview of domestic and bi-national border programs (federal, state, and
local, as well as nongovernmental, academic, etc.) and exploring ways to address
environmental justice concerns through these existing programs or processes
EPA staff and Mexican environmental officials provided important overviews of programs
related to border environmental justice issues. They are described in section I of this report as
well as in the Roundtable proceedings set out in Appendix B.
• Developing environmental justice border policies, acquiring resources, and
implementing strategies that ensure that impacted communities, local initiatives, and
populations are included in regional growth plans addressing economic, environmental,
and equity issues for the border
The Roundtable participants discussed such issues. Recommendations of the border
community participants in this regard are set out in full detail in Appendix B as well as in
summary form in section n.
• Identifying existing enforcement and cleanup processes to address environmental justice
issues.
The recommendations of the border community participants in this regard are set out in
section n.
• Focus on the education of ALL participants (for example, discuss case studies, present an
overview of environmental activities along the border, provide answers to commonly
asked questions, conduct a tour of local sites, among others).
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The Roundtable served an invaluable educational function for all Roundtable
participants, both border communities as well as government officials.
• Review the effectiveness of existing community involvement opportunities and develop
recommendations for improvement (for example, community monitoring)
The recommendations of the border community participants are set out in Appendix B and in
summary form in section II.
• Identify new opportunities for communities to participate in border activities and develop
recommendations
The recommendations in this regard are set out in Appendix B and in summary form in
section II.
4. EPA Reactions and 30-Day Response Letter
It is encouraging to note that within thirty days of the conclusion of the Roundtable, EPA
sought to provide responses to many of the issues and recommendations of the border
community participants (see 30-Day Response, Appendix D). It attempts to answer many of the
questions posed by the Roundtable participants and to initiate a process of dialogue about more
substantive issues. However, many issues remain unresolved, including the Roundtable
participants' most important recommendation for the creation of a border environmental justice
commission.
In 2002, EPA held a series of see further roundtable meetings throughout the border
region to allow communities to provide input to the development of a new U.S.-Mexico border
Environment Program. These efforts are encouraging, and appear to evidence stronger
commitment to addressing the largo* issues embodied within the border community
recommendations. However, genuine progress toward environmental justice at the border cannot
stop with these efforts, and more remains to be done.
It is clear that the Border Roundtable was in itself a successful event and unprecedented
in its effort to bring a wide-range of stakeholders in environmental justice at the border together.
Yet, full success can only be judged by the passage of time and the federal governments actions
in meeting its obligations to the border communities. EPA's follow-up in seeking more
community input in the formulation of the new Border Plan is encouraging. However, the
changes in process will also have to be reflected in changes in policy and programmatic actions.
The border communities await those changes.
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B. Next Steps: What Must Be Done
The broad themes that we have used to organize the issues above are makeshift and
overlap significantly. Even if they are necessary as a matter of practical reality, categories are
ultimately artificial in their attempt to abstract particular problems from their larger social,
historical and ecological context within which they are embedded. The environmental justice
issues raised by the border communities defy easy categorization as either Mexican or U.S.
responsibilities, as environmental or health or social problems, or as substantive versus
procedural issues.
Solutions to environmental degradation and public health risks from maquiladora
industry pollution and uncontrolled growth at the border cannot be found without addressing the
underlying poverty and social conditions that give rise to these problems in the first place.
Employment discrimination and poor labor conditions in maquiladora plants are frequently
closely tied to issues of community and worker health. Water pollution and uncontrolled growth
on the border (both residential and industrial) are part and parcel of issues of poverty and
unemployment.
These difficulties reinforce a central point about the application of sustainable
development concepts at the border - that humans are part of the environment and that
addressing social conditions is crucial to any viable plan to achieve sustainable development at
the border. After all, sustainable development is as much about people as it is about the
ecological system. Excluding human and social concerns from environmental planning for the
border region is no less arbitrary from a sustainable development perspective than is dividing the
border environment into U.S. and Mexican portions from a purely ecological perspective. If
EPA is serious about achieving sustainable development in die border region, ecological
problems cannot be arbitrarily separated from other social problems faced by border
communities.
That does not mean that EPA need ultimately attempt to solve all of the social problems
that are connected to ecological and public health issues in the border region. But its
responsibilities, if taken seriously, are considerably greater than narrowly «HHrp.gcing ecological
and pollution-related public health issues. Nor is it enough for EPA to ftngng? in a clerk-like
performance of its broader obligations to the border communities by amply passing community
complaints that are deemed non-environmental to other, unresponsive agencies within the federal
government.
IfEPA's commitment to sustainable development at the border is g«niiin» its
commitment to environmental justice there must be as unflagging as its commitment to
ecological concerns. Its concern with the welfare of minority populations and the poor be
as great as with the welfare of the rest of the population. Ultimately, this may mean that it must
take responsibility for and actively serve as a catalyst in ensuring that other pg^cies are
fulfilling their responsibilities to the border communities and that, together as a whole, the
federal government is achieving environmental justice for all. While such a role might sound
daunting, it is no different from efforts it has undertaken to solve other complex environmental
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problems, such as air pollution, transportation policy, and urban sprawl. EPA's duties are little
different from the responsibility that the federal government as a whole has to its people - to
ensure and promote their welfare. Failure by some agencies and parts of the government to act
in this fashion does not excuse knowing inaction by others.
The important question that we are left with is what should be done going forward and
how it can be accomplished. Given that many of the communities' recommendations have
already been set out above and in the appendix, it would be redundant for this Report to repeat
them here. However, it is worthwhile for us to relate the necessary steps to achieve
environmental justice at the border into the context of EPA's more general programmatic
activities and existing border institutions.
1. Improving Public participation
a. Community Capacity Building
A Border Community-Based Environmental Justice Commission
The most important environmental justice issue at the border is community access to and
involvement in government planning and decision-making about the border environment. In this
regard, following the communities' recommendation to create a border community-based
environmental justice commission would be a key step to improving public participation
problems. The purpose of such a border environmental justice commission would facilitate
communication between communities and EPA by creating a direct and standing source of
information about community concerns. It would also provide a more direct access point for
communities to provide input into ongoing decision-making processes.
The NEJAC, and in particular the International Subcommittee, has fulfilled some of these
functions in the past. But as a logistical matter, a nationally derived and Washington, DC-based
advisory committee cannot perform such functions as effectively as a regionally based
environmental justice commission. Given the significant regulatory planning and decision-
making that has occurred in the context of various border institutions and EPA's Border XXI
programmatic efforts, continuous and dose involvement by those with direct personal experience
and knowledge of border environmental justice problems is indispensable. The creation of a
border environmental justice commission is thus an important and necessary next step.
Removing Language Obstacles
Language barriers are naturally part and parcel of public participation issues. Yet, they
have more wide-ranging consequences with regard to environmental justice. longing- barriers
make meaningful use of environmental information disseminated by governmental agencies or
border institutions impossible. EPA and other institutions have made progress on this issue
issuing documents in Spanish and thus making them more accessible to the population in
the border region. However, to eliminate language barriers in a broader and more effective
fashion, translation should reach beyond official government reports and include other
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environmental information, including submissions of industry information, such as Toxic
Release Inventory data.
Environmental Disclosures by Maquiladora Industries
Maquiladora industries operating on the U.S. side of the border are subject to public
disclosure requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know-Act.76
However, such requirements do not apply to their counterparts on the Mexican side. Disclosure
of such information would ultimately allow communities to protect themselves much better than
they can now. It would also prevent polluters from hiding from public scrutiny and criticism
behind a veil of secrecy.
Achieving such disclosure is surely not easy, as it will require changes in Mexican law.
Yet, it is also one of the most worthwhile legal changes in Mexican law to seek, given that it will
present significantly fewer issues of implementation and enforcement than changes that seek to
impose more substantive regulatory burdens. Most importantly, public disclosure requirements
allow communities to better utilize more informal pressures and the markets to improve the
environmental conduct of polluters.
Environmental Education
Finally, improving public participation cannot occur without efforts to increase the
awareness and knowledge of communities about environmental and public health issues.
Complementing public disclosure requirements, environmental education efforts allow
communities to help themselves by recruiting them into efforts to identify, recognize, and solve
environmental problems or issues of non-compliance.
b. Reform of Government Programmatic Priorities and
International Institutions
In spite of the importance of improving public participation, such efforts are unlikely to
succeed if they are not accompanied by the reform of government programs and institutions.
Border XXI
The problem of public participation here is reflected in the recently released progress
report on Border XXI, U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Program: Progress Report 1996-2000 (Border
XXI Progress Report). The Border XXI report acknowledges the importance of environmental
justice. It specifically identifies concerns about environmental justice at the border (pp. 15-16)
as part of its efforts to 'Decentralizing Environmental Management Through Local Capacity
Building." While its recommendations do address issues of capacity building of border tribes as
one means of such decentralization efforts, it is telling in many respect that it makes no specific
recommendation as to how better to bring about environmental justice in the border region.
76 42 U.S.C. § 11001,11044(a) (1986).
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There seems to be one rather obvious means of addressing such issues - creation of a
working group, commission (as border communities recommended) or other body designed to
focus directly on environmental justice issues. Such a body could bring much needed attention
to opportunities in how existing government agency and border institutions can incorporate
environmental justice community concerns into their operations and planning. The lack of such
a public involvement workgroup among the nine existing workgroups seems a glaring omission.
Creation of such a body would re-affirm EPA's commitment to environmental justice. It
would also constitute an explicit recognition that industry, traditional environmental
organization, and state and local governments, whose interests appear to have been much better
represented in the existing work of the Border XXI workgroups, frequently do not adequately
represent the interests of environmentaljustice communities - a reality that environmental justice
advocates have known for a long time.
Finally, it could serve as a conduit for the interests and concerns of border environmental
justice communities not just in the U.S. but also in Mexico. The ultimate result might be to spur
the Mexican government into addressing the environmentaljustice issues in a more serious and
committed fashion.
EPA Regions 6 and 9
EPA Regions 6 & 9 should continue their efforts regarding outreach and consultation
with border communities. The efforts that have recently been made by these Regions in holding
public listening sessions with border communities are to be commended. They speak well of
their overall efforts and commitments to the border communities. However, it should be noted
that efforts at increasing and maintaining community involvement in EPA's decision-making
processes must continue and should particularly include earlier and frequent consultations with
the communities.
U.S.-Mexico Border Institutions: Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and
North American Development Bank (NADBank)
Like other international institutions, the BECC and the NADBank are largely inaccessible
and have generally been unresponsive to communities. Their processes still effectively preclude
access and participation by poor and minority citizens. Achieving greater transparency of these
institutions, especially in regard to their decision-making processes, and providing for improved
opportunities for community input and influence of such decisions, remains a key issue with
them.
17 For example, an examination of the participants of Border Institute I, a conference convened in December 1999
in Arizona to engage in policy discussions about the future of the U.S.-Mexico Border and co-sponsored by EPA,
was overwhelmingly made up of state, local, and federal government officials, staff from border institutions,
industry representatives and academics. See The U.S.-Mexico Border Environment: A Road Map to Sustainable
2020, Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy 19 (1999).
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In a sense, as organizations created to benefit the bi-national region of the U.S. and
Mexico and as creations of governments that should be accountable to the people of that region,
such international institutions should also be equally accountable to the border communities.
Their obligation should be to ensure that the voices and concerns of those who live and work at
the border are adequately incorporated into institutional decision-making. Clearly, that has not
occurred. Unless they become more responsive to community needs, as expressed by the
communities themselves, the BECC and NADBank will remain tools of foreign and industrial
development policy of Washington, DC and Mexico City rather than providers of critical
services to communities.
The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and the Commission
for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
Unlike the BECC and the NADBank, the CEC appears to have been more accessible to
private citizens and NGOs. However, that has largely not been true for communities seeking to
advance environmental justice issues. U.S.-Mexico border community representation on the
Joint Public Advisory Commission (JPAC) and the National Advisory Commission (NAC)
remains minimal or non-existent. Moreover, since its inception almost ten years ago, the CEC
has yet to focus on issues of environmental justice in the voluminous reports it has issued since
then. Taking up such a project would provide much-needed balance to the CEC's work and
focus some of it work on issues of direct relevance to communities affected by the dislocative
effects of NAFTA.78
The NAAEC's article 14 & 15 citizen submission and factual record development
process has become a significant avenue for environmental and community groups to raise
attention to failures of the parties to effectively enforce their environmental laws. In particular,
with regard to the Metales y Derivados site in Tijuana, Mexico, community use of the citizen
submission process resulted in a factual record that documented a significant enforcement failure
by the Mexican government. Unfortunately, action has yet to be taken by any of the
governments on these findings. No government has acted on its power to address Mexico's non-
compliance through bilateral dispute resolution proceedings. In fact, of a total of 34 citizen
submissions filed since the establishment of the process in 1995, approximately two-thirds of the
submissions have been dismissed without the development of factual records. Three factual
records have been developed, yet no government has ever sought to pursue such instances
through formal dispute resolution procedures, as provided for by the NAAEC. Thus, no
government has ever attempted to bring the offending government into compliance with its
obligations under the NAAEC. The effect has been that the complaining citizens and NGOs have
been left largely without redress.
If that does not in itself appear troubling, it should be when this lack of remedies is
compared to NAFTA's chapter 11 investor protection provisions. Chapter 11 has allowed
foreign business investors to bring claims against NAFTA parties for activities intended to
78 The CEC appears to have begun considering environmental justice issues among its priorities only veiy recently,
for example by extending small grants to San Diego's Environmental Health Coalition, which has been engaged in
various environmental justice work at the border.
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protect the environment and human health. Thus, NAFTA has brought a system of improved
protections for free trade, business, and investors, but it has left adversely affected communities
behind. The improvement of protections and remedies for such communities must become a key
priority for the CEC if it is to play a greater role and retain relevance in the life of border
environmental justice communities.
2. Beyond Water Issues: Broadening Environmental Protection
Programs at the Border
Increased responsiveness of EPA and border institution to environmental justice issues
will mean in large part the broadening of regulatory attention and programmatic activities from a
primary focus on water issues to hazardous waste, community health, and other related
environmental justice concerns. Border XXI may accommodate many of these demands within
its existing programs. However, a true response will mean doing more than putting old goods
into new packaging; it will require re-direction of resources and programmatic priorities.
3. Strengthening Cross-border Environmental Enforcement and
Coordination
The Metales y Derivados matter has demonstrated that cross-border environmental
enforcement and coordination still needs to be strengthened considerably. That includes both
efforts at enforcement information exchange and communication and more diligent efforts in
bringing about enforcement actions. Especially where a polluter or pollution victims are within
the jurisdiction of U.S. federal government authorities, EPA and other federal agencies have an
independent responsibility to the communities to ensure that the polluter is held accountable.
That may mean raising such issues to higher levels within the Mexican government and
exercising all available influence when Mexican officials are unable or unwilling to bring their
own enforcement actions. Ultimately, environmental protection and community protection
concerns should not continue to be subordinated to economic development, free trade, and other
foreign policy objectives the way they have in the past.
Strengthened cross-border enforcement efforts will also mean improved control over
maquiladora industries on both sides of the border, as well as improvements in and greater
consistency in enforcement and application of regulatory standards on both sides of the border.
4. Strengthening Tribal Government Capacity
As in other parts of the country, tribal governments' capacity to address environmental
justice issues on their own remains one of the most pressing environmental justice issues with
regard to indigenous peoples. More resources must be devoted to helping tribal governments
help themselves. At the same time, it can also not be ignored that many issues faced by tribal
governments parallel those faced by environmental justice communities more generally,
especially issues involving early and substantial involvement of tribes in environmental decision-
making.
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5. Communities and Environmental Justice: Fulfilling the Promise of
Sustainable Development
Border XXI's focus on sustainable development at the border has important implications
for environmental justice communities. If the goal of sustainable development at the border is
taken seriously, it will require programmatic and regulatory efforts to expand in focus beyond
pure ecological and pollution issues. True sustainable development will achieve broader notions
of environmental justice that relate labor justice and other social justice concerns to the problems
of free trade and the environment. It will require more substantive regulatory recognition of the
close connection between ecological and social issues and the interconnected impacts of
economic development and free trade on social and environmental issues.
Just as environmental costs should be internalized or otherwise addressed by government,
so should social dislocation and other externalities. In the end, EPA and the border institutions
will have to take a broader view of environmental justice than just to consider pollution control
and the public health issues they raise.
6. Remediating Sites on both Sides of the Border: Site-Specific Issues
Finally it will not be enough for EPA and other institutions to engage in high-level and
abstract policy formulation and program development. Following through with environmental
justice problems means also following through with regard to specific issues impacting
communities. Frequently, it is the very difficulty or inability to obtain redress for their
complaints that is characteristic of the plight of environmental justice communities. Remedies
for the discriminatory treatment experienced by marginalized groups, whether racial or ethnic
minorities or the poor, must include substantive relief for their complaints on site-specific issues.
Thus, abstract policy development cannot substitute for concrete actions related to specific sites
and communities.
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Conclusion
This report has sought to act as a guide to environmental justice issues at the border both
through the eyes of the NEJAC International Subcommittee as well as the broader views
expressed by the border communities at the Roundtable. It is also a response to the challenge
issued by then-Deputy Regional Administrator Jerry Clifford to the International Subcommittee
and the border communities: transcend site-specific concerns and formulate environmental
justice in a larger policy context and through prospective policy recommendations. The report's
recommendations seek to do just that — connect community needs and recommendations to
existing EPA programs and environmental institutions.
Yet, there is also a reciprocal challenge that EPA must face up to. Just as a public policy
dialogue about environmental justice may require the communities to present and explain their
issues to the best of their abilities and in good faith, there is also an obligation for EPA to make
genuine efforts to understand these concerns through the eyes of the communities. Dismissing
such concerns just because the issues are difficult to understand or to incorporate into existing
policies and programs is an abdication of responsibility. EPA has an affirmative obligation to
take community concerns seriously. As in any dialogue, the participants must meet each other
part of the way.
The success of the Border Roundtable in bringing together a wide range of border
environmental justice stakeholders is an important milestone in this dialogue. However, simply
conducting a dialogue cannot in itself be enough. Further progress and work on environmental
justice issues is necessary, as is a renewed commitment by EPA to such issues at the border.
Ultimately, EP A's environmental justice work cannot be merely a public relations or
communications strategy for border communities. Substantive understanding and action must
back up public announcements of sympathy and words of understanding. Only through further
acts of engaging border communities more closely in decision-making processes and in
concretely addressing their substantive concerns that EPA's true commitment to the border
communities and to a genuine realization of sustainable development in the border region will be
proven.
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Appendix A — Agenda of the Border Roundtable
Agenda
Thursday, August 19, 1999
Public Comment Period
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Terrace Ballroom
This session features an open dialogue about environmental justice issues on the U.S.-Mexico
border.
Friday, August 20, 1999
The drum group of this Southern California Indian youth singing group will open the program
with several songs, including Bird Singing, a traditional singing of the Kumeyaay Peoples.
Ranging in ages from 6 to 12, the singers and drummers are members of several tribes
indigenous to the Southern California border region.
Arnoldo Garcia,, Chair, National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC),
International Subcommittee
William Nitze, Assistant Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of
International Activities (OIA)
Jose Bravo, Co-Chair, Border Justice Campaign, Southwest Network for Environmental and
Economic Justice
EPA Environmental Justice Programs on the Border 9:15 a.m. -10:15 a.m.
This session features a panel who will provide an overview ofEPA programs and activities
related to the U.S.-Mexico border. After presentations, participants will have the opportunity to
provide comment and ask questions of the panel.
Moderator: Charles Lee, Associate Director, EPA Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
Panelists: Steven Herman, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance (OEC A)
Romulu Diaz, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Administration and
Roundtable convenes
8:30 a.m.
Holiday Inn Terrace Ballroom
Seventh Generation Singers
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcoming Remarks
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
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Resources Management
Alan D. Hecht, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, OIA
Jerry Clifford, Deputy Regional Administrator
BREAK 10:15 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Overview of EPA Border Programs 10:30 a.m. - Noon
Holiday Inn Terrace Ballroom
This session features representatives of the EPA Region 6 and Region 9 border programs who
will provide an overview of current border program activities and plans to integrate
environmental justice into its work plans. After brief presentations, participants will have an
opportunity to provide comment and ask questions of the panel.
LUNCH Noon - 1:45 p.m.
Holiday Inn Terrace Ballroom
Keynote Speakers: Gregg A. Cooke, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6
Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9
Diane Takvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition
Richard Moore, Coordinator, Southwest Network for Environmental and
Economic Justice
Concurrent Work Group Sessions 2:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.
Radisson Suites
These sessions feature dialogues on specific issues related to environmental justice on the border.
Led by a moderator, each session will include resource panelists who will offer differing
perspectives with which to spark open discussion among participants. Facilitators will assist the
moderator to ensure that sessions stay on track.
Environmental Justice and Labor Justice Issues: This session will explore specific examples
of environmental and economic justice issues affecting U.S.-Mexico border region. The purpose
of the work group is to provide federal agencies with an overview of these issues to assist them
to better define the priorities for grassroots organization.
Immigration, Trade, »nd Environment: This session will include presentations and
discussions of environmental justice, human rights, and "free trade," and environmental
protection and their impacts on border communities.
Indigenous Peoples hthI Border Justice: This session will include presentations and
^i«r.iigaif>r>s that examine environmental justice issues impacting Indigenous Peoples along the
U.S.-Mexico border, as well as those Indigenous populations within interior lands that are
impacted by trade policies between U.S. and Mexico.
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Environmental Health Along the U.S.-Mexico Border: This session will focus on a broad
spectrum of health issues for residents living in the border region.
Reception 6:00 p.m.
Radisson Suites
Remarks: Martha Valdes, Environmental Health Coalition of San Diego
Alberto Saldamando, International Indian Treaty Council and member, NEJAC
International Subcommittee
Public Comment Period 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This public dialogue is an optional event and will only be held as need arises.
Saturday, August 21,1999
Roundtable Reconvenes 8:30 a.m.
Radisson Suites
Remarks 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
The moderator will provide a review of the day's activities and will review the activities for the
scheduled day.
Moderator: Arnoldo Garcia, NEJAC International Subcommittee
Reports from Work Groups 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
A representative of each work group will describe the recommendations, commitments, and
action items discussed during the work group sessions held the previous day. The community
members of each work group will select their representative.
BREAK 10:30 a.m. -10:45 a.m.
Reflections and Next Steps 10:45 a.m. - Noon
An opportunity for participants to provide input, ask questions, and discuss the work group
sessions.
Summation and Closure Noon -12:30 p.m.
Remarks: Arnoldo Garcia, NEJAC International Subcommittee, William Nitze, EPA OLA
Jose Bravo, SNEE J
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Appendix B Annotated Agenda of the Border Roundtable with Extended Summaries of
Sessions
Thursday, August 19, 1999
SUMMARY OF FACT-FINDING TOUR
On Thursday, August 19, 1999 approximately 90 representatives of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and invited members of border-related community interest groups
spent the day on a fact-finding tour of environmental justice areas in the U.S.-Mexico border
area. This summary presents a site-by-site overview of the locations visited, as well as related
environmental justice concerns and other pertinent issues raised throughout the tour.
Each bus was staffed with a narrator who provided general site-specific history and current
information about each location visited. Additional detail about the sites was provided by other
knowledgeable individuals or by community and government representatives who boarded the
buses at select locations. Video material provided by EPA was viewed between locations to
provide tour participants with additional background information about environmental conditions
in the border area.
Barrio Logan, San Diego, California. Barrio Logan (translated as the Logan Neighborhood) is
located in southeast San Diego and is home to a predominantly Latino community (86 percent),
with a growing African-American population (4 percent). According to the Environmental
Health Coalition (EHC), a San Diego-based grassroots organization, a 1967 city ordinance
prohibited land purchases by people of color in the city, except in Barrio Logan. Barrio Logan is
the only area in the city zoned for mixed (industrial and residential) use.
Barrio Logan is home to Chicano Park, a small public park located beneath the super structures
of Interstate 5 (1-5). Chicano Park has become a symbol of the community solidarity in Barrio
Logan, and local artists have painted brightly colored murals on nearly all of the columns
supporting the 1-5 overpasses. This artwork recently became the center of a heated debate
between the community and the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) because
an earthquake-retrofitting project threatened destruction of the bridge columns and murals. An
agreement was reached, however, and CALTRANS is proceeding with the project without
damaging the artwork.
EHC-trained outreach workers or promotoras boarded the tour buses at Chicano Park to present
information about environmental concerns in the Barrio Logan community. Mixed zoning issues
were the focus of their concerns — a number of highly polluting industries are located just steps
from residences and schools. The buses toured the neighborhood and drove past several
industries, including a chrome plating facility, a chemical storage facility, a shipbuilding yard,
and a sweetener manufacturer, all within very close proximity to homes and apartments.
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The tour of Barrio Logan concluded with a visit to the pier at Crosby Street Park, The park was
constructed in response to nearby residents' requests for access to the bay to fish, but was built
on a brownfield site with low-level petroleum contamination. Fishing is prohibited due to
contamination in the bay. EHC representatives made a presentation at the park highlighting
dismal health and pollution statistics in Barrio Logan.
Pala Band of Mission Indians, Pala, California. Mr. Jim Fletcher, Tribal Affairs Coordinator,
EPA Region 9 San Diego Border Office, provided introduction to "Luiseiio Country" where the
Pala Reservation is located, noting that the area is the "avocado capital of the world." He then
introduced Mr. Greg Mojado, a representative of the tribe who narrated the tour of the
reservation.
Mr. Mojado indicated that the reservation is roughly 12,000 acres in area and houses about half
of the 980-member tribe. Environmental concerns on the reservation include the use of
pesticides in surrounding avocado groves (and its effect on air and water quality), pollution in the
San Luis Rey River (and groundwater), which runs through the area, animal waste from local
dairies, and vehicles abandoned as junk. The community also has been fighting the siting of a
solid waste landfill in Gregory Canyon, an area named Medicine Rock that is deemed sacred by
the tribe.
The group visited the Muro Farm Labor Camp, a housing facility for migrant farm workers. The
camp houses 100 to 125 laborers and their family members, and was recently the target of an
EPA investigation for water quality violations after a toddler drowned in an open septic pit. EPA
investigators found direct sewer discharge in contact with the drinking water supply, and issued
an Administrative Order against the property owner. Portable toilets and bottled water were
provided to residents in the camp in response to imminent threats to their health.
Metales y Derivados, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The tour continued into Mexico to
view the severely contaminated former location of a lead battery recycling plant. According to
tour narrators, New Frontier Corporation operated Metales y Derivados for 10 (ten) years, then
closed the plant without remediating lead-laden soil at the open-air facility. Tour participants
walked around the site, which was enclosed by a cement wall placed by Mexico's PROFEPA
when the plant was closed in 1994. The tour continued down a dirt path to overlook Colonia
Chilpancingo, Tijuana, Mexico, a neighborhood located near the site where residents have
reported incidents of infants bom with hydroencephaly. At the overlook, PROFEPA officials
spoke about their efforts to prevent incidents similar to the Metales y Derivados case from
occurring by improving the tracking of hazardous waste between the U.S. and Mexico. They
also provided an update about the site, indicating that New Frontier is in the process of
requesting a credit line to clean up the site and convert it to an aluminum refinery.
Alco Pacifico, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Due to time restrictions, the Alco Pacifico
site was not toured. Narrators provided background information about the site and the
controversy that continues regarding the handling of remediation waste from the site. According
to the narrators, the Alco Pacifico site was abandoned by its U.S.-based parent, RSR Chemetco,
which was also responsible for other contaminated rates in Mexico; West Dallas, Texas; Los
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Angeles, California; and North Carolina. Contaminated soil from the site was recently excavated
and placed in a landfill using funding from fines levied against the California-based transporter
that improperly documented facility material and waste shipments. Mr. Francisco Pavlovich,
Alianza Civica, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, described how 23,000 cubic meters of
contaminated soil were moved from the Alco Pacifico site to an illegal landfill located just 6
(six) kilometers outside of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He said that there have been numerous
protests about the waste and landfill, as well as requests for public information that have been
unanswered by Mexican authorities. Since placement of this waste in Hermosillo appears to
violate the NAFTA environmental side agreement, residents have filed a petition with the CEC.
International Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. Tour
participants had a drive-by view of the Tijuana side of the International Wastewater Treatment
Plant (IWTP) that was constructed to improve bi-national human health conditions. The narrator
said that the IWTP is a sore subject with local grassroots organizations, in part because the
environmental impact statement filed for the project failed to recognize the presence of residents
SO feet away from the plant in Mexico. The buses stopped at Playas de Tijuana in front of
Parque de la Amistad (Friendship Park), a park that lies on the U.S.-Mexico border, but is
divided by a fence that extends into the Pacific Ocean intended to stop undocumented
immigrants. Participants exited the buses to view the long list of names posted on the fence of
individuals who have died during their attempts to enter the U.S. under the INS' Operation
Gatekeeper program. Mr. Bravo explained how a total of428 people had died in 5 years.
SUMMARY OF PUBLIC DIALOGUE
An open public dialogue was held on August 19,1999 at which approximately 22 people
expressed concerns and posed questions about environmental justice and issues related to the
joint border between the U.S. and Mexico. The following presents a summary of the comments
in the order in which they were offered. The audiotapes of the proceedings of the public
dialogue includes a verbatim record of the public comments and is available upon request at
EPA's Office of International Activities.
Mr. Juan Porras spoke regarding Cesar Chavez High School that has been built V* mile from
four facilities that have been "grandfathered" or exempted from the strict pollution prevention,
public health, and public input requirements imposed on other facilities. He requested that a
study be conducted to identify the cumulative health effects of such dose proximity on residents
and students. He also called for the closure of the school because of its proximity to the four
facilities, a sewage plant, and a railroad. Noting that 90% of the students attending the school
are Latino, Mr. Porras maintained that the school's proximity to the facilities is a slap in the face
to the community and Cesar Chavez for whom the school was named. Further, the City of
Houston found that die plants that are lA mile away from school have emissions EPA
limits and there is no emergency evacuation route for the students in the event of an explosion or
accident.
