S E IVff A Nf;N U A4, R~E P (||R T |.|O N
UNlPIo ifTATli-Mliilcdl B0tfDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
EPA 550-B-99-020
Sffjtember 1
-------
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 actual 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 third issue of the report
(January 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
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Contacts (and e-mail addresses):
Kim Jennings (JENNINCS.KIM@EPA.COV)
Sherry Fielding (FIELDINC.SHERRY@EPA.COV)
1
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
U.S. EPA AND STATE CONTACTS
U.S. EPA HEADQUARTERS
Kim Jennings
Sherry Fielding
U.S. EPA REGION 6
Fendol Chiles
214-665-2283
U.S. EPA REGION 9
Lauren Volpini
415-744-2333
NEW MEXICO
Max Johnson
505-476-9620
CALIFORNIA
Ricardo Martinez
916-227-4328
ARIZONA
Mike Foster
520-628-6711
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS
• • Rebekah Hoffacker, U.S. EPA Region 9
• • James Hunt, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
• • Don Plain, California Department of Toxic Substances and Control
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
DOCUMENTS OF INTEREST
• Border Information & Solutions Network monthly newsletter (since March 1998)
(available from the City of Brownsville)
• Brownsville-Matamoros Sister City Emergency Response Plan (May 1997)
(available from U.S. EPA Region 6)
• Clean Air Act Risk Management Plan manual in Spanish (1998; translation of
157-page English manual) (available on CD-ROM from U.S. EPA Region 6)
• Columbus-Puerto Palomas Sister City Emergency Response Plan (expected by
end of 1999) (available from U.S. EPA Region 6)
• Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Sister City Emergency Response Plan (March 1998)
(available from U.S. EPA Region 6)
• Fact Sheets for the Border XXI Workgroups (nine of the 13 fact sheets were
released in April 1999) (available from U.S. EPA Region 9)
• Imperial and San Diego Counties Pesticide Episode Response Plans (September
1998) (available from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation)
• Joint United States-Mexico Inland Contingency Plan (signed June 4, 1999)
(available from U.S. EPA Headquarters)
• Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Sister City Emergency Response Plan (December 1998)
(available from U.S. EPA Region 6)
• The North American Emergency Response Guidebook (1996; to be updated by
September 1999) (available in English, Spanish, and French from the U.S.
Department of Transportation)
• Personal Safety Plan: Chemical Emergencies (1998) (available from Corpus
Christi Nueces County LEPC)
• Recomendaciones a la Poblacion en Caso de Desastre (Recommendations for
the Public During an Emergency) (booklet, in Spanish) (available from Civil
Protection - Coahuila)
• Response Procedures for 45 Chemicals (November 1998) (available from Corpus
Christi Nueces County LEPC; available in Spanish in 1999)
• 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) (available fromU.S. EPA Headquarters and on the
web: http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/ip-bopr.htm)
• United States-Mexico Border Environmental Indicators 1997 (June 1998)
(available from U.S. EPA Region 9)
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
INTERNET SITES OF INTEREST
• • EPACEPPO — http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/
• • EPA Region 6 Border Program — http://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6bo/6bo.htm
• • EPA Region 9 Border XXI Program — http://www.epa.gov/usmexicoborder/
• • U.S. National Response Center — http://www.nrc.uscg.mil
• • Border EcoWeb by San Diego State University —
http://www.borderecoweb.sdsu.edu/
• • Border Environment Cooperation Commission — http://cocef.org/
• • Border Information & Solutions Network — http://www.bisn.org/
• • City of Brownsville, Texas — http://www.ci.brownsville.tx.us/
• • Corpus Christi Nueces County Local Emergency Planning Committee —
http://www.lepc.net/
• • Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission —
http://www. tnrcc.state.tx. us/
• • United States-Mexico Border Regional Environmental Information System —
http://epaserver.ciesin.org/usmbreis/USMBREIS-home.html
• • PROFEPA Environmental Emergencies in Mexico — http://www.profepa.gob.mx/
NEW PLANNING TOOL: BORDER ACTIVITIES
CALENDAR
CEPPO's web site contains an electronic calendar where any party involved in
planning or response to HAZMAT emergencies along the U.S.-Mexico border
can submit information on upcoming activities to be included in the calendar.
The web page contains self-explanatory pages and instructions, so that anyone
can introduce information about their planned activities. Such information will
be reviewed and posted by the Calendar Coordinator. Posting and reading
about activities on the electronic calendar is an easy and free way to expand the
potential audience for these activities or to stay informed of planned activities.
The calendar may be found at the following URL:
http://www.icf-infotech.com/epa/ceppo/jcpcaldr.nsf
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
STATUS OF SISTER CITY PLANS
Brownsville,Texas-
Matamoros,
Tamaulipas
Signed on May 6, 1997. Title: Cross Border Contingency Plan
— U.S./Mexico — Brownsville/ Matamoros.
Eagle Pass, Texas-
Pied ras Negras,
Coahuila
Signed on March 25, 1998. Title: Cross Border Contingency
Plan — U.S./Mexico — Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras.
Laredo, Texas-Nuevo
Laredo, Tamