RE
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON
UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
EPA 550-B-00-004
April 2000
Issue Number 5
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
INTRODUCTION
U.S. EPA's Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) provides
leadership, advocacy, and assistance to:
Prevent and prepare for hazardous material (HazMat) emergencies;
Respond to environmental crises; and
Inform the public about chemical hazards in their community.
To protect human health and the environment, CEPPO develops, implements, and
coordinates regulatory and non-regulatory programs. The Office carries out this work in
partnership with regions, domestic and international organizations in the public and
private sectors, and the general public.
The purpose of the Semiannual Report on United States-Mexico Border Contingency
Planning Activities is to consolidate information on United States-Mexico border joint
response and contingency planning from U.S. EPA Regions, border states, and Sister
Cities in order to promote the exchange of information and coordination among these
groups. The types of activities presented in this report range from joint response planning
meetings and meetings to develop Sister City plans, to joint response exercises and
training courses, to actual HazMat and environmental emergencies.
Each of the U.S. EPA Regions, U.S. states, and other organizations along the United
States-Mexico border were contacted for information on recent and future border
contingency activities. The information gathered for the fourth issue of the report
(September 1999) served as the baseline for this update. Updates are published twice
a year.
PUBLISHED BY
U.S. EPA
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20460
Contacts (and e-mail addresses):
Kim Jennings (JENNINGS.KIM@EPA.GOV)
Sherry Fielding (FIELDING.SHERRY@EPA.GOV)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
U.S. EPA AND STATE CONTACTS
U.S. EPA HEADQUARTERS
Kim Jennings
202-260-5046
Sherry Fielding
202-260-6174
U.S. EPA REGION 6
Fendol Chiles
214-665-2283
U.S. EPA REGION 9
Lauren Volpini
415-744-2333
TEXAS
Tom Milwee
512-424-2443
NEW MEXICO
Max Johnson
505-476-9620
CALIFORNIA
Jim Hunt
619-525-4289
Ricardo Martinez
916-227-4328
ARIZONA
Placido Dos Santos
520-628-6744
Mike Foster
520-628-6711
ISSUE NUMBERS CONTRIBUTORS
Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6
Mario J. Davilla, Deputy Chief, McAllen, Texas Fire Department
Michael Foster, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Rebecka Hoffacker, U.S. EPA Region 9 Border Office
Luis Padilla, Chief, Nogales, Arizona Fire Department
Lauren Volpini, U.S. EPA Region 9
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
DOCUMENTS OF INTEREST
Binational Prevention and Emergency Response Plan between Nogales, Arizona and
Nogales, Sonora (March 2000) (bilingual copies available from the U.S. EPA Region
9 Border Office, Tel.# (619) 235-4777)
Binational Prevention and Emergency Response Plan between San Luis, Arizona and
San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora (February 2000) (bilingual copies available from U.S.
EPA Region 9 Border Office, Jel.# (619) 235-4771)
"Border Visions" a 50-minute, bilingual education video about Border XXI
(December 1999). For information about viewing or obtaining a copy, contact the
U.S. EPA Region 9 Border Office, Tel.# (619) 235-4771.
Brownsville-Matamoros Sister City Emergency Response Plan (May 1997) (available
from Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6, Tel.# (214) 665-2283)
Clean Air Act Risk Management Plan manual in Spanish (1998; translation of 157-
page English manual) (available on CD-ROM from Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6,
Tel.#(214) 665-2283)
Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Sister City Emergency Response Plan (March 1998)
(available from Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6, Tel.# (214) 665-2283)
Emergency Response Guidebook 2000 (available in English and Spanish from the
U.S. Department of Transportation through the Government Printing Office
(http://bookstore.gpo.gov) and through your state coordinator for emergency response
organizations (http://Hazmat.dot.gov/gydebook.htm)
Fact Sheets for the Border XXI Workgroups (available from U.S. EPA Region 9 Border
Office, Tel.# (619) 235-4771)
Imperial and San Diego Counties Pesticide Episode Response Plans (September
1998) (available from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Tel.# (760)
339-4314)
Joint United States-Mexico Inland Contingency Plan (signed June 4, 1999) (available
in English and Spanish, from Kim Jennings, U.S. EPA Headquarters, Tel.# (202) 260-
5046)
Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Sister City Emergency Response Plan (December 1998)
(available from Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6, Tel.# (214) 665-2283)
McAllen-Reynosa Sister City Emergency Response Plan (February 2000) (available
from Fendol Chiles, U.S. EPA Region 6, Tel.# (214) 665-2283)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
DOCUMENTS OF INTEREST (cont'd)
Personal Safety Plan: Chemical Emergencies (1998) (available from Corpus Christ;
Nueces County LEPC, Tel.# (361) 880-3960)
Response Procedures for 45 Chemicals (November 1998) (available from Corpus
Chhsti Nueces County LEPC, Tel.# (361) 860-3960)
Semiannual Report on United States-Mexico Border Contingency Planning Activities
(Issue Number 1, February 1998; Issue Number 2, August 1998; Issue Number 3,
January 1999; Issue Number 4, September 1999) (available from Kim Jennings, U.S.
