U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program: Border 2012
A Mid-Course Refinement (2008-2012)
EPA-909-R-08-003
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Letter from EPA and SEMARNAT National Coordinators
Dear Border Colleagues, Partners and Stakeholders:
During 2007 the Border Environmental Program,
U.S.-Mexico Border 2012, reached its 10-year mid-
point.
Since its signing, in 2003, we have made significant
progress in achieving the goals that our two coun-
tries adopted within the framework of Border 2012.
Examples of these achievements are reflected in the
Border 2012 Implementation and Mid-Term Report:
2007, presented at the Fourth National Coordinators
Meeting in May 2007.
As previously envisioned, the Border 2012 program
is a reflection of the border communities' needs
along the U.S.-Mexico border. In that sense, along
with your active engagement, we embarked in a
brief, but comprehensive program review (and re-
viewed each and every objective in the Border 2012
program). Through this brief process, and in coordi-
nation with the program partners, we sought more
aggressive commitments in cases where we have
reached our intended targets and we identified key
actions to fulfill those that we've yet to achieve; all
with the principal goal of protecting human health
and the environment for the border region.
After several months of hard work, we are pleased to
present this document which was developed based
on the critical needs identified and includes refine-
ments to the original objectives in Border 2012.
We anticipate that this work will become the new
framework that we'll use to continue developing
measurable actions and efforts in the shared border
between both countries.
As the National Program Coordinators, we reiter-
ate our continued support of all the work you are
doing and to continue close coordination with our
state and local government partners, as well as U.S.
Border Tribes and Mexican indigenous communities
and the public, as we anticipate the successful con-
clusion of the Border 2012 program.
We wish to thank all of you for your unconditional
support, invaluable comments and contributions
and we especially acknowledge the excellent work
of the Drafting Committee, whose dedication and
commitment made the creation of this document
possible.
Scott Fulton
Ma. Teresa Bandala Medina
National Coordinator, United States
®EPA
National Coordinator, Mexico
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To protect the environment and public health in the U.S.-
Mexico border region, consistent with the principles of
sustainable development.1
1 Sustainable development is defined as "conservation-oriented social and economic
development that emphasizes the protection and sustainable use of resources, while
addressing both current and future needs and present and future impacts of human actions."
Table of Contents
Introduction and Background
Goal #1: Reduce Water Contamination
Goal #2: Reduce Air Pollution
Goal #3: Reduce Land Contamination
Goal #4: Improve Environmental Health
6
7
Goal #5: Enhance Joint Readiness for Environmental
Response 12
Goal #6: Improve Environmental Performance Through
Compliance, Enforcement, Pollution Prevention,
and Promotion of Environmental Stewardship
Program Organization; Binational Partnerships
Contact Information; List of Acronyms
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Introduction and Background
_
Nogales Naco* ~~ - Pa|omas
BORDER REGION FACTS
10 States:
• California
• Baja California
• Arizona
• Sonora
• New Mexico
15 pairs of Sister Cities:
• Chihuahua
• Texas
• Coahuila
• Nuevo Leon
• Tamaulipas
• San Diego-Tijuana
• Calexico-Mexicali
• Yuma-San Luis
Colorado
• Nogales-Nogales
• Naco-Naco
• Douglas-Agua Prieta
• Columbus-Las
Palomas
• El Paso-Sunland
Park- Ciudad Juarez
• Presidio-Ojinaga
• Del Rio-Cuidad Acuna
• Eagle Pass-Piedras
Negras
• Laredo-Nuevo Laredo
• McAllen-Reynosa
• Weslaco-Rio Bravo
• Brownsville-
Matamoros
25 U.S. Counties
35 Mexican Municipalities
26 U.S. Federally recognized
Tribes
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Introduction and Background, cont.
Border 2012 Guiding Principles
The Border 2012 Program will continue to follow the
original Guiding Principles designed to support the
mission statement, ensure consistency among all
aspects of Border 2012, and continue successful
elements of previous border programs.
• Reduce the highest public health risks, and
preserve and restore the natural environment.
• Adopt a bottom-up approach for setting priori-
ties and making decisions through partnerships
with state, local and U.S. tribal governments.
• Address disproportionate environmental im-
pacts in border communities.
• Improve stakeholder participation and ensure
broad-based representation from the envi-
ronmental, public health, and other relevant
sectors.
• Foster transparency, public participation, and
open dialogue through provision of accessible,
accurate, and timely information.
• Strengthen capacity of local community resi-
dents and other stakeholders to manage envi-
ronmental and environmentally-related public
health issues.
• Achieve concrete, measurable results while
maintaining a long-term vision.
• Measure program progress through develop-
ment of environmental and public health-based
indicators.
The United States recognizes that U.S. tribes are
separate sovereign governments, and that equity
issues impacting tribal governments must be ad-
dressed in the United States on a government-to-
government basis.
Mexico recognizes the historical debt it has with its
indigenous peoples. Therefore, appropriate mea-
sures will be considered to address their specific
concerns, as well as to protect and preserve their
cultural integrity within the broader environmental
purposes of this program.
