Border  2012: Communications Task Force Fact Sheet
      Strategic communication is critical to a successful Border 2012
      Program  and ensuring effective and timely communications
      with the public, program partners, and other stakeholders is a
priority. To that end, the Borderwide Communications Task Force (BCTF)
was created at the first National Coordinators Meeting in Matamoros,
Tamaulipas, in December 2003, with participants from state, regional,
and U.S. and Mexican federal offices. Since then, the Task Force has
expanded to include additional stakeholders from the border region.

The goal  of the BCTF is to promote the Border 2012 Program by
maintaining a  strategy for timely and efficient internal and  external
communications. In  addition, the Task Force develops communication
tools and offers assistance with communications for events and outreach
activities as resources allow.

The BCTF's main goal for 2006-07 is to successfully implement the
Border 2012 Communications Strategies in  combination with  other
activities intended to enhance program communications at all levels.

For additional information on the BCTF, please visit the website at

http://www.epa.gov/border2012/communications.htm/

or contact the taskforce leaders:
United States: Albes Gaona
EPA's Office of International Affairs
Phone: 202 564-6253
E-mail: gaona.albes@epa.gov
Mexico: Iris Jimenez
SEMARNAT's Office of Statistics and Environmental Information
Phone: (5255) 5628-0854
E-mail: iris.jimenez@semarnat.gob.mx
"Strategic
 communication
 is critical to
 a successful
 Border 2012
 Program."
                                                                                Summer 2005

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Border  2012 Internal Communications Strategy
The Borderwide Communications Taskforce (BCTF) promotes the Border 2012 Program  by  coordinating
communications activities essential to the success of the program and to keep the public well informed.

Goal: The goal for internal Border 2012 Program communication (which includes Task Force members external
to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
(SEMARNAT) as well as State Agency  and Tribal counterparts) will be to involve all  interested parties  in
discussions on shaping the program, keeping everyone updated on development, and enabling the Border
2012 Program to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The strategy that follows provides  a template,  which identifies  internal  audiences  and  mechanisms  of
communication for effective "internal" communication among Border 2012 Program officials.
   Coordinating Groups
Opportunities for Communication
National Coordinators
         &
Co-Chairs and Other
Senior Federal Agency
Program Officials


Federal Team Leaders
         &
Program Partners from
EPA, SEMARNAT, States,
and Tribes

Regional Workgroups
         &
Border-Wide Workgroups
         &
Border-Wide Task Forces
         &
Regional/Local Task Forces
         &
Policy Forums
                                • Co-Chairs Meeting     \
                                • Distribution of
                                 Meeting Minutes
                                • Briefing Packages


                                • Monthly Program
                                 Conference Calls
                                • Regional Visits
                                • Attendance at Annual
                                 Workgroup/Forum/
                                 Task Force Meetings
                                • Annual Meetings
                                • Conference Calls
                                • Distribution of
                                 Minutes from All
                                 Conference Calls/
                                 Meetings
            J
                     National Coordinators Meeting
                     Teleconference Calls
                     Annual Communique
                     Annual Workplans/Reports
                     Biannual Implementation
                     Reports (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011)
                     Midterm Progress Report
                     (2007) and Final Report (2012)
                     Media Products (Press
                     Releases, Other)
                     Distribution of Minutes from All
                     Conference Calls/Meetings
                     Regional Newsletters
                     Border 2012 Program
                     Information Kit
                     Border 2012 Websites
                                                                                Summer 2005

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Border 2012 External  Communications Strategy
Goal: Ensure that Border 2012 Program "external" communications are well coordinated, effectively
managed, and responsive to the diverse information needs of the border community and other external
stakeholders.
Objectives:
• Provide border communities timely and accurate information about the Border 2012 Program.
• Announce public meetings and events at least 30 days in advance.
• Communicate in English and in Spanish.
• Identify and address communication needs.
• Consult with border communities and other external stakeholders when establishing priorities, developing
  policies, and planning programs and activities.
• Respond to information requests promptly.
• Ensure all Border 2012 Program partners work collaboratively to achieve effective communications with the
  border community and other external stakeholders.
• Convey results to the public and media on a timely basis.
• Provide briefings for congressional delegations and/or staff.

Potential Tools/Opportunities for Communication:
• Information Kit — newsletters, fact sheets and other EPA Border 2012 materials.
• Program  Directory — Contact listings for staff.
• Website:  Highlight Program results and high-profile events/activities (http://www.epa.gov/border2012/),
  materials available on the Border 2012 website: www.epa.gov/border2012/.
• Video-presentation for public outreach efforts.
• Media outreach to radio, TV, and press.
• Press releases on Border 2012 related events, announcements, grants, etc.
• Border 2012 Biannual Implementation Reports in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.
• Border 2012 Midterm Progress Report in 2007 and Final Report in 2012.
• Border 2012 National Coordinator Meeting (NCM) communiques.
• Federal Register Notices on Border 2012 related actions.
• Border 2012 related meetings that include: Taskforce, Workgroup,  and Policy Forum meetings.
• Other regional, national, and international meetings of partner organizations such as: Good Neighbor
  Environmental Board (GNEB), Ten-States, Bi-national Commission Meetings (BNC), Commission for
  Environmental Cooperation (CEC), Border Institutes, and Border Environment Cooperation Commission/
  North American Development (BankBECC/NADBank).
        Border Communities
       Media
       (Print and Electronic)
                 Academia
Public Sector,
Federal, State, and
Local Elected Officials
NGOs (Non-Governmental
Organizations)
Private Sector
                                                                                  Summer 2005

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Border 2012: U.S. — Mexico Environmental  Program
MISSION STATEMENT

As a result of the  partnership among federal, state and local,
governments in the United States and Mexico, and with U.S. border
tribes, the mission of the Border 2012 program is:

"To protect the environment and public health in the U.S.-Mexico
 border region,  consistent with  the principles of  sustainable
 development."
US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International Affairs
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Mail code 2650R
Washington, DC 20464
                                                                         Summer 2005

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