EPA Headquarters, Tel.# (202) 260-5046 and on the web at
http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/ip-bopr.htm)
United States-Mexico Border Environmental Indicators 1997 (June 1998) (available
from Kim Jennings, U.S. EPA Headquarters, Tel.# (202) 260-5046 and on the web
at http://www.epa.sov/ceppo/ip-bopr.htm)
INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST
EPA CEPPO http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/
EPA Region 6 Border Program http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6bo/6bo.htm
EPA Region 9 Border XXI Program http://www.epa.gov/usmexicoborder/
U.S. National Response Center http.7/vvwvv.nrc.uscg.mil
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality http.7/vvwvv.adeq.state.az.us
Border EcoWeb by San Diego State University
http://www.borderecoweb.sdsu.edu
Border Environment Cooperation Commission http .7/vvwvv. cocef.org/Border
Border Information & Solutions Network http .7/vvwvv. bisn. org/
City of Brownsville, Texas h ttp .7/vvwvv. ci. browns ville. tx. us/
Corpus Christi Nueces County Local Emergency Planning Committee
http .7/vvwvv. lepc. net/
Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission
http: //www. tnrcc.state, tx. us/
PROFEPA Environmental Emergencies in Mexico http://www.profepa.gob.mx/
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
STATUS OF SISTER CITY PLANS
Brown sville,Texas-
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Signed on May 6, 1997. Title: Cross Border Contingency Plan -
U.S./Mexico Brownsville/Matamoros.
Eagle Pass, Texas-
Piedras Negras,
Coahuila
Signed on March 25,1998. Title: Cross Border Contingency Plan,
U.S./Mexico Sister Cities, Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras.
Laredo, Texas-Nuevo
Laredo, Tamaulipas
Signed on December 21, 1998. Title: Cross Border Contingency
Plan, U.S./Mexico Sister Cities, Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.
McAllen, Texas-
Reynosa, Tamaulipas
Del Rio, Texas-Ciudad
Acuna, Coahuila;
Presidio, Texas-Ojinaga,
Chihuahua
Signed on February 19, 2000. Title: Cross Border Contingency
Plan, U.S./Mexico Sister Cities, McAllen/Reynosa. (Seepages 72-
13)
Development of these two plans is underway.
El Paso, Texas-Ciudad
Juarez, Chihuahua.
This plan is in draft stage and should be finalized in 2000.
This plan is finalized and awaiting signatures from the appropriate
parties.
Columbus, New
Mexico-Puerto Las
Palomas, Chihuahua
Douglas, Arizona-Agua
Prieta, Sonora
Naco, Arizona-Naco,
Sonora
Nogales, Arizona-
Nogales, Sonora
San Luis, Arizona-San
Luis Rfo Colorado,
Sonora
Binational letter of understanding to cooperate in case of
emergencies. Effective April 29, 1999. Currently, there are no
formal efforts underway to develop a Sister City Plan.
Currently, there are no formal efforts underway to develop a Sister
City Plan. (Naco, Arizona is not a City, it is an unincorporated
townsite of Cochise County).
Signed on March 1 7, 2000. Title: Binational Prevention and
Emergency Response Plan between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales,
Sonora (See pages 13-14).
Signed on February 25, 2000. Title: Binational Prevention and
Emergency Response Plan between San Luis, Arizona and San Luis
Rio Colorado, Sonora (See page 11).
Calexico, California-
Mexicali, Baja California
San Diego, California-
Tijuana, Ensenada,
Tecate, and Playas de
Rosarito, Baja California
A mutual aid agreement was signed in September 1993, entitled
City of Calexico-City of Mexicali Mutual Aid Agreement. An
Agreement was developed between Imperial County, California
and Ayuntamiento de Mexicali, Baja California in June 1999,
entitled Emergency Services Mutual Aid Agreement; it is awaiting
signature. Currently there are no formal efforts to develop a Sister
City Plan.
Communication plans exist for San Diego and Imperial Counties
in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. Currently,
there are no formal efforts underway to develop a Sister City Plan.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT1 UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
Presented in Chronological Order (Presented by State in the Final Table)
September 29-30, 1999
Guanajuato, Gto. Mexico. Mexico's PROFEPA hosted the
annual United States-Mexico Joint Response Team (JRT) meeting
on September 29-30, 1999. At the meeting, the foil owing topics
were discussed:
1) Changes to Annex II of the La Paz Agreement;
2) Status of Sister City Plans;
3) Evaluation of Joint Contingency Plan notification procedures;
4) Exercises at the U.S./Mexico border;
5) CAMEO distribution and training;
6) JRT outreach efforts;
7) Environmental Indicators;
8) Y2K issues; and
9) Designation of San Luis, AZ as the Sister City of San Luis Rio
Colorado, Sonora
Sixty-eight individuals representing both U.S. and Mexican JRT
members; federal, state, and local levels of government; and
various industrial sectors participated in the meeting. To obtain
a meeting summary report, please contact Kim Jennings of U.S.
EPA.
Participants engaged in a panel discussion
during the Annual JRT meeting in
Guanajuato. (Photo courtesy of Kim
Jennings.)
1Or not previously reported in an earlier update.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
Participants in JRT meeting in Guanajuato pose for a picture in front of the meeting facility.
(Photo courtesy of Kim Jennings.)
September 30, 1999
September 30, 1999
Nogales, San Luis, and Douglas, Arizona. U.S. EPA Region 9
awarded three grants to increase emergency response
preparedness in these three Arizona Sister Cities. The grants
also allowed for loans of specific equipment to their emergency
response counterparts in Sonora so that communications
between cities could be exercised and improved.
San Diego, California. U.S. EPA Region 9 awarded a grant to
the Southwestern College of San Diego (in cooperation with
the California Office of Emergency Services). The objective of
this grant was to allow response personnel on both sides of the
border to evaluate available software and hardware for
conducting real-time risk assessment for chemical spills and for
planning purposes. The evaluations will consider the availability
of data for the different software packages, as well as the
willingness of industry to support each system.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
October 20-21, 1999 San Luis Potosi, Mexico. U.S. EPA Region 6 Superfund
specialists attended a conference in San Luis Potosi, Mexico,
where they presented papers on (1) the development of
Emergency Response Contracts for responses to incidents that
pose "imminent and substantial danger" to U.S./Mexico border
communities, and (2) the development of Sister Cities plans
along the U.S./Mexico border. These papers focused primarily
on the transportation regulations that effect the flow of traffic
into and from Mexico. In addition, Enrique Ortiz presented a
paper on how the Spanish language version of CAMEO could
be applied to industry and planning committees.
August-December 1999 Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo and El Paso, Texas. U.S. EPA
Region 6 personnel provided Spanish language CAMEO courses
to local officials (e.g., medical, fire, police, and emergency
response personnel) from both U.S. and Mexican border
communities. Local officials were instructed on how to use the
Spanish language version of CAMEO, and were shown what
type of information was available through the database.
December 1999
December 1999
December 1999
Las Cruces and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. A commodity
flow study was completed for the Las Cruces-Santa Teresa
border crossing. The information in the study is being used by
local officials for contingency and emergency planning.
Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa, Laredo/Nuevo
Laredo. An inventory of emergency response capabilities in
each of these Sister City pairs began in December. The
inventories, scheduled to be completed by September 2000,
will provide valuable information on present response
capabilities and future needs.
Eagle Pass, Texas. U.S. EPA Region 6 issued a grant to Eagle
Pass, Texas so the city could offer hazardous material training
to Tribal leaders and residents from the Kickapoo Indian
Reservation and surrounding area. In addition, the grant
provided for the reconditioning and delivery of a used fire truck
to Tribal leaders for use within the Reservation.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED S T AT E S - M E X I C O BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
December 1999
December 1999
December 1999
December 15-16, 1999
January 19-21, 2000
February 25, 2000
San Diego, California. "Border Visions," a 50-minute, bilingual
education video funded by U.S. EPA Region 9 and produced by
the non-profit organization ARTScorpsLA, was completed. The
video is being widely distributed to inform, educate, and
increase awareness among the general public about the Border
XXI Program and its activities. Highlights of specific Border XXI
projects are also presented.