Introduction
For decades, the United States and Mexico have
enjoyed productive diplomatic and cooperative ef-
forts to protect the environment along the U.S.-
Mexico border. Various binational agreements have
been implemented over time to formalize our mutual
priorities and commitments to address critical prob-
lems facing communities on both sides of the bor-
der. Perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching of
these agreements is the most recent binational en-
vironmental framework known as the U.S.-Mexico
Environmental Program: Border 2012, which was
signed in April of 2003. The Border 2012 Program
was launched with the expectation that it would
bring about tangible and measurable environmen-
tal benefits to border communities. Its core mission
and guiding principles strongly support binational
efforts that actively engage communities and lo-
cal stakeholders and that encourage collaboration,
partnerships, and projects that result in sustainable
and tangible environmental benefits.
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Introduction and Background, cont.
Since its inception, the Border 2012 Program has
lived up to its intended mission and has facilitat-
ed impressive accomplishments and outcomes
along the border. The U.S.-Mexico Environmental
Program: Border 2012 Implementation and Mid-
Term Report: 2007 captures many of the key efforts
and accomplishments that have been achieved by
border communities, stakeholders, and partners.
Background
The U.S.-Mexico Border Region
The U.S.-Mexico Border Region (as defined in the La
Paz Agreement) is the 2,000-mile border between
the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico that ex-
tends 100km (62.5 miles) on either side of the U.S.-
Mexico border. Approximately 12.5 million people
call this region home (-90% of the population reside
within the 15 pairs of sister cities along the border).
Many of the sister city pairs share common water
sheds and air basins, are economically intercon-
nected and share strong familial and cultural ties,
making this geographic area a remarkably complex
and unique part of two sovereign nations.
The border region has experienced dramatic growth
over the past 30 years. In 2000, the estimated
population of the entire border region was 11.8 mil-
lion (currently about 12.5 million) and projections
indicate the population is expected to double by
the year 2020. Rapidly-growing metropolitan ar-
eas exist within the U.S.-Mexico border. While the
border region has seen tremendous growth, it has
not seen proportionate prosperity. This growth has
exceeded the existing infrastructure capabilities of
the region, leading to severe air quality problems,
inadequate sewage treatment and hazardous waste
infrastructure, reduced drinking water supplies, and
dramatic impacts to habitats and the biodiversity
they support.
To help Border 2012 improve its understanding of
border environmental and health conditions, the
National Coordinators created the Border Indicators
Task Force in 2003. The Task Force helps Border
2012 achieve concrete, measurable results and
measure its progress. Led by EPA and SEMARNAT
co-chairs, the Task Force has developed a Strategy
for Indicator Development and the inaugural State
of the Border Region 2005 indicators report. The
Task Force's co-chairs, coordinating body liaisons,
and other members work to improve existing border
indicators and inform Border 2012 decision-making.
These indicators help policymakers and the public
identify environmental and public health trends in
the border region and fulfill the mission of Border
2012.
Mid-Course Refinements
As envisioned by the initial Border 2012 Drafting
Committee, at the mid-point of this 10-year Program,
the program partners conducted an evaluation on
how well the program was performing and areas
where improvements or changes were needed to
better serve border communities. The evaluation
also considered new and/or emerging issues that
could be incorporated into the existing six Goals of
the Program. The purpose of this report is to cap-
ture and formalize these new areas of focus allow-
ing both countries to work together to accomplish
these efforts by the year 2012. As such, this report
summarizes the original 23 Objectives (under each
of the six Border 2012 Goals) and annotates the
new Sub-Objectives, based on the mid-term refine-
ment described above.
The program goals and objectives were revised
to reflect changing needs along the border and
to acknowledge emerging issues, based on input
from program partners and border communities
and stakeholders. The existing and new objectives
found in this document will guide future program im-
plementation under Border 2012 until the program
sunsets in the year 2012.
To accomplish its objectives—and these refined
sub-objectives—Border 2012 will remain orga-
nized based on coordinating bodies, with guidance
and oversight from EPA and SEMARNAT National
Coordinators. These coordinating bodies include
both border-wide workgroups and policy forums for
each Border 2012 goal, as well as regional work-
groups that more directly address environmental
and health conditions in the border region. Each
of these groups is led by co-chair representatives
from both the U.S. and Mexico. These coordinat-
ing bodies or the National Coordinators may create
binational, issue- or location-specific Task Forces
to address specific border environmental or health
issues.
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Introduction and Background, cont.
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Goal #1: Reduce Water Contamination
Inadequate sanitation and treatment facilities
in U.S.-Mexican border cities directly threat-
en the health and ecosystems of U.S. and
Mexican communities. In 1993, the Border
Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)
and the North American Development Bank
(NADBank) were created as a result of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
to support the planning, development and fi-
nancing of projects, including drinking water
supply and wastewater treatment, in the U.S.-
Mexico Border region.