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Mr. Richard Boren, Alianza Internacional Ecologista del Bravo, Chihuahua, Mexico and Texas,
criticized EPA's silence in the battle against the Sierra Blanca nuclear waste dump. Explaining
that EPA had rejected a complaint filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by
residents, Mr. Boren noted that no Title VI compliant had ever been resolved in favor of
communities. He stated that he views the siting of the dump as an environmental justice issue
because 70% of the local population is Mexican American. He also criticized the Texas Natural
Resources and Conservation Commission (TNRCC) for not providing Spanish-language versions
of the informational materials. He closed this portion of his comments by maintaining thqt the
Sierra Blanca dump violates the spirit of the La Paz agreement.
Mr. Boren also pointed out other problems. The state was commissioned to conduct a study in
1984, but opposed educating Latinos out of fear of opposition. Further, the TNRCC, which is
funded by the EPA, did not provide a Spanish translation of the Environmental Assessment,
limited community participation where possible and refused to hold hearings altogether. Finally,
when EPA held a public comment period in El Paso, TX for the Border XXI plan, most
comments made concerned the Sierra Blanca Dump, yet, not one sentence in the Border XXI
plan covered the Dump.
Ms. Laura Pierce, Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin Coalition, Laredo, Texas, voiced concern about
the growth of residential and commercial construction in the Rio Grande basin. She asked that
EPA, the NEJAC, and other government agencies consider changes in the quality of water and
other water supply problems that are caused by this growth. In the Border region, water quantity
is an increasing issue due to competition with water rights because poor communities cannot
compete for these rights.
Mr. Bill Addington, Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund, explained that the dump operating in
Sierra Blanca, Texas violates the La Paz agreement, a concern he said that is echoed by many
representatives of Mexico who signed a petition to shut down the dump because of violations to
the agreement. Mr. Addington criticized the TNRCC for approving the sludge dump without
conducting a public hearing and without issuing a permit, approving it on the premise that it
would study the beneficial uses of the sludge. He also explained that much of the waste
transported to the dump originated from sources located in New York and other states. Citing a
Texas law that states that the more stringent law of either the sending or receiving state should
apply to waste transported into or out of Texas, Mr. Addington stated that under New York law
the waste would not be suitable for disposal in the dump. A resolution was signed by the
Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., 600 Representatives of Mexican government as well as 200
Senators requesting the dump be stopped. The TNRCC approved this Dump without a permit,
yet, the Title VI complaint was thrown out because a license had not been granted. He
concluded his comments by requesting that a health study be conducted at the site.
Mr. Gabriel J. Cano, National Safety Council, described his organization's National Latino
Lead Education Program designed to educate Latino communities about how to prevent lead
poisoning. He reported that the program features a 30-second video, a week-long series of
public service announcements for radio, reference sources for Internet web sites, and posters for
distribution in Spanish that are featured on buses in big cities.
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Ms. Rose Augustine, Tucsonans for a Clean Environment, Tucson, Arizona, spoke regarding
community participation. Pointing to a lengthy environmental document that had been
developed by federal agencies, private companies, and the city, she stated that input from
communities was not solicited until they were asked to provide comment within 30 days. She
argued that 30 days was too short a time under which to comment on such a large document. In
addition, communities do not have the expertise to review a document such as that, she noted,
explaining that communities need legal, financial, and other assistance. She requested that EPA
provide those resources to communities. Ms. Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA
Region 9, promised she would review the matter with her staff and provide a response to Ms.
Augustine, adding that the lack of community participation should not have occurred.
Mr. Roger Pefta, Anthony Community, Health, and Environmental Council, Anthony, New
Mexico, expressed his opposition to the proposed construction of a metal plating facility in
Anthony, New Mexico. He explained that the owner of the facility, Bruce Freeman, who has
said he has been used as a government witness by the EPA, had previously abandoned two metal
finishing plants in El Paso, Texas several years earlier. The community was left to conduct and
pay for the cleanup. Mr. Pena wanted to know whether EPA could intervene when a situation
involves a "documented polluter." Mr. Gregg Cooke, EPA Regional Administrator, EPA Region
6, explained that EPA jurisdiction over the site is limited to oversight under the permitting
process required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Ms. Teresa Leal, Comadres, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico/Arizona, discussed the need for citizen
participation and her frustration at how the government money is wasted when citizen
participation does not occur at the appropriate times. She also requested that regulatory
compliance issues be explained in layman's terms, privacy boundaries for companies be
removed, and EPA be required to provide full technical support for cleanup and prevention of
contamination. There is also a need to put more focus on the La Paz Agreement as the border
area becomes a depository for profit-making and industrial waste.
Mr. Ruben Soils, Southwest Public Workers' Union, San Antonio, Texas, vehemently expressed
his negative view of EPA, claiming that EPA is guilty of environmental injustice. He also
criticized the North American Development Bank as a way to create high paid jobs for
bureaucrats at the expense of the poor who primarily are affected by the development funded by
the bank. EPA is guilty because it does not enforce the laws for people of color or low-income
people and does not enforce laws equally. He concluded his remarks by stating that the
roundtable meeting was not a "true" roundtable because communities and agencies were in
opposition and did not sit as equals.
Mr. Steve Lopez, Tribal Representative, Colorado River Native Nations Alliance, discussed
indigenous people's issues along the joint U.S.-Mexico border. He thanked the NEJAC for its
help in fighting the construction of the Ward Valley nuclear waste dump, and he requested their
assistance in further promoting the concerns of indigenous peoples regarding environmental
justice. Mr. Lopez requested a meeting be held within the next 60 days between tribes and
California Governor Gray Davis to discuss the governor's position on indigenous issues at the
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border. Ms. Marcus responded that she will contact Governor Davis and send him a letter
communicating this request, but cautioned that it is difficult to set up a meeting with the
governor.
Mr. Carlos Marentes, El Paso Centra de los Trabajadores Agricolares Fronterizos, El Paso,
Texas, discussed several issues of concern to farm workers, such as low wages, health risks, and
benefits. He critiqued how the average household income for a farm worker is only $6,000,
workers are becoming sick more frequently, and females are at risk of more health problems. He
pleaded that conditions for farm workers be improved.
Mr. David Dispendi communicated the neglect of colonias at the border, describing his negative
experience with the TNRCC and EPA in addressing environmental issues within these
communities. He claimed that decisions appear to be made on the basis of economic interest
rather than out of concern for public health and environmental safety. Mr. Dispendi explained
that the EPA needs to prove to the community that when EPA says "environmental justice," the
agency truly means it. He further stated he does not feel like telling the EPA the problems these
colonias have because it does not do any good. Poor communities lack power to do anything
about the injustices. Further, the people who make the decisions are not attending this
Roundtable anyway.
Ms. Cecilia Campillo, Tucson, Arizona, expressed her discontent over meetings such as the
Roundtable since she has not seen any change for communities or the environment. She listed
problems such as health effects resulting from exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) in drinking
water and the contamination in Southside Tucson whose cleanup has been neglected by the U.S.
Air Force. Tests conducted in 1981 showed that underground water contained TCE, a known
carcinogen. She strongly criticized the EPA Regional Administrator for not being aware of some
of the problems raised in the public comment period. The people did not participate in the
decision-making process because it was done behind shut doors.
Mr. Felix Perez, Alianza Internacional Ecologista del Bravo, Juarez, Mexico, voiced the need
for more environmental justice in the border region. Calling government and big business
enemies of environmental justice, he pointed to serious environmental problems such as
untried water, loss of natural resources, and lead poisoning of children. He called for input
from community representatives when agencies make decisions about environmental justice.
Ms. Graciela Avila, Citizens for Alternative to Radioactive Dumping, agreed with much of what
had already been said by previous commenters, adding her consternation over how EPA appears
to know what the problems are but has not used this knowledge to bring about positive changes.
She also requested investigation of the effects of radioactive dumping.
Ms. Carla Sbert, Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC), described the process for
citizen submissions to the CEC on matters related to the enforcement of environmental
regulations. The process features a review by I committee, the secretariat, and cabinet members,
followed by a review of the factual record, she explained. She extended her phone numbers for
anyone who has questions on the process: 514-350-4400 (reception), 514-350-4321 (her line).
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They do not deal with environmental justice issues directly, but the process offers a good
opportunity to review the enforcement process of the law/regulation for whatever country.
Ms. Rosa Ortega, Companeros, U.S.-Mexico Border Health Foundation, expressed her
disapproval of a thermoelectric plant proposed for Agua Prieta. She expressed distress over the
impacts of the plant on limited local water sources. She stated that she is concerned that the plant
will make water scarce, pollute the area, and negatively affect the migratory birds that use the
area.
Mr. David Harper, Colorado River Indian Tribes, echoed Mr. Lopez's request for a meeting
between Governor Gray Davis and indigenous tribes. He requested that a copy of EPA's letter to
the governor be sent to the tribes. Mr. Harper added that he resents the hierarchy of the
government that blocks tribal communication with government representatives such as the
governor. He requested that Governor Davis rescind the land application for the proposed Ward
Valley dump so that the issue will be dead. When the government wants something from tribes,
access is easy but if the tribe wants something from the government, they have to climb a
structural ladder, making them feel like a second-class citizen. Mr. Harper closed with an
indication that a lack of response by the governor will result in a demonstration by the tribes at
Governor Davis's office.
Mr. Adrian Boutureira, Environmental Research Foundation, expressed discontent with the
lack of Spanish-language resources available to the community. He stated that he is frustrated
that while information in English is available on the Internet, such information is not
simultaneously available in Spanish. Mr. Boutureira asked EPA to devote more resources to
provide Spanish-language versions of its resources. Right to Know laws and the toxic effects of
chemicals should be provided in Spanish over the internet if they are available in English. EPA
should document a list of communities that need info and resources and create a panel of affected
communities along the border with their specific needs for info such as the short/long term
effects of toxins.
Ms. Nushune Heredia, Cahuilla Indian Reservation, expressed frustration over the lack of
progress by EPA in addressing a dump located on her reservation that accepts petroleum-
contaminated soil from Miramar Naval Base. She expressed frustration with EPA, explaining
that she has seen no positive action except those that benefit the companies responsible for the
contamination. She appealed to EPA for help, requesting resources to study water quality and to
investigate cattle death in the area. For over 9 (nine) years, the EPA has not helped the
reservation, but rather the dumpers through grants. The accuse is that EPA does not have
jurisdiction, but then why do they have jurisdiction over the dumpers? This issue has been
presented to the EPA since 1994, yet nothing has been done.
Ms. Marina Ortega, California Indians for Cultural and Environmental Protection, explained
that cultural values are the heart and soul of indigenous peoples and should be considered
equally to those of the dominant culture. She expressed a need for an open-door policy on
information in which no one would be able to hide infbnnation based on sovereignty. There is
development on Indian land on both sides of the border and if their cultural values are ignored,
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then there is racial discrimination. Individuals and community leaders should have input as a
part of the voice of the Reservation.
Mr. Che Lopez, Southwest Public Workers Union, stated that he spoke on behalf of the youth
who live in the border area. He stated that he is interested in integrating youth into the decision-
making process because they are the most affected by environmental contamination. He
requested financial assistance to assist youth to educate other youth about issues related to
environmental and economic justice.
Friday, August 20, 1999
Welcoming Remarks
Arnoldo Garcia,, Chair, National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC),
' International Subcommittee
William Nitze, Assistant Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of
International Activities (OIA)
Jose Bravo, Co-Chair, Border Justice Campaign, Southwest Network for Environmental and
Economic Justice
Mr. Arnoldo Garcia, Urban Habitat Program and Chair of the NEJAC International
Subcommittee, extended his appreciation to representatives of EPA, members of the NEJAC
International Subcommittee, and local communities who had been working to address issues
related to environmental justice on the U.S.-Mexico border. Recalling a saying of his
grandmother, he noted that unfortunately, the "same idea with different words is not the same
idea." Environmental justice means protecting and serving all communities regardless of
income, immigration status, nationality, or citizenship, their place occupied in the bio-region, or
their production /consumption processes on the U.S.-Mexico ^border, he stated. "We must
acknowledge that we can not achieve this without a struggle.
Mr. Garcia explained that the roundtable represents a part of the ongoing efforts to change the
relationship between EPA, other federal agencies, and communities to one that is more
accountable more open, and transparent in the development and implementation of policies and
programs. Participants are here, he continued, to figure out how to change EPA policies and
programs to include the environmental justice demands of community-based organizations
working on the border. It is important to remember that community participation, input, and
leadership are cornerstones of environmental justice, he explained. Environmental justice at the
border is a bi-national issue because pollution cannot be stopped with fences, nor can
communities or agencies solve problems unilaterally, he said.
Mr. Garcia concluded his remarks by stating that the roundtable is part of an urgent ongoing
dialogue to impacted communities on issues that "imperil the health and fixture of entire
commnnfrifta and natural habitats which are separated by what amounts to bi-national land use
zoning, better known sb our border."
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Mr. William Nitze, Assistant Administrator, EPA OIA, opened his remarks by stating that
environmental justice is one of the highest priorities of the EPA Administrator. He commented
that in his capacity as the national coordinator for bilateral work related to the U.S.-Mexico
border, he understands the frustration of many communities along the border, as well as the
limited role EPA as a federal agency can play in issues along the border. Mr. Nitze noted that
EPA and other federal agencies will have to work with communities to recognize the constraints
under which the various stakeholders operate. Only then can we produce better results within
those constraints and possibly remove several of these obstacles. He called for all participants to
do better in coordinating the various efforts of federal agencies to maximize solutions.
Mr. Nitze also stated that EPA currently is assessing the progress made under the Border XXI
program, a bi-national water program initiated in the early 1990s to "get the United States and
Mexico to work together to share the border region in a new way." With Border XXI, EPA has
been working hard to improve environmental problems along the border long before the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The next step, he explained, is the development of
a new border plan that will address the needs of sustainable development along the border.
During 2000, the agency expects to prepare a progress report and conduct a series of public
consultation meetings with local communities, non-governmental organizations, and EPA's
partners in state and local agencies, Mr. Nitze said. He added that agencies need to be "more
creative in adjusting the work" of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)
and the North American Development Bank (NAD), which provide vitally needed environmental
waste water (one word "wastewater") treatment infrastructure on both sides of the border.
Mr. Nitze concluded his remarks by stating that government agencies alone cannot achieve
sustainable development. We must not limit ourselves to addressing unmet needs of the past but
must identify new opportunities for young people living on both sides of the border, he said.
Ideally, the Border XXI program should respond to the demands of border communities with
respect to what they see as their future, he continued, noting that EPA's role would be to work
with them to help them realize their vision. Mr. Nitze committed that EPA will try to do a better
job of helping border communities to secure the resources they need to accomplish this task.
Mr. Jose Bravo, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), stated
that communities of color and grassroots organizations involved in border issues do not 't>uy"
the Border XXI program or the BECC as viable solutions to the region's problems. He
explained that although he applauds the efforts of some organizations working with the BECC,
there has not been a change in the five years since NAFTA was signed. He questioned the
progress achieved under Border XXI related to sustainability, commenting that one cannot
achieve sustainability by foiling to include in the design of the program the persons affected by
the problem or by funding a program on an annual basis. He explained that communities were
not opposed to free trade but rather "this'* free trade where solutions are posited in bilateral side
agreements. Because the framers of NAFTA Med to include environmental justice in its
criteria, only mainstream environmental organizations were invited to help draft the side
agreements, he continued. Historically, these same organizations have had a rough relationship
with communities of color and grassroots border organizations, he said, because the mainstream
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organizations would "rather protect the lizard, not the farm worker right next to the lizard being
fiimigated by pesticides."
Mr. Bravo stated that his organization views the roundtable as one of the "last-ditch efforts" to
work together with federal agencies to resolve border issues. This meeting will determine how
communities will forge relationships in the future, he commented, emphasizing that in the
upcoming election year, communities will take the fight "to the street if necessary. He urged
participants to "come together as environmental justice [advocates] and let federal agencies
really know how we feel but also that we will hold [them] accountable on all issues." My
challenge is to move forward and deal with these issues, he concluded.
EPA Environmental Justice Programs on the Border
Moderator:
Charles Lee, Associate Director, EPA Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
Panelists:
Steven Herman, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance (OECA)
Romulu Diaz, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Administration and Resources
Management
Alan D. Hecht, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, OIA
Jerry Clifford, Deputy Regional Administrator
Panel I: Overview of EPA Programs and Activities
This panel featured senior managers of EPA who provided an overview of EPA programs and
activities related to the border region. Moderated by Mr. Charles Lee, Associate Director for
Policy and Interagency Liaison, EPA OEJ, the discussion focused on what Mr. Lee described as
the theme of the roundtable: the promotion of interactive dialogue between various stakeholders.
After brief presentations, participants were provided an opportunity to provide comment and ask
questions of the panel.
Mr. Steven Herman, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance, shared information about the agency's environmental enforcement activities related
to the border region. He explained that EPA's border enforcement^and compliaiice programs ar$
managed regionally in conjunction with counterparts in the appropriate state agencies. Staff
managing the transboundary enforcement program, also managed regionally, work closely with
the states and Mexico's environmental agency, he said.
On a bi-national level, Mr. Herman continued, EPA participates on the Cooperative Enforcement
and Compliance work group, which supports U.S. and Mexico federal, state, and local
environmental enforcement officials bring together various agencies that historically have not
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worked together or have not focused on environmental issues. He stated that the overall goal of
the program is to identify and develop cooperative environmental enforcement and compliance
actions, adding that one key objective is to ensure that the persons working on border issues
understand the structures under which the other works. Mr. Herman reported that in this effort,
EPA has made modest progress. He explained that during the past two years, representatives of
the United States (U.S.) and Mexican environmental agencies have participated in joint training
on topics ranging from principles of environmental enforcement, pretreatment inspections,
hazardous waste laws, the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, air and pesticide
pollution, and a comparative analysis of the legal structures in the U.S. and Mexico.
In addition, Mr. Herman pointed to the growing cooperation in how the U.S. and Mexico target
and investigate enforcement cases. He pointed to a recent case in which two U.S. firms and one
Mexican firm were caught attempting to transport waste across the border. This integrated effort
is needed so that the border does not become a haven for polluters, he concluded.
Mr. Romulo Diaz, Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Administration and Resource
Management, stated that there is a need for a vision for change in the way EPA does business.
He noted that the EPA Administrator and other senior managers within the agency share a
common vision of wanting to improve the agency's ability to communicate with communities
around the country, particularly communities of color.
Mr. Diaz pointed to the National Hispanic Outreach consultation meeting held two days
previously as proof of this commitment. Mr. Diaz reported that participants in the consultation
meeting agreed that a national strategy was needed to address issues associated with community
involvement, education, environmental and business partnerships, and the recruitment and
employment of Hispanics in the EPA workforce.
Mr. Diaz offered participants of the roundtable the opportunity to provide input in the
development of the strategy through an Internet site. Mr. Diaz also announced that the
consultation meeting had produced a report that compiles the activities and programs of EPA
associated with border and Latino community issues. Mr. Diaz further said that communities are
integral to holding agencies accountable.
Mr. Jose Bravo noted that the National Hispanic Outreach consultation meeting of which Mr.
Diaz spoke was a closed session to which the public was not invited.
Mr. Alan Hecht, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA OIA, stated that the previous
day's tour of environmental justice areas was an excellent opportunity to see first-hand areas of
particular concern to communities. The tour provided a good place from which to begin today's
dialogue on how EPA and its partners can address the problems seen, he added.
Mr. Hecht emphasized that such a task requires a partnership. Continuing, he noted that it is
important to understand who each of the partners are and what each brings to the dialogue. The
purpose of the Border XXI program is to establish a common framework in which all the
partners can come together to be a part of the planning and implementation process.
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Acknowledging Mr. Bravo's challenge to be more responsive to the concerns of affected
communities, Mr. Hecht stated that EPA has "tremendous power" to convene - to bring partners
together to address concerns - and to communicate - to learn what the issues are and be
responsive in communicating what is known about environmental conditions and how best to
resolve them.
Mr. Jerry Clifford, Deputy Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6, offered a regional
perspective on environmental justice and tribal issues and how they intersect in the border
region. He noted that education and communication continue to be key to progress. Referring to
Mr. Bravo's comments about "being fed up with educating EPA and [its Mexican counterpart],"
Mr. Clifford stated that education will go on for some time because there are more than 18,000
employees in the agency who all can not be trained at once.
Reflecting on the comments offered during the earlier fact-finding tour and public comment
period, Mr. Clifford noted that it appears that most people do not fully understand how EPA is
structured or who to contact for assistance. For them, he explained, they see a myriad of people
working in a faceless bureaucracy.
Mr. Clifford concluded his remarks with a challenge to the members of the NEJAC International
Subcommittee. He asked that as it thinks about the issues and recommendations it will forward
to the NEJAC, the subcommittee should consider framing site-specific concerns within the
context of national issues.
Mr. Charles Lee then opened the floor to comments from participants.
Mr. Oscar Romo, Tijuana, Mexico, criticized the Baja Agua project that he stated is supported
and promoted by EPA. Although the facility is to be built on Mexican soil, he claimed that the
Mexican community was not aware of the project and that the community does not believe it
needs the project. EPA takes pride in solving a problem with something the community does not
see as a solution, he said. Mr. Romo recommended that EPA consult more with all its partners in
Mexico. Noting that most of the communication occurs between "Washington, D.C. and
Mexico City," he complained that local residents do not have access to decisions at those levels.
Mr. Romo also questioned the criteria used by the BECC and why they have approved 21
projects in the U.S. while only 12 projects have been certified for Mexico. He said that the
design of certain rules creates a bias for projects in the United States (U.S.) over Mexico. He
asked that EPA look more closely at what the policies and criteria should be. Mr. Herman urged
Mr. Romo to speak with representatives of EPA Region 9 who were in attendance at the meeting.
He also commented that the EPA Administrator recognizes the critical importance of
consultation with local communities. Increasing community involvement in decisions has been a
common theme throughout the Administrator's term, he added.
Ms. Cipriana Jurado Herrera, Centra de Investigation y Solidaridad Obrera, Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua, Mexico and Co-Chair, Border Justice Campaign, SNEEJ, raised several concerns:
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the clean up of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo area has not been completed, nor is it progressing
quickly; exposure of women working in maquiladoras to toxic pollutants for which scientific
resources are needed to study and diagnose health effects from such work; the lack of Spanish-
language versions of resource materials with which to educate residents of border communities
for whom Spanish is their primary language; and lead poisoning that is occurring in children.
Mr. Diaz responded that the concerns expressed by Ms. Jurado Herrera and Mr. Romo about the
cleanup of the Rio Bravo and the proposed Baja Agua facility represent "purely transboundary
issues," because the plant infrastructure and the aquifers and other natural resources do not
respect national borders. Because the affected region exists on both sides of the border, we
cannot say that if we keep the infrastructure entirely in one country that we will be able to
accomplish the job, he said. Mr. Diaz also stated that EPA understands the concerns and
sentiments of community residents that cleanup is not progressing fast enough. EPA also
understands the need for bilingual communication and is trying to provide the necessary tools.
Mr. Hecht responded to concerns about public health by reiterating that EPA had made public
health a priority in the existing Border XXI plan, establishing a health work group to explore
such issues. He also underscored the importance for the agency of protecting children's health.
Mr. Clifford added that new training programs undertaken by EPA and the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) promote the use ofpromotoras, or local residents,
who serve as environmental health and justice advocates for local communities.
Mr. Manuel Llano, an engineer, stated that he had worked in a chemical plant, delivered a
poignant and emotion-filled exposition on the negative effects of working in the chemical
industry. Describing how his health and physical capacity has been compromised by such work,
he spoke on behalf of his grandchildren and other disabled workers when he explained the
environmental injustice, discrimination, and dangers of chemical plants and the contamination of
nearby communities. He pleaded with the panel to which he addressed his comments to
understand that the conditions under which residents live in border communities lower the
quality of life for the residents. Unfortunately, residents living in the border area are not
protected by the La Paz Agreement, he claimed. He concluded by saying that he did not want to
die knowing that the panel to which he addressed his comments did not help with these issues,
but only benefited from the economic and industrial growth at the border.
Ms. Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, committed staff of Region 9 to
follow up with Mr. Llano and the issues raised in his comment.
Mr. Felix Perez, Alianza Internacional Ecologista del Bravo, Juarez, Mexico, provided
comment about ways to encourage true sustainable development. He criticized government
agencies for supporting only industrial development, not sustainable development at the border.
He voiced the opinion that local communities do not support the "so-called popular projects."
These projects represent that the border region is seeing "only development, not sustainable
development, and only industry, not sustainability," he explained. Because the U.S. is
generating most of the projects, it has the capacity to correct these problems, he noted. Mr.
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Perez concluded by proposing that industry consider environmental health, human health, and
community involvement to encourage sustainable development.
Mr. Hecht, who noted that representatives of the BECC and the NAD Bank were in attendance
at the meeting, stated that despite falling short of expectations, the 17 projects currently under
construction would not exist without the momentum of these institutions. He added that EPA's
contributions tend to support development of infrastructure in poorer, rural communities that
otherwise would not have these structures. Referring to the concerns expressed during earlier
public comment about the BECC and the NADBank, Mr. Hecht agreed that EPA should explore
how it can translate these concerns into changes in the BECC and the NADBank.
Mr. Diaz acknowledged the level of mistrust by communities in EPA's intentions. The
challenge, he said, is to come up with a sustainable balance that recognizes economic needs,
protects the environment and public health, and respects community values as the decision-
making process occurs.
Panel K: Overview of EPA Regional ActivitiesPanel II: Overview of EPA Regional
Activities
This panel featured representatives of the EPA Region 6 and Region 9 border programs who
provided an overview of current border program activities and outlined plans to integrate
environmental justice into its work plans. After brief presentations, participants were provided
an opportunity to comment and ask questions of the panel.
Mr. Manzanilla said the purpose of the regional panel was to provide participants with a
"snapshot view" of what EPA and its Mexican counterparts are doing to improve the
environment at the border region. He stated that EPA considers environmental justice as being
about ensuring fairness and the reduction of disproportionate environmental risks, and involving
and empowering communities. Not only does EPA provide information and inform
communities, he continued, but the effort also includes what EPA does with the input from
communities. It is all about decision-making and accountability, he concluded.
Mr. Manzanilla then introduced representatives of Mexico s Secretariat of Environment, Natural
Resources, and Fisheries (SEMARNAP), Eng. Jose Luis Calderon, Deputy Attorney General,
Procuradoria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente (PROFEPA), and Eng. Antonio Sandoval,
Delegado, PROFEPA's office in Baja, California.
Eng. Sandoval focused his comments on the bi-national efforts undertaken by Mexico and the
U.S. to "conserve the ecology" and encourage sustainable development. He stated that in
response to economic and social demands, the two governments identified the need to plan for
future environmental and social improvements that would operate on a more professional level
and enable both countries to address problems along their joint border. He noted that most
activity has focused on reducing illegal hazardous waste.
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Mr. Manzanilla then introduced staff of EPA's two regional offices that address issues related
to the U.S.-Mexico border. He emphasized that given the limited time available for
presentations, a complete picture of the activities EPA has undertaken cannot be presented.
There is currently an impressive array of activities in many different areas, not only by EPA, he
explained, but by its counterpart agencies in other federal, state, and local agencies, Mexico, and
bilateral efforts such as the BECC and the NADBank. He noted that communities also are active
in terms of reducing environmental risks, infrastructure improvements, improving information
and monitoring information.
Ms. Gina Weber, U.S.-Mexico Border Coordinator, EPA Region 6, announced that EPA Region
6 recently has created an Office of Environmental Justice that reports directly to the Deputy
Regional Administrator. She introduced Arturo Duran, Outreach Specialist, EPA's El Paso
Border Office as a resource for communities. She commented that EPA also maintains an office
part-time in Brownsville, Texas that operates once or twice a month to serve that part of Texas.
Communities do not have to wait for meetings such as this roundtable to speak to someone, she
added, providing the following toll-free telephone numbers for points of contact:
1-800-334-0471 to reach the EPA border offices in El Paso, Texas and San Diego, California
1-800-887-6063 to reach other points of contact in Region 6
In addition, Ms. Weber described several efforts undertaken by EPA Region 6 to address border
environmental issues. She pointed to community grants, sister city emergency response plans,
public information centers, and the HAZTracks waste transportation monitoring system as
innovative efforts to resolve hazardous waste and enforcement issues. Ms. Weber also spoke
about EPA's efforts to craft an environmental education plan for the border. She explained that
EPA has met with community leaders to discuss the plans and receive input from local
communities. She asked to meet with Mr. Che Lopez, Southwest Public Workers Union, who
had spoken previously about youth education organizations, to explore ways in which such
organizations can make the border environmental education plans more successful. She also
agreed to meet with Mr. Adrian Boutureira, Environmental Research Foundation to discuss how
to better disseminate information to communities and identify which documents are important to
the community.
Ms. Wendy Laird-Benner, Border Coordinator, EPA Region 9, spoke briefly about the efforts
of her region to promote community-identified priorities and community-driven programs. She
reported that the agency soon will award five $20,000 grants to support such activities. Running
Grass, Environmental Justice Team, EPA Region 9, described EPA's efforts to integrate
environmental justice into border programs and activities. He pointed specifically to EPA's
environmental justice small grants program, as well as educational efforts in communities such
as Randolph, Arizona.
Mr. Manzanilla then opened the floor to comments from participants.
Mr. Juan Parras reiterated his concerns about the close proximity in his community of a high
school to four industrial facilities that are exempt from some provisions of environmental laws
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because they were "grandfathered" as existing facilities. He pleaded with EPA to help close the
facilities, as well as provide assistance in closing the school. He concluded by saying he was
willing to network with any agency or community that could help.