Calexico, California. U.S. EPA Region 9 provided funding to
the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DISC)
to purchase needed HazMat emergency response equipment
and training for the City of Calexico.
Arizona. U.S. EPA Region 9 provided funding to the Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality to support their border
planning and response activities and sponsor a 160-hour
HazMat Technician training course for emergency responders.
Arizona and Sonora Sister City representatives will participate.
Harlingen, Texas. U.S. EPA Region 6 Superfund specialists
organized and attended a two-day meeting to discuss how local
emergency planning committees can impact a community's
contingency and emergency response plan. Local officials from
Brownsville and McAllen, Texas were also present at the
meeting.
San Francisco, California. U.S. EPA Region 9 sponsored its first
regional Chemical Emergency Prevention and Preparedness
Conference, hosting over 150 federal, state, local, and Tribal
government participants. A half-day session was devoted to
California and Arizona border issues.
San Luis, Arizona/San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. The Mayors
of Ambos San Luis signed the Binational Prevention and
Emergency Response Plan between San Luis, Arizona and San
Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. See page 11 for full coverage of
this signing.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
February 29, 2000
March 13-14, 2000
March 17, 2000
April 4, 2000
McAllen, Texas/Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The mayors of both
McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Tamaulipas signed the Cross
Border Contingency Plan, U.S./Mexico Sister Cities,
McAllen/Reynosa. See page 12-13 for full coverage of this
signing.
Las Cruces, New Mexico. U.S. EPA Region 6 Superfund
specialists organized and attended a two-day meeting to discuss
how local emergency planning committees can impact a
community's contingency and emergency response plan.
Discussions focused on the border crossings in New Mexico,
including the crossing in the City of Santa Teresa.
Nogales, Arizona/Nogales, Sonora. The mayors of Ambos
Nogales signed the 6;national Prevention and Emergency
Response Plan between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora.
See pages 13-14 for full coverage of this signing.
Nogales, Arizona. With the recent signing of their Sister City
plan, and the decision to establish a binational emergency
planning committee, first-of-a-kind discussions were held
between the Nogales Fire Department and the Maquilla
Association of Sonora. Topics included industry/fire department
mutual aid, training, sharing of equipment, and the joint
purchase of a mobile response unit for Nogales, Sonora. The
Nogales, Arizona Fire Department was presented with two
special cooling undergarments for use with Level A & B suits.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
THREE SISTER CITY PLANS SIGNED SO FAR IN 2000
BINATIONAL PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
BETWEEN SAN LUIS, ARIZONA AND SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO,
SONORA SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 25, 2000
In a formal ceremony held at the San Luis Port of Entry, local, state, and federal officials from the
U.S. and Mexico helped these Sister Cities celebrate the signing of an Understanding of
Cooperation for preparedness for and response to environmental emergencies. The
Understanding and the accompanying Plan improve the ability of these U.S.-Mexico Sister Cities
to jointly prevent and respond to emergencies involving fire, chemicals, or hazardous materials
that may impact the border area and its residents.
The plan was developed over several
months by Chief Arturo Miranda and
Assistant Chief Othon Luna of the San Luis
Fire Department; Lauren Volpini and
Michael Mann from U.S. EPA Region 9; I
Mike Foster of the Arizona Department of I
Environmental Quality (ADEQ); and
representatives from the Municipal and
State Proteccion Civil in Mexico, PROFEPA,
U.S. and Mexican Customs and I
Immigration, and other state and federal
agencies. The Plan includes information on
MT0UL CDNTINGtNU-
SiH LUIS B.C. SOU. M
Ing. Florencio Diaz Armetea, Presidente Municipal, San Luis Rio
Colorado, Sonora, Mexico (L) and Alex Joe Harper, Mayor, San
Luis, Arizona, USA sign the Binational Prevention and Emergency
Response Plan. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Voipini.)
Mayor Joe Harper (signing) and Presidente Municipal
Florencio Diaz sign the Binational Plan while Felicia
Marcus, Regional Administrator, US EPA Region 9, Carlos
Kitazawa, Director General, Proteccion Civil, Estato de
Sonora, Jorge Morchachis, Delegado Estatal PROFEPA and
others applaud. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Volpini.)
fixed facility and transportation risks,
sensitive populations and vulnerable areas,
risk reduction opportunities and
recommendations, emergency response
operations and resources, and maps and
directories.