As of January 2008, BECC has certified 72 wa-
ter and wastewater infrastructure projects for
a total cost of $2.25 billion. Funding has been
provided by the US-EPA, the Mexican Federal
Water Commission (CONAGUA), as well as lo-
cal, state, and international agencies. The pro-
gram is providing clean water to over 7 million
people on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Other funds provided through the Border 2012
program have been used to address non-point
source water pollution, monitoring and assess-
ment of shared transboundary waters, and
environmental education programs related to
water quality. Finally, the Border 2012 Water
Task Forces along the border provide a forum
in which local residents can meet with govern-
ment officials and academicians on both sides
of the border to share information and to col-
laborate on projects that improve water quality.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 1
By 2012, promote a 25 percent increase in the
number of homes connected to potable water
supply and wastewater collection and treatment
systems.
OBJECTIVE 2
By 2012, assess significant shared and trans-
boundary surface waters and achieve a majority
of water quality standards currently being ex-
ceeded in those waters.
OBJECTIVE 3
By 2006, implement a monitoring system for
evaluating coastal water quality at the interna-
tional border beaches. By the end of 2006, es-
tablish a 2012 objective toward meeting coastal
water quality standards of both countries.
OBJECTIVE 4
By 2005, promote the assessment of water
system conditions in 10 percent of the existing
water systems in the border cities to identify
opportunities for improvement in overall water
system efficiencies.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
REVISED
Sub-Objective 1A: Promote the
increase in the number of homes
connected to a potable water supply
beyond the original Border 2012
objective of 25%.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 1B: Promote the
increase in the number of homes con-
nected to wastewater collection and
treatment systems beyond the original
Border 2012 objective of 25%.
REVISED
Objective 2: Implement 4 projects that
improve water quality in transbound-
ary waters.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 3A: Strengthen com-
munication and coordination between
U.S. and Mexico on coastal water
quality monitoring and beach advi-
sory/closure protocols.
NOTES
It was estimated that 98,575 homes in the border region lacked access to safe drinking water in
2003. The original Border 2012 Objective was to reduce this number by 25% by 2012. By the end
of 2007, 23,726 homes were connected to safe drinking water, representing an achievement of
96% of the the original objective.
It was estimated that 690,723 homes in the border region lacked access to adequate wastewa-
ter sanitation in 2003. The original Border 2012 Objective was to reduce this number by 25%
by 2012. By the end of 2007, 106,675 homes were connected to a wastewater treatment plant,
which represents an achievement of 60% of the original objective.
Because many of the water quality problems result from non-point sources (sediment, trash,
agricultural and stornwater runoff, etc), and because the population growth in the border region
continues to add to those sources, the original objective was determined to be unachievable.
The U.S. has established protocols for beach monitoring and posting of beach closures when nec-
essary. The U.S. and Mexico will work together to ensure comparability in monitoring and posting
of beaches on both sides of the border.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act and related State regulations pertaining to inspection and per-
mitting, community water systems are evaluated at least once every three years.
In Mexico, the National Hydric Program 2007-2012 includes an indicator related to the increase of
80 water utilities in the country (including 5 in the border region, which represents more than 10%
of the border cities). Overall efficiency may be evaluated annually.
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Goal #2: Reduce Air Contamination
Pollutants from a number of sources including
motor vehicles, power plants, industrial facili-
ties, agricultural operations, mining, dust from
unpaved roads, and open burning of trash have
affected urban and regional air quality along
the U.S.-Mexico border. The most common
and damaging pollutants from these sources
include suspended particulate matter (PM-10
and PM-2.5), ground-level ozone, sulfur diox-
ide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.
Emerging issues include greenhouse gases,
emissions associated with the growing power
sector, increasing concern with diesel emis-
sions and health-based standards for ozone
and fine particulates.
Since 1985, the United States and Mexico
have collaborated to help safeguard the health
of border residents by protecting and improv-
ing border air quality. The two governments, in
partnership with border tribal, state, and local
governments, have worked collaboratively to
increase knowledge about pollution sources
and their impacts on both sides of the border,
establish monitoring networks in several key
areas, conduct emissions inventories, demon-
strate the benefits of retrofitting diesel vehicles,
and build local capacity through training.
Through these efforts, the two countries have
established a foundation for binational air qual-
ity planning and management programs. The
overall program goals are to:
• determine ambient concentrations of pollut-
ant emissions;
• assess contributing emission sources and
their relative impacts; and
• develop and implement cost-effective con-
trol strategies.
Although substantial gains have been made, air
quality is still a major concern throughout the
border region. The pressures associated with
industrial and population growth, the increase
in the number of old vehicles, differences in
governance and regulatory frameworks, and
topographic and meteorological conditions
combine to present a challenging context in
which to address air quality management.
These same factors also present many oppor-
tunities for binational cooperation.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 1
By 2012 or sooner, reduce air emissions as much as possible
toward attainment of respective national ambient air quality stan-
dards, and reduce exposure in the border region, as supported by
the following interim objectives:
Interim Objective 1
By 2003, define baseline and alternative scenarios for emissions
reductions along the border, and their impacts on air quality and
human exposure.