Mr. Francisco Pavlovich, Alianza Civica, Hermosillo, Sonora, claimed that the hazardous waste
problems with the Cytrar facility have not been resolved, explaining that 25 million square
meters of hazardous waste was transported illegally by Cytrar. He accused Cytrar of
contaminating the soil and land of Sonora, Mexico. He criticized Mr. Calderon, PROFEPA, and
asked for resolution to the illegal transportation of hazardous waste by Cytrar, as well as the
clean up of the Alco Pacifico facility. Responding to a comment by a representative of
PROFEPA who claimed that Alco Pacifico has been cleaned up, Mr. Pavlovich and Mr. Bravo
were vehement in their response, exclaiming that Alco Pacifico has not been comprehensively
cleaned up, and that the community around the site was not even touched. They criticized
PROFEPA for not doing its job of protecting the people and environment.
Mr. Carlos Marentes, El Paso Centra de los Trabajadores Agricales Fronterizos (Border
Agricultural Workers Project), El Paso, Texas, spoke about the use of pesticides and the
subsequent poisoning of farm workers. He stated that as we work to create safe and healthy
work conditions for current and future farm workers, it is important to remember that there is an
"unpaid debt" that must be resolved. He explained that in the 1940s, almost 5 million Mexican
agricultural workers came to the U.S. to produce the food and agricultural products necessary to
help win World War n. However, their efforts have not been recognized or compensated, he
stated.
Mr. Alan Valencia, Yoemen Tekia Foundation, was emphatic as he tearfully explained that he
wants a solution now to the pesticides affecting his people. He claimed that campesino, or farm
workers, currently do not have environmental justice rights, and he wants that to change. He
related a story of a friend who is now dying because of exposure to chemicals spilled from the
pesticide tank he was carrying on his back.
Mr. Llano, a former engineer who had worked in the chemical industry, spoke about the lack of
response from government officials to his correspondence and concerns for citizens. He stated
that in 1995 he had written letters to various government officials, including Julia Carabias Lillo,
Secretary of SEMARNAP, regarding the illegal transportation by businesses of hazardous waste.
He never received a response, he stated.
Mr. Roger Pena, Anthony Health and Community Council, Anthony, New Mexico, reiterated
his opposition to the proposed construction of a metal plating facility in Anthony, New Mexico
(see Summary of Public Dialogue). He wanted to know whether EPA could intervene when a
situation involves a "documented polluter." Mr. Gregg Cooke, EPA Regional Administrator,
EPA Region 6, explained that EPA jurisdiction over the site is limited to oversight under the
permitting process required under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Ms. Marina Ortega, California Indians for Cultural and Environmental Protection, criticized
EPA and SEMARNAP for "being a farce" and for generating decisions and actions without
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community involvement. She said that she has seen sacred grounds disturbed and mining and
cyanide poisoning conducted on indigenous land. She closed by remarking that EPA should
change its name from "Environmental Protection Agency" to 'Who's Got Money Agency."
Keynote Speakers
Gregg A. Cooke, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6
Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9
Diane TaJcvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coaltition
Richard Moore, Coordinator, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic
Justice
As part of the luncheon break on August 20, 1999, keynote remarks were provided by
representatives of EPA and two community organizations actively involved in environmental
justice and other issues related to the joint border between the U.S. and Mexico. Each spoke
briefly about the concerns facing each organization. The following presents a paraphrased
summary of their remarks in the order in which they were offered. The audiotapes of the
proceedings of the roundtable meeting includes a verbatim record of the keynote remarks and is
available upon request at EPA's Office of International Activities.
Mr. Gregg Cooke, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6
"We realize we also need to understand how to better serve border communities. We need to
work to stop the spread of "colonias" without basic services such as wastewater treatment. We
have established guidelines for BECC projects to incorporate community participation. During
the past few years, $20 million has been allocated by the BECC to help small communities. We
want to know the beneficial aspects and ways to change, working with the existing institutions.
We also need to encourage innovative approaches to reducing waste, such as recycling waste
products from one maquiladora to serve as the raw materials for another. One of the biggest
problems is community access to grants. Incremental progress has been made, such as the
Border Response Plans. We currently have sister city emergency response plans to respond to
public health risks between the border cities."
He recognized the fundamental disconnect between what EPA tries to accomplish and what the
environmental justice movement perceives. There is still value in the water anH wastewater
efforts that was agreed upon by the two nations. According to Mr. Cooke, the structure of the
agreement allows for community participation, which would expand upon these two fundamental
goals. After listening to the speakers, however, he recognized that there is a definite disconnect
within the process.
There are small dollar grants available that helps the communities access the program. 'It is
clear to me that the biggest problem, or one of the biggest problems, is access. It's that you don't
know some of the things that we're doing. And you don't know how to access them. And you
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don't know how they can help you. And, frankly, we don't know, sometimes, how we should be
helping you. And we've got to do a better job of that." "Perhaps we have not been engaging
smart enough."
Ms. Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9
"The challenge is not whether to address the issue, it's (it is) how to address it. She asked for help
in thinking more creatively. We need your support to help us figure out how to do it. Congress
responds to the public more than federal employees ~ we need your help to communicate these
concerns."
When she started working with the border issues, it seemed like "slow ping-pong." It was overly
informal. They have moved away from the Fed-to-Fed isolated dialogues into including
intergovernmental personnel to the decision-making. However, they are finding it difficult when
even the intergovernmental agencies do not agree. Recently, we finally signed an agreement that
broadens the list of stakeholders who are invited to engage in bilateral dialogues.
We have plans in place for border coordination. However, we need better tools to address these
issues - that is where the public can help. We need to know how we can build your capacity.
We have, historically, more tools to deal with water issues than the toxics. In the toxics arena,
government is struggling to implement laws. This is an area where the community can help.
Legislation and money are) necessary on both sides to attack the issues. Communities can
create the kind of political will to get that kind of resources for us." "Congress responds to the
demand of the public." We need to find ways to build regular dialogue and involve other
government agencies to hear your concerns. There needs to be some candid and frank discussion
to get more tools. "We have not stretched ourselves with the tools that we have." In Region 9,
we will commit to doing a better job to:
• engage border communities more aggressively
• provide technical support and funding assistance
• engage in more regular dialogue
o So things don't build up and are more focused
• look introspectively, not defensively
o Try to find more innovative ways to accomplish the issues
• interface more with other federal agencies
We must also overcome other obstacles such as having federal employees fighting amongst each
other. We must all work together." There needs to be more of a joint effort. It is just hard to
figure out how to do it. "We know we are late in addressing these issues." 'There are too few of
us working on huge problems to be fighting with each other rather than figuring out how to use
all of our skills and strengths and tools to resolve these problems." "The folks along the border
don't have the time for us to waste fighting with each other, they need us to sit down and work
together and solve these problems."
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Ms. Diane Takvorian, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition
"The communities along our borders share several characteristics with other communities across
the country. We have industries and the U.S. Navy in our communities. These border
communities bear the impacts of policies and decisions made in both Washington D C. and
Mexico City. We need to see where we are going, not where we have been. We need to look at
the opposition; they are more influential and have more money." "The problems of the metal
plating industry that we have seen need to get addressed. It's not that complicated. We need to
work based on the following principals:
• Clean up the 'messes' - let's not argue about it
• Act on community-controlled and community-directed decisions
• Adopt pollution prevention and precautionary policies
• Adopt the policy that 'children come first'
• Provide a united, effective voice for solutions to the problems"
What is different is that we arelO miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. As a result of this, we see
that bad trade policies going into effect. And we see the exploitation of workers the environment
and the public. We see how these policies play out. Another unique characteristic is the
presence of the U.S. Military that is not regulated like regular industry. "We haven't gone far
enough, and we need to achieve some things." "The environment may be better protected, but
we are not there. We need to get the shared vision out there so we can work for it." "Our
challenge is to think more broadly and to think about what the inherent sources of these problems
are." "One of the key problems is that the opposition is more powerful than we are. They have a
whole lot more money. They influence politics. And they are buying the ability to pollute in our
immunities And we need to be able to upgrade our capacity to really get at our problems and
influence government ourselves."
Mr. Richard Moore, Coordinator, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic
Justice
We cannot separate where we came from, where we are, and where we are going. DDT was
manufactured in minority communities and sent to other countries. We still have many sites
like Alco Pacifico. These problems continue because of ignorance and arrogance. "The
arrogance of any person to expect us to believe that Alco Pacific didn't poison communities
before it came to Tijuana. They were run out of the U.S. and are now in Tijuana doing the exact
same thing. It's not that the government doesn't know, it's that they're arrogant." "We will not
put up with arrogance by anyone to convince us that we don't know what we're talking about."
"The reality is we would not be here discussing EJ if we did not earlier admit to the fact that
there is environmental and economic injustice. No matter where we come from, the fact of the
matter is, we're here talking about real people with real issues." "We must move forward
without forgetting where we have been or those who have helped us get there. We have seen
progress. We must continue working with our communities and organizations along the Mexico
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border. We don't want the federal government to do things for the communities. We should be
working together since this will benefit everyone."
"We have given public comment but we don't see anyone responding at this roundtable meeting.
We hear institutions claiming to respond to our issues. We see the EPA border offices as doing
public relations for industry, to defend their rights."
He closed with this challenge:
"We, as community people, have to go back home and build the strongest, most powerful
grassroots organization that this country has seen. We need to network with each other. We
need to join regional networks. Then those networks need to network with each other, including
Mexico." 'It's not a special interest to us that some children get exposed and poisoned by eating
apples or whatever it may be with pesticides on it. That's not special interest, I don't think. If
those were white children, would anybody care or not care?"
"We're not asking for a favor." We're asking for recognition of our rights. "We come from one
of the most inspiring movements in this country. The reason we're here is because we've been
winning and not losing. We're not losers. We're about developing a truly multiracial movement
that will be led by grassroots people, and, in the majority, women."
Concurrent Work Group Sessions
These sessions featured dialogues on specific issues related to environmental justice on the
border. Led by a moderator or teams of moderators, each session included resource panelists
who offered differing perspectives with which to spark open discussion among participants. The
purpose of the work groups was to contribute to the development of an environmental justice
framework for border environmental protection and develop criteria that support community-
based strategies for the development of environmental justice border policies. In order to
enhance existing EPA understanding of border environmental protection and environmental
justice, the work groups examined specific issues, trying to identify the model and framework
through which to explore environmental justice at the U.S.-Mexico border and in other
international contexts. Questions were directed at familiarizing the NEJAC with who is at the
border and which projects are occurring at the border, and, most importantly, with what the
pervasive and common issues are along the border that can be addressed in a policy context.
Environmental Justice & Labor
Panel Presentations:
Mr. Fernando Cuevas, a migrant fanner, spoke about his experiences from striking and
boycotting over the years. Specifically, he described his experience with Campbell's Soup,
Heinze Pickles and Deans' Foods. He showed how his experiences in boycotting taught him
about the industry control over companies. He went on to talk about how he learned how to be a
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negotiator and use various conflict resolution tactics. He has used these techniques to teach the
laborers to confront companies that are abusive and exploitive. He spoke about how these
experiences led him to be an organizer. He stressed the importance of teaching youth how to
organize and take over the movement for the future.
He cited corruption within the pickle industry. He described how the industry and the banks
have been conspiring, "being very slick", by keeping farmers obligated to major canners. He
cited the Mount Olive Pickle industry and how the workers there are not able able to organize or
unionize. He asked for support in boycotting Mount Olive Pickles and wants to build boycotting
committees in communities.
Ms. Eida Saragoza, Department of Labor, stated that there are labor side agreements to
NAFTA. The Labor Department administers this side agreement of the NAFTA The agreement
promises to: promote 11 labor principles. "The idea was to improve working conditions and
living standards in the 3 (three) countries." Three mandates for the NAO: inform the public
about labor situations in the areas; inform other agencies about legal issues between the
countries; and negotiate labor issues of particular concern on a regular basis. "The most
controversial role is the NAO's ability to entertain complaints about labor law violations in the
other countries." To date, NAO has received complaints in Mexico against the U.S. and vice
versa. The complaints range from worker health and safety, wage and hour discrimination laws
and violations of the right to association.
In her view, "this is not a perfect agreement. From the labor perspective, I receive complaints
that the agreement is absolutely too weak. It doesn't do enough to force the government to
correct particular situations. From the business side, I get complaints that the agreement is too
intrusive in interfering with their ability to do business in countries such as Mexico. From the
government of Mexico, I get complaints that when I go in and investigate some of the
allegations, that in fact there are sovereignty issues that I am violating."
The agreement has forced the government to address the labor issues in an international arena.
There have been notable differences in the way Mexico has responded to these rfaimg- the
process has shown a positive difference and the courts are responding positively as well.
Moreover, the public hearings that she holds offer media coverage of these issues, which gets the
circumstances out in the open. Finally, she invited questions or comments to be directed to the
NAO at (202) 501-6653.
Mr. Rubin Solis, community political organizer and farm worker, asked why side agreements
were placed in NAFTA, and what are the impacts they are having in their communities? "In our
standpoint you cannot divorce environmental and economic communities." Occupational health
and safety standards are not enforced or applied by the Labor Department, which means that the
offices are inconsistent.
The side-agreements "don't have teeth because they have paperwork powers but no enforcement
powers." When the Labor Departments establish minimum wage requirements, it "doesn't
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mean not less than, it means no more than." Attention to the border was brought about by the
high level of poverty around the area on both sides.
OCC health and safety standards are too low. He does not believe things are getting better,
adding that he believes the issues with which NAFTA is being forced to deal with are not new;
they are the same issues with which the Southwest Workers' Union has been dealing. Now,
however, they are only more clearly defined.
Environmental Justice and Labor Justice Issues: This session explored specific examples of
environmental and economic justice issues affecting U.S.-Mexico border region. The purpose of
the work group was to provide federal agencies with an overview of these issues to assist them to
better define the priorities for grassroots organizations.
Moderated by Mr. Jose Bravo, SNEEJ, the session focused on identifying common issues and
concerns related to environmental and labor justice. He defined environmental justice as
including economic justice, of which labor is a part, as well as water resources, immigration, and
human rights. This is how communities are defining the environment, he said.
The session was structured in two rounds of panel presentations and comments, followed by
discussion of issues and development of proposals and recommendations. The Summary of
Recommendations section of this report summarizes the proposals and recommendations
identified by the participants of this work group.
Ms. Cipriana Jurado Herrera, Centra de Investigacion y Solidaridad Obrera, Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua, Mexico and Co-Chair, Border Justice Campaign, SNEEJ, stated that she worked for
electronics maquiladoras from the age of 13. She now works with SNEEJ's Border Justice
Campaign to bring attention to the environmental justice issues and human rights violations she
has witnessed first hand: low salaries; exposure to toxic substances because of poor training or
lack of access to MSDSs and/or warning labels; non-enforcement of current labor laws; sexual
assault and violence, particularly against young women; gender inequalities; and discrimination
against pregnant women. She expressed frustration in her efforts to inform the general public
about these issues. This is not an easy task because workers who are suspected of collaborating
with organizations are usually fired, she complained. She requested help from any individual
who may have any suggestions or recommendations.
Ms. Saragoza responded to Ms. Jurado Herrera's request for help by informing her about DOL
Secretary Alexis Herman's work to follow-up on women's issues with the Mexican government.
She explained that Secretary Herman has created a women's bureau within DOL that goes into
communities to try to persuade women to come forward with their cases because the Mexican
government now recognizes it is unconstitutional to discriminate against pregnant women.
Before this, not one case had come forward, but now things are starting to change.
Ms. Teresa Leal, Comadres, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona, expressed general
concern about maquiladoras. She stated that her goal is to unite all movements working to
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improve the conditions wrought by maquiladoras and create a common agenda for all. She
announced that she plans to develop a statement to present to the World Trade Organization at
their meeting in Seattle later this year in hopes of creating an inroads to stop the exploitation of
maquiladora workers.
Mr. Cesar Luna, Environmental Health Coalition, San Diego, California, commented on the
plan of the U.S. Navy to build a large home-port for nuclear-powered vessels less than one mile
downwind of the Barrio Logan community in south San Diego (see the Summary of the Fact-
Finding Tour for a description of this community). He complained that Navy plans include room
for 15 to 20 vessels, but there is no emergency plan to respond to accidents. He requested
meetings between the Navy and the local community be held to address the concerns of the
community, he continued.
Mr. Luna also raised concerns about the Metales y Derivados site in Tijuana, Mexico, stating that
there is no honest communication between EPA and its Mexican counterparts. Noting that
cleanup of the site can be used to set a precedent, he stated that EPA is in a unique position to
bring about historical change and "avoid another Cytrar." But it is important to remember that
communities need to be a part of the solution to avoid the problems that have occurred in the
past, he cautioned.
Mr. Francisco Pavlovich, an engineer working with the Alianza Civica in Hermosillo, Sonora,
Mexico, described the conditions at the Cytrar compound located six kilometers outside of
Hermosillo and explained in detail the many violations that have occurred there. He presented
pictures documenting many of the violations and explained that for most residents, the issue is no
longer the violations but rather remediation of the site.
Group Discussion:
Maquiladoras. Participants discussed the need to view concerns with maquiladoras as a global
issue that is not limited to the joint U.S.-Mexico border. They called for increased oversight of
permitting and compliance by both the U.S. and Mexican governments, the "repatriation" of
waste to the country of origin of the maquiladora, and investigations into the general and
reproductive health of workers in maquiladora industries. Other key concerns include
strengthening weak sanctions for violations of labor and environmental laws and extending
requirements for the recycling of wastewater.
Site Specific Concerns. Participants raised concerns about several industrial sites and affected
communities located in Mexico and the United States (U.S.). In addition to requests for
the Cytfar ^ MetaleS y Derivados sites' called for action
****''bK,W,!B"4,rltarad8"e^ttei»"***""»»'*-» * «»
Candados Presto - clean up the facility
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Sierra Blanca sludge dumps - enforce the La Paz Agreement
Dump near Sunland Park, New Mexico - close the facility
Valle Juarez - renegotiate or reevaluate water rights so that water needed for irrigation is sufficient and clean
for fanners
Rio Grande/Rio Bravo watershed basin - develop a plan to clean up the area, including conducting another
study that is more representative of water flows
Wage Discrimination. Citing the success of pursuing complaints of wage discrimination in
Texas, several participants urged the filing of such complaints with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in other states. Mr. Parras noted that the EEOC has a good
reputation for following up on such complaints. Another wage concern is if industries "run" to
another country they should have to pay their workers the same wages as in the U.S.
Participants also called for development of "Just Transition" programs under NAFTA to assist
workers affected by the migration of firms to other countries. Such programs must be "just" and
include elements to address medical health concerns of the displaced workers, they explained.
He also suggested that medical program be funded by the U.S. government and the polluting
industries.
Bilateral Cooperation and Agreements. Participants were adamant about the lack of protection
existing bi-national agreements offer residents living in the border region. They expressed
frustration with the level of protection afforded by the La Paz Agreement for the mining
industry, particularly those facilities employing cyanide to leech out ore. Concerned that drops
in the metals market would encourage owners to abandon mines without cleanup, participants
called for the establishment of an international tribunal which would address the demobilization
and remediation of closed mines. In addition, several participants requested NAFTA be
renegotiated, along with the side agreements for the BECC and the NADBank. During the
renegotiation, the authority of parties such as the CEC Labor Commission should be given
independent decision-making power and granted the capacity to enforce the agreement.
Participants also requested an international border commission to specifically address issues
related to environmental justice on the U.S.-Mexico border. A key concern was to ensure that
the community is treated and viewed as an equal partner in the decision-making.
Civil Rights Concerns. Many participants expressed dismay at the status of complaints filed
under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). They characterized the implementation
of administrative guidelines as "a failure" because not one complaint has been resolved. Urging
EPA to be more proactive in investigating complaints rather than dismissing them out of hand,
the participants stated that the agency needs to revise its implementing procedures and develop
"community-friendly", understandable guidelines that clearly describe what is an appropriate and
acceptable complaint.
Conclusion:
At the conclusion of the session, the participants identified the following key goals for improving
issues related to environmental and labor justice:
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• Demand maquiladoras adhere to the highest labor and environmental standards — take action against non-
compliance of environmental laws by U.S. firms and do not accept any firms that do not meet U.S. standards
because impacts to the shared ecosystem are felt on both sides of the border
• Address issues and concerns with maquiladoras throughout the country, not only for activities in the border
region
• Ensure NAFTA better addresses labor, environmental, and human rights issues
• Commit to involving communities as equal partners
• Just Compensation program, courts award minimal to compensate harmed community members. A committee
should be developed to determine whether J.C has been properly received. Sometimes community members
don't realize that they are being cheated. People are essentially bought off. This committee could look in and
have the authority to assure J.C.
Immigration, Trade and the Environment
This discussion was moderated by Arnoldo Garcia, Urban Habitat Program and chair of the
NEJAC International subcommittee, and focused on environmental justice in the context of the
environment, immigration and trade, and the limited authority of the EPA. There are three areas
of interest: 1) the relationship between the EPA, environmental protection and trade as causes of
immigration, 2) the political, economic, and environmental impact of trade on border
communities, and 3) border issues such as the nature of the border as a political boundary. The
EPA must examine its border policies and ensure that they are consistent with other regions in
the nation so there are not disparate impacts on any one population.
Panel Presentations - Round I
Ms. Cathi Tactaquin began by saying that there must be a bi-national approach to the
environmental and immigration issues in the border region. The intersection between
environmental degradation and immigration occurs in poor economic and development policies
and practices that harm communities and lead to the displacement of populations. The negative
impacts of globalization include fierce competition to local markets, which destroys local
resources and environments, and puts local policy makers in no-win positions. The resulting
poor economic conditions force many to migrate. Even more, those who wish to restrict
immigration have accused the immigrant population of causing environmental damage failing to
identify sources such as the military, maquiladoras, the triple wall, and the border patrol. These
environmental issues have a disparate impact on the migrant communities along the border. One
important step is to empower all people by ensuring equal access to information, allowing people
to make informed decisions and find solutions to their environmental problems.
Ms. Jeanne Gauna, of the Southwest Organizing Project in Albuquerque, New Mexico stated
that New Mexico is the poster-state for environmental racism. They have a "minority-majority"
and are home to a disproportionate number of military bases, uranium mines and many other
environmental hazards that have had a great impact. The border is more of a political border that
divides a common culture, the only real difference between the north and south being the quality
of the roads. NAFTA has had a great impact on issues such as the environment and migration
Workers come to the region to work in the maquilas, a large source of pollution, and are forced
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to live in contaminated communities that lack the infrastructure to support them. Another issue
is that INS officials are harassing migrants, interfering with their access to the resources and care
they need to survive. She concludes that the border serves to separate a people and facilitate the
taking of Mexican resources. INS out of New Mexico!
Maria Antonia Flores, La Mujer Obrera/Centro Obrero, El Paso, Texas, stated that NAFTA has
taken many of the maquila jobs in El Paso to Mexico, causing unemployment to rise and labor
alternatives to decrease. NAFTA fails, for in its planning, it did not take into account those who
would suffer from its policy. The result is that many people have had to migrate to other
communities for work. The EPA must take into account those that are truly affected by the trade
between U.S. and Mexico. The effects of NAFTA are not just academic, but have a real impact
on communities that are being left behind by the "new economy" and are in need of alternative
forms of employment.
Group Discussion:
NAFTA and the EPA : Many of the comments focused on the effects NAFTA has had on
immigration, the environment, and the border region. When NAFTA was signed, there was no
consideration of the impact it would have on border communities and workers. The movement
of jobs from one side of the border to the other has caused an increase in migration. Many
communities have popped up and grown in population, lacking sufficient infrastructure such as
water and waste treatment, and/or are contaminated with the pollutants from the nearby
maquilas. One gentleman pointed out that NAFTA allows US companies and farmers to dump
their products in Mexico below market prices, driving Mexican producers out of business.
Another issue is the impact that INS and border control have had on the environment.
Environmental hazards are a motivating factor in migration, yet Congress suspended
environmental regulations along the border so that the 'triple wall' could be built, the purpose of
which is to slow immigration.
EPA Representatives. During this comment period, EPA representatives responded to the
comments and presentations. One comment stressed that the EPA and the Clinton Administration
truly believe that free trade and higher levels of environmental protection are compatible. Studies
at the EPA show that NAFTA has helped in creating jobs across the border and enabled the
Mexican economy to perform better than it would have given the fall of the peso. Also, it was
stressed that Mexico's change to a more industrialized economy will have a short-term adverse
impact on some, but that overall, it will improve the economic situation.
The other concern addressed was the EPA working with other federal agencies in order to
address environmental justice issues in the border region. They acknowledged the difficulty in
getting the agencies to work together, but through the Border XXI program, there is hope in
bringing all the parties together to find solutions. There are other bi-lateral meetings and
organizations in which environmental issues are raised, but no national or international
mechanism for bringing all those involved together.
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Panel Presentations - Round II
Mr. Robert Martinez, U.S.-Mexican Border program, American Friends Service Committee,
Hisr.iisseri immigration and the environment as human rights issues. Many government projects,
like the Triple Wall and the International Wastewater Treatment Plant, have created many
environmental and human rights problems. When the Congress passed Operation Gatekeeper in
1994, they created a demilitarized zone in which 428 people have died in border crossing
attempts. With few other opportunities, immigrants are willing to risk their lives for the
opportunity to work in the U.S. The Triple Wall and other measures drive migrants to extremely
dangerous parts of the border for which they are not prepared. Their organization is working on a
project to place white crosses along the border where people have died. These are just some of
the human rights issues that the border faces.
Mr. Roberto A. Sanchez-Rodrigues, made four recommendations for community revitalization
and environmental justice. First, adopt a broader social and economic perspective when
discussing the effects and impacts of NAFTA and GATT on the border. Second, build a coalition
enahling environmental justice groups, labor unions, local authorities, federal and state agencies
as well as business and industry interest groups to come together to address these issues. Third,
coalitions should set a positive precedent to encourage a cooperative effort to effect overall
change, not just small, individual victories. Fourth, encourage existing agencies and
organizations to develop the opportunities available under NAFTA in a manner that promotes
sustainable development and awareness of environmental justice. NEJAC and the EPA must
work to protect existing U.S. environmental law from multinational trade agreements, which
threaten the democratic voice of local communities while bolstering the interests of multinational
corporations. Lastly, the EPA ought to provide an annual report that describes how the agency is
being perceived, what progress is being made, and how the agency should be improved.
Mr. Domingo Gonzales, the Border Campaign, spoke of the historical lessons to be found
concerning the border region, immigration, economic decision-making, the environment,
environmental justice, and sustainable development. Migrant workers began coming North with
the prohibition of slavery, and continued with the Bracero Program during WWII and the
Maquila Program in the 1960s. The U.S. sought migrant workers for cheap labor and increased
profit, but did not do so because they cared for their well being. Historically, the border region,
lacking resources like water, has never been able to support much development. If Congressmen
and the corporations that have made millions on the border had consulted the local communities,
they would have been able to prevent the current problems border communities face due to the
lack of resources like water. In order to learn from the mistakes of the past, local communities
must be empowered and given a voice in the decision-making process. The EPA and other
agencies must create proper mechanisms to include locals in addressing the border issues. With
NAFTA, these border communities with their environmental justice issues will continue to grow,
as there are not many other choices for the affected populations. Without a bottom-up approach,
the EPA and other agencies will never understand the issues and there will never be real
solutions to the many border issues.
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Group Discussion:
This group discussion centered around the shortcomings of NAFTA, the effect it has had on
border communities, as well as efforts by the EPA and the federal government to address these
issues.
Shortcomings of NAFTA. One of the ideas from the comment period was that NAFTA only
considers the needs and benefits of the industrialized nations. Had current border issues such as
pollution, labor and immigration been taken into full consideration, then they could have been
avoided from the start. As it stands, NAFTA is nothing more than a great tax break for the US
and the means by which multinational corporations get around environmental and labor
regulations. Mexico is not sharing in the benefits of free trade and is now faced with a fight for
their cultural, spiritual and human rights. Again, there is a call for those impacted to have a
voice in the policy making so that they may have an opportunity to stand up for themselves.
EPA and Federal Government Efforts: Representatives from the EPA and federal government
stated that they are working to include the communities of the border region in addressing these
issues, but that it is difficult to get government agencies together. There are more and more
high-level meetings between the US and Mexico; and although the Border XXI program is
supposed to convene all government agencies, they have had little success. The NADBank is
also getting involved with over 200 water/wastewater projects, 16 currently underway and 6
more planned for year 2000. Recently though, Congress cut the budget in half because there
were not enough people pushing for it, so there is a call for communities to start working on then-
legislatures to fund such programs. There is agreement that there must be more communications
and efforts made to achieve better collaboration between the agencies. Alan Hecht from the EPA
made the point that NAFTA is not going to be repealed anytime soon and millions of people
have come to rely on the current system for jobs. Noting that the system is not perfect, he asked
how the EPA and the federal government should decide who gets what and how wealth is
distributed?
Final Session - Conclusions and Recommendations
The main focus of this final comment period was the offering of solutions and areas that need to
be focused on.
Education was stressed as a key step towards empowerment and finding solutions. One
recommendation was that education in the environment and economics should be pushed in the
public schools so that future generations are able to get involved and find solutions. There were
also groups that wanted to know more and have greater access to information.
Enforcement was also suggested. It was pointed out that one of the problems with enforcement
is the issue of a nation's sovereignty and the inability of the U.S. to enforce environmental laws
against corporations operating in Mexico. Bi-lateraJ cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico
was offered as a solution, as was the suggestion that U.S. monitor the repatriation of hazmat to
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monitor compliance with current laws. Another suggestion was to organize all NGOs and
organizations working on monitoring so that they are able to share information and resources.
It is stressed that in order to find a solution, we must stop approaching the border unilaterally. It
is a common bioregion with a growing common culture, history, and people and the two nations
must work together to find a common solution.