In addition to signing the Plan, the Mayors
also created a Binational Emergency
Planning Committee (BEPC). The BEPC will
not only implement the Plan, but also will
be a forum to maintain and improve bi-
national relations and work with the
community, industry and public officials.
The BEPC is expected to conduct an annual
binational exercise to evaluate and improve
the coordination of the Plan.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
THREE SISTER CITY PLANS SIGNED SO FAR IN 2000
CROSS BORDER CONTINGENCY PLAN - U.S./MEXICO - McALLEN,
TEXAS, AND REYNOSA, TAMAULIPAS SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 29, 2000
On February 29, 2000, the mayors and city leaders of McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Tamaulipas
attended an historic signing ceremony at the McAllen-Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge
spanning the Rio Grande River. At 10:00 am, the two mayors signed a document entitled Cross
Border Contingency Plan, U.S./Mexico Sister Cities, McAllen/Reynosa. The Plan increases the level
of cooperation through formal channels of communication, methods of operation, and joint
planning procedures. The Plan stipulates that U.S. firefighters operating in Mexico under the Plan
will be recognized as performing official duty under Texas statutes. These statutes trigger a section
of the Texas constitution that provides survivors' benefits for Texas firefighters working in an
official capacity. In addition, the Plan includes the ability to access federal resources from either
country to assist in mitigating emergencies that threaten either side of the border. The result is
increased safety for citizens and emergency responders. Fire officials from both communities will
organize an international exercise that tests the major elements of the Plan during the summer
of 2000; the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency will be called upon to provide
direction.
McAllen is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, where population growth has been
among the highest in the country. Reynosa, founded in 1 749, has also experienced a population
and economic surge. For additional details regarding the McAllen/Reynosa Sister City Plan,
contact Mario Davilla, Deputy Chief, McAllen Fire Department at (956) 972-7515.
Seen here at the boundary marker on the
McAllen/Reynosa International Bridge during the
Sister City Plan signing, are Presidente Municipal
Humberto Valdez Richaud, Reynosa, Tamaulipas
(Mexico) and Mayor Leo Montalvo, McAllen, Texas
(USA). (Photo courtesy of Mario Davilla.)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
THREE SISTER CITY PLANS SIGNED SO FAR IN 2000
Seen here at boundary marker during the McAHen/Reynosa Sister City Plan signing are McAHen Firefighter Joe Vargas,
McAllen Driver Ventura Carza, Reynosa Comandante (Proteccion Civil) Marco Antonio Martinez Alvarado, Reynosa
Presidente Municipal Humberto Valdez Richaud, McAllen Mayor Leo Montalvo, Reynosa Comandante (Bomberos)
Joel Ibanez Salinas, McAllen Lieutenant Amado Cano, and McAllen Captain Ricardo Martinez. (Photo courtesy of
Mario Davilla.)
BINATIONAL PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
BETWEEN NOGALES, ARIZON And NOGALES, SONORA SIGNED ON
MARCH 1 7, 2000
The signing of the first Binational Prevention
and Emergency Response Plan between the
border cities of Nogales, Arizona and
Nogales, Sonora, Mexico was celebrated at
the Nogales Point of Entry. The plan
improves the ability of these U.S.-Mexico
Sister Cities to jointly prevent and respond
to emergencies involving fire, chemicals, or
hazardous materials which may affect the
border environment and its residents.
The plan was developed over several
months by Chief Luis Padilla and Jesus
Gomez of the Nogales Fire Department;
Lino Vega, Nogales LEPC Coordinator;
Lauren Volpini from U.S. EPA Region 9;
Mike Foster from Arizona DEQ; and
representatives from PROFEPA, Municipal
and State Offices of Proteccion Civil, and
U.S. and Mexican Customs and Immigration.
A pledge of allegiance opens the Ceremony to sign the
Ambos Nogales Binational Prevention and Emergency
Response Plan. Joining Mayor Cesar Rios and
Wenceslao Coto Montoya, Presidente Municipal are
Carlos Kitazawa, Director Cerneal, Proteccion Civil,
Estado de Sonora, Jorge Morachis, Delegado Estatal
PROFEPA, Michael Feeley, U.S. EPA Region 9, Michael
Austin, AZ DEQ, and other key U.S. and Mexican
officials. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Volpini.)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
An important feature of the agreement was the establishment of a "Border Emergency Planning
Committee." This Committee was formed to implement, review, improve, revise, and exercise
the Plan.