Interim Objective 2
By 2004, based on results from interim objective 1, define spe-
cific emission reductions strategies and air quality and exposure
objectives to be achieved by 2012.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
ORIGINAL SUB-OBJECTIVE:
ACCOMPLISHED
Mexico's National Emissions inventory
completed in 1999. Inventory is being
updated using improved methodolo-
gies and data from 2005.
Air Policy Forum will complete the
Border Air Quality Manage-ment
Strategy in 2008.
NEW: OBJECTIVE 2
By 2012, build border greenhouse gas (GHG) information capacity using
comparable methodologies and expand voluntary cost-effective programs for
reduction of GHG emissions in the border area:
• By 2010, estimate GHG emissions in at least eight border states, to identify the
sources and locations from which reductions may be achieved.
• Promote and/or expand voluntary energy efficiency and other GHG reduction pro-
grams (i.e., Methane to Markets, Smartway, others) in at least two border States, and
track the emissions reductions associated with those programs.
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Goal #3: Reduce Land Contamination
Annex III of the La Paz Agreement establish-
es the importance of cooperation between
the United States and Mexico on hazardous
waste and substances in the border region.
The Waste Policy Forum (WPF), in collabora-
tion with the Regional Workgroups, continues
to assess and address the border's hazardous
and solid waste problems and has made great
strides in reaching the objectives of Goal #3: To
Reduce Land Contamination. Sub-objectives
have been created to more clearly define the
tasks the WPF and Regional Workgroups plan
to implement before 2012.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 1
By 2004, identify needs and develop an
action plan to improve institutional and
infrastructure capacity for waste manage-
ment and pollution prevention as they
pertain to hazardous and solid waste and
toxic substances along the U.S. Mexico
border. Starting in 2005, the plan will be
implemented and conducted by 2012.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
REVISED
Sub-Objective 1A: By 2012, develop or identify capacity
building materials for source reduction, recycling and man-
agement of selected waste streams, for example: electron-
ics waste and spent lead acid batteries.
Sub-Objective 1A-a: By 2012, implement 2 capacity building
activities for selected waste streams.
Sub-Objective 1B: By 2012, develop or identify capacity
building materials for source reduction, recycling and man-
agement of municipal solid waste.
Sub-Objective 1 B-a: By 2012, implement 2 capacity building
activities for solid waste.
NOTES
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
The action plan to improve institutional and infrastructure capacity for waste
management and pollution prevention as they pertain to hazardous and
solid waste and toxic substances along the U.S. Mexico border has been
completed. It defines four areas of focus: selected waste streams, mu-
nicipal solid waste, tire pile prevention and hazardous waste management
capacity.
OBJECTIVE 2
By 2004, evaluate the hazardous waste
tracking system in the United States and
Mexico. During the year 2006, develop and
consolidate the link between both tracking
systems.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 2A: By 2010, pilot an electronic exchange
of export and import notice and consent data between
U.S. and Mexico databases with assistance from the
Commission for Environmental Cooperation. By 2012,
complete the electronic data exchange between EPA and
SEMARNAT databases.
The evaluation of hazardous waste tracking systems has been completed.
The U.S. and Mexico have completed a number of steps toward electronic
data exchange of exports and imports notice and consent data through
an initiative of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
Hazardous Waste Task Force.
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Goal #3: Reduce Land Contamination, cont.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 3
By 2010, clean up three of the largest sites that
contain abandoned waste tires in the U.S. Mexico
border region, based on policies and programs
developed in partnership with local governments.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
NEW
Sub-Objective 3A: By 2012, develop capacity building
materials for scrap tire pile prevention and scrap tire
management.
Sub-Objective 3B: By 2012, address recommenda-
tions from the 2006 U.S.-Mexico Border Scrap Tire
Integrated Management Initiative which defines the
principles and actions necessary for sustainable scrap
tire management, one of which is market development.
Sub-Objective 3C: When practicable, clean up small tire
piles, at least once in each of the four regional work-
group geographic areas.
NOTES
Two of the largest tire piles in the border region, Centinela and Innor, have
been cleaned up. Clean-up is under way at a third large site in the eastern
half of the border.
The new objectives will focus on scrap tire pile prevention and
management.
OBJECTIVE 4
By 2004, develop a binational policy of clean-up
and restoration resulting in the productive use of
abandoned sites contaminated with hazardous
waste or materials, along the length of the border,
in accordance with the laws of each country. By
2007, apply this policy at least once in each of
the four geographic regions.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 4A: By 2012, apply a binational frame-
work on clean-up/remediation and restoration of sites
contaminated with hazardous waste or materials at
least once in each of the four regional workgroup geo-
graphic areas.
One clean-up/remediation is near completion. The Waste Policy Forum
agreed that the term, "abandoned" created unexpected limitations on
achieving Objective 4 so the term has been removed.
A binational framework was deemed more relevant than a binational
policy.