At the conclusion of the session, the participants identified the following key goals for improving
immigration and trade issues:
• Use a bi-national approach when addressing border issues, including developing bi-national models for
development
• Understand that the environment and migration are impacted by political and economic indicators
• Use a historical perspective to understand situations today
• Recognize that environmental justice is not an isolated issue but is part of social processes
• Commit to involving communities as equal partners
• Accept that economic development should coincide with human development
• Enforce against companies that pollute on the border
• EPA should encourage people to push the Agency, encourage people to become part of the political process
• EPA must allow better and easier access to public information and compliance standards EPA should
accurately calculate waste by the maquiladoras; it can do that by figuring out what the maquiladoras are
importing into Mexico, i.e. what specific chemicals and their amounts. EPA already can know what is beine
exported into Mexico and also what the US imports, therefore it can understand what rfopmirals and their
amounts remain in Mexico '
• There is a problem with municipal waste in the border towns on the Mexican side. Mexico only enforces its
environmental laws against Mexican companies but not against multi-nationals.
• There should be a monitoring commission to consult with EPA on border issues. NE JAC could take on this
TOiv.
• pie problem is not that the border exists, but that the border is being managed unilaterally on many levels-
Environmentally, Socially, and Economically.
• EP^ho^kamfrjmT1p^PeCtS 0311 help for defining oneself both culturally and spiritually.
• EPA should work with and change what exists.
Indigenous Peoples and Border Justice:
This session included presentations and discussions that examine environmental justice issues
impacting Indigenous Peoples along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as those indigenous
populations within interior lands that are impacted by trade policies between U.S. and Mexico
The diverse group mcluded tnbal citkens, representatives from tribal communities including the
Mojave Elders Group, and EPA staff working at tribal levels. All participants agreed that there
ye many issues that need to be dealt with concerning environmental justice on the border and the
discussion began with listing those issues. Although participants expressed that the two and half
hours allotted for the discussion appeared to be insufficient for such an important discussion,
they indicated that they were encouraged by the three solid recommendations that resulted from
their deliberations:
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• Community participation and communication: Participants agreed they must be empowered and have a voice in
policy that affects them, which includes having an effective means of communication at the local level. Also,
direct communication links must be established between the Mexican Government and EPA Region 9 to
increase effective dialogue. Establishing this communication could be accomplished by reorganizing the
Border XXI program to include community voices and establishing a direct line to those agencies and officials
who make the decisions.
• Tribes Meet with Governor Davis: Felicia Marcus (EPA) has agreed to try and set up a meeting between tribes
living in Region 9 and Governor Davis. She will provide a written copy of the request to the tribes.
• Colorado River Watershed/Delta: This area must be included in the Border XXI program. Tribal people living
along the Colorado River outside the 100-km border zone are affected by border contamination. However,
since these tribes are outside of the 100 km zone, they are not protected by Border XXI legislation or funds. If
a watershed approach was used to define the boundary zone, this area would be sheltered.
The Summary of Recommendations
Waste Dumps on Indigenous Borderlands: Participants identified the disproportionate number
of environmental injustices affecting tribal lands throughout the breakout session. Historically,
low economic growth and political weakness make tribal lands vulnerable to these types of
violations. The radioactive waste dump in New Mexico (WIPP), the petroleum contaminated
soil releases at the Cahuilla Indian Reservation, and large pesticide contamination on Mexican
farmlands are examples. Participants agreed that these issues must be addressed considering the
destruction of the land and effects on public health. Current studies show a link between
children's health and environmental contamination. A study by Dr. Gelate links the increased
number of Mexican children with learning disabilities to toxic unloading. Alberto Saldamando
concluded that the areas of national sacrifice tend to be Indian land and that people are losing
their rights in the name of development. Tribal communities lack the power and resources to
fight off the wealthy developers in order to protect their land and rights.
Effects of NAFTA on the Environment. Participants raised concerns about the effects of trade
and traffic on the border caused by the implementation of NAFTA. The U.S. is tearing down
borders, ^n^hling deregulation of environmental standards, utilization of cheap labor and land,
and exploitation of the border region. The U.S. must recognize that the border region is a
biosphere and base legislation and policy on its protection. The indigenous people on the border
have a birthright to this region, and due to U.S. development and NAFTA, they live and must
raise their children with all the health concerns that come with living on dumps and polluted
lands. The border functions to protect the interests of the U.S. and its industries, providing cheap
labor, land and resources. These policies promote environmental injustice and allow the wealthy
and powerful to use the land and its people without consideration of the health or well being of
those living in the region.
Tribal Sacredness. A stoiy was told that while the federal government was considering a
development permit, officials attempted to quantify the spirituality of a piece of tribal land by
asking community members how many times they prayed there. Of course, the government was
not able to place a measurable unit of sacredness on the land. One of the great concerns of this
group was how to protect their spiritual, religious and cultural sites. First, there must be a
common definition of what is a religious, spiritual, or cultural site, which then should open the
non-indigenous eyes as to how they must be protected. One recommendation was that all sites be
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registered with the federal government so that when someone wants to take advantage of it, there
is protection. The problem is enforcement and the native tribes will always lose out to the
money and influence of the corporations and politicians.
Bad Actor Law. EPA cannot consider a corporation's past history of violating environmental
laws when considering permit applications. Participants expressed outrage at the fact that Alco
Pacifico and similar companies have been allowed to relocate operations "time and time again"
and continue to destroy the environment and harm people's health. Participants agreed that EPA
should stop companies that have a history of environmental injustice and not allow them to
repeat their offences. "Three Strikes and You're Out!" they urged.
Border XXI. Many common themes kept reappearing throughout the discussion such as the
inadequacies of the Border XXI100 km zone definition, lack of indigenous representation, and
the need for effective legislation to reflect indigenous peoples values. Participants described the
ensuing environmental destruction on the border, which affects not only the people living within
the 200 km zone set aside by Border XXI, but a much larger area. As this is a common region
and the issues are shared by both sides of the border, solutions must be bi-lateral. The Border
XXI plan is reviewed every five years and many agree that tribes need to have a voice in this
review process. There are 25 or 26 distinct tribes along the border with distinct needs and
voices. Each must have the opportunity to represent itself on these matters. Though there are
various Executive Orders and Legislative acts that require the U.S. to consult with Tribes, they
still have a difficult time being heard and having their opinion considered substantively. In
addition, tribes in Mexico are affected as well and must have an opportunity to stand up for
themselves.
Conclusions:
• Reformulate Border XXI, recognizing the inadequacies of the 62 mi (100 km) border. A holistic approach must
be applied, consistent with indigenous people's values: social, political, economic, environmental, and cultural.
• Include representatives of indigenous peoples in each entity involved in Bonier XXI and other bi-national
policy-making programs.
• Articulate indigenous environmental values into policies and regulations.
These preceding recommendations could not address all the issues discussed during the session
and participants agreed to defer discussion of the following issues at a subsequent meeting:
• Contaminants, water quality and resource protection
• Children's health
• Border XXI Process
• EPA commit to apply Executive Orders on government to government tribal relations in all its international
programs
• All Executive Orders applying to tribal people be applied to international programs
• Bad Actor Law
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Environmental Health Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
This session was coordinated by Ms. A. Caroline Hotaling (Border Ecology Project, Bisbee,
Arizona and member, NEJAC International Subcommittee), and moderated by Ms. Hotaling and
Martha Valdes (Director of the Border Environmental Justice Campaign of the Environmental
Health Coalition in San Diego, CA). The work group discussions addressed a broad range of
environmental health issues along the border, including health care, pollution and toxics,
organizing projects, bi-national medical research, and site-specific issues. Participants in the
session included representatives from national, state, and local government agencies, community
based organizations, and community people from the border region.
The panelists began by describing how they have worked to improve the environmental health of
people living in the border region. These panel presentations are described in detail below. The
group was then divided into two sections. One group was conducted in English and one
bilingually. The first group, looking at medical research, was moderated by Caroline Hotaling.
The second group, addressing pollution and toxics, was moderated by Martha Valdes of the
Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego, CA. Although the discussions were centered on
certain issues, many other issues arose and were discussed. The moderators emphasized the
development of proposals and recommendations to address issues that were considered. The
Summary of Recommendations section of this report summarizes the proposals and
recommendations identified by the participants of this work group.
Panel Presentations:
Ms. Martha Valdes, Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), San Diego, California, described
her 20-year old organization that addresses a broad spectrum of health-related issues, including
toxic substances and air quality, offering diverse services such as a technical assistance hotline to
field community calls, and a Border Environmental Justice campaign. She commented that all
EHC's campaigns were created with the express intention to empower the surrounding
community. Environmental justice issues are important to EHC, she said, because of their
"undeniable effect" on the San Diego and Tijuana communities. Of particular concern are the
environmental health risks posed by maquiladoras, especially to women who are exposed to
heavy metals, organic solvents, and acids on a daily basis. The effects of such exposure can be
most clearly seen in the unusually large percentage of babies born in this area with neural tube
defects, she confided. Ms. Valdes described efforts by EHC to fight for environmental justice
along the border region, including a project known as Salud Ambiental - Latinas Tomando
Action (SALTA) or Latin Women Taking Action for Environmental Health, which trains
women to be promotoras, or lay environmental health activists, within their community. She
reported that EHC's activities were also key in stopping the local agricultural industry from
spraying local fruit farms without community consent, as well as stopping the fumigation of
certain fruits with methyl bromide, a potent toxin and carcinogen. EHC sees a great need for
improved access to information, which would allow communities to better assess information
about the risks to their health.
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Ms. Carmen Cutter, Border Health Initiative, Project Concern International, San Diego, briefly
described the activities of her organization, which focuses on communicable diseases such as
tuberculosis and AIDS. They have established 37 community clinics in Tijuana, Mexico. This
panelist chose not to speak extensively due to a desire to field questions as they became part of
the overall discussion.
Ms. Claudia LafTont Castellon, Aqua 21, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, described Aqua 21 as a
project designed to improve health through improved water sanitation. The program is a joint
venture by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, the University of Texas El Paso, and Aqua 21,
who together provide the financial support and management of the program, she explained. Its
efforts are focused on both improving water purification and infrastructure and promoting basic
water safety education through small community based organizations in the most impoverished
neighborhoods, she continued. Infrastructure improvements made in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez
through the Aqua 21 program are supplied by various organizations and include connecting
people to the public water system, improving local water storage techniques, and connecting all
public water supplies to oxidation plants. Ms. LafFont Castellon asserts that much of the success
of the program is due to the number of organizations working together bi-nationally, providing
resources that would have been unavailable otherwise.
During the introduction, one participant noted that she felt that the African-American
community, including the residents of the neighborhood where the roundtable was taking place,
were largely left out of border organizing and environmental campaigns, and she recommended
that the African-American populations that reside along the border be recognized and addressed
in all programs.
Group Discussions:
Women's Health and the Lack of Adequate Health Care: Participants described in detail
situations in which women of all ages work in maquiladoras where they are exposed to a variety
of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals for at least 48 hours a week. Because of financial and time
constraints, it often is impossible for them to see a doctor unless it is to treat an acute problem,
they said. One participant noted that recently in one border community, a women's clinic was
established for one Saturday a month, specifically examining women for cervical cancer and
offering mammograms. In one day, she reported, the clinic sees 70 women who have traveled
from various nearby communities to seek out these needed services.
Health Standards: Discussion centered on ways to integrate the concerns, programs, and
activities of different environmental justice groups operating along the border. Participants
pointed to the use of health-related issues as a unifying theme, specifically recommending the
use of health based standards for environmental protection rather than standards based on criteria
the participants perceive as economics. In addition, the participants asked EPA to support and
promote standardization among the health registers maintained separately by the U.S. and
Mexico.
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Capacity Building: Several requests were made as to how to build capacity, such as funding for
expanding training on environmental health for promotoras and other health professionals, the
establishment of contingency funds for community and environmental health clinics, and the
creation of a liaison position between EPA and environmental justice communities.
Bi-national Efforts for a Bi-national Region: Participants urged EPA and the Mexican
government to treat the border area as a single unified region and to avoid the tendency to see
this area as two different countries. The participants stressed that this is, indeed, how many
residents actually conduct their lives in the area. Many U.S. residents living in the border region
seek treatment in their neighboring Mexican community and vice-versa. The bi-nationality of
the actual health care system as it is used by residents of both sides leads to difficulties in
monitoring health data along the border, they said. Participants urged increased bi-national
cooperation on (1) monitoring and disseminating health and disease data, (2) developing research
projects, and (3) providing funding for health programs, as well as increasing funding from the
U.S. and Mexico for border programs.
Health Care Provider Infrastructure: Beth Hailstock, Cincinnati Health Department and
member of the NEJAC International Subcommittee, stated that health service agencies and
environmental agencies, where available, often are not equipped to properly meet the
environmental health needs of the communities they serve, nor are they designed to integrate
their programs to better address environmental health issues. She suggested that governments
reevaluate the structure of these organizations to see whether they are conducive to the needs of
the surrounding community.
University Research and Monies: Participants noted that often university programs, which are
funded to research border community health problems, do not (1) report back to the community
on their findings at all, or (2) provide follow-up health care to residents whose ailments they
have studied. One participant noted that border communities are attractive study sites for
universities because of their demographics and obvious health problems, but that research does
not often translate into improved health care for the studied areas. In addition, the research
group may not address issues that the community feels are important in their area, participants
noted. Participants suggested that academic institutions be required to prepare and install a plan
for the active implementation of research findings to solve, not just analyze, community
problems. Many community representatives present were concerned that communities often
were not involved in the planning process for these studies, resulting in a lack of accountability
on the part of the university back to the community it was studying. Participants urged that
communities be given greater influence over the research plan by allowing communities to play a
larger role in the process of awarding grants for research, and by getting funding to implement
portions of the research program.
One participant noted that through a former congressional add-on, now not funded, EPA had
been able to award up to $250,000 to universities doing research along the border that would
partner with a community organization in its effort. However, many community members
attending the session stated that such a program was inadequate due to insufficient community
influence. Currently, they explained, many universities are teamed with community
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organizations which represent a very small part of the surrounding community and are not
receiving substantial community input.
One participant pointed to Howard University and Johns Hopkins University as positive
university role models. There, public health programs of both institutions demonstrated a proven
ability to participate in major neighborhood cleanup efforts and significantly affected both the
social and the environmental quality of life of the surrounding communities. Many participants
agreed that this would be a good model to pursue, and suggested that communities should be
proactive in identifying border universities and agencies that would be willing to consider
adopting the HU/JHU model in border communities.
Community Participation: Participants expressed frustration with the low level of community
involvement in decisions and lack of participation in the development of public health studies.
They urged EPA to strengthen policies that ensure community participation in the development
and implementation of programs, including mandating that applicants engage in fiscal sharing
with local organizations in carrying out border environmental and public health studies.
Innovative Technology and Data Analysis: A related issue was the need for innovative research
techniques to analyze environmental health problems. Often, a health effect cannot be traced
back to a single source due to the number of potential causes. It was suggested that much of the
environmental monitoring currently being conducted on the border did not represent true border
resident exposures. For example, the idea was suggested by one participant of conducting air
quality monitoring using monitoring devices placed on people, rather than on rooftops or other
stationary locations. Another example given of environmental monitoring directly related to
human exposure would be the testing of water at the tap, rather than from the well. Other data
and technology recommendations focused on promoting low-cost technologies (both software
and hardware) for the exchange of environmental and health information. Just as important, they
stated, is the building of accurate and accessible data and information programs in both English
and Spanish.
Bi-national Funding: A general concern voiced by community members and government
officials alike was that funding for border region projects is heavily concentrated along the U.S.
side of the border. A consensus was reached that in order to more equitably disperse project
funding, bi-national funding mechanisms which are already in place need to be more accessible.
Another suggestion was to further involve the Pan American Health Organization, which could
potentially streamline the process for funding Mexican projects.
Industrial Contamination: Participants called for the identification and promotion of buffer
zones and moratoriums on industrial developers with a track record of polluting or violating local
ordinances. It was noted that industrial developers often leave behind heavily polluted sites on
the U.S. side, only to open new industrial sites on the Mexican side. Increased coordination with
local officials and the development of a method of tracking bi-national polluters to prevent
further degradation was recommended.
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Participants also expressed frustration with other efforts to identify and track hazardous waste.
They called for increased coordination between the U.S. and Mexico in tracking transboundary
shipments. In particular, they recommended EPA take steps to improve EPA's HazTrack
software program. Participants also suggested that data collected by Mexico be made publically
available.
Pesticides and Agricultural Health Risks: Participants urged follow-up health risk assessments
to test for and evaluate the effects of pesticide residues.
Saturday, August 21, 1999
Reports from Work Groups & Summation and Closure
Remarks:
Arnoldo Garcia, NEJAC International Subcommittee
William Nitze, EPA OIA
Jose Bravo, SNEEJ
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations were discussed and identified during the concurrent work group
sessions, as well as during the report back on Saturday, August 21, 1999. In an attempt for
something immediately tangible to come out of the conference, the participants held a final
meeting to determine which recommendations they wanted EPA to commit to before leaving that
day. It was clear from the participants' comments that the final recommendations were not
intended to replace the ones made previously that day, but were aimed at EPA to begin
committing to some of the issues that had been raised. Key recommendations to EPA include:
• Develop an Environmental Justice Commission on the U.S.-Mexico Border, 75 percent of whose members
should be community-based environmental justice organizations
• Commit to a response to the tribal people as to EPA's capabilities
• Address every issue/recommendation discussed with a list of those that will be committed to and recommend
methods for handling the remaining topics
• Distribute this information more effectively at the local level
• Address these issues directly rather than responding through the NEJAC
• Commit to total cleanup of the Candados Prestos, Ciudad, Juarez, Mexico and Metales y Derivados, Tijuana,
Mexico sites, as well as a site assessment of the Gato Negro site located outside Matamoros, Mexico.
Ms. Felicia Marcus, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, responded by saying that the idea
of commitment is great. She apologized for all the previous meetings EPA had without the tribal
people's participation, and hoped that at the next meeting, EPA "won't need their butts kicked
again." She also agreed that a follow-up and report back of what has been done is crucial, and
felt that progress has already been made on some of the issues discussed that people are still
unaware of. Mr. Jerry Clifford, Deputy Regional Administrator, commented that he was pleased
by the level of participation in the Roundtable of the states in his region. For these conferences
to be more effective, all the states along the U.S. and Mexico border should be represented,
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including states in Mexico. Without Mexico's help, it will be difficult to see that the laws are
enforced, he noted.
Ms. Marcus, Mr Clifford, and Mr. William Nitze, EPA OLA, all agreed to commit to
immediately begin exploring power within the agency to address these recommendations. They
committed to getting back to the participants within one month for a status report ofEPA's
capabilities. With respect to the request for site cleanups and assessment, the EPA managers
committed to trying to find a legal way to clean up the Candados Prestos and Metales y
Derivados sites and perform the site assessment of Gato Negro within the maximum extent
possible. All three expressed that new ways for getting the funding across the border needed to
be explored. Despite the persistent belief of community representatives that EPA had the power
to actualize these recommendations, EPA felt that they did not. "I don't see a mechanism within
EPA today to go in and clean up this problem," Mr. Clifford noted, adding that it does not mean
we cannot find a way.
Mr. Bravo commented that he still needed time to decide whether the use of Border XXI money
to help people at the community level would work. He, like many other participants, said they
felt that communities should not have to take a loan from NAD Bank. The problem with that
concept, he explained, is that EPA is moving away from making the polluter pay. Why should
communities pay for damage to their land when the people causing it never put money back into
the local economy, they asked. One participant asked why the communities could not be given
$25 million as seed money to start working when there was $425 million given to NAD Bank for
16 projects.
Ms. Marcus responded that Congress had appropriated that money for specific projects. She
said that NAD Bank's earnings can be used more flexibly and that it is very difficult to free up
the money. Mr. Nitze suspected that over a five-year period, between $20 to $50 million dollars
could be taken from the retained earnings of the bank.
Ms. Hotaling elaborated on the request for creating an Environmental Justice Commission on
the U.S.-Mexico border and stressed that border communities do not want to be isolated. She
also felt that to make the working groups more effective, they should be divided by region.
Participants concluded the roundtable meeting by reiterating that it is important to recognize the
roundtable is just one point in a long process, but one where "we are in a perilous situation with
poverty and health disparities widening between U.S. and Mexico." Actions need to be taken to
close the gap, they urged, saying that action needs to be taken by the U. S. and Mexico to
empower communities on both sides of the border. Opening democratic spaces within policy
making organizations can begin this process, they continued, where environmental justice needs
to be promoted in all levels of EPA and there needs to be a sharing of resources within the
community.
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Recommendations related to Environmental and Labor Justice:
• Establish a border environmental justice commission to address environmental justice issues on the U.S.-
Mexico Border.
• Arrange a meeting with the Environmental Health Coalition to have an equal and fair exchange of information
between parties regarding nuclear homeport plans for the San Diego Naval Station.
• File complaints and charges of discrimination with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). For
example, the EEOC has been very responsive in Texas where a task force has been set up to work with local
workers on discrimination issues.
• Address environmental justice issues in maquiladoras by forcing U.S. companies to comply with the highest
standards of the three NAFTA countries (i.e. force companies to keep TRI (toxic release inventory)).
• Address environmental justice and maquiladora issues in the entire country not just in border regions.
• Perform a health study in Anapra, Chihuahua, where 5 5-gallon drums previously used as toxic waste drums are
now being used for domestic water storage by the local people.
Clean up and remediate Candados Presto.
Do not open ASARCO and address contamination related health issues in local children by conducting studies,
evaluating environmental risks and informing and educating the local communities.
Close the WIPP program in New Mexico. EPA should resume its investigation given that EPA was apparently
pressured by DOE to stop.
Enforce the La Paz Agreement with respect to the Sierra Blanca dump in Sierra Blanca, Texas.
Close dump in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
Do not accept any maquiladoras in Mexico that leave the U.S. because they have not complied with U.S. laws
and standards.
Establish a "three strikes, you're out" policy for polluting industries.
Force maquiladoras to transport wastes back to country of origin.
Renegotiate and reevaluate water rights in Valle de Juarez, Mexico to ensure that irrigation waters are sufficient
and clean enough to meet the needs of the local farmers. Currently irrigation waters are heavily contaminated
by maquiladoras in the area.
Examine why NAD BANK and BECC are only funding a primary treatment plant in Valle de Juarez. Two
plants are being built and they are both only half plants. Challenge the current plan to spread the plant sludge in
Valle de Juarez as fertilizer.
Determine if the Sierra Blanca/New York sludge project is a violation of the La Paz Treaty.
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Investigate and address Title 6 civil rights complaints on the permitting of hazardous waste facilities instead of
rejecting them.
Develop understandable, "community-friendly" guidelines to explain what is appropriate for a complaint, so
complaints can be easily drafted and time is not wasted submitting inappropriate or unacceptable complaints.
The next round of the Border XXI Plan needs to incorporate citizen's voice and concerns.
Develop a plan to cleanup the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo. A study was conducted during high flow season and
results cannot be considered representative.
Make all EPA information available in Spanish.
Create an EPA office in Mexico near the border.
Force maquiladoras to guarantee salary scales similar to those of their country of origin.
Force maquiladoras to adhere to environmental protection laws of their countries of origin, or whichever are
more stringent.
Guarantee the right of workers to organize in the United States and Mexico.
Prohibit the Bracero program in the United States to ensure the protection of farmworkers.
Create a just transition program which includes all affected parties, including workers and communities as equal
players.
Make industries establish and contribute to a medical health fund to assist affected parties in transition.
Create a Gl-type Bill or declare an executive order of Just Transition so that displaced laborers can be
compensated or assisted in transition.
Perform a study of maquiladora workers and surrounding community members' health, particularly women.
Remediate the CYTRAR site completely of heavy metals and return the full volume of wastes to the U.S.
Analyze and evaluate the water quality and health of the community near the landfill in Sunland Park, New
Mexico.
Review NAFTA in respect to labor, transportation, agricultural, environmental, and human rights issues.
Increase authority of N AFTA-related parties such as the CEC and Labor Commission to have the ability ^
capacity to enforce and levy sanctions.
Sanction all parties that violate the agreements.
Renegotiate the Free Trade Agreement including the side agreements.
Reorganize the institutions of the NAD BANK and BECC to include worker and community
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• Identify the decision makers from both countries in the case of Metales y Derivados and convene a meeting
between them to decide what will be done to remediate the site and to make the community an equal
stakeholder.
• Develop a committee that determines whether just compensation has been received by affected parties for issues
related to health, environmental contamination, and worker displacement.
• Establish an international tribunal, which would address demobilization and remediation of closed mining sites
especially in case of a sudden cease in operations.
• Improve outreach efforts in lower income, rural, and unincorporated areas by NAFTA/EPA and other federal
institutions.
Recommendations related to Migration, Environmental Justice and Trade
• Establish a border environmental justice commission to address environmental justice issues on the U.S. -
Mexico border to interact with existing agencies.
• EPA is committed to improve community participation, expand existing programs to include broader social
goals via environmental issues, and to focus on providing alternative educational opportunities such as technical
training.
• EPA should provide a list of all available documents and how to access these for anyone requesting them.
• Do more outreach and bring enforcement issues and concerns regarding hazardous waste to communities.
• Use a bi-national approach to immigration and the environment
• Create alternatives for people who are displaced due to change or a move in industry.
• Take a broader perspective when discussing the border and environmental justice. The agencies and
community groups must understand that the economy relates to the environment and there are social
consequences that come from this dynamic. The border is especially complicated because we are dealing with
two nations and societies. Mexico's economy may have on the whole improved with NAFTA, but we must look
at the social makeup of those who benefited.
• Build up coalitions among environmental justice groups that include community organizations, labor unions,
local authorities, federal and state agencies, and business groups. The myth that business and industry are the
enemy must be broken.
• These coalitions should set up a precedent illustrating how a cooperative effort can function. Otherwise we will
continually have individual victories, but no overall change.
• Awareness of the opportunities created by NAFTA should be brought more to light. Use the organizations that
already exist to create new opportunities. A way to develop links between agencies could be through a more
aggressive use of the sustainable development argument and its relationship to environmental justice.
• Communities can be empowered by being included in the decision making process. A coalition should be
created that is familiar with the issues and the historical perspectives that can in turn follow-up with further
questions on how to solve these issues and can give communities the background necessary to mate informed
decisions and ask the most relevant questions.
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• Through congressional representatives and community activism help support the department of the EPA that
can build projects in Mexico.
• Agency progress reports, including how the agency is perceived, what progress has been made, and how the
agency can be improved, must be done. Make this information available to communities, thereby potentially
empowering these communities.
Community activists need to acknowledge that measuring progress takes time. Engagement between the
agencies and communities should grow. We need to build mechanisms for more open participation in the short
and long term.
A way to get other agencies to respond to border issues is to take a broader stance on the issues facing border
communities. For example by approaching a border issue affecting many communities would broaden the
scope of the problem and potentially get other agencies involved.
C^unity empowerment through education and health development. EPA should include the community in
decisions by asking them what they need and want, and not just give communities what the EPA has determined
that the community needs.
^Sti hu™an, ^ a 10-20 year outlook, as short-term outlooks do not accurately gauge issues.
Models for development should be on a bi-national basis.
J"*5? ™?tohc on all aspects of border issues. Arrange events like the Site
Tour and invite high-level diplomats and wider range of agency participation.
More outreach, tours, and conferences for local leadership, other agencies, and school boards.
African American community groups and Latino community groups should form an alliance. They face similar
issues and can expand the scope of an issue to include greater agency participation.
Increase restrictions on a bi-national level for pollution levels.
Need community involvement to help the enforcement agencies know where to look for violators Can do more
planning regarding what industry and sectors need more regulation.
community commission from both sides of the border. The commission would be consulted on
border decisions and will be involved in the implementation process or various programs.
Set up a grant system for those groups that set up coalitions and establish precedents for cooperative efforts.
^?^^Iclali0''^P*)etwcen'1|duaiyaad the labor movement. Ensure maquiladoras do not suppress labor
Set up a Border Center to educate the community and government contacts on issues.
Recommendations Related to Indigenous Peoples
EtfabHshabMder environmental justiw commission to address environmental justice issues on the U.S.-
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• Apply a holistic approach to Border XXI that is consistent with indigenous peoples values, including social,
political, economic, environmental and cultural considerations.
• Include indigenous representatives from each nation in Border XXI and other bi-national policy-making
programs.
• Articulate indigenous environmental values into policies and regulations.
• Enforce a Bad Actor Law to keep known polluters from repeatedly polluting. Recommend that U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency take into account the past history of a company. Recommend effective
legislation be made and enforced.
• Recommend that actions taken on the U.S. side of the border also be taken on the Mexican side of the border.
• Apply all Presidential Executive Orders related to tribal people to international programs.
Recommendations related to Environmental Health
• Establish a border environmental justice commission to address environmental justice issues on the U.S.-
Mexico Border.
• Develop bi-national mechanisms and responses to serve the environmental health needs of bi-national
communities.