The Plan is further distinguished by the participation of the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Army
at Fort Huachuca who came forward to pledge his assistance in the event of a hazardous material
or other emergency where local resources are not sufficient to contain or mitigate the incident.
The Plan contains Fort Huachuca's emergency contacts, and types of assistance that may be made
available to the Nogales, Arizona Incident Commander in such an event.
FLAM BINAilQNAL QE COMTINCCHCUW
BIHATIONAL CQNTIMSENCY PLAH
NUCAt
IUKCI ,r oo
1 FS SON
'tint 17 »BL W
The Fire Chiefs from the other Arizona Sister Cities
came to Nogales to help Chief Padilla celebrate
the Plan signing: From L to R: Arturo Miranda -
San Luis, Frank Garcia - Douglas, Gerry Fberwein -
Naco, and Fuis Padilla - Nogales. (Photo courtesy
of Mike Foster.)
On the occasion of the Plan signing, the City of Nogales presented the City of Nogales, Sonora
with a variety of emergency response equipment, including a restored fire engine, ambulance,
SCBAs, hand-held radios, turnout gear, firehose and personal alert safety devices.
Mayor Rios presented the City of Nogales, Sonora with a restored Fire truck and other emergency response
equipment. (Photo courtesy of Mike Foster)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
UPCOMING US-MEXICO BORDER CONTI NG ENCY
PLANNING ACTIVITIES
(All Activities are Tentative - Presented by State in the Final Table)
April 2000 El Paso/Ciudad Juarez. Based on feedback from the Mayor of El
Paso, U.S. EPA Region 6 expects that the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Sister
City Plan will be signed in April 2000.
April 2000 Brownsville, Texas. U.S. EPA Region 6 will be offering CAMEO
(English language version) courses in Brownsville. Emergency
responders and other local officials will be attending.
April 19, 200 San Diego, California. EPA Region 9 will participate in a Binational
Table Top Exercise sponsored by the city of San Diego. The scenario
will focus on an act of terrorism involving hazardous materials.
May 2000 McAllen, Texas. U.S. EPA Region 6 will be offering CAMEO (English
language version) courses in McAllen. Emergency responders and
other local officials will be attending.
June 2000 Brownsville/Matamoros. U.S. EPA Region 6, in conjunction with
Brownsville and Matamoros emergency response organizations, is
planning to conduct international hazardous material spill response
exercises in June 2000.
June 2000 Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa, Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.
The ongoing inventory of emergency response capabilities in each of
these Sister City pairs will be completed in June. The inventories will
provide valuable information regarding present emergency response
capabilities and future needs.
June 2000
Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora. U.S. EPA Region 9 will
initiate bi-national planning discussions with city officials, PROFEPA
and Proteccfon Civil in the State of Baja California, Mexico.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
UPCOMING US-MEXICO BORDER CONTINGENCY
PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont.)
June 21, 2000 San Diego, CA. U.S. EPA Region 9 will convene the first California
Border Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Task force
Meeting. Public officials from the State of California, Tribal Nations,
Calexico, San Diego and U.S. Department of Defense with
jurisdiction in the border area, will be asked to participate.
September 2000 McAllen/Reynosa. U.S. EPA Region 6, in conjunction with McAllen
and Reynosa emergency response organizations, is planning to
conduct international hazardous material spill response exercises in
September 2000.
September 2000 Arizona or California (location to be determined). Annual U.S.-
Mexico Joint Response Team meeting. Discussion topics to be
determined.TBD 2000Arizona. Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality will use U.S. EPA Region 9 grant funding to
provide a HazMat technician training program for Arizona and
Sonora Sister Cities.
TBD 2000 Calexico, CA. California DTSC will use U.S. EPA Region 9 grant
funding to purchase equipment and provide training for the City
of Calexico.
TBD 2000 Arizona. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will use U.S.
EPA Region 9 grant funding to provide a HazMat technician training
program for Arizona and Sonora Sister Cities.
TBD 2000 Nogales, Arizona. Nogales Fire Department will sponsor a HazMat
technician training program for Ambos Nogales on nights and
weekends.