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Goal #4: Improve Environmental Health
Protection of public health is a key element of
the Border 2012 program and it is an integral
part of all program activities. Border environ-
mental health efforts focus on reducing the
risk to border families, especially children, that
may result from exposure to air pollution, drink-
ing water contaminants, pesticides and other
toxic chemicals. If successful, there should be
improvements in border health such as reduc-
tions in air-related respiratory diseases, de-
creases in water-borne illnesses and markedly
fewer pesticide-related poisonings.
Environmental health efforts under Border
2012 improve capacity to conduct surveillance,
monitoring, and research on the relationship
between human health and environmental ex-
posures; deliver environmental health interven-
tion, prevention and educational services; and
enhance public awareness and understand-
ing of environmental exposure conditions and
health problems. Program activities focus on
strengthening data gathering (including the de-
velopment/application of indicators to assess
changes in specific human exposure and health
conditions), training and education to build in-
frastructure; and provision of critical informa-
tion to decision makers to achieve improved
environmental health in the border region.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 1: AIR
By 2006, evaluate various measures of respiratory
health in children that might be tracked to assess
changes that may result from actions to improve
air quality in border communities.
OBJECTIVE 2: WATER
By 2006, evaluate various measures of gastro-
intestinal illness that might be tracked to assess
changes that may result from actions to improve
water quality in border communities.
OBJECTIVE 3: PESTICIDES
OBJECTIVE 3A
By 2006, an assessment and pilot program will
be completed that explores the feasibility of har-
monizing a binational system for reporting acute
pesticide poisonings.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
NOTES
The EHWG will continue evaluating various respiratory health measures
in children that might be tracked to assess changes that may result from
actions to improve air quality in border communities.
In 2008 and 2009 COFEPRIS professionals will conduct an expert's
workshop with COFEPRIS epidemiologist and state epidemiologists,
along with colleagues from United States, to discuss relationships be-
tween air quality, asthma and IRAS.
The EHWG will continue evaluating various gastrointestinal illness
measures that might be tracked to assess changes that may result from
actions to improve water quality in border communities.
In 2009 the Environmental Health workgroup will organize a mini -sym-
posium with gastrointestinal sickness experts from CDC, SS, HHS, and
their counterpart in the United States in order to discuss relationships
and diagnoses of these illnesses.
COBBH and ISESALUD are currently implementing a project which
includes establishing a protocol and system for binational collabora-
tion on pesticide illness reporting. This project also involves piloting and
evaluating a binational pesticide Illness surveillance system.
10
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Goal #4: Improve Environmental Health, cont.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 3B
By 2007, reduce pesticide exposure by training
36,000 farm workers on pesticide risks and safe
handling, including ways to minimize exposure for
families and children.
OBJECTIVE 4: CAPACITY BUILDING
OBJECTIVE 4A
By 2006 establish a distance learning post gradu-
ate degree program to support advanced training
on environmental health in conjunction with Pan
American Health Organizational regional offices
and academic institutions.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
NEW
Sub-Objective 3B-a: By 2012, implement two pilot
projects to reduce exposure to surplus and obsolete
agricultural pesticides in border communities.
Sub-Objective 3B-b: By 2012, implement one pilot
project to change agricultural practices, resulting in the
increased use of less toxic pesticides.
Sub-Objective 3B-c: By 2012, implement one pilot
project to reduce exposure to household pesticides for
families in agricultural communities.
NOTES
OBJECTIVE 4B
By 2004, extend current efforts in binational
environmental health training for 100 health care
providers each for pesticides and water.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
36,000 farmers were trained on pesticide risks and safe handling.
Obsolete Pesticides are: Surplus pesticides that are no longer used
for their original purpose. Cancelled agricultural pesticides in the U.S. or
Mexico, or severely restricted for agricultural use.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
A distance learning post graduate degree program has been established
in Mexico.
Nationwide, 17 professionals obtained a Public Health Master Degree
through Mexico's INSP / COFEPRIS distance learning program.
Additionally more than 136 professionals obtained a Post-Graduate
diploma in sanitary risk assessment
The distance learning graduate degree program will continue offered
by Mexico's National Institute of Public Health, in coordination with the
Pan-American Health Organization and Indian Health Service Offices, to
leverage on existing U.S. institutions' distance learning programs such as
the University of Houston School of Public Health Graduate Program, in El
Paso, TX.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
100 health providers were trained along the Border.
11
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Goal #5: Enhance Joint Readiness for Environmental Response
(Revised Goal Title)
Annex II of the 1983 La Paz agreement estab-
lishes cooperative measures for preparing and
responding to oil and hazardous substance in-
cidents along the Mexico-United States (U.S.)
inland border. The La Paz Agreement also re-
quires a Joint Contingency Plan (JCP) which
was developed in 1988, signed in 1999 and
currently being reviewed. The Mexico-U.S. JCP
has provided the foundation for the 15 Sister
City Binational Emergency Response Plans that
have been developed over the last several years.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response
Border-Wide Workgroup (BWWG) was created
to coordinate and implement Border 2012's
Goal #5 and its three objectives.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response
workgroup is co-chaired by U.S. EPA's Office
of Emergency Management (OEM), Mexico's
Procuradurfa Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente
(PROFEPA-Office of the Federal Attorney
General for Environmental Protection), and
Secretaria de Gobernacion, Direccion General
de Proteccion Civil (Mexico's Office of Civil
Protection). The Joint Response Team (JRT),
another La Paz Agreement requirement, is also
co-chaired by Mexico's PROFEPA, Proteccion
Civil, and U.S. EPA's OEM. Additional JRT part-
ners include representatives from other U.S.
and Mexican federal agencies, including state,
Tribal and local offices responsible for emer-
gency prevention, preparedness, and response
in the border area. The BWWG essentially func-
tions as the steering committee of the Joint
Response Team (JRT).