• Develop bi-national environmental health funding:
• Provide sources of bi-national funding; Develop bi-national RFPs
• Streamline bi-national funding mechanisms • Work with PAHO
• Pressure USAID to fund Mexico
• Identify tobacco tax funds that can be used for health and environmental programs along the border
• Provide more money for EJ grants
• Develop bi-national health monitoring:
• Support comparable, standardized data collection and health registers in US and Mexico
• Promote bi-national data exchange
• Encourage governmental transparency on both sides of the border
• Create a community liaison position within EPA for border EJ communities, to:
• Determine and address the specific information, environmental health, and related funding needs for EJ
communities
• Assist EJ communities in developing community infrastructure and capacity
• Improve community outreach potential:
• Build EPA's immunity outreach infrastructure by investing an extra $1-2 million/year nationwide
• Strengthen policies that ensure community participation
• Improve the public dissemination of environmental health information:
• Build accurate and data information and public information programs, especially for Mexico
• Promote low-cost technologies for information exchange
• Promote the donation of computer soft- and hardware to border communities
• Develop bilingual means of communication and bilingual materials
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Encourage border environmental health research:
• Better communicate existing health studies from both sides
• Create opportunities for bi-national research
• Research respiratory problems
• Perform epidemiological studies along border
• Work in coordination with other federal agencies to develop epidemiological studies
• Encourage the NIEHS to prioritize the border
Encourage publicly-responsive border environmental health research:
• Act on known problems and do not let studies pre-empt solutions
• Look to community aid/ "health planning" models like those of Johns Hopkins and Howard University for
border clean-up projects
• Identify and work with border universities to adopt the JHU/HU model
• Mandate that dissemination and action plans be tied to environmental health research
• Develop an environmental health equivalent to the Superfimd that can be activated when a community
need is obvious
• Work with resource groups such as the American Public Health Association
• Adopt NEJAC public participation guidelines for all projects funded through EPA
• Create mechanism which establish Community Based Organizations as fiscal agents or fiscal partners with
academic institutions
• Get up-front community input on RFPs or find mechanisms to assist Community Based Organizations in
generating their own RFPs
• Find funding to increase the capacity of Community Based Organizations to generate their own projects
• Develop criteria to scrutinize funding recipients for true community involvement
• Reinstate and reinvent the EPA-Community-University partnership program - which was 2S0K to a
university to partner with communities
• Encourage SCERP, NIEHS and other programs to become more community-based
• threaten source of funding if the community is not satisfied with on-going research and projects
Improve bi-national health care:
• Increase training for promotores and health professionals on environmental health
• Increase cultural sensitivity training for health professionals on both sides of the border
• Expand the network of occupational and environmental health clinics in the border region
• Create contingency funds for community environmental rfinira
• Follow up on the health risk assessment of pesticide residues in border mmmtinitfes
• Support underserved rural areas where there may be no health care provider at all
Emphasize public health in the development of environmental standards, rather than economic ramifications.
Bridge the gap among different environmental justice groups in the border region using health issues as a
unifying point.
Include African American communities in border organizing and Oration efforts.
Work to integrate and encourage cooperation between public health and environmental
• Improve industrial siting and business responsibility in EJ communities:
• Use Title 6 more effectively in siting facilities containing hazardous materials
• Iraprove HAZTRACKS ty further coordination between U.S. and Mexican environmental justice
organizations dealing with hazardous waste
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• Scrutinize zoning regulations to find areas of weakness allowing industry to build in or around low-income
neighborhoods.
• Change zoning regulations to prevent industry to build in or around low-income neighborhoods and
impose appropriate fines.
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Appendix C — List of Registered Border Roundtable Participants
Roundtable on Environmental Justice on the U.S-Mexico Border
August 19 through 21, 1999
Albert Adams
Piquniq Management Corporation
8221 Summerset Drive
Anchorage AK 99801
Phone:, 907-522-9313
FAX: 907-349-2814
Michael Alcala
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services
HRSA
Santa Cruz County Health Dept.
Nogales Arizona 85621
Phone: 520-781-7893
FAX: 520-761-7923
E-mail: maLcala@hrsa gov
Mike Allen
Office of General Council
U.S: Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street SW (MG2313A)
Washington DC 20480
Phone: 202-280-7522
FAX: 202-280-3828
E-mail: allen.mike@epa.gov
Susan Alva
Attorney, Coordinator
Immigration and Citizenship Project
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of
Los Angeles
1521 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles CA 90017
Phone: 213-353-1333
FAX: 213-353-1344
E-mail: alvachirla@vahoo.com
Lisa Anderson
Metropolitan Water District
700 North Alameda
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 213-217-6551
FAX: 213-217-6500
E-mail: landerson@mwd. dst. ca. u s
Rosa Ma Angeles
Environmental Health Coalition
\9ilV2 Ocean View Boulevard
San Diego CA 82113
Phone: 619-544-1603
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc:org
Wally Antone
Fort Mojave TribeNeedles CA 92383
Phone:
E-mail:
David Arizmendi
Initiative Frontera
1701 N 8th St Suite C38
McAllen TX 78501
Phone. 958-831-8385
Rose Augustine
Tucsonians for a Glean Environment
Tucson, AZ
Phone. 520-883-8424
Graciela Avila
Citizens for Aftematives to Radioactive
Dumping
144 Hartirard Street, SE
Albuquerque NM 87102
Phone: 505-266-2663
FAX: 505-243-5584
E-mail: gavialiva@aol.com
Leticia Ayala
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 819-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: leticiaa@environmentalhealth: org
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Melody Bacha
California Office Of Border Health
HRSA
3851 Rosecrans Street, Room G28 (MS
P511B)
San Diego CA 92110
Phone: 619-692-5510
FAX: 619-692-8821
E-mail: mbacha@hrsa:gov
Olivia Balandran
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214-665-2100
FAX: 214-665-8648
E-mail: balandran.olivia@epa.gov
Robert Banks
Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington DC 20840
Phone: 202-564-2572
FAX: 202-501-0309
E-mail: banks.robert@epameil.gov
Virginia Barajas
ADELAS
Tamaulipas, Mexico
Phone. 011-52-8817-5
FAX:
E-mail:
David Berman
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-2006
FAX:
E-mail: berman.davidm@epamail.epa.gov
Alexandra Berwick
Center of Race, Poverty and the
Environment
1331 Howard Street, Suite 3
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: 415-495-8990
FAX: 475-495-8849
E-mail:
Sam Bollinger
Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund
1807 Saline Street
Austin TX 78702
Phone: 512-457-9011
FAX:
E-mail: samsavage@chickmail.com
Richard Boren
Alianza Ecologista del Bravo
PO Sax 85878
Tucson Arizona 85754
Phone: 520-294-0089
FAX: 520-294-0089
E-mall: rboren@igc:org
Andrian Boutureira
Environmental Research Foundation
PO Box 5036
Annapolis MD 91403-7036
Phone: 410-263-1584
FAX: 410-263-8944
E-mail: ARIEN@RACHEL.ORG
Lisa Brown
California Environmental Protection Agency
555 Capitol Mall #525
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-322*7310
FAX: 916-445-5563
E-mail: lbrown@calepa.ca.gov
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Paula Bruin
Office of Public Affairs
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-1587
FAX: 415-744-1605
E-mail: bruin.paula@epa.gov
Abelardo Campillo
El Pueblo Clinic TGE Program
101 W. IrvingtonRd
Tucson, Arizona
Phone: 520-746-8828
Cecilia Campillo
TCE Program and Operations Manager
El Pueblo Clinic, Inc.
101 East Irvington Road
Tucson AZ 85714
Phone: 520-573-0096
FAX: 520-741-8813
Gabriel J. Cano
Environmental Health Center
National Safely Council
1025 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1200
Washington DC 20038
Phone: 202-974-2476
FAX: 202-659-1192
E-mail: canog@nsc.org
Nicole Gapretz
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 819-235-0281
FAX: 819-232-3870
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
Delphina Carter
Colorado River Indian Tribes
P.O. Box 553
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-662-5504
Sandra J. Carter
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 23B
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
Xiamara Castro
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (WTR-4)
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-744-1168
FAX: 415-744-1078
Faye Charles
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 238
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 530-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
Gedi Cibes
New Mexico Environment Department
1190 St. Francis Dr.
Sante Fe NM 87505-4182
Phone: 505-827-2176
FAX: 505-827-2836
E-mail: gedi_cibas@nmenv.state.nm.us
PaulCleary
Program Development Specialist
The Border Health Initiative of Project
Concern International
148 East 30th Street, Suite Up-South
National City CA 91950
Phone: 679-791-2606
FAX: 619-791-2600
E-mail: pciborderregion.com
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Jerry Clifford
Deputy Regional Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas TX 75202
Phone: 214-665-2100
FAX: 214-665-6648
E-mail: clifFord.jerry@epa.gov
Luke Cole
General Counsel
Center on Race, Poverty and the
Environment
California Rural Legal Assistance
Foundation
631 Howard Street, Suite 330
San Francisco CA 94105-3907
Phone: 415-495-8990
FAX: 415-495-8849
E-mail: crpe@igc.apc.org
Kimberly Collins
IUC
San Diego State University
CCBRES-SDSU-IUC
Calexico CA 92231
Phone: 760-768-5510
FAX: 760-768-5583
E-mail: kcollins@mail.sdsu.edu
Gregg A. Cooke
Regional Administrator
Region 8
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue (6RA)
Dal las TX 75202
Phone: 214-665-2100
FAX: 214-665-6648
E-mail: cooke.gregg@epa.gov
Teresa Cordova
Resource Center for Raza Planning
2414 Central Avenue, SE
Albuquerque New Mexico 87131
Phone: 505-277-3922
FAX: 505-277-0076
E-mail:
Leslie Cormier
Public Affairs Director
Dupont Specialty Chemicals
Yorklyn Mill, Building 23, Room 1113
Wilmington DE 19880
Phone: 302-992-4273
FAX: 302-992-4316
E-mail: leslie.a.cormier@dupont.com
Fernando Cuevas
Vice President
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
326 East Maple Street
Winter Garden FL 34787
Phone: 407-877-2949
FAX: 407-877-2949
E-mail:
Michael J. Dibartolomeis
OEHHA
California Environmental Protection Agency
1515 Clay Street, 16th Floor
Oakland CA 94812
Phone: 510-622-3170
FAX: 510-622-3218
E-mail: mdibarto@oehha.ca gov
Carmen L. Cutter
Deputy Director
The Border Health Initiative of Project
Concern International
148 East 30th Street, Suite Up-South
National City CA 91950
Phone: 619-792-2604
FAX: 619-791-2600
E-mail: cutter@pdbirderregion.com
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Nelson Dean
U.S. Forest Service
3348 Alpine Boulevard
Alpine CA 91901
Phone: 619-445-6235
FAX: 619-445-1753
E-mail:
Joyce Dick
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 23B
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
E-mail:
Angie Donelson
Community Builder Fellow
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
33 North Stone Avenue
Tucson AZ 85701
Phone. 520-670-6237 x227
FAX: 520-670-6207
E-mail: angelajjdonelson@hud.gov
Ane Deister
Metropolitan Water District
700 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles CA 80027
Phone: 213-217-6144
FAX: 213-217-6500
E-mail: adeister@mwd.dst.ca.us
Vela Desi E.
Environmental Technician
Ewiiaapaayp Environmental Office
P.O. Bx 2250
Alpine CA 91903
Phone:
FAX:
E-mail:
Richard T. Drury
Legal Director
Communities for a Better Environment
500 Howard Street, Suite 506
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-243-8373
FAX: 415-243-8930
E-mail: cbelegal@igc.apc.org
Delbert DuBois
Four Mile Hibernian Community
Association, Inc.
2025 Four Mile Lane
Charleston SC 2945
Phone: 843-853-4548
FAX: 843-292-1741
E-mail: DuBoisD@musc.edu
Chris Devers
Watermaster
Pauma Band of Mission Indians
P.O. Box 369
Pauma Valley CA 92081
Phone: 760-742-3579
FAX: 760-742-3422
E-mail:
Arturo Duran
EI Paso Border Liaison Office
Region 6
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100
El Paso TX 79930
Phone: 915-533-7273
FAX: 915-533-2327
E-mail: duran.arturo@epa.gov
David Elliott
Environmental Protection Agency
Manzanita Reservation
P.O. Box 1302
Boulevard CA 91905
Phone: 619-766-4851
FAX: 619-766-9022
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Summer Elliott
Manzanita Environmental Protection
Agency
P.O. Box 1503
Boulevard CA 91905
Phone: 619-766-4851
FAX:
E-mail:
Paula Forbis
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX. 619-232-3670
E-mail: paulai@environmentlhelth.org
Ben Fox
Reporter
Associated Press
P.O. Box 191
San Diego CA 92112
Phone: 619-231-3587
FAX. 619-291-2098
E-mail: bfox@ap.org
Tina Faulkner
Interhemispheric Resource Center
P.O. Box 2178
Silver City MM 88062
Phone: 505-388-0208
FAX: 505-388-0619
E-mail: tina@irc-online.oiig
Dave Fege
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
810 West Ash St.
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-4769
FAX: 619-235-4771
E-mail: ftge.dave@epa.gov
Karl F. G. Fuller
Border XXI Coordinator
Pechanga Indian Reservation
P.O. Box 1477
Temecula CA 92593
Phone: 909-694-3333
FAX: 909-695-1778
E-mail:
Richard Gallarza
Tucsonians for a Clean Environment
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-883-8424
FAX:
E-mail:
Maria Flores
Centro Obrero de Acuna
Coahuila Mexico
Phone:011-52-87-72
E-mail:
Maria Flores
La Mujer Obrers
200 Texas
EI Paso TX 79901
Phone: 915-533-9710
FAX: 915-544-3730
E-mail:
Sonia Flores
Coalition de Salud Ambiental
4364 Bonito Road (PMB612)
Bonito CA 91902
Phone: 619-479-7472
E-mail: soniallores@home.com
Rolando Galiegos
Laredo Clean Cities Coalition
2310 San Bernardo
Laredo TX 78042
Phone: 956-722-9895
FAX: 956-791-4503
E-mail: altfiiel@surfus.net
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Arnoldo Garcia
Organizing Director
Urban Habitat Program
5850 Picardy Drive
Oakland CA 94605
Phone: 415-561-3332
FAX: 415-561-3334
E-mail: agarcia@igc.apc.org
Carla Garcia
YEUANI
P.O. Box 432122
San Ysidro CA 92143-2122
Phone: 011-52-6686-3244
FAX: 011-52-6686-3244
E-mail: yeuani@telnor.net
Frank Garcia
City of Douglas Fire Department
1400 Tenth Street
Douglas CA 85607
Phone: 520-364-5264
FAX: 520-805-4050
E-mail:
Helga Garcia
Tucsonians for a Clean Environment
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-883-8424
FAX:
E-mail:
Jeanne Gauna
South West Organizing Project
211 10th Street, SW
Albuquerque NM 87102
Phone: 505-247-8332
FAX: 505-247-9972
E-mail: swop@swop.net
Clarice Gaylord
Special Assistant to the Regional
Administrator
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
610 West Ash Street, Suite 703
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-4768
FAX: 619-235-4771
E-mail: gaylord.clarice@epamail.epa.gov
Chris Gianos
School of Social Science
University of California at Irvine
Irvine CA 92897
Phone: 948-824-1515
FAX: 948-824-1782
E-mail: cgianos@uci.edu
Greg Gibbs
Region 9
U:S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco GA 94105
Phone: 415-744-1540
FAX:
E-mail: gibbs.greg@epa.gov
Domingo Gonzalez
Border Campaign
Brownville TX
Phone: 956-548-1468
FAX: 956-504-9960
E-mail:
Wendy Graham
Office of International Activities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2610R)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-6602
FAX: 202-565-2407
E-mail: graham.wendy@epa.gov
106
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Running Grass
Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-744-1205
FAX:
E-mail: grass.running@epamail.epa.gov
Evangeline E. Griego
ARTS Corps LA
3397 Cazador St.
Los Angeles GA 90065
Phone: 323-221-2180
FAX: 323-221-1763
E-mail: abouttyme@aol.com
Sylvia Grijalva
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
208 South 17th Avenue
Phoenix AZ 85007
Phone: 602-255-7870
FAX: 602-407-3258
E-mail: sylvia.grijalva@fhwa.dot.gov
Bill Guerre Addington
Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund
PO Box 218
Sierra Blanca TX 79852
Phone: 915-369-2541
FAX: 915-369-2541
E-mail: sbidf@lgc.org
Beth Hailstock
Director
Environmental Justice Center
Cincinnati Health Department
3101 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati OH 45229
Phone: 513-357-7206
FAX: 513-357-7290
E-mail: beth.hailstock@didbum.rcc.org
Rose Ann Hamilton
Members Against Multi-Solid Waste
AnzaCA 92539
Phone: 909-763-0856
FAX: 909-763-0856
E-mail:
David Harper
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 23B
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
E-mail:
Mamie P. Harper
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 23B
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
E-mail:
Reginald Harris
Region 3
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1650 Arch Street (3ECOU)
Philadelphia PA 19103
Phone: 215-814-2988
FAX: 215-814-2905
E-mail: harris.reggie@epa.gov
Rita Harris
Community Living in Peace, Inc.
1373 South Avenue
Memphis TN 38106
Phone: 901-948-6002
FAX: 901-948-6002
E-mail:
107
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Alan D. Hecht
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of International Activities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2610R)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-6600
FAX: 202-585-2407
E-mail: hecht.alan@epa.gov
Jodi N. Henneke
Director
Office of Public Assistance
Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission
12100 Park 35 Circle, Building F
Austin TX 78753
Phone: 512-239-4085
FAX: 512-239-4007
E-mail: jhenneke@irgate.tnrcc. state. tx.us
Nushune Heredia
Members Against Multi-Solid Waste
Anza CA 92539
Phone: 909-763-0856
FAX: 909-763-0856
Steven A. Herman
Assistant Administrator
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2201A)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-2440
FAX: 202-501-3842
E-mail: heraan.steven@epamail.epa.gov
Dora Luz Hernandez
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
Manuel Hernandez
NHEC
5801 Quiroz Drive
Riverside CA 92509
Phone: 909-681-0736
FAX:
E-mail:
Miguel Hernandez
Pauma Band of Mission Indians
P.O. Box 369
Pauma Valley CA 92061
Phone: 760-742-3579
FAX: 760-742-3422
E-mail:
Cipriana Jurado Herrera
Coordinadora
Centra de Investigation y Solidaridad
Obrera A.C.
306 East Paisano (PMB779)
El Paso TX 79901
Phone: 011-16-24-49-93
FAX:
E-mail: cisoorg@chihl.telmex.net.mx
Sylvia Hemera
People Organized to Defense of Earth and
her Resource
55 North JH 35 Suite 205B
Austin TX 78702
Phone: 512-472-9921
FAX: 512-472-9922
E-mail:
Raul Jaquez
Community Resident
1668 National Avenue
San Diego C A
Phone:
FAX:
E-mail:
108
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Eduardo Jimenez Lopez
Director General de Planeacion y
Coordination
Procuraduria Federal de Protection
Alambiente
SEMARNAP
Penferico Sur 5000 4° Piso
Cuicuilco Mexico C.P.04530
Phone: 011-52-528-5482
FAX: 011-52-528-5483
E-mail: qimenez@correo.profepa.gob.rax
Grace L. Howell
Health Policy Group
807 West 40th Street
Chattanooga TN 37410
Phone: 423-821-7286
FAX:
E-mail:
Savonala "Savi" Home
Staff Attorney
Land Loss Prevention Project
P:0. Box 179
Durham NC 27702
Phone: 919-682-5969
FAX: 919-688-5596
E-mail: savillppl@aol.com
A. Caroline Hotaling
Border Ecology Project
P.O. Drawer CP
BisbeeAZ 85603
Phone: 520-432-7456
FAX: 520-432-7473
E-mail: bep@primranet.com
Laurie House
ARTS Corps LA
3397 Cazador St.
Los Angeles CA 90065
Phone: 323-221-2180
FAX: 323-221-1763
E-mail: abouttyme@aol.com
Francisca Jimenez
Community Organizer
Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
Noelle Jue
Southwest Center for Environmental
Research Policy
5250 Campanile Drive
San Diego CA 92182-1913
Phone: 619-594-0568
FAx: 619-594-0792
E-mail: scerp@mail.sdsu.edu
Cipriana Jurado
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-770-1373
FAX.
E-mail:
Kurt Karperos
Chief, Intergovernmental Affairs
Air Resources Board
California Environmental Protection Agency
2020 L Street
Sacramento CA 95812
Phone: 916-324-1869
FAX: 916-323-0764
E-mail: kkaipero@arb.ca.gov
Karen Khamou
Natural Resources Defense Council
77 Stevenson Street, Suite 825
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-777-0220
FAX: 415-495-5996
E-mail: KKhamou@nrdc.org
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Marva E King
Office of Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2201A)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-2599
FAX: 202-501-1163
E-mail: King.Marva@epa.gov
Robert Knox
Office of Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington DC 20460
Phone: (202) 564-2515
FAX: (242)501-0740
E-mail: knox.robert@epamail.epa.gov
Rachel Kondor
Defenders of Wildlife
P.O. Box 1901
Tucson AZ 85702-1901
Phone: 524-623-9653
FAX: 520-623-0447
E-mail: rkondor@defenders.org
Claudia J. Laffont Castanon
Coordinadora
Aqua-21 Asociacion Civil
16 de Septiembre No 107
Juarez Chiahuahua Mexico
Phone: 71-16-76
FAX:
E-mail: clafiTont@infolnk.net
Wendy Laird
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (MC WTR-4)
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-1168
FAX: 415-744-1078
E-mail: laird-
benner.wendy@epamail.epa. gov
Theresa Leal
Comadres Mexicana
Nogales AZ
Phone:
FAX:
E-mail:
Charles Lee
Office of Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
441 M Street, SW (MC 2201A)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-2599
FAX: 202-501-1163
E-mail: king.marva@epamail.epa.gov
Catherine Kuhlman
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-2001
FAX: 415-744-1078
E-mail:
kuhlman.catherine@epamail.epa.gov
Karen Kupcha
Augustine Band of Mission Indians
P.O. Box 1291
Yucca Valley CA 92286
Phone: 760-365-1373
FAX: 760-365-2664
E-mail: karen_kupcha@ccc.org
John C. Lemmo
Program Associate
Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phony: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
110
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Eugena Leon
Border Environmental Commerce Alliance
477 Marina Parkway
Chula Vista CA 91910-4063
Phone: 619-585-8187
FAX: 619-498-4969
E-mail: oromol@hotmail.com
Usha Little
Native American Environmental Protection
Coalition
P.O. Box 248
Valley Center CA 92082
Phone. 760-751-8686
FAX: 760-751-8685
E-mail: naepc@primenet.com
Karleen Lloyd
PUEBLO
1920 Park Boulevard
Oakland CA 94606
Phone: 510-452-2010
FAX: 510-452-2017
E-mail:
Che Lopez
South West Public Workers Union
1418 East Commerce
San Antonio TX 78205
Phone: 210-299-2666
FAX:
E-mail:
Lorena Lopez
Director, San Diego Border Liaison Office
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
610 West Ash Street, Suite 703
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-4768
FAX: 619-235-4771
E-mail: lopez.lorena@epamail.epa.gov
Steve Lopez
Fort Mojave Tribal Administration
Needles CA
Phone: 760-629-4591
FAX: 760-629-2468
E-mail:
Joaquin Lujan
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-770-1373
FAX.
E-mail:
Cesar Luna
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: cesarl@environmentalhealth.org
Ben Machol
Senior Project Engineer
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (WTR-4)
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-744-1977
FAX: 415-744-1078
E-mail: machol.ben@epa.gov
Amparo Macias
Student
2310 Coldmeadow Way
Silver Spring MD 20906
Phone: 301-438-8492
FAX:
E-mail:
111
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Enrique Manzanilla
Director, Cross Media Division
Region 8
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (CMD-1)
San Francisco C A 94105
Phone: 415-744-1015
FAX: 415-744-1598
E-mail: manzanilla.enrique@epa.gov
Felicia Marcus
Regional Administrator
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-1004
FAX: 415-744-1078
E-mail: marcus.felicia@epamail.epa.gov
Jerry A. Martin
Deputy Director of Communications
Air Resources Board
California Environmental Protection Agency
2020 L Street
Sacramento CA 95812
Phone. 916-322-2990
FAX: 916-445-5025
E-mail: jmartin@arb.ca.gov
Maryann Martin
Chairperson
Augustine Band of Mission Indians
84481 Avenue 54
Coachella CA 92236
Phone: 619-398-4722
FAX: 619-398-4922
E-mail:
Lupita Martinez
Centro Obrero de Acuna
Coahuila Mexico
Phone: 011-52-87-72
FAX.
Jose Matus
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-770-1373
FAX:
E-mail:
David Maung
Border Health Initiative
P.O. Box 433989
San Yffldro CA 92143
Phone: 619-791-2607
FAX: 619-791-2600
E-mail: maung@telnor.net
Victor Miramontes
North American Development Bank
203 St. Mary's, Suite 300
San Antonio TX 38205
Phone. 210-231-8000
FAX: 210-231-6232
E-mail:
Clarence J. Mojado
Pala Environmental Protection Agency
Pala Indian Tribe
P.O. Box 50
Pala CA 92059
Phone: 760-742-3174
FAX: 760-742-3189
E-mail: airtech@palatribe.net
Lillian Mood
Community Liaison
South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-734-5440
FAX: 803-734-9196
E-mail: moodlh@columb30.dhec. state, sc.us
112
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Richard Moore
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-770-1373
FAX:
E-mail:
Brett J. Mortis
Prosecutor
Environmental Circuit Prosecutor Project
California District Attorneys Association
P.O. Box 670
Martinez CA 94553
Phone: 925-646-4687
FAX: 925-646-4683
E-mail:
Cordelia Morris
Food and Nutrition Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
550 Kearny Street, Room 400
San Francisco CA 94108
Phone: 415-705-1311
FAX: 415-705-1364
E-mail: cordelia_morris@fiis.usda.gov
Alta Marie Mortonl
410 Cedar Street, NW, No 11
Washington DC 20012
Phone: 202-829-7403
FAX: 202-829-7403
E-mail: altamml@uno.com
Maria Moya
Co-Director
Toxic-Free Neighborhods Campaign
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.ape. org
Rebekah Hoffacher
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
610 West Ash, Suite 703
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: (619) 235-4764
FAX: (619)235-4771
E-mail: hofifacker.rebekah@epa.gov
Celeste Murphy
College of Professional Studies and Fine
Arts
San Diego State University
7055 Charmont Drive, No 108
San Diego CA 92182-4505
Phone: 619-594-2396
FAX: 619-594-1165
E-mail: memurphy@mail.sdsu.edu
Diane M. Naranjo
New Mexico Department of the
Environment
1190 St. Francis Drive
Santa FeNM 87592
Phone: 505-827-2588
FAX: 505-827-2836
E-mail: diane_naranjo@nmenv. state, nm. us
Virginia Nelse
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Route 1, Box 23B
Parker AZ 85344
Phone: 520-669-9211
FAX: 520-669-1230
E-mail:
William Q. Nelson
Regional Representative
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
75 Hawthorne Street (MS H-l-2)
San Francisco CA 54105
Phone:415-744-2194
FAX: 415-744-1791
E-mail:
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William Nitze
Assistant Administrator
Office of International Activities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2601R)
Washington DC 20460
Phone. 202-564-6600
FAX: 202-565-2407
E-mail:
Victor M. Ontiver
Comite de Participacion y Defense
Ciudadana
AC.
Calle Baja California 70 C
Tecate 24080 Baja Mexico
Phone: 66-54-37-14
FAX: 66-54-37-14
E-mail:
Manuel Llano Omega
Alianza Civica HermosiUo
B. Juarez 170 F Colonia Mo
Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
Phone: 62-15-58-02
FAX: 62-10-45-27
Marina Ortega
California Indians of Cultural and
Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 497
Santa Ysabel CA 92070
Phone: 760-782-2700
FAX: 760-782-0065
Robert Ortega
U.S. Section
International Boundary & Water
Commission
4171 North Mesa Street, Suite C-310
El Paso TX 79902-1441
Phone: 915-832-4118
FAX: 915-832-4191
E-mail: robertortega@ibwc.state.gov
Rosamarie Ortega
Companaros BHF
Centra Obrero de Acuna
1815 Nineth Street
Douglas AZ 85607
Phone: 520-354-8200
FAX: 520-364-5617
E-mail: campa@the river.com
Luz Palomino
Community Organizer
Toxic-Free Neighborhoods Campaign
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
Juan Parras
Environmental Justice Clinic
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne Avenue
Houston TX 77004
Phone. 713-313-4270
FAX: 713-313-1087
E-mail; jparras@tsulaw.edu
Shirley Pate
Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW, (MC 2201A)
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-2607
FAX: 202-501-0284
E-mail: pate.shirley@epa.gov
Francisco J. Pavl
Alianza Civica HermosiUo
Roma 5 entre Moscu y Mexic
Hermosillo Sonora Mexico
Phone: 62-16-41-55
FAX: 62-18-57-29
114
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Roger Pena
Anthony Community Health and
Environmental Council
3431 Pershing Drive, Suite B6
El Paso TX 79903
Phone: 915-562-4336
FAX: 915-562-4336
E-mail:
Humberto Peraza Jr
Community Representative
Office of U.S. Representative Bob Filner
333 F Street, Suite A
Chula Vista CA 91910
Phone: 619-422-5963
FAX: 619-422-7290
E-mail: humberto.peraza@mail.house.gov
Felix Perez
Coalicion Binacional Contra Tiraderos
Toxicos y Radia
El Paso TX
Phone: 011-52-1611-4
FAX:
E-mail:
Felix L. Perez V.