2nd Half 2000 Laredo/Nuevo Laredo. U.S. EPA Region 9 with Laredo and Nuevo
Laredo emergency response organizations, is planning to conduct
international hazardous material spill response exercises in the
second half of 2000.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
Presented by State (Presented in Chronological Order in Previous Tables)
Texas
New Mexico
Recent Activities:
Spanish language version CAMEO courses offered (Brownsville,
McAllen, Laredo, and El Paso; August- December 1999)
Inventory of emergency response capabilities initiated
(Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa, and Laredo/Nuevo Laredo;
December 1999)
Grant issued to Eagle Pass for HazMat training for the Kickapoo Indian
Reservation and for the renovation of a fire truck (December 1999)
Conference on role of LEPCs in the development of a community's
emergency response plan (Harlingen; December 15-16, 1999)
Signing of the Cross Border Contingency Plan, U.S./Mexico Sister Cites,
McAllen/Reynosa (February 25, 2000)
Planned Activities:
Signing of the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Sister City plan (April 2000)
CAMEO (English language version) courses (Brownsville; April 2000)
CAMEO (English language version) courses (McAllen; May 2000)
International hazardous material spill response exercises in
Brownsville/Matamoros (June 2000)
Completion of emergency response capabilities inventory for
Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa, and Laredo/Nuevo Laredo
(June 2000)
International hazardous material spill response
McAllen/Reynosa (September 2000)
International hazardous material spill response
Laredo/Nuevo Laredo (2nd Half 2000)
exercises in
exercises in
Recent Activities:
Completion of a commodity flow study for the Las Cruces-Santa Teresa
border crossing (December 1999)
Conference on role of LEPCs in the development of a community's
emergency response plan (Las Cruces; March 13-14, 2000)
Planned Activities:
None reported.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
(cont'd)
California
Recent Activities:
Grant awarded to Southwestern College of San Diego to evaluate
available software and hardware for conducting real-time assessments
for chemical spills and for planning purposes (San Diego; September
30,1999)
Completion of "Border Visions" educational video (San Diego,
December 1999)
Funding provided to the California DTSC to purchase HazMat response
equipment and to provide certified HazMat technician training for the
city of Calexico (December 1999)
Chemical Emergency Prevention and Preparedness Conference (San
Francisco; January 19-21, 2000)
Planned Activities:
U.S. EPA Region 9 will participate in Binational Table Top Exercise
focusing on an act of terrorism involving hazardous materials (San
Diego; April 19, 2000)
U.S. EPA Region 9 to convene the first California Contingency Planning
and Emergency Response Border Task force Meeting (San Diego, June
21,2000)
California DTSC to purchase equipment and provide certified HazMat
Technician training for the City of Calexico (TBD, 2000)
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
(cont'd)
Arizona
Recent Activities:
Three grants awarded to the cities of Nogales, San Luis, and Douglas to
increase emergency response preparedness (September 30, 1999)
Approval of funding for Arizona DEQ to support border planning and
to provide HazMat technician training for each of Arizona's and
Sonera's Sister Cities (December 1999)
Signing of the Binational Prevention and Emergency Response Plan
between San Luis Arizona and San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora (February
25, 2000)
Signing of the Binational Prevention and Emergency Response Plan
between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora (March 1 7, 2000)
Discussions between the Nogales Fire Department and the Maquilla
Association of Nogales, Sonora to address industry/fire department
mutual aid, training, sharing of equipment, and joint purchase of a
mobile response unit for Nogales, Sonora (April 4, 2000).
Planned Activities:
U.S. EPA Region 9 will initiate binational planning discussions with city
officials from Douglas, Arizona, Agua Prieta, Sonora, PROFEPA and
Proteccfon Civil in the State of Baja California, Mexico (June 2000)
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality HazMat training for
several Arizona and Sonora Sister Cities (TBD, 2000)
Nogales, Arizona to sponsor HazMat technician training for Ambos
Nogales on nights and weekends (TBD, 2000)
Events of Interest
in Other Locations
Recent Activities:
Annual United-States-Mexico Joint Response Team meeting in
Guanajuato, Mexico (September 29-30,1999)
Conference on Emergency Response Contracts for responses to
incidents along the U.S./Mexico border. (San Luis Potosi, Mexico;
October 20-21, 1999)
Planned Activities:
Annual U.S.-Mexico Joint Response Team meeting (September, 2000
- location TBD)
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