Both countries have agreed to enhance Goal 5
and its objectives midway through the Border
2012 program because of recommendations by
the U.S.-Mexico regional, state, Tribal and local
emergency preparedness and response coun-
terparts during the last National Coordinators
and JRT meetings. EPA and PROFEPA agreed
to jointly strengthen emergency preparedness
and response capabilities at all management
levels based on the Border-wide workgroup
achievements to date.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
OBJECTIVE 1
By 2004, a chemical emergency advisory/notifica-
tion mechanism between Mexico and the United
States will be clearly established.
OBJECTIVE 2
By 2008, joint contingency plans for all 14 pairs of
sister cities will be in place and operating (includ-
ing exercises), with the establishment of binational
committees for chemical emergency prevention
(or similar border forums).
OBJECTIVE 3
By 2012, 50 percent of sister city joint contin-
gency plans will be supplemented with prepared-
ness and prevention related efforts, such as risk
and consequence analysis, risk reduction, and
counter-terrorism.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
REVISED
Sub-Objective 1A: By 2012, on an annual basis, con-
tinue to test and update the emergency notification
mechanism between Mexico and the United States.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 2A: By 2012, four sister city joint contin-
gency plans will be updated to include preparedness
and response activities of all hazardous incidents.
REVISED
Sub-Objective 3A: By 2012, 75% of sister city joint
contingency plans will be supplemented with pre-
paredness and prevention related efforts, such as
certified training, risk analysis, and capacity building.
NOTES
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
15 Sister City plans are in place.
EPA is evaluating the possibility of including other rural communities or
areas that are not located near any of the existing sister cities, such as
some Tribal Governments. This will ensure their participation in emergency
planning and preparedness as well as in emergency response activities.
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
50% of sister city plans were Supplemented with preparedness and pre-
vention related efforts.
The EPRWG will continue ongoing work at local and regional levels, will
provide national support to ensure greater consistency across the sister
city plans and will help coordinate regional support.
The Emergency and Preparedness Work Group agreed that the term,
"counter-terrorism" needed to be deleted due to jurisdictional limitations in
SEMARNAT.
12
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Goal #6: Improve Environmental Performance
through Compliance, Enforcement, Pollution Prevention, and Promotion of Environmental Stewardship
Prior enforcement coordination focused on co-
operation around specific enforcement cases
as well as targeted training and information-
sharing. Compliance assistance efforts con-
sisted of seminars, workshops, training and
dissemination of materials to help businesses
understand and comply with environmental
requirements. Pollution prevention efforts were
led by a workgroup and resulted in increased
exchange of information on technologies via
workshops and training and multiple voluntary
programs with measurable waste reductions
from individual participants. Ongoing border-
wide efforts will rely upon regional enforcement
task forces to continue these efforts to achieve
the following objectives:
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES
(2003)
^^^^^^^^^H
OBJECTIVE 1
By 2006, increase by 50% the number of industries
along the U.S.-Mexico border implementing voluntary
compliance and/or self-audits (such as the devel-
opment of an Environmental Management System
[EMS] or participation in voluntary assessment pro-
grams), using 2003 as a baseline year.
OBJECTIVE 2
By 2006, determine the pollution sources in the bor-
der area that present high risks to human health and
the environment that are subject to regulation and set
priorities for actions to lower the risk.
OBJECTIVE 3
By 2012 increase compliance in the priority areas de-
termined in Objective 2 by assessing and responding
to citizen complaints, compliance assistance, compli-
ance incentives, compliance monitoring, and enforce-
ment to reduce the risks from non-compliant facilities
and encourage voluntary pollution prevention.
NEW/REVISED OBJECTIVES
OR SUB-OBJECTIVES
REVISED
Sub-Objective 1A: Continue promoting adop-
tion of voluntary programs and pollution pre-
vention by industry and in other sectors in both
countries. Federal, state, and local initiatives
may include: Industria Limpia program and oth-
ers, and projects to green the supply chain.
REVISED
OBJECTIVE 2
By 2009, determine the pollution sources in
the border area that present risks to human
health and the environment that are subject to
regulation and set priorities for actions to lower
the risk.
REVISED
OBJECTIVE 3
By 2012 increase compliance in the priority
areas determined in Objective 2 by applying
regulatory and/or voluntary tools.