AffiB-CARD
Sabinal No 7206 Fracc. Tecnologico
Juarez Chihuahua Mexico
Phone: 11-43-14
FAX: 11-43-14
E-mail: xazu@yahoo.com
Karen Philis
Area Port Director
Immigration and Naturalization Service
U.S. Department of Justice
720 East San Ysidro Boulevard
San Ysidro CA 92173
Phone: 619-662-7155
FAX: 619-662-7314
E-mail:
Laura Pierce
Assistant Director for program Development
Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Basin Coalition
P.O. Box 420562
Laredo TX 78042
Phone: 956-712-1314
FAX: 956-722-5676
E-mail: rgcbbc@netscorp.net
John Porter
Environmental Educator
Environmental Division
City of Laredo
1718 East Calton Road, Suite 1
Laredo TX 78041
Phone: 956-727-7794
FAX: 956-727-7944
E-mail:
Shankar Prasad
Community Health Advisor to the Chairman
Air Resources Board
California Environmental Protection Agency
2020 L Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-323-2559
FAX: 916-322-4737
E-mail: sprasad@arb.ca.gov
Chris Reiner
Mexico Border Team
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street (WST-2)
San Francisco CA 94195
Phone: 415-744-2096
FAX: 415-744-1044
E-mail: rranor.chris@epa.gov
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Deldi Reyes
Region 8
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver CO 80202
Phone: 303-312-6055
FAX: 303-312-6409
E-mail: reyes.deldi@epamail.epa.gov
Salvador Reza
TONATTERRA
Phoenix AZ
Phone: 602-254-5230
FAX: 602-254-6094
E-mail:
Francis X. Riley
Community Builder
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
2365 Northside Drive, Suite 300
San Diego CA 92108-2712
Phone: 619-557-5310
FAX: 619-557-5312
E-mail: francisxriley@hyd.gov
Gerardo Rios
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-1259
FAX:
E-mail: rios.gerardo@epamail.epa.gov
Ophelia Rivas
Oodham in Mexico
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras
P.O. Box 684
Tucson AZ 85321
Phone: 520-770-1373
FAX: 520-623-7255
E-mail:
Roger Rivers
National Hispanic Environmental Council
5909-N Coverdale Way, 3rd Floor
Alexandria VA 22310
Phone: 703-922-3429
FAX:
E-mail:
Deborah Robinson
International Possibilities
P.O. Box 4430
Washington DC 20017
Phone: 202-723-5622
FAX: 202-723-5637
E-mail: drdrobinson@sprynet.com
V. Hector Rodriguez
President, CEO
Las Americas Avenue Development
Corporation
2329 Champlain Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington DC 20009
Phone:. 202-265-9561
FAX: 202-265-7971
E-mail:
Oscar Remo
Border Environmental Commerce Alliance
477 Marina Parkway
Chula Vista CA 91910-4063
Phone: 619-585-8187
FAX: 619-498-4969
E-mail: oromol@hotmail.com
Rachel Rosner
Latin American and Latino Studies
Casa Latino Merril College
Santa Cruz CA 95064
Phone: 831-459-3182
FAX: 531-459-3125
E-mail:
116
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John D. Rothman
Senior Attorney
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-744-1353
FAX: 415-744-1041
E-mail: rothman.john@epa.gov
Hector Salazar
DOI-HACU Liaison
Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities
8415 Datapoint Drive, Suite 400
San Antonio TX 78229
Phone: 210-692-3805
FAX: 210-692-0823
E-mail: hector@hacu.net
Soma Rodriguez
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.apc.org
Alberto Saldamando
General Counsel
International Indian Treaty Council
2390 Mission Street, Suite 307
San Francisco CA 94110
Phone: 415-641-4482
FAX: 415-641-1298
E-mail: lltc@igc.apc.org
Amanda Stennick
Environmental Planner
Energy Facilities Siting and Environmental
Protection Division
California Energy Commission
1516 9th Street (MS-40)
Sacramento CA 95814-5512
Phone: 916-654-3859
FAX: 916-654-3882
E-mail: astennic@energy.state.ca.us
Sandra Stoneburner
Los Coyotes Environmental Protection
Agency
P.O. Box 189
Warner Springs CA 92086
Phone: 760-782-0712
FAX: 760-782-2730
E-mail: loscoyotesepa@znet.com
Jim Swanson
U.S. Border Patrol
P.O. Box 88
Imperial Beach CA 91932
Phone: 619-662-7658
FAX:
E-mail:
Cathi Tactaquin
National Network for Immigrant and Refuge
Rights
310 8th Street, Suite 307
Oakland California 94607
Phone: 510-465-1984
FAX: 510-465-1885
Diane Takvorian
Executive Director Environmental Health
Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone:619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: dianet@environmentalhealth.org
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Nicholas Targ
Office of Environmental Justice
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC 20004
Phone: 202-564-2515
FAX:
E-mail: targ.nicholas@epa.gov
Peggy Taricco
Air Resources Board
State of California
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento CA 95812
Phone: 916-322-2090
FAX: 916-322-3646
E-mail: ptaricco@arb.ca.gov
Graciela Terrazas
Cleveland National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
1834 Black Canyon Road
Kamena C A 92065
Phone:
FAX: 760-788-6130
E-mail: gterrazas@fs.fed.us.gov
Gerald Torres
University of Texas Law School
727 East Dean Keeton, Room 3266
Austin TX 78705
Phone: 512-471-2680
FAX: 512-471-6988
E-mail: gtorres@mail.law.utexas.edu
Tomas Torres
San Diego Border Liaison Office
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
810 Ash Street, Suite 703
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-420-8782
FAX:
E-mail: torres.tomas@epa.gov
Rachel Turner
Region 9
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco CA 94105-3901
Phone: 415-744-1981
FAX: 415-7r4-1078
E-mail: turner.rachel@epamail.epa.gov
Virginia J. Uylbungco
Attorney at Law
10428 Orozco Road
San Diego CA 92124
Phone. 619-565-0072
FAX: 619-565-0072
E-mail:
Martha Valdes
Environmental Health Coalition
1717 Kettner Boulevard, No 100
San Diego CA 92101
Phone: 619-235-0281
FAX: 619-232-3670
E-mail: marthav@environmentalhealth.org
Jeff Van Horn
Greenaction
1095 Market Street, Suite 608
San Francisco CA 94103
Phone: 415-252-0822
FAX: 415-252-0823
E-mail: jeff@boom~operator.com
William Vance
Tribal Coordinator
Augustine Band of Mission Indians
84481 Avenue 54
Coachdla CA 92236
Phone: 619-398-4722
FAX: 619-398-4922
E-mail:
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Henry M. Vega Sr.
HAB UCAB TCE
4314 South 15th Avenue
Tucson AZ 85714
Phone: 520-294-4624
FAX:
E-mail:
Henry Vega
El Pueblo Clinic TCE Program
101 W. Irvington Rd
Tucson AZ
Phone: 520-741-8818
FAX:
E-mail:
Lino Vega
Director
Waster Water Systems
City of Nogales
777 North Grand Avenue
Nogales AZ 85621
Phone: 520-287-6571
FAX: 520-287-2230
Sylvia Waggoner
U.S. Section
International Boundary and Water
Commission
The Commons, Building C, Suite 310
El Paso TX 79902-1441
Phone: 915-832-4740
FAX: 915-832-4167
Gina Weber
Region 6
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 (MC 6WQ-
D)
Dallas TX 75240
Phone: 214-665-8188
FAX: 214-665-7373
E-mail: weber.gina@epamail.epa.gov
Angele White
International City/County Management
Association
777 North Capital Street, NE, Suite 500
Washington DC 20002
Phone: 202-962-3563
FAX: 202-962-3605
E-mail: awhite@icma.org
Brad Williams
Solid Waste Cleanup Program
Integrated Waste Mangement Board
California Environmental Protection Agency
8800 Cal Center Drive
Sacramento CA 95828
Phone: 916-255-2042
FAX: 916-255-4073
E-mail: bwilliam@ciwmb.ca.gov
Tseming Yang
Vermont Law School
PO Box 96
South Royalton, VT 05068
Phone:
E-mail:
Jennifer Yogi
Cento' on Race, Poverty, and the
Environment
631 Howard Street, Suite 330
San Francisco CA 94105
Phone: 415-495-8990
FAX: 415-495-8849
E-mail: yogi@uwashington.edu
HalZenick
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401M Street, SW
Washington DC 20460
Phone: 202-564-6620
FAX:
E-mail: zenidc-hq.hal@qn.gov
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Appendix D
EPA 30-Day-Response to Roundtable Recommendations
30-Day Response
NEJAC Border Roundtable
Follaw-Up Items from Saturday, August 21 Session
OVERARCHING
1. Create Environmental Justice Border Commission.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Wendy Laird-Benner, 415-744-1168
Response: EPA fundamentally agrees with the need to better integrate environmental justice
throughout our Border Program. EPA also agrees that a more concerted effort must be made to
involve communities and environmental justice stakeholders. A variety of institutions (both
existing and new) and mechanisms, both short term and long term, could be utilized to
accomplish that goal. EPA would like to better understand the needs, role, and scope of this
specific request. We would like to discuss this further and ask the NEJAC to identify key
individuals who would be part of that dialogue.
2. Clean up the following sites in Mexico: £1 Gato Negro, Candados Presto Lock,
Metales y Derivados.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
EPA Region 6, Gina Weber, 214-665-8188
Response: The U. S. EPA does not have jurisdiction over these sites, which are located in
Mexico and can only undertake action related to these contaminated sites upon request from the
Mexican Government.
Nevertheless, we have initiated discussions with Mexico's Procuraduria Federal de Protection al
Ambiente (Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection - PROFEP A) to gather
pertinent information on the sites and assess how clean up of these sites might be achieved.
PROFEPA is well aware of the seriousness of dealing with contaminated sites in Mexico. To
this end, they are establishing a fund, which will be supported by fines and penalties collected
under PROFEPA enforcement actions, to address the most contaminated sites throughout the
country of Mexico. Undo* this program, PROFEPA has identified 166 abandoned sites (i.e.,
sites where the owner or responsible party cannot be identified) that need remedial action
throughout Mexico.
U.S. environmental response options in Mexico are very limited and fall into three categories: 1)
Technical Assistance, 2) Repatriation of Illegally Exported Hazardous Waste, and 3) Emergency
Response.
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Technical Assistance: EPA has the authority to provide technical assistance to Mexican
Government personnel and consultants on a wide range of environmental issues
including, but not limited to, development of sampling and analysis plans, remedial
investigation techniques, selection of cleanup technologies, and planning remedial action
activities. However, EPA can provide these services only at the request of the Mexican
Government.
Repatriation of Illegally Exported Waste: Under Annex HI of the La Paz Agreement, the
U.S. has agreed to readmit to the U.S. hazardous wastes generated by maquiladora
facilities using raw materials from the U.S. This does not imply that the U.S. is obligated
to absorb any of the costs associated with the disposal of such maquiladora waste.
Rather, the U.S. has agreed only to admit the entry of such wastes into the U.S. for proper
treatment or disposal.
In addition, in 1992, the Border XXI Hazardous and Solid Waste Workgroup agreed on
bi-national Guidelines for the Repatriation of Hazardous Waste Illegally
F-ypnrted/Tmported. These Guidelines apply to hazardous wastes that are generated in
one country and then illegally exported or imported to the other. In the case of
contaminated sites in Mexico, the Guidelines would only apply in cases where hazardous
waste is illegally exported to Mexico. The Guidelines do not apply in cases where
hazardous waste is generated by a manuf&cturing operation, such as a maquiladora, as
this does not constitute an illegal export.
The Guidelines set up notification procedures between the two countries in cases of
illegal exports or imports. Once the two countries agree that an illegal export has
occurred, the country which received the illegal export follows is responsible for re-
packing the waste and delivering it to the border. The country from which the hazardous
waste was illegally exported then takes responsibility for the waste at the border.
Emergency Response: Under CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund), EPA has authority to
use Superfund resources to undertake site assessments and remediation in very limited
circumstances. In legal terminology, Superftmd can only be used to undertake site
assessment and remediation in cases where there is an emergency release or substantial
threat of release of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant to the environment in
the United States, which may present an imminent and substantial danger to public health
or welfare. This would mean Superfund might be applicable where contamination from a
site in Mexico crosses or threatens to cross the border, perhaps in ground or surface
water, and presents such a threat to public health or welfere in the United States. Under
be required before EPA personnel, or other personnel on behalf of EPA, would be able to
enter Mexico, for the purpose of conducting any contemplated response activities under
CERCLA.
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In addition to working to identify ways to work bi-nationally to address existing contaminated
sites, EPA and INE are working to prevent the creation of such sites in the future. We are in the
final stages of negotiating a Consultative Mechanism for the Exchange of Information on New
and Existing Facilities for the Management of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes Within 100
Km of the U.S.-Mexico Border. This agreement will provide a vehicle for sharing information on
existing and proposed facilities that store, treat, and dispose of hazardous wastes. Sharing this
information bi-nationally, and working to make this information as widely available as possible,
will be very important in ensuring that hazardous waste facilities in the border region are
properly designed and permitted and subject to public scrutiny. We hope to have a final
agreement complete by the end of this year.
Metales v Derivados
EPA is particularly concerned about the Metales y Derivados site, as the contamination at the site
is the result of a U.S.-owned company operating there, and there were clearly violations of
Mexican law by the company. Unfortunately, as a U.S. Federal agency, EPA cannot enforce
Mexican law, and thus cannot take enforcement action against the owners.
One important point to note related to Metales is that the hazardous waste at the site was
generated in the operation of the lead smelting business located there. That is, the hazardous
waste was not exported from the U.S., but was generated in Mexico. Thus, it does not constitute
an illegal export or import and the "Guidelines for Repatriation" discussed above do not apply.
EPA is currently discussing this site with Mexican officials. EPA has offered to provide
technical assistance to the relevant Mexican agencies in any remediation efforts at the site, but
the crucial obstacle to remediation is acquiring the money needed to pay for it. EPA is gathering
information to more completely characterize die site, in order to estimate the cost of remediation.
At the same time, we are aggressively investigating a wide range of options for funding the clean
up, including the possibility of use of Superfund, and sale of the land based on its future value as
a cleaned-up lot.
EPA is working closely with PROFEPA in attempting to address concerns about this site.
Because of the potential threat to public health posed by the contamination at the Metales site,
EPA is pursuing both a short-term and a long-term response. In the short term, the walls and
tarps at the site must be replaced, to contain the contamination and minimize any public health
threat. In the longer term, funds must be identified to cover the costs of remediation at the site.
EPA is working with PROFEPA towards achieving both of these goals.
In early September, EPA representatives of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Workgroup met with
PROFEPA and die Procuraduria General de la Republica (PGR - Mexico's equivalent to the
Department of Justice) to discuss the Metales site. At this meeting, EPA agreed to transmit all
additional information we gather on the site and its owners to PROFEPA and PGR, to strengthen
their case against the owners of Metales, should Mexico choose to request extradition.
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EPA is also engaged on this issue through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
(CEC). The CEC is currently reviewing a citizen submission regarding the Metales. EPA is
working in cooperation with the Environmental Health Coalition, one of the submitters, to track
this case through the CEC review process.
El Gato Negro
At this time, EPA is coordinating with the PROFEPA delegate in the State of Tamaulipas to
determine the current status of this site. Preliminary information indicates that the Gato Negro
was a municipal/industrial solid waste disposal facility located in the city of Matamoros,
Tamaulipas. It operated for an extended period of time but was closed in November 1993. The
dump was authorized to receive only nonhazardous materials such as plastic, linen, paper, etc.
and nonhazardous wastes from maquiladoras. PROFEPA noted that this dump has been the
subject of much controversy over the years. EPA is awaiting more information from PROFEPA
regarding this site. It appears at this point that El Gato Negro was a solid waste facility for
which no U.S. response may be required or permitted. However, EPA's final decision on the
disposition of this site is pending, subject to additional information from PROFEPA.
Candados Presto Lock
EPA has requested information from PROFEPA regarding Candados Presto Lock but is still
awaiting a fbll response. In a brief discussion regarding this site, SEMARNAP officials
indicated that it had already been remediated. EPA is awaiting more information from
PROFEPA regarding this site. However, EPA's final decision on the disposition of this site is
pending, subject to additional information from PROFEPA.
TRIBAL SESSION
Tl. As Border XXI is reformulated, EPA must recognize the inadequacies of the 100 km
border and a holistic approach must be applied consistent with indigenous peoples' values.
Contact: EPA San Diego Border Office, Jim Fletcher, 619-235-4763
Response: The 100km limit was established by the U.S. and Mexico upon signing the La Paz
Agreement, which created the bi-national framework for U.S.-Mexico federal government
environmental work along the 2,000 mile border. The 100km limit does not restrict
participation, but rather serves to focus attention to this region. EPA is using a holistic approach
to border environment, having identified watersheds and airsheds and goes beyond the 100km.
For example, when awarding tribal water/waste water infrastructure money in the Imperial
Valley we took into account the larger needs of the Torres- Martinez Tribe and funded projects
beyond the 100km zone. As another example, EPA has encouraged planning be done for the
Salton Sea at a watershed level.
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The BXXI Program was a five-year program beginning in October, 1996. EPA is beginning to
develop a strategy for outreach and public participation for phase II of the program. The San
Diego and El Paso border offices are currently drafting this strategy. Participation of tribal
governments and indigenous community members in that process is critical. Issues raised as a
result of the NEJAC Border Roundtable, including expansion of the scope of the Program,
including utilizing a more holistic approach, recognition of the social-economic-political-cultural
dimension will be taken into account in planning the next phase of the Border XXI Program.
T2. Increase native participation, representation and native funding in the development
of the next 5 year plan for the BXXI program - EPA needs to provide funds for tribes to
participate in a transparent way in all meetings.
Contact: EPA San Diego Border Office, Jim Fletcher, 619-235-4763
Response: Native American participation and representation in planning for the next five
years is essential. Over the past three years, we have greatly increased our funding to enhance
Tribal participation in our border program.
In addition to funding the NEJAC Border Roundtable, including funds for tribal participation, in
February, 1998, EPA sponsored a border tribal conference entitled, "Conference of Native
American Nations' on NAFTA and U.S.-Mexico Border Issues," which was held in San Diego.
This conference brought together over sixty federal, state, and tribal representatives to discuss
the ongoing border environmental activities of the federal and state agencies, environmental
concerns of the border tribes, and funding and mechanisms for tribal involvement in on-going
border activities. EPA funded participation for two tribal representatives for each of the 27
border tribes to attend the conference.
In 1997, EPA Region 9 provided $25,000 in grant funding to the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
(ITCA) to assist tribes in addressing environmental issues identified in the Border XXI
Framework Document, including providing transportation and per diem costs. ITCA agreed to
also assist tribal governments in planning and developing policies to address specific
environmental conditions precipitated by border activities. These funds continue to be used by
border tribes for travel and per diem to date.
In 1998, $30,000 was made available through a general assistance program grant, to cover travel
for any tribal representative interested in attending a Border XXI Workgroup meeting. Covering
travel costs was seen as being one of the biggest restrictions to tribal participation.
In FY99, $170,000 was committed by Region 9 to enhance tribal involvement in the Border XXI
Program. $65,000 was allocated to the Tohono O'odham Nation to hire a Border XXI
coordinator who will coordinate the outreach to Arizona border tribes, including publication of a
newsletter and development of a Web site; travel/per diem to attend Border XXI miwtings;
completion of an evaluation of Arizona tribal border issues and concerns; and development of a
list of key contacts within each of the Arizona border tribes who need to be informed of
workgroup events and meetings. $65,000 will be allocated to Torres-Martinez and $65,000 will
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be allocated to Cuyapaipe Band of Mission Indians to do similar work with California border
tribes.
T3. All 25-border nations should be Included on committee (as they are sovereign)
Contact: EPA San Diego Border Office, Jim Fletcher, 619-235-4763
Response: In 1984 EPA developed an Indian Policy that was endorsed by Administrator
Browner in 1991. This policy, and its subsequent implementation, has resulted in government-
to-government relationships with all tribes, not just those along the border.
In 1998, responding to state and tribal pressure for additional commitments of participation,
EPA, DOI, and HHS began developing the "Coordination Principles," acknowledging the
significant role that state and tribal governments play in the bi-national BXXI Program and
workgroups. The Coordination Principles recognize the sovereignty and cultural tradition of
border tribes. Tribal leaders added the following language which was approved by all
signatories: " U.S. Indian Tribes are sovereign nations, and all Indian communities in the border
area have a long tradition of stewardship of the border region, which calls for their active
participation in the Border XXI Program, workgroups, and sub-workgroups".
Signatories to the Coordination Principles included, EPA and SEMARNAP on behalf of all the
federal agencies involved in Border XXI and the environmental agency directors for all ten
border states. Further the Coordination Principles stipulate that "state and tribal representatives
have the same opportunity and responsibility to serve as members of workgroups and co-chairs
of sub-workgroups". With tribal support, the principles were signed at the National Coordinators
Meeting in Ensenada (May, 1999) by all nine border states, EPA and SEMARNAP (as
Secretariat of the Border XXI Program). We are following up with the tribes individually to
discuss with them their interests.
A number of tribal representatives have participated and played a role in the annual BXXI
National Coordinators Meetings. Campo EPA Director, Mike Connelly and Mark Sixkiller of
the Pala Band of Mission Indians, spoke at the 1997 National Coordinators Meeting in
Matamoros, Mexico, highlighting the need to involve border tribes as sovereign nations in the
Border XXI Program. Tohono O'odham Legislative member, Kenneth Williams, spoke at the
March, 1998 National Coordinators Meeting in San Diego, presenting results of the Border
Tribal conference and highlighting the need to recognize that border tribes such as Cocopah and
Tohono O'odham have strong cultural and community ties on both sides of the international
border. Over 12 tribes were represented during the special session with SEMARNAP, EPA and
nine border state environmental agencies to discuss agreement on "Coordination Principles,"
establishing mechanisms for including border states and U.S. tribes as partners in the Border
XXI Program. This took place during the 1999 National Coordinators meeting held in Ensenada.
In March, 1998, the U.S. Co-Chairs of the nine Border XXI Workgroups (Air, Water, Pollution
Prevention, Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance, Contingency Planning and Emergency
Response, Environmental Information Resources, Hazardous and Solid Waste, Environmental
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Health, and Natural Resources) confirmed their desire to include U.S. border tribes as partners in
the Border XXI Program and within the Border XXI Workgroups and Subworkgroups. Since its
inception, various tribal representatives have participated in Border XXI Workgroups or
Subworkgroups. Tribal representation at workgroup meetings has included:
• Natural Resources Workgroup - Tohono O'odham, Cocopah and the Native American Environmental
Group, which represents Pechanga, San Pasqual and La Jolla tribes.
• Hazardous & Solid Waste and Enforcement Workgroup - Tohono O'odham, Campo and Torres-Martinez.
• Contingency Planning £ Emergency Response Workgroup - Tohono O'odham and Campo.
• Air Workgroup — Torres-Martinez and Twenty-Nine Palms.
EPA has used an "open house meeting" on a number of occasions to enhance tribal involvement
in the Border XXI Program. The first open house meeting, specifically for tribal governments
and indigenous communities, was held August 12, 1997 in San Diego at the Liaison Office.
Over thirty-one tribal representatives attended. The objectives of the session were to provide
participants with a brief overview of Border XXI history and current activities. In addition, this
was an initial attempt to begin an information exchange and gain a better understanding of
border tribal concerns. The second open house was held on October 2,1998. Thirty-three tribal
representative from 14 of the 27 border tribes participated. The objects of this session were to
discuss development of a work plan for $170,000 in grants to be awarded to three border tribes
(described above). Subsequent open house sessions have occurred focused on gaining input on
the "Coordination Principles" (described above) and tribal involvement in the National
Coordinator's meeting.
T4. EPA must articulate Indigenous cultural, social and environmental values into
policies and regulations in BXXI and other programs.
Contact: EPA San Diego Border Office, Tim Fletcher, 619-235-4763
Response: For indigenous cultural values to be incorporated into our programs, EPA must
bring tribal voices to the table to speak directly for themselves. As mentioned above, we are
developing an outreach strategy for bringing together all stakeholders, including tribal
representatives, to participate in phase n of the BXXI Program.
Recognizing a need to have an EPA representative placed in the border area who could
specifically respond to tribal concerns, in August, 1998, James Fletcher was hired by Region 9 as
border tribal outreach coordinator. Jim is responsible for conducting outreach to border tribes on
Border XXI meetings, events and issues; overseeing grant projects awarded to border tribes; and
bridging the relationship between border tribal representatives and EPA Region 9. Having an
EPA staff person in the San Diego Border Office who comes from the Southern California tribal
community has increased awareness and need to better articulate the tribal cultural and social
values in the border program.
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T5. Need to work on ways to ensure that peoples of the same tribal nations currently
separated by the border can be equally recognized as members of those nations.
Contact: EPA San Diego Border Office, Jim Fletcher, 619-235-4763
Response: Mexico does not recognize tribal nations as sovereign governments, and U.S.
federal recognition is only applicable within the U.S. However, EPA has various grant
opportunities that can provide funds to U.S. organizations (and tribes) to do work with
counterparts in Mexico, including the U.S.-Mexico Border Grants Program, a competitive grants
program offered every two years, including this year (1999-2000).
U.S. funds can also be used for tribal members to travel across the border to attend border
meetings and accomplish goals of any bi-national grant. For example, EPA Region 9 provided
$35,000 to Campo for an environmental education grant in 1999. The objectives of the project
are: 1) Provide trilingual environmental education materials for the schools of the Indian
communities of the California/Baja region; 2) Reinforce mechanisms for the transmission of
traditional environmental management concepts from elders to youth; and 3) Establish new
partnerships between teacher, students and elders related to environmental education. Campo
environmental education representatives are currently working with the Institute Culturas
Nativas de Baja California (CUNA) to implement the project on both sides of the border. CUNA
representatives will be incorporating teachers and students from the five Indian Tribes located in
the Northern part of Baja California Norte. EPA Region 6 has provided a $50,000 grant to the
Local Emergency Planning Committee in Eagle Pass, Texas, with an Memorandum Of
Understanding with the Kickapoo Indian Tribe. The fire department in Eagle Pass has and will
continue to train the Kickapoo's in how to respond to structural fires and emergencies
Note: All bi-national projects are subject to U.S. State Department approval.
IMMIGRATION, TRADE & ENVIRONMENT SESSION
ITE1. Empower communities and provide them with the opportunity to define for
themselves what they would like (i.e., capacity building should include the grass roots) and
how they see their future/ enable them (stop paternalistic approach).
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Darrin Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: One of the main goals of the EPA border liaison offices is to empower
communities by providing the information that communities need in order to actively participate
in improving their local environment. This goal arises from EPA's recognition that local
communities, as the people most impacted by environmental problems, must be part of the
process of identifying and resolving the environmental problems, in their community. To tins
end, we carry out a number of activities aimed at increasing community members' environmental
awareness and knowledge of environmental laws, regulatory bodies, and organizations and
agencies addressing environmental problems. We provide extensive assistance to community
members who call or visit our offices looking fbr information or trying to determine the
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appropriate government agency to address their concerns. We hold public meetings in border
communities to describe EPA's activities and solicit feedback, and participate in meetings held
by community-based organizations to engage in discussions led by community members
exploring ways to resolve environmental issues.
As liaisons for the border communities, the EPA border liaison offices regularly inform EPA
colleagues in Dallas and San Francisco, who are responsible for specific technical areas, of the
concerns expressed by communities. We also provide contact information directly to the
communities. Our Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. colleagues on the Border XXI
workgroups also have a direct role in working with communities to foster their active
participation in addressing local environmental issues. It is clear from the NEJAC
recommendation, however, that our offices and the Border XXI workgroups are not reaching all
border communities or that our activities are not effectively enabling communities to have the
active, empowered role desired. The EPA border liaison offices will seek more feedback from
border communities about how we should address this concern, and will work with the Border
XXI workgroups to develop a plan for empowering communities.
One goal of Border XXI is to achieve sustainable development in the border region. To this end,
EPA organized a workshop in Brownsville, Texas on March 22-25,1999 for the purpose of
showcasing community activities aimed toward sustainable development. Proceedings of the
Conference were Highlighted at the White House Conference on Sustainable America in Detroit
in May, 1999 and are available on line at http://www.us-mexicoborder.com. This first
conference and others that will follow are designed to encourage local communities to take
actions to help shape their future economic and social development. Through Border XXI, EPA
will continue to act as a catalyst for community-led development of sustainable development in
the border region.
ITE2. Raise standard of living.
Contact: Department of Labor, Irasema Garza, 202-501-6653
Response: The EPA is sharing this action item with the Secretary of the U.S. National
Administrative Office of the Department of Labor and with the President's Interagency Task
Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border.
1TE3. Social-economic benefits should go directly to community.
Contact: Department of Labor, Irasema Garza, 202-501-6653
Response: The EPA is sharing this action item with the Secretary of the U.S. National
Administrative Office of the Department of Labor and with the President's Interagency Task
Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border.
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ITE4. Capacity building should include grassroots groups as well as a variety of other
agencies like local authorities, labor groups, and others to incorporate other levels of skills.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Darrin Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: EPA recognizes that grassroots community organizations play a vital role in
organizing communities and enabling them to become more active in environmental activities.
A number of EPA programs offer annual grant opportunities that enable grassroots organizations
and other entities to strengthen their institutional capacity. Grants that can be used for the border
region include Environmental Justice, Environmental Education, Environmental Justice through
Pollution Prevention, and Sustainable Development Challenge grants. Through these grant
opportunities, grassroots organizations are able to work within their communities to develop and
implement of projects that advance their goals related to health and environmental protection.
The Border XXI Program also provides grant opportunities to further Border XXI's goals and
objectives. In the past, EPA has sponsored 23 Border XXI grants in the border region, the
majority of which have been community-oriented grants. EPA is committed to supporting
grassroots organizations and will initiate discussions with border area organizations to identify
additional capacity building needs and opportunities.
ITE5. Focus on training to provide new alternatives for displaced workers
Contact: North American Development Bank, Annie Alvarado, 210-231-8000
Response: The Department of the Treasury and the NADBank have a program intended to
address this issue - the U.S. Community Adjustment and Investment Program. For more
information please contact Annie Alvarado at (210) 231-8000
ITE6. Provide access to information on both sides of the border.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Darrin Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
EPA Region 9, Marie Martel, 415-744-1639
Response: EPA established the border liaison offices to significantly expand the border
communities' access to information. The El Paso and San Diego Border Liaison Offices and the
Brownsville satellite office house public information centers containing Border XXI and other
environmental publications, and computer workstations with Internet access (in EI Paso and San
Diego). A toll-free telephone line (800-334-0741) allows the public to request environmental
information and to contact both the San Diego and El Paso offices. In addition, the border
liaison offices use several mechanisms to reach out to border communities and provide
environmental information in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California: public
meetings, open house events, announcements/notices (sent by mail and e-mail), Border XXI
documents placed in 100 public libraries along the border, the U.S.-Mexico Web page, and the
quarterly Region 6 Border Bulletin newsletter.