NOTES
ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE: ACCOMPLISHED
By 2006, participation in the voluntary compliance program, Industria Limpia,
was increased by 50% over the number certified in 2003. In addition 36 com-
panies were trained to develop and implement an EMS.
These are activities that will be done to accomplish the goal:
1) Conduct binational training to strengthen compliance assistance programs and
enforcement practices.
2) Increase capacity to conduct inspections at border crossing.
3) Assess and respond to citizen complaints.
4) Public reporting of the U.S. Toxics Release Inventory and Mexico's Pollutant
Release and Transfer Registry.
13
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Organized For Continued Success
EPA and SEMARNAT National Coordinators will continue providing guidance and oversight to the coordinating bodies under Border 2012: Regional
Workgroups, Border-wide Workgroups and Policy Forums, and to their respective Task Forces.*
National Coordinators
EPA
SEMARNAT
Regional Workgroups
California-Baja California
Arizona-Sonora
New Mexico-Texas-Chihuahua
Texas-Coahuila-Nuevo Leon-Tamaulipas
Border-wide Workgroups
Environmental Health
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance
Policy Fora
Air
Water
Hazardous and Solid Waste
Address specific regionally- and community-identified concerns by implementing site-specific projects
To further develop Border 2012's organizational structure, the co-chairs created the Border Indicators Task Force in 2003 to measure environmental conditions and program progress
by developing border environmental and performance indicators.
14
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Border 2012 Model of Binational Cooperation and Partnership
Campo Band of
Kumeyaay Indians
Tohono O'odham
Nation
PROFEPA
Mexico's Federal
Attorney General
for Environmental
Protection
Ewiiaapaayp Band of
Kumeyaay Indians
Mexico's Federal
Commission for the
Protection against
Sanitary Risks
Good Neighbor
Environmental Board
Mexico's National
Institute of Ecology
®
E C O S
CONAGUA
o(Mi«ton Indians
"The goals achieved by Border
2012 illustrate the commitment
of our two countries in fulfilling
the ongoing mission of promot-
ing environmental protection
and developing strategies of
cooperation that, with a local
and regional focus, promote
the development of sustainable
infrastructure in the border re-
gion. In this regard, the work of
the NADBank is complemented
and facilitated greatly."
North American
Development Bank
"The Border 2012 Program ad-
vances sound environmental
principles through financially-re-
sponsible financial investments
for environmental success...
Environmental conditions along
the U.S.-Mexico border are
a shared concern among all
states that benefit from inter-
national trade and economic
development between the U.S.
and Mexico...ECOS strongly
supports the Border 2012
Programs and the progress
it has made improving public
health and the environment in
the U.S.-Mexico Border region."
Environmental Council of
the States
"In 2001, the 10 Border States
drafted the initial framework
for what is now the U.S.-
Mexico Border Environmental
Program Border 2012. Since
then, in partnership with USEPA,
Mexico's Environment Ministry
(SEMARNAT), and the U.S. bor-
der Tribes, we have made tre-
mendous progress in accom-
plishing most of the goals and
objectives of the program."
10 Border States
"The National Water Commission
has made progress in one of its
fundamental goals: to provide
drinking water and sewage
services to a greater amount of
users located within the border
region, within a frame of interin-
stitutional cooperation, sustain-
able development and mutual
benefit for both countries. This
effort has been achieved thanks
to the support and coopera-
tion from the diverse govern-
mental institutions and tribes
from United States of America
and Mexico, involved in Border
2012."
Mexico's National Water
Commission
"Pa/a is committed to helping
bring clean water and improv-
ing the health of fellow tribal
members in Mexico, insuring
they're able to improve their
quality of life and better care
for their community members,
while continuing to live on their
ancestral lands."
Pa/a Band of
Mission Indians
"The Border 2012 U.S.-Mexico
Environmental Program has
proven to be a very effective
and well structured model for
supporting the implementa-
tion of sustainable solutions to
the environmental and health
problems facing the border
region, through the commit-
ted and direct involvement of
federal, state and local stake-
holders. For BECC, continuing
to support the implementation
of special projects identified
through the program remains a
high priority."
Border Environment
Cooperation Commission
15
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Contact List: United States
EPA OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
U.S. National Coordinator
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Telephone: 202-564-6600
Fax: 202-565-2407
Internet: www.epa.gov/international
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
Office of Border Environmental Protection
400 West Congress, Suite 433
Tucson, AZ 85701
Telephone: 520-628-6710
888-271-9302
Internet: www.azdeq.gov
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
Border Affairs Unit
1001 I Street, 25th Floor
Sacramento, CA95814
Telephone: 916-324-7316
Internet: www.calepa.ca.gov
NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT
1190 St. Francis Drive
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Telephone: 505-827-2176
Internet: www.nmenv.state.nm.us
TEXAS COMMISSION ON
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Division of Border Affairs
MC-121
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Telephone: 512-239-3606
Internet: www.tceq.state.tx.us
EPA REGION 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA94105
Telephone: 415-947-8021
Internet: www.epa.gov/region09
EPA SAN DIEGO BORDER OFFICE
610 West Ash Street, Suite 905
San Diego, CA92101
Telephone: 619-235-4765
EPA REGION 6
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
Telephone: 214-665-6787
Internet: www.epa.gov/region06
EPA EL PASO BORDER OFFICE
4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100
El Paso, TX 79902
Telephone: 915-533-7273
TRIBAL COORDINATORS
California Tribal Liaison
Nina Hapner
42143 Avenida Alvarado, Unit 2A
Temecula, CA 92590
Telephone: 951-296-5595
Email: tribalenvironmental@yahoo.com
Arizona Tribal Border Liaison
Tibaldo (Ty) Canez
609 E. Oxford Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283
Telephone: 480-820-1426
Email: tylcanez@msn.com
EPA Region 6 Tribal Liaison
Jonathan Hook
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
Telephone: 214-665-8069
Email: hook.jonathan@epa.gov
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Contact List: Mexico
UNIDAD COORDINADORA DE ASUNTOS
INTERNACIONALES DE SEMARNAT
Coordinador Nacional Mexico
Blvd. Adolfo Ruiz Cortinez 4209
Jardines en la Montana C.R 14210
Tlalpan, D.F.
Telefono: (55) 5628 3904
Fax: (55) 5628 0694
Internet: www.semarnat.gob.mx/presenciainter-
nacional/Pages/inicio.aspx
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Secretarfa de Proteccion al Ambiente
Telefono: (664) 624-2095
Fax: (664) 624-2096
Internet: www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/ecologia/
CHIHUAHUA
Direccion de Ecologfa
Telefono: (614)429-9346
Fax: (614)429-9346
Internet: www.chihuahua.gob.mx/sdue/
COAHUILA
Secretarfa de Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales
Telefono: (844) 412-5678 / 412-5622
Fax: (844)414-9213/410-5616
Internet: www.coahuila.gob.mx/semarnac/
NUEVO LEON
Agencia de Proteccion al Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales
Telefono: (81)2020-7400
Fax: (81)2020-7416
Internet: www.nl.gob.mx/?P=medio_ambiente
SONORA
Comision de Ecologfa y Desarrollo
Sustentable
Telefono: (662)213-1966
Fax: (662)213-1966
Internet: www.cedes.gob.mx/
TAMAULIPAS
Direccion General de Medio Ambiente
Telefono: (834)318-9450
Fax: (834) 318-9466
Internet: www.tamaulipas.gob.mx/gobierno/
secretarias/sec_obras/dir_med_amb/
DELEGACION SEMARNAT EN
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Telefono: (686) 904-4201
Fax: (686) 904-4230 / 904-4231
Email: delegado@bc.semarnat.gob.mx
DELEGACION SEMARNAT EN SONORA
Telefono: (662) 259-2701
Fax: (662) 259-27-05 / 259-2710 / 259-2739
Email: delegado@sonora.semarnat.gob.mx
DELAGACION DE SEMARNAT EN CHIHUAHUA
Telefono: (614)442-1501
Fax: (614)442-1536
Email: delegado@chihuahua.semarnat.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE SEMARNAT EN
NUEVO LEON
Telefono: (81)8369-890
Fax: (81)8369-8935
Email: delegado@nl.semarnat.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE SEMARNAT EN COAHUILA
Telefono: (844)411-8402
(844) 411 -8410/411 -8408 / 411 -8436
DELEGACION DE SEMARNAT EN TAMAULIPAS
Telefono: (834)318-5251
Fax: (834)318-5268
Email: delegado@tamaulipas.semarnat.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN BAJA
CALIFORNIA
Telefono: (686) 668-9266
Fax: (686) 668-9267
E-mail: besquer@profepa.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN SONORA
Telefono: (662) 217-5453 / (662) 217-5454
Fax: (662) 217-5459 ext. 3012
E-mail: emunro@profepa.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN CHIHUAHUA
Telefono: (656) 682-3990
Fax: (656) 640 2815
E-mail: szepeda@profepa.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN COAHUILA
Telefono y Fax: (844) 485-0981 al 84
E-mail: acarranza@profepa.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN NUEVO LEON
Telefono: (81) 8354-0309 / (81) 8355-5044
Fax: (81)8355-1094
E-mail: ftrevino@profepa.gob.mx
DELEGACION DE PROFEPA EN TAMAULIPAS
Telefono: (834) 312-2456 / (834) 312-8663
Fax: (834) 315-3830 ext. 102
E-mail: herodriguez@profepa.gob.mx
Fax:
Email:
delegado@coahuila.semarnat.gob.mx
17
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List of Acronyms
BECC
Border Environment Cooperation Commission
CEC
North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation
CONAGUA
Nacional Water Commission
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EMS
Environmental Management System
GNEB
Good Neighbor Environmental Board
HHS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
IB WC
International Boundary and Water Commission
NADB
North American Development Bank
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement
PROFEPA
Mexico's Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection
SCERP
Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy
SEMARNAT
Mexico's Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources
SS
Mexico's Secretariat of Health
18
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