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In June 1999, the El Paso Border Office hosted community meetings in the New Mexico and
Texas border region to solicit feedback from the communities about their environmental
information needs and effective mechanisms to provide timely and accurate environmental
information. The San Diego border liaison office conducted a similar effort this month for the
border communities in Arizona and California. A total of 11 community meetings were
conducted by the EPA border liaison offices. The information gathered from these community
meetings will be reviewed by the border liaison offices and the Border XXI Environmental
Information Resources Workgroup and will be used to develop new strategies to meet the
information needs of the border communities. These new strategies will be discussed with
Mexico through the EIR Workgroup, and we will continue to encourage Mexico to take
appropriate steps to increase access to information in Mexico.
ITE7. Enforcement on border as well as restoration, ensure environmental compliance bi-
nationally and ensure fines are given to community.
Contact: EPA/OEC A, Tim Whitehouse, 202-564-2315
Response: EPA is committed to ensuring environmental compliance along the United States
border with Mexico as well as ensuring that areas harmed by non-compliance with the nation's
environmental laws are cleaned up. When taking an enforcement action, EPA seeks to bring the
violator back into compliance with the law as quickly as possible. EPA may also seek a penalty
to capture any economic benefit the violator gained as a result of its unlawful conduct and to
provide deterrence against future violations. In addition, as part of an enforcement settlement,
the defendant/respondent may agree to undertake a project to improve its environmental
performance in a way that goes beyond what is required under the law. These projects are
referred to as a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP). In exchange for the legal
commitment to undertake a SEP, some percentage of the cost of the project may be considered as
a factor in establishing the penalty paid by the defendant/respondent.
The success of EPA's enforcement programs along the border, and elsewhere, are dependent
upon community input Individuals may comment on all aspects of consent decrees resolving
environmental violations once they are lodged by the court but before they are made final. Also,
EPA often relies on individuals and companies to report environmental problems. People living
in Arizona and California who are concerned about environmental violations in the border area
should contact John Rothman at EPA San Francisco at 415-744-1041 or the San Diego Border
Office at 619-235-4711. Those in New Mexico and Texas should contact Bonnie Romo at EPA
Dallas at 214-665-8323 or the El Paso Border Office at 915-533-7273. Tim Whitehouse, who
works in EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Washington, D.C., can
also be used as a point of contact for those wishing to report environmental violations or for
those wishing to discuss environmental compliance issues in general. He may be reached at
(202) 564-2315 or at whitehouse.tim@epa.gov.
Although EPA welcomes community input to the greatest extent possible in its enforcement and
compliance programs, we cannot ensure that fines for environmental violations go the
community. Under the Miscellaneous Receipts Act (31 U.S.C. § 3302(b) (1982)), fines that EPA
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collects for environmental violations must be given to the United States Treasury. This purpose
behind this law is to ensure that monies collected by the federal government are claimed as
public revenues and are subject to public control through the Congressional appropriations
process. Because of this law, and because of the Constitutional requirement that "No Money
shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by law...", EPA
can not give any fines that it collects for environmental violations to the community. Any
money that EPA gives to communities must be specifically appropriated by Congress.
In terms of ensuring compliance bi-nationally, while EPA works with PROFEPA, Mexico's
environmental enforcement agency, on a variety of transnational enforcement and compliance
issues, EPA has no authority to operate internally within Mexico to ensure that companies within
Mexico are complying with Mexican law. Instead, EPA works with PROFEPA to address issues
of mutual concern in ways that respect each countiy's sovereignty and resources at all times.
Toward this end, EPA co-chairs the Border XXI Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance
Workgroup with PROFEPA. These cooperative efforts have centered on detecting violations
and targeting enforcement resources, cooperating in specific cases and sharing of enforcement
information, capacity building through training and technical consultations, and promoting
environmental compliance through environmental auditing and pollution prevention.
The Border XXI Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance Workgroup welcomes public input.
Each year, EPA and PROFEPA develop an implementation plan for the workgroup's activities in
the coming year and hold an annual meeting to discuss the implementation plan and other
enforcement and compliance issues along the border. All members of the public are encourage
to provide their comments on the implementation plan and to attend Cooperative Enforcement
and Compliance Workgroup annual meeting. For further information, please contact Tim
Whitehouse in January at (202) 564-2315 or at whitehouse.tim@epa. gov or refer to the Border
XX3 Web site at http://www.epa.gov/usmedcoborder.
ITE8. Incorporate precautionary principles
Contact: EPA Region 6, Joy Campbell, 214-665-8036
Response: The key priorities of the U.S.-Mexico Pollution Prevention Workgroup are to
promote pollution prevention and energy efficiency as a means of achieving sustainable growth
along the border area. Due to limited resources, the workgroup has concentrated its efforts on
capacity building within federal, state, municipal governments and universities as well as
participating industries to institutionalize pollution prevention concepts as an environmentally
healthy and cost-effective way to address the rapid economic growth along the U.S.-Mexican
border. One of the goals stated within the Border XXI Framework document is to incorporate
pollution prevention concepts into the efforts of all the Border XXI workgroups.
There is still a great deal of work to be done to achieve the goals of the Pollution Prevention
Workgroup. Integrating pollution prevention ideals into the fast-growing industries of the border
region presents a tremendous challenge. Our ability to meet this challenge will be greatly
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improved by broad participation in the workgroup, by industry and the public. Some of our
efforts to date to achieve the goals of the workgroup include:
The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission has conducted site assessment visits at 21
maquiladoras, aimed at assisting them in pollution prevention. This effort has helped these industries to
realize annual reductions of 8.6 tons of hazardous waste, 52,000 tons of nonhazardous waste, 31 million
gallons water conserved and 10.9 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy conserved. Due to the above
reductions, the maquiladoras have reported annual savings of close to 8.4 million dollars.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has offered many pollution prevention workshops
for industry in Baja California. Topics of past workshops have included pollution prevention for the
electronics industry and reduction of volatile organic chemicals. Over 250 representatives of industry and
government in Baja California have been trained through these workshops.
The San Diego-Tijuana Border Waste Wise Program, which focused on reduction of solid waste in the
maquiladora industry in Tijuana, resulted in site assistance visits to 27 maquiladoras. This first phase of
this program, which ran from 1996 to 1998, was so favorably received by industry in Tijuana that this year
EPA is beginning a second phase of the project, which will include hazardous waste, wastewater, and
energy use and continue to offer site assistance visits. More information on this project is available on the
Border Waste Wise Web site at: www.boiderwastewise.org.
The Arizona Mexico International Green Organization (AMIGO), an EPA-funded project of the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality, aims to bring together Arizona and Mexican industries to share
ideas and technologies that reduce waste and pollution and increase profits, worker safety and
environmental health. The project focuses on the Arizona-Sonora border and currently has 28 members,
including industry from the U.S. and Mexico.
* In March, 1999, EPA and PROFEPA organized a conference for the parent companies of maquiladoras, to
encourage them to take part in PROFEPA's Industria Limpia program and to urge them to operate their
maquiladoras in accordance with the same standards they follow in the U.S.
* EPA and SEMARNAP have created bilingual pollution prevention manuals for industry in the following
sectors: textiles, wood finishing, metal finishing, and electronics. These can be obtained by contacting the
Pollution Prevention Workgroup.
* EPA and PROFEPA produced a bilingual video entitled "Environmental Auditing and Pollution Prevention
Strategies for Compliance in the Maquiladora Industry." This video presents pollution prevention as a
solution to compliance problems in the maquiladora industry. This video can be obtained by contacting the
Pollution Prevention Workgroup.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE & LABOR SESSION
EJL1. Protection of the right to organize in the U.S. or Mexico; that it be a convention and
have the power of the courts.
Contact: Department of Labor, Irasema Garza, 202-501-6653
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Response: The EPA is sharing this action item with the Secretary of the U. S. National
Administrative Office of the Department of Labor and with the President's Interagency Task
Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border.
EJL2. Prohibition of the Bracero Program in the U.S.
Contact: Department of Labor, Irasema Garza, 202-501-6653
Response: The EPA is sharing this action item with the Secretary of the U. S. National
Administrative Office of the Department of Labor and with the President's Interagency Task
Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border.
EJL3. Compensate displaced workers.
Contact: Department of Labor, Irasema Garza, 202-501-6653
Response: The EPA is sharing this action item with the Secretary of the U. S. National
Administrative Office of the Department of Labor and with the President's Interagency Task
Force on the Economic Development of the Southwest Border.
EJL4. Sample/study of chemical drums which are used for potable water in colonias
(in Mexico)
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: The use of drums which may have previously contained chemicals, for
transporting and storing water in colonias is an issue EPA has not previously focused on. Unless
such drums are carefully cleaned, using them to store drinking water could potentially have
significant health impacts on the users of that water.
There are a number of approaches available to EPA to look into this issue further. We will
recommend that this topic be considered as an important area of research by the Southwest
Center for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP). A SCERP project could look into how
common this practice is, whether any health effects can be connected to chemical contamination
from used drums, and what alternative sources of drinking water might be available. In addition,
this issue represents an opportunity for collaboration between the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Workgroup and the Environmental Health Workgroup. We will discuss the possibility of a joint
project on this issue at the upcoming meeting of the Environmental Health Workgroup, to be
held in El Paso in October.
In addition, in cases where chemical drums are used to store drinking water in the United States,
EPA may be able to take enforcement action. This possibility will need to be evaluated as more
information is gathered on this issue.
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EJL5. Close ASARCO and complete an evaluation of damages/environmental risks
Contact: EPA Region 6, John Hepola, 214-665-7220
EPA Region 6, Mark Potts, 214-665-6746
Response: The EPA is unable carry out the Committee's recommendation to close the
ASARCO plant in El Paso, Texas. The EPA does not have the authority to close a business
enterprise. Our authority is such that regulated industry is given the rules of environmental
regulation, to which they must adhere. A gross failure to adhere to regulations can, in rare
circumstances, give the EPA the option to file a civil injunction against a company, temporarily
halting operations until the company can meet adequate environmental control measures. Such
is not the case with ASARCO at the present time. Although the ASARCO plant recently elected
to cease production operations, on a temporary basis, plant officials indicate this was for
economic reasons.
As part of their operating restrictions, the plant must closely monitor air pollution emissions
using continuous monitoring equipment. Local state and city officials operate ambient pollution
monitors nearby, to ensure that local air quality meets national standards. Air quality in the
region containing the ASARCO plant complies with national standards for lead and sulfur
dioxide. This air quality information, including emissions from the plant itself is available to the
public through the national databases of pollutant emissions.
The EPA, the TNRCC, and the City of El Paso work together to impose environmental
restrictions on the plant, ensure they are implemented on the prescribed schedule, and conduct
scheduled and unscheduled inspections to verify compliance. Over the years, all the regulatory
agencies have levied fines against the plant for violations found.
The public can access important enforcement information through the Integrated Data for
Enforcement Analysis system (IDEA). It provides data on facilities that were potentially
involved in EPA enforcement or compliance actions. Implemented in early 1991, IDEA
supports a multi-media approach to the analysis of environmental problems in air, water, toxics,
spills, and others. Users from the public sector can access IDEA by dialing up with a computer.
See the EPA Home page, http://www. epa. gov for additional information.
Operations at the ASARCO plant have changed over time, as new processes were added or
dropped, mid additional pollution control equipment was added. In 1985, the operations at the
lead plant were suspended. In 1993, the plant installed continuous top-feed oxygen process
technology (CONTOP), to increase production and reduced sulfur emissions.
EJL6. Close WIPP in New Mexico; EPA should resume its investigation given that it was
apparently pressured by DOE.
Contact: EPA Region 6, Nick Stone, 214-665-7226
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Response: The EPA is unable to cany out the committee's recommendation to close the
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) facility in Carlsbad, NM. EPA has certified that the WIPP
can adequately meet the disposal standards at 40 CFR191. The Agency's evaluation was
thorough and considered multiple scenarios of repository failure without finding a significant
release of radiation to the environment. The facility has opened and received transuranic waste
from three facilities. EPA will continue to monitor the operation through approval of the waste
characterization process at Department of Energy (DOE) facilities and oversight of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit by the State of New Mexico when it is issued.
Further information regarding this site can be obtained by the public by calling the EPA WIPP
Hotline at 1-800-331 -WIPP (9477).
EJL7. Comply with the La Paz Agreement in reference to Lodos Negros de Sierra Blanca.
Contact: EPA Region 6, Stephanie Kordzi, 214-665-7520
Response: On March 23,1992, the Texas Water Commission issued two "registrations" to
MERCO Joint Venture to land apply sewage sludge generated at wastewater treatment plants in
New York City, New York. The sewage sludge is land applied on two sites totaling 87,474
acres. The sites are located approximately seven miles from the town of Sierra Blanca, Texas.
On April 17, 1992, EPA Region six requested MERCO submit an application for a discretional
"sludge only" National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. On October 2,
1992, EPA decided a permit was not required because data showed the sludge posed no
significant threat to public health or the environment. EPA requested MERCO continue to
provide copies of monitoring results. Exceedences of applicable federal sewage sludge standards
have not been identified. The sludge is tested monthly to determine if it is hazardous, but has
always been found nonhazardous. MERCO continues to submit monthly monitoring results to
the EPA for review. No violations of the Part 503 regulations have been identified. EPA
authorized in September 1998, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission to
implement the Federal sewage sludge program.
There are no formal obligations under the La Paz agreement regarding the MERCO site.
However, in the spirit of La Paz, the U.S. and Mexico often share information regarding
potential sources of pollution in the border region that might be of concern to the other country.
This practice typically applies to facilities of significant concern, such as hazardous waste
management facilities or major air pollution sources. Because the sludge at the MERCO site has
always been found to be nonhazardous, it has not been identified as a bi-national environmental
concern. Given this, EPA believes that it has complied with both the letter and the spirit of La
Paz.
EJL8. Close SunTiand Park.
Contact: EPA Region 6, Willie Kelley, 214-665-6760
EPA Region 6, Anan Tanbouz, 214-665-8195
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Response: The EPA is unable to cany out the Committee's recommendation to close the
Sunland Park landfill in New Mexico. Before subtitle D was promulgated in 1993, the owners of
the Joab New Mexico Landfill purchased some additional property in Sunland Park, New
Mexico. The property is adjacent to the original landfill, and borders Mexico. This land was
being used to dump trash and waste from a nearby horse racing facility. However the site was
not officially a landfill. The owners of the Joab New Mexico Landfill came in and set up the
new parcel as a regional landfill, and began accepting trash from El Paso, greater New Mexico,
and Juarez. Residents accused the Sunland Park facility of accepting hazardous waste from
Juarez' maquiladoras. EPA investigated these allegations by doing a detailed inspection of the
facility and were unable to substantiate the facility was accepting hazardous waste.
The landfill is authorized and permitted by the State of New Mexico to receive only
nonhazardous wastes. It currently receives wastes from New Mexico, West El Paso, and Texas.
It also receives wastes from Mexico that is classified as nonhazardous. EPA staff contacted the
State of New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED), the regulatory authority, and were
informed that the facility is properly permitted. The facility complies with NMED siting criteria
and, all applicable permit requirements, including closure and post closure plans.
EJL9. Do not accept maquilas in Mexico that have not complied with U.S. standards.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: The Mexican government develops and enforces the standards that apply to
maquiladoras. Thus, EPA cannot directly affect the regulations that govern maquiladoras in
Mexico. However, EPA does have a number of programs in place aimed at improving the
environmental performance of maquiladoras, and encouraging maquiladoras to meet the
standards that their U.S. parent companies must meet. We would like to work with NEJAC and
other environmental justice stakeholders to continue to further our efforts in improving
environmental performance of maquiladoras in Mexico.
EPA's primary area of focus in working with the maquiladora industry is pollution prevention.
We have a wide variety of programs in this area, some directly carried out by EPA and some
carried out by state agencies supported by EPA funding. Examples of these programs include:
The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission has conducted site assessment visits at 21
maquiladoras, aimed at assisting them in pollution prevention. This effort has helped these industries to
realize annual reductions of 8.6 tons of hazardous waste, 52,000 tons of nonhazardous waste, 31 million
gallons water conserved and 10.9 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy conserved. Due to the above
reductions, the maquiladoras have reported annual savings of close to 8.4 million dollars.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has offered many pollution prevention workshops
for industry in Baja California. Topics of past workshops have included pollution prevention for the
electronics industry and reduction of volatile organic chemicals. Over 250 TwprwBwntntfy^ r»f iwWry
government in Baja California have been trained through these workshops.
• The San Diego-Tijuana Border Waste Wise Program, which focused on reduction of solid waste in the
maquiladora industry in Tijuana, resulted in site assistance visits to 27 maquiladoras. This fifst phase of
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this program, which ran from 1996 to 1998, was so favorably received by industry in Tijuana that this year
EPA is beginning a second phase of the project, which will include hazardous waste, wastewater, and
energy use and continue to offer site assistance visits. More information on this project is available on the
Border Waste Wise web site at: www.borderwastewise.org.
The Arizona Mexico International Green Organization (AMIGO), an EPA-funded project of the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality, aims to bring together Arizona and Mexican industries to share
iffcas an A technologies that reduce waste and pollution and increase profits, worker safety and
environmental health. The project focuses on the Arizona-Sonora border and currently has 28 members,
including industry from the U.S. and Mexico.
In March, 1999, EPA and PROFEPA organized a conference for the parent companies of maquiladoras, to
encourage them to take part in PROFEPA's Industria Limpia program and to urge them to operate their
maquiladoras in accordance with the same standards they follow in the U.S.
EPA and SEMARNAP have created bilingual pollution prevention manuals for industry in the following
sectors: textiles, wood finishing, metal finishing, and electronics. These can be obtained by contacting the
Pollution Prevention Workgroup.
EPA and PROFEPA produced a bilingual video entitled "Environmental Auditing and Pollution Prevention
Strategies for Compliance in the Maquiladora Industry." This video presents pollution prevention as a
solution to compliance problems in the maquiladora industry. This video can be obtained by contacting the
Pollution Prevention Workgroup.
EJL10. Hazardous wastes which originate from U.S. firms should be returned to the
U.S. beyond 2000.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: Currently, hazardous wastes generated by maquiladoras are required by Mexican
law to be returned to the country of origin of the raw materials used in manufacturing. There has
been a great deal of confusion as to whether this requirement would be eliminated with the full
phase-in of NAFTA in the year 2000. This year, EPA and INE developed a policy paper stating
that this requirement will remain in force after the year 2000. In other words, maquiladoras will
continue to be required to return their hazardous waste to the country of origin of the raw
materials beyond the year 2000. The continuation of this requirement is critical for the
protection of the environment along the border, in both countries.
EJL11. Valle de Juarez - evaluate the water policies to ensure sufficient water for
agricultural use - policies currently compete with agriculture and maquilas.
Contact: EPA OIA, Marico Sayoc, 202-564-6433
Response: The EPA is working with the IBWC, the BECC and the NADBank towards
sustainable water policies that do not generate competing interests throughout the border region.
All projects intended for NADBank financing must be certified by the BECC which applies
stringent sustainable development criteria in its review. Specific to Valle de Juarez, the EPA, the
BECC and the NADBank are looking at water reclamation opportunities available with operation
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commencement of the new wastewater treatment plant,
for all sectors will reduce the overall demand for water.
We are hoping that water conservation
EJL12. Investigate why funding of treatment plants is only half-done (at Juarez and
elsewhere).
Contact: EPA/OIA, Marico Sayoc, 202-564-6433
Response: For the first time, Ciudad Juarez's sewage will be treated at advanced primary
with operation commencement of the Ciudad Juarez wastewater treatment plant in December.
At the time of the wastewater treatment plant's design, Mexico was undergoing the peso
devaluation. Instead of eliminating all plans for a wastewater treatment plant at secondary
treatment, all parties decided to build an advanced primary treatment plant with the intention of
going to secondary when funds were more readily available.
EJL13. Do outreach to rural communities.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Damn Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: The EPA border liaison offices conduct extensive outreach activities in rural
communities along the border, including holding public meetings to provide information about
activities taking place in particular communities, hosting open house meetings on topics of
interest to communities, attending meetings with community organizations and local
governments to exchange information and create partnerships, and conducting environmental
education activities.
The El Paso Border Liaison Office participates in several planning groups and local committees
that address colonias issues, including the Paso del Norte Coalition for Solid Waste and the
Water and Wastewater environmental justice committee, in these committees, the El Paso Border
Liaison Office assists in planning, coordination, and development of strategies and activities to
improve the quality of life of the colonias communities. In addition, EPA has been working with
colonia groups and organizations through EPA grants to assist colonia residents in installing
septic tanks, connecting their homes to potable water distribution systems, and providing
environmental education and awareness materials on solid waste and drinking water issues and
solutions. In August 1998, a Sustainable Development Challenge Grant was awarded by EPA to
Organizacion Progresiva de San Elizario to train colonia residents in building at least four
passive solar adobe homes in San Elizario, a colonia just south of El Paso. The project will train
unskilled residents and at-risk youths in adobe construction skills.
In San Diego, the San Diego Border Liaison Office has hosted special meetings in community-
based locations, such as the Sherman Heights Community Center, to reach more of the Hispanic
audience in San Diego County. In addition as an effort to conduct better outreach to rural
communities facing environmental justice issues, the San Diego Border Office is in a
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number of different projects including (1) last year providing funding for a bi-national
environmental education program for rural communities residing in Imperial and Mexicali
Valleys; (2) providing funding for a tribal/Mexican environmental education project with the
Campo Tribe and CUNA (Instituto de Culturas Nativas de Baja California), both dealing with
rural border communities; (3) providing financial assistance to the California Rural Legal
Assistance Program (CRLA) to provide pesticide safety, Workers Protection Standards, and
water pollution training to border migrant farmworkers who work the border crops in El Centre,
California and Imperial Valley. The CRLA has a network to reach more than 1,000 farmworkers
and to provide training materials in both English and Spanish; (4) through the CRLA and similar
NGOs which service rural communities on both sides of the border, the San Diego Border
Liaison Office will extend its outreach database and conduct more projects with these
communities.
EPA will continue to reach out to rural communities and look for additional ways to reach more
communities and provide effective outreach.
EJL14. NAFTA focus on water exclusively is insufficient (need clean up &
restoration).
Contact: EPA/OIA, Marico Sayoc, 202-564-6433
Response: The BECC and the NADBank, created by NAFTA environmental side
agreements, were designed to address water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure. This is
not to say that we do not recognize other environmental needs in the border region. However, at
the time NAFTA was designed, water, wastewater and solid waste needs were estimated to be at
8 billion dollars and highest priority among border residents. Water and wastewater
infrastructure was selected because it impacts a large number of people (including both U.S. and
Mexican communities) and is a major transport of disease and exposure to toxics. After five
years of experience, the NADBank is beginning to consider other environmental priorities.
However, additional resources are necessary as current resources cannot meet existing needs for
water and wastewater infrastructure.
EJL15. Use precautionary/prevention technologies rather than end of pipe
Contact: EPA Region 6, Joy Campbell, 214-665-8036
Response: See response to question #ITE8 on page 14.
In addition, the U.S.-Mexico Pollution Prevention workgroup has developed partnerships with
the U.S.-Mexico Foundation for Science, Maquiladora Associations, academia and industry to
promote pollution prevention and energy efficiency in a way that is beneficial for the
environment, the community and for economic growth. Highlights include the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commissions' (TNRCC) border pollution prevention program which has
fostered partnerships state to state and through bi-national site assessment visits at maquiladoras
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as well as through a wide variety of outreach via workshops and communication with
educational institutions along the border. Another highlight is the industry outreach for pollution
prevention accomplished through Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)'s
AMIGO program. This program consists of pollution prevention technology sharing between
industries whether in Sonora or Arizona and also consists of technology assistance through
ADEQ. Through our local border partnerships we are able to leverage resources for promoting
prevention that best pertain to an area's needs as the cost effective alternative to dealing with
end-of-the-pipe damage.
EJL16. EPA owes data to community on the New River (Lower Colorado River
Toxics Study) - where is it?!
Contact: EPA Region 9, Eugenia McNaughton, 415-744-1162
Response: The report for the Lower Colorado River Toxics Monitoring Study, based on two
sampling events (1994-1996), is undergoing a final edit. The publication of the report is long
overdue, but not for lack of effort. The project has gone through many changes of hands, each
requiring another round of review and editing. While there remain two small factual issues to be
resolved with the Comision Nacional del Agua, tremendous progress has been made since the
International Boundary and Water Commission accepted the lead for finishing the report. The
length of time it has taken to get to this point has been a source of frustration for agencies and
public alike, but, after all this time, it would not'serve any purpose to publish an incomplete or
inaccurate report. Although the data set is too small to draw conclusions about water quality, the
study is important because it represents a bi-national Lower Colorado River basin-wide effort,
and includes sampling locations in the U.S. and Mexico.
The data from the study are already available in tabular form and as raw data sets from the U.S.
Geological Survey. This includes U.S. data only. The contact person is Roy Schroeder, U.S.
Geological Survey, 5735 Kearney Villa Road, Suite O, San Diego, CA 92123, 691-719-3062,
raschroe@usgs.gov. Additionally an Environmental Health Consultation was performed by the
CA Department of Health Services, using the information from the study. Those reports have
just become available. The contact person is Reber Brown, CDHS-EHIB,1515 Clay Street, Ste
1700, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 622-4487 (VM), (510) 622-4505 (fax), ibrown5@dhs.ca.gov.
EJL17. Community needs to be equal partner in BXXI
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Darrin Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: As noted in our response to Empower Communities, EPA recognizes that local
communities must be part of the process of identifying and resolving the environmental
problems in their community The Border XXI Program currently has several formal
mechanisms for involving border communities in the development and impi^m^n^ 0f Border
XXI activities, including providing comments on Border XXI documents (including those that
define program goals and objectives for specific geographic areas) and Border XXI
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meetings open to the public. Through these fora and mechanisms, the public has an opportunity
to recommend modifications to Border XXI objectives so that they reflect the changing
dynamics of the border region.
In addition to the formal community participation opportunities, EPA believes it is crucial that
the border communities and EPA maintain effective two-way communication. To this end, EPA
directs a great deal of effort to providing environmental information and program updates,
addressing community concerns, participating in community meetings, hosting open house
meetings, and promoting environmental education activities.
EJL18. Border Office work plan does not include community in developing.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Damn Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: The border liaison offices each develop annual operating plans to implement
outreach activities in the border communities. Although there is no formal mechanism to solicit
community input on these internal planning documents, the border liaison offices prepare these
annual operating plans based on continual feedback from border communities. The El Paso and
San Diego Border Liaison Offices will discuss ways to communicate our respective goals and
objectives to our border communities. In addition, EPA is interested in receiving feedback from
border communities about what they feel the role and functions of the border liaison offices
should be.
EJL19. Need feedback loop.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Damn Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: As the main liaisons between EPA and the border communities, the border liaison
offices are responsible for working with the Border XXI workgroups to provide communities
with information on Border XXI activities, and for soliciting community feedback on these
activities and relaying it to the workgroups. NEJAC's comment points to a current weakness in
this feedback system: there is no clear process or mechanism involving the border liaison offices
to ensure that the workgroups are responding to the needs being expressed by the community.
EPA will discuss how to address this weakness and is interested in receiving specific
recommendations from NEJAC on mechanisms that will enhance the integration community
feedback into our programs, and clearly communicate to border communities the status of their
comments and actions taken.
EJL20. Completely remediate Cytrar - completely returning the full volume of
wastes to the U.S.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
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Response: EPA has no jurisdiction over this facility, which is located 275 km from the US-
Mexico border. The Cytrar facility in Hermosillo was a hazardous waste disposal facility
permitted by Mexico's National Institute of Ecology (INE). In late 1998, when Cytrar's permit
was up for renewal, INE chose not to renew it, after vocal public opposition to the disposal at the
facility of hazardous waste from Alco-Pacifico in Tijuana, and concerns about Cytrar's
compliance status.
Any remediation of this site would have to be undertaken by the Mexican government. In
addition, although remediation wastes from Alco-Pacifico were disposed of at the Cytrar facility,
only a fraction of the waste at Cytrar is from Alco-Pacifico. The vast majority of the hazardous
waste disposed of in the operation of the Cytrar facility came from Mexican national industry.
Thus, even if SEMARNAP determined that remediation of this former disposal facility were
necessary, it is very unlikely that any remediation wastes would go to the United States. If
SEMARNAP does undertake remediation of this site, EPA could provide technical assistance
based on U.S. experience cleaning up former hazardous waste facilities.
EJL21. Evaluate groundwater quality and the health of the community near the
landfill at Cytrar.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: Because the former Cytrar hazardous waste disposal facility in Hermosillo is well
outside of the 100 km border region, any assessment of groundwater quality or public health in
the area would have to be done by the Mexican government Upon request from Mexico, EPA
might be able to offer technical assistance in carrying out such an assessment. However, this
would be unusual, given that the fecility is 275 km from the border and thus does not fall within
the scope of Border XXI or the La Paz Agreement.
EJL22. Sanction those like Cytrar that have violated the agreements.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: It does not appear that the operators of the Cytrar fecility in Hermosillo have
violated any international agreements. The Cytrar fecility was a hazardous waste disposal
facility permitted by INE. In late 1998, when Cytrar's permit was up for renewal, INE chose not
to renew it, after vocal public opposition to the disposal at the facility of hazardous waste from
Alco-Pacifico in Tijuana, and concerns about Cytrar's compliance status. Thus, Cytrar may have
violated Mexican law in some aspect of its operation. However, the La Paz Agreement would
not apply to a fecility so far from the border, so there is no way in which the operators of Cytrar
or the Mexican government could have violated that agreement.
EJL23. Review in-depth the impacts of NAFTA in regards to labor, environment and
agriculture.
Contact: EPA Region 9, David Berman, 415-744-2006
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Response: The U. S. government prepared a comprehensive review of the NAFTA and the
labor and environmental side agreements to the NAFTA entitled "Study on the Operation and
Effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement." The report, released by the White House
in July, 1997, includes analysis of the effects of the environmental and labor protections
incorporated in the NAFTA and the NAFTA side agreements. It also includes analysis of the
effect of the NAFTA on key sectors, including agriculture. The U.S. General Accounting Office
(GAO) prepared a report entitled "North American Free Trade Agreement - Impacts and
Implementation," in September, 1997, for submission as testimony before the Trade
Subcommittee of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. The GAO report
also examines the environmental and labor protections created under the NAFTA and the side
agreements. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), created under the
environmental side agreement to the NAFTA, is mandated under the side agreement with
"considering on an ongoing basis the environmental effects of the NAFTA." The NAFTA
Environmental Effects project was established in 1995 as part of the CEC's work program. The
three NAFTA governments allocated a total of U.S. $140,000 in 1999 for the project. As part of
the project, the CEC has worked with a diverse group of public and governmental stakeholders to
develop a framework for assessing these effects, and in June, 1999, the CEC released the "Final
Analytical Framework (Draft) for Assessing the Environmental Effects of the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)." As part of the process of developing the framework, the
CEC produced three in-depth sector studies: "Maize in Mexico: Some Environmental
Implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement;" "Feedlot Production of Cattle in the
United States and Canada: Some Environmental Implications of the North American Free Trade
Agreement;" and "Electricity in North America: Some Environmental Implications of the North
American Free Trade Agreement." The CEC is hosting a North American Symposium on
Understanding the Linkages between Trade and Environment in October, 2000. A call for
papers for presentation at the symposium has been issued by the CEC. The purpose of the
symposium is to bring together the leading institutions and organizations in North America to
discuss the linkages between environment and trade in the NAFTA context and to encourage
further analysis in light of the analytic framework developed by the CEC.
EJL24. Address Naval facilities in San Diego Port.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Clarice Gaylord, 619-235-4767
EPA Region 9, David Tomsovic, 415-744-1569
Response: EPA is enhancing its effort to communicate more closely with local communities
impacted by the Naval facilities in San Diego. Specifically, the San Diego Border Office has a
designated staff person to address environmental justice problems and the office is working with
groups like the Environmental Health Coalition to establish quarterly sessions with communities
and the agency. Additionally, Region 9's Federal Facilities staff is setting up regular meetings
with Navy and EPA staff to discuss and deal with local environmental issues such as
homeporting of nuclear carriers, air quality monitoring in Barrio Logan and other issues.
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HEALTH SESSION
HI. Pollution-toxics-health cure systems need to be examined.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903,
DHHS, Girnii Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: The focus of this question is not clear. We would appreciate clarification of its
intent.
H2. Need more epidemiological studies.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903,
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: Again, without the advantage of knowing the background for this request, it is
difficult to answer. However, we would point out that several efforts are underway on the border
to increase the epidemiology knowledge base for public health concerns. These include:
• Ten Against Tuberculosis
¦ Bi-national Infectious Disease Surveillance Project
• U.S.-Mexico Diabetes Project
It also should be noted that the majority of Federal agencies participating on the EHWG have
extramural grants programs with community-based components. Access to this information can
be obtained by going to the EHWG Home page and clicking on the icon for the agency of
interest.
In addition, the two Federal Health Agencies along with its State partners, the Pan American
Health Organization and the U.S.-Mexican Border Health Association have published "Sister
Communities Health Profiles, 1989-1991" and "Mortality Profiles of the Sister Communities on
the United States-Mexico Border", mortality statistics for the sister cities along the U.S.-Mexico
Border. The documents are available at a nominal fee from the U. S.-Mexico Border Health
Association in El Paso, Texas.
U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association
6006 N. Mesa, Suite 600
El Paso, Texas 79912
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H3. Need health-based (not economic-based) standards.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903,
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: The DHHS is preparing a response to this question.
H4. Support bi-national health registered.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903,
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: The DHHS is preparing a response to this question.
H5. Standardize data.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: The two Federal Health Agencies are working with the Pan American Health
Field Office in El Paso, Texas and the border states to standardize a set of health indicators. The
data set would provide yearly comparisons of health trends for the border.
H6. EPA offer guidance to cities on zoning.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Sara Russell, 415-744-1029
Response: Zoning laws that are in harmony with the environment and public health is
important to all communities. Zoning ordinances are created at the local level either by city
government or county government for unincorporated areas. As such, the federal government
does not have any authority in this area. We can, however, encourage cities to review their
zoning codes and make sure they are benefiting all the city's residents. We have seen many
instances where zoning has created an unfavorable situation by allowing industrial and
manufacturing companies to be located next to residents. EPA Region 9 has been working on an
Environmental Justice project in West Oakland, a neighborhood in the City of Oakland. The
City is currently reviewing their zoning laws to prevent this kind of development in the future.
The City has completed a summary of good examples of zoning laws from the City of Fresno
and the City of Portland. At the time of this writing, the City of Oakland is forwarding this
summaiy to EPA Region 9 but we do not have it at this moment. For a copy, please contact,
Sara Russell, EPA Region 9 at, (415) 744-1029 or email: russell.sara@epa.gov.
Several additional references may be useful to local communities. The American Planning
Association Publication: "Industrial Performance Standards for a New Century,"
Report #444, is a good guidebook on performance standards for new industrial companies.
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Another resource for zoning information throughout the U.S. is the Dept. of Energy's Excellence
in Sustainable Development Web site at: http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/landuse/lucodtoc.htm
In addition, EPA is co-sponsoring a Partners for Smart Growth Conference, Nov. 17-19 in San
Diego. The conference will cover many case studies of different types of smart growth projects
throughout the U.S.. For conference details please see the Urban Land Institute's Web site at:
http://www.uli.org
H7. Create EPA liaison position for environmental health
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: Under the Border XXI Program, Dr. Hal Zenick, EPA and Mr. Richard Walling,
HHS are the U.S. co-chairs for the Environmental Health Workgroup (EHWG). In addition,
EPA and HHS/CDC in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization Field Office in
El Paso, Texas have seconded Dr. Enrique Paz to facilitate border EHWG. There are strong ties
with the state border health offices and PAHO Field Office to provide this liaison function. The
U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association, also provides and excellent venue for environmental
health interaction. As one of the oldest membership organization on the border, its
environmental health conference group brings together federal, state and local on both sides of
the border to discuss issue of common interest.
Co-chairs of the EHWG:
Dr. Hal Zenick
National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory
Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Dr. Gustavo Oliaz Fernandez
Division of Environmental Health
Ministry of Health
Mariano Escobedo 366
Col. Anzures
Mexico, D.F. 11570
EHWG Web site: www.epa.gov/orsearth
PAHO Field Office Web site: www.fep paho.org
USMBHA Web site: www.usmbha.org
Mr. Richard Walling
Office of International and Refugee Health
Parklawn Building Room 18-74
Rockville, Maryland 20857
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H8. Translate materials into Spanish (community must identify needs).
Contact: EPA/OARM, Arturo Garcia-Costas, 202-260-4600
Response: EPA and INFOTERRA, has constructed a Spanish Language Publication Web
page. This page provides one-stop access to most of EPA's on-line Spanish documents. This
valuable site can be accessed at Home page: www, epa. eov/oia.
A focused effort among all Regions and OIA has not been made until recently; however, as a
direct result of the National Hispanic Stakeholder Consultation that was held prior to the NEJAC
Roundtable an informal discussion group was formed to discuss issues related to Spanish
translation on September 13,1999. This discussion group came up with four relatively broad
objectives to serve as a framework for future translation issues meetings that include:
• Initiate an institutional informal dialogue of translating EPA documents into Spanish;
• Focus on issues of how to translate existing EPA documents into Spanish and how to get future documents
translated;
• Discuss the translation protocol of what should be translated, what needs to be translated, and what would
EPA like to be able to translate. The translation of material would depend on resources, needs of the
community with documents of highest demand given priority, and the idea of what material sMiM be
translated in order to relate certain aspects of the agency to a broader audience; and
• Inventory existing EPA documents that need to be translated such as basic information and regulations and
what documents are already translated.
H9. Improve HAZTRAKS
Contact: EPA Region 9, Chris Reiner, 415-744-2096
Response: The Hazardous and Solid Waste Workgroup has made significant improvements
the HAZTRAKS system in the last 2 years. The Workgroup is now developing a new,
thoroughly revised version of HAZTRAKS. Due to contractual difficulties, this version will not
be complete this year as we had originally hoped, but will probably be released early in 2000.
In addition to improvements in HAZTRAKS, there have been a number of important advances
this year in relation to EPA and INE's ability to track cross-border movement of hazardous
waste. First, INE has developed their own hazardous waste tracking database, known by its
Spanish initials as SIRREP. SIRREP is compatible with the HAZTRAKS database and will
enable INE to track movement of hazardous waste, particularly waste from maquiladoras, with
much greater accuracy than in the past.
Second, this year EPA completed an in-depth analysis ofU.S. and Mexican data on hazardous
waste transport across the border, in order to resolve discrepancies in our data sets. In the past,
the U.S. and Mexican figures for how much hazardous waste moved across the border were quite
different, and there was not a clear explanation of this discrepancy. Our analysis has shown that
most of this discrepancy came from differences in how EPA and INE define hazardous waste,
and that a smaller portion of the discrepancy came from the ways our reporting systems worked.
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The introduction of SIRREP, as well as some changes to Mexico's reporting system, should
resolve these problems and essentially eliminate this discrepancy in our waste transport figures.
General information from HAZTRAKS is available on the HAZTRAKS Web site at
http://www.epa.g0v/earthlr6/6en/h/haztraks/ha2traks.htm. EPA and Mexico's National Institute
of Ecology have discussed making all of the information from HAZTRAKS public. It appears
that we will be able to do this, and that the information contained in the next version of
HAZTRAKS will be available to the public.
H10. Link Elected Officials.
Contact: San Diego Border Office, Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768
El Paso Border Office, Darrin Swartz-Larson, 915-533-7273
Response: The EPA border liaison offices will ensure that local elected officials are give
opportunities to participate in the development and implementation of the next phase of Border
XXI. The EPA border liaison offices will develop a strategy for their involvement that will
include inviting local elected officials to participate in meetings and discussions, providing
presentations and briefings for groups of local elected officials, and keeping local elected
officials informed during the development and implementation of the program.
EPA has begun a new outreach to local elected officials. In cooperation with SCERP, EPA has
launched a once a year 3-day seminar on Border 2020. The first conference was held in Rio
Rico Arizona in December 1998; a second conference is planned for the spring of2000. These
meetings are designed to bring together elected officials, Congressional leaders and community
activists to discuss economic and social development on the border. While the first meeting
failed to attract a significant number of elected officials, EPA is redoubling its efforts to attract
elected officials to the spring meeting. Proceedings of the first Rio Rico meeting are available
from SCERP in San Diego at scerp@mail sdsu.edu.
Hll. P2, low-cost technologies exchange.
Contact: EPA Region 6, Joy Campbell, 214-665-8036
Response: The U.S.-Mexico Pollution Prevention Workgroup's efforts have included
workshops which emphasize pollution prevention and energy efficiency techniques which are
cost effective to iminicipalities, universities and industry. The border states have worked to
address the issues in their geographical areas by providing conference workshops in different
media or industry sectors along the U.S.-Mexico Border taking into consideration resources and
needs. Under the Border XXIU. S.-Mexico Pollution Prevention Workgroup, the following
successes demonstrate our efforts in promoting pollution prevention concepts and technologies
exchange:
• In the maquiladora sector, TNRCC jointly with Mexico's Procuraduria Federal de
Proteccion al Ambiente (PROFEPA) have now completed a total of 21 site assistance
visits (SAVs). Figures to date indicate reported annual reductions of 8.6 tons of
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hazardous waste, 52,000 tons of nonhazardous waste, 31 million gallons water conserved
and 10.9 million kWhr of electrical energy conserved. Due to the above reductions, the
maquiladoras have reported annual savings of close to 8.4 million dollars.
• The AMIGO program has worked to bring Arizona and Mexico industries together to share
technologies that reduce waste and pollution and increase profits, worker safety and
environmental health. The focus has been to promote pollution prevention and improve
waste management practices among maquiladoras in the Arizona-Sonora border region
through a voluntary and non-regulatory partnership between government and industry.
Activities have included networking opportunities and technological and information
exchanges through facility tours, workshops and conferences.
• Industry specific workshops were also presented by DTSC including the Pollution
Prevention Workshop for Maquiladoras focusing on the Electronics Industry. The
pollution prevention workshop for the electronics industry was held in San Diego, on
May IS, 1997, and a companion workshop was presented on the Mexico side of the
Border on May 12,1998. The pollution prevention workshop for maquiladoras was held
in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
• Wastestream workshops were also developed and presented. Namely workshops which
focused on the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two workshops were
presented, on May 25,1999, in Mexicali, Baja California and June 22,1999 in Tijuana,
Baja California. Maquiladoras, academia, government, and consultants were represented
at the workshops.
• Meetings with various Mexican government officials, including representatives of
PROFEPA, have been held to discuss pollution prevention development and priorities in
an effort to promote pollution prevention practices.
H12. Create buffer zones.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Sara Russell, 415-744-1029
Response: Buffer Zones are a tools used by local communities to among other things, ensure
that there is adequate space between businesses and residents. Once again, while the federal
government has no role in promoting a specific type of zoning tool, showing examples from
other communities where this tool has been used may be useful in attracting attention from your
Planning Commissioners. The resources mentioned in question #H6, EPA offer guidance to
cities on zoning, may be able to help you with this specific tool.
H13. Ensure access to Mexico data.
Contact: EPA Region 9, Marie Mattel, 415-744-1639
EPA Region 9, David Berman, 415-744-2006
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Response; Access to timely and reliable information is vital if the public is to participate in
the environmental decision-making process in a meaningful way. Public access to information is
central to EPA's mission. Greater access to data from Mexico, as well as increased data
collection by the Mexican government, would be welcomed by EPA Core information
workgroup team members will continue to work with Mexico to address issues related to the
release and exchange of information. The subcommittee will encourage Border XXI workgroups
to design projects which have a strong component for public access to information. Access to
legal expertise related to the release of information s provided by members of the group. A
system which provides online access to Mexican laws will be presented at the El Paso Meeting in
November by the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Mexico will give a presentation on the
release of information. Greater tribal/state/industry stakeholder involvement continues to be
sought. It is expected that the subcommittee will continue to work in partnership with Mexico so
that the border community is well informed and has improved access to important environmental
information.
EPA is working to expand access to information through our partnership with Mexico and
Canada in the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The CEC work program
includes the North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register project, an effort strongly
supported by EPA. For 1999, $285,000 in funding for this effort was approved by the U.S.,
Mexico and Canada. The goal of the project is to ensure that citizens have access to accurate
information about the release and transfer of toxic chemicals from specific facilities into and
through their communities. The CEC released its latest report, entitled 'Taking Stock," earlier
this month. To date, Mexican data has not been included in the reports because Mexico has not
had a program in place to collect the data. In addition, Mexico's data collection efforts are
voluntaiy; industry is not required the submission of toxics release and transfer information.
With EPA support, the CEC has provided assistance to Mexico in setting up a data collection
program.
EPA and the U.S. government have been actively engaged with Mexico and Canada in
negotiating a Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TEIA) agreement. Under a
TELA agreement, each country would receive advance notice if certain types of projects were
expected to have an impact on the environment.
EPA and INE are in the final stages of negotiating a Consultative Mechanism for the Exchange
of Information on New and Existing Facilities for the Management of Hazardous and
Radioactive Wastes Within 100 Km of the U.S.-Mexico Border. This agreement will provide a
vehicle for sharing information on existing and proposed facilities that store, treat, and dispose of
hazardous wastes. Sharing this information bi-nationaQy, and working to make this information
as widely available as possible, will be very important in ensuring that hazardous waste facilities
in the border region are properly designed and permitted and subject to public scrutiny. We hope
to have a final agreement complete by the end of this year.
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H14. More effective use of Title VI.
Contact: Office of Civil Rights
Response: The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is in the process of revising the Interim
Guidance for Investigating Title VI Administrative Complaints Challenging Permits (Interim
Guidance) that was issued in February 1998. The Interim Guidance is internal guidance which
provides a framework for OCR's processing of complaints that allege discrimination in the
environmental permitting context filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
EPA's Efforts to Date to Ensure Stakeholder Input
•solicited public comment on the Interim Guidance (over 120 comments received);
•met with a number of stakeholder representatives including those from environmental justice groups,
mwim.tnififtSj industry, state and local governments, and the civil rights community to discuss their
concerns and views on issues associated with the Interim Guidance.
•established an advisory committee which provided additional information on the spectrum of committee
member perspectives on a number of issues under consideration in the Interim Guidance revision process.
EPA's Next Steps for Stakeholder Input & Strategy to Revise Internal Guidance
•continue to meet with individual stakeholder groups, such as the state and local government
representatives, environmental justice groups, and industry, to discuss issues of concern;
•hold facilitated focus group session with stakeholder group representatives to receive more feedback on
draft options under consideration for inclusion in the revised internal guidance;
•public draft, revised internal guidance in the Federal Register in September and accept comments for a 60-
day period;
•hold public listening sessions across the country during 60-day comment period;
•consider information collected during all these stakeholder forums will be considered in finalizing the
final version of the internal guidance; and
•continue interagency coordination through our work with the Department of Justice and the Council on
Environmental Quality.
H15. Contingency funds for community health clinics.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: Referred to Health Resources and Services Administration, Border Health Unit
for follow-up. Provisions for the allocation of funds for this purpose under the Migrant Health
Centers and Community Health Centers programs does not exist.
H16. Increase Funding for EJ grants.
Contact: EPA Region 6, Olivia Rodriguez Balandran, 214-665-7257
Response: In its 1992 report, Environmental Equity: Reducing Riskfor All Communities,
EPA found that minority and low-income populations may experience higher than average
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exposure to toxic pollutants than the general population. As a result, the Office of
Environmental Justice (OEJ) was established in 1992.
In June of 1993, OEJ was delegated granting authority to solicit, select, supervise and evaluate
environmental justice-related projects. Since 1994, more than 13 million dollars have been
awarded to 660 projects. While most EPA programs are experiencing budget constraints, the EJ
Small Grants program will attempt to maintain the same level of funding for Fiscal Year (FY)
2000 as it received in1999. $1,600,000 has beat requested for FY 2000 grants.
We encourage EJ stakeholders to also take advantage of other EPA financial assistance
opportunities such as the EJ Pollution Prevention Program, Environmental Education grants
programs, Brownfields Assessment Pilots, and the Sustainable Development Challenge Grant
Program. More detailed information, including a Region 6 point of contact, is included in the
Attached Chart #1.
H17. Increase use of promotores programs (including environmental health).
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: Referred to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Border
Health Unit for follow-up. It should be noted that HRSA and EPA will be announcing this Fall
the joint funding of a competitively awarded contract to support environmental health education
program for border health providers including promotores. The goal will be to improve
promotores ability to educate and support community members on preventive health measures.
H18, Create certification program for promotores.
Contact: EPA, George Goldstein, 919-541-4903
DHHS, Ginni Gidi, 301-443-4010
Response: Referred to the State Border Health Offices and Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) for Follow-up. For the past four years HRSA has funded the Border
Outreach Demonstration Contract which has trained nearly 1,000 people in communities in each
of the four border states, most of whom are promotores. However, certification of health
professionals and ancillary health personnel is normally a state function, and may vary from state
to state. The recently signed Texas House Bill #1864 will examine certification and
development of uniform curricula for promotores/community health workers, and the role they
can play in managed care.
H19. Identify exiting bilingual materials
Contact: EPA/OARM, Arturo Garcia-Costas, 202-260-4600
Response: EPA and INFOTERRA, has constructed a Spanish Language Publication Web
page. This page provides one-stop access to most of EPA"s on-line Spanish Hnraiiwatfa This
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valuable site can be accessed through the top level of Office of International Activities' (OIA)
homepage: www.epa.gov/oia.
A focused effort among all Regions and OIA has not been made until recently; however, as a
direct result of the National Hispanic Stakeholder Consultation that was held prior to the NEJAC
Roundtable an informal discussion group was formed to discuss issues related to Spanish
translation on September 13, 1999. This discussion group came up with four relatively broad
objectives to serve as a framework for future translation issues meetings that include:
Initiate an institutional informal dialogue of translating EPA documents into Spanish;
• Focus on issues of how to translate existing EPA documents into Spanish and how to get
future documents translated;
• Discuss the translation protocol of what should be translated, what needs to be translated,
and what would EPA like to be able to translate. The translation of material would depend on
resources, needs of the community with documents of highest demand given priority, and the idea
of what material should be translated in order to relate certain aspects of the agency to a broader
audience; and
• Inventory existing EPA documents that need to be translated such as basic information
and regulations and what documents are already translated.
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Appendix £ Maps of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
California-Bqja California Region
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Arizona-Sonora Region
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New Mexico-Texas-Chihuahua Region
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Texas-Tamaulipas Region
TEXAS
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Appendix F — Annotated Timeline of Selected Major Events of the U.S.-Mexico Border
History
1836: Texas becomes independent from Mexico.79
1846-1848: U.S. /Mexican War. Ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, while U.S. troops
occupied the Mexican capital. Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the U.S., while
recognizing the Rio Grande and western border of Texas as Political Border. U.S. pays Mexico
$15,000,000 in cash and assumes $3,250,000 more in U.S. citizen claims against Mexican
government.80
January 1885 - A Free Trade zone is established along the entire Mexico/U.S. border. A
business boom occurs in El Paso (Juarez).
1889: Creation of the International Boundary Commission (IBC). This consisted of a United
States section and a Mexico section. Among other things, the IBC was responsible for boundary
location issues arising from shifts in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo.
1904: The first border patrol is established to stop Asian workers from coming into the United
States through Mexico.83
1924: Congress officially establishes the United States Border Patrol on May 28,1924. As
manHafftri by this Act, the small border guard in the then Bureau of Immigration was reorganized
into the Border Patrol. The initial force of450 officers was given the responsibility of combating
illegal entries and the growing business of alien smuggling. The United States Border Patrol is
the mobile uniformed law enforcement arm of the INS.
1933: Mexican government promotes industrialization and economic development by
establishing free trade privileges in the region.
1942: Bracero Program, a precursor to the maquiladoras program: Agreement Respecting the
Temporary Migration of Migrant Agricultural Workers. To counteract WWII labor shortages,
the Program brought over 400,000 temporary Mexican workers to the US to work in agricultural
79 See The Texas Declaration of Independence, (March 2,1836).
80 See Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 9 Stat. 922, T.S. No. 207 (Feb. 2,1848).
81 See Jonathan C, Brown, "LABOR AND FREE TRADE IN LATIN AMERICA:THE HISTORICAL
EXPERIENCE " Institute of Latin American Studies University of Texas-Austin,
http://Ianic- utexas. edu/woiect/labor95/bwwn. html, (visited January 31,2002).
82 See 26 Stat 1512, The Water Treaty of February 3,1944 (TS 944,59 Stat. 1219) indefinitely extended the
Convention of 1889.
83 See The Border: History. http://ww.pbs.org/kEfesAhd3order/hifitotv/index htirii (visited January 31,2002).
M Immigration and Nationalization Service Online. http://www.ins.usdoi.gov/giaDhics/iiidex.htnL (Last Modified
01/28/2002).
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areas. The program ended in 1964, leaving hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers idle,
most in Mexico's border cities. "Braceros" was the term given to these workers.85
1944: Creation of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), which succeeded
the IBC, to address border water sanitation projects. The IBWC was responsible for the
planning^ construction, operation, and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants in the border
region. The IBWC is still in operation.86
1965: Mexico's President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz establishes a border industrialization plan,
Programa de Industrialization Fronteriza [Border Industrialization Program, BIP]. The primary
objective was to encourage industrialization in the northern regions of Mexico to address the
unemployment plaguing the area in connection with the end of the Braceros program. This was
done primarily through financial incentives for foreign investment in the maquiladoras industry.
Investors are able to capitalize on technological sophistication of U.S. and cheap labor in
Mexico.
1978: Memorandum of Understanding signed by Presidents Carter and Echeverria which
pledged to work towards better environmental cooperation.
1983: Signing of the Agreement Between the United States and the United Mexican States On
Cooperation for the Improvement of the Environment (La Paz agreement). Also established six
work groups: enforcement, water, hazardous waste, air, emergency response and planning, and
pollution prevention. One main stipulation was that all waste generated by maquiladoras using
US raw material inputs must be returned to the US.87
1986: Mexico Joins GATT.88
1990: Formation of the Integrated Border Environmental Plan for the United States- Mexico
Border Area (IBEP). Based on La Paz and known as the 'Border Plan,' this plan focused on
trade aspects of environmental problems in the border region, with one objective to realize
economic benefits from trade while protecting the environment. To this end the IBEP attempted
to improve enforcement of environmental laws, reduce pollution, increase cooperation, and
increase knowledge on issues.
85 See Maria Elena Bickcrton. Prospects F<>r 9 iteration Agreement with Mexico: Lessons From
Braccro Program. 79 Tex. L. Rev. 895, 906 (2001).
86 Treaty Between the United States of America and Mexico, 59 Stat 1219, Signed at Washington Fd>ruaiy
3, 1944.
87 See Elizabeth A Ellis. Bordering on Disaster: A New Attempt to Control the Transboundarv Effects of
MaqiiilaAwa Pollution. 30 Val. U. L. Rev. 621,636 (1996).
88 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 381.L.M. 1720 (1999). See also Dale Hathaway,
Allies Across the Border: Mexico's "Authentic Labor Front" and Global Solidarity iv, 2000.
159
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1992: US, Mexico and Canada conclude NAFTA, effective January 1, 1994.89
1993: NAFTA side agreements:
• Mexico, US & Canada enter the North American Agreement on Environmental
Cooperation (NAAEC), which creates the North American Commission for
Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The commission establishes a mer.haniatn to
adjudicate claims that one of NAFTA's signature countries failed to enforce its
environmental laws and seeks to increase information and public participation. It also
provides lots of information and seeks to increase local participation in environmental
issues.90
• Adoption of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America
and the Government of the United Mexican States Concerning the Establishment of a
Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) and a North American
Development Bank (NADBank). BECC and NADBank work together to provide money
to address border environmental infrastructure projects. BECC works with state and
local governments to identify appropriate environmental infrastructure projects, while
NADBank provides opportunity for public and private investors to invest in these
projects.91
1996: Under President Clinton's direction, U.S. Border Patrols are bolstered, sensors are
installed and 40 miles of 14-foot fence is built to deter the flow of illegal immigrants.92
1996: Finalization of a five-year plan to address environmental concerns along the border, the
Border XXI Program, setting goals for achieving sustainable development on the border in three
ways: increase in public participation in environmental policy making; encourage
decentralization of government management by strengthening state and local governments;
improving cooperation and communication among national, state and local agencies. A variety
of government agencies on both sides of the border are involved. The plan also allows creation
of nine topic-specific workgroups. At expiration of five-year plan, another five-year plan goes
into effect.93
89 See Canada-Mexico-United States: North America Free Trade Agreement, 32 ll.m. 1519 (1993)
90 See Canada-Mexicxj-United States: North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation 32
I.L.M. 1480 ( Sept 14,1993).
91 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican
States Concerning the Establishment nf n Rnvimrnnental r_no»*Tjrtiw rm.^. i * VT^v a •
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Appendix G List of International Subcommittee Members 1999-2002
CHAIR
Arnoldo Garcia
Development Director
Urban Habitat Program
2263 41st Avenue
Oakland, CA 94601
Phone: 415/561-3332
Fax: 415/561-3334
E-mail: apjarcia@igc.apc.org
Maria del Carmen libran
Department of Horticulture
University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
G.P.O. Box 5000 College Station
Mayaguez, PR 00681-5000
Phone: (787) 832-4040, x2088
Fax: (787)265-0860
E-mail: m libranfairumac.upr.clu.edu
Beth M. Hailstock
Cincinnati Department of Health
3101 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone: (513) 357-7206
Fax:(513)357-7290
E-mail: Beth.Hailstock@chdburn.rcc.org
Fernando Cuevas
Farm Labor Organizing Committee
326 East Maple Street
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: (407) 877-2949
Fax:(407)877-2949
A. Caroline Hotaling
Border Ecology Project
P.O. Drawer CP
Bisbee,AZ 85603
Phone: (520)432-7456
Fax: (520)432-7473
E-mail: bep@nrimenet. com
Alberto Saldtunando
International Indian Treaty Council
2390 Mission Street, Suite 301
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 641-4482
Fax: (415)641-1298
Albert P. Adams
Piquniq Management Corporation
8221 Summerset Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 522-9313
Fax: (907) 349-2814
Janet Phoenix
Public Health Programs
National Lead Information Center
1025 Connecticut Ave, N.W.
Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 974-2474
Fax: (202)659-1192
E-mail: phoenixi@nsc.org
Robert Holmes
The Community Center for Studies in Public Policy
Clark Atlanta University
James P. Brawley Drive at Fair Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Phone: (404) 880-8089
Fax: (404)880-8090
E-mail: scspp@cau.edu
Tseming Yang
Vermont Law School
Chelsea Street, Whitcomb House
South Royalton, VT 05068
Phone: 802/763-8303 ext 2344
Fax:(802)763-2663
E-mail: tvang@vermontlaw. edu
Designated Federal Official
Wendy Graham
Office of International Activities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW (MC 2670R)
Washington, EXT: 20460
Phone: (202) 564-6602
Fax: (202) 565-2408
E-mail: graham, •wendv@epamajl.epa. gov
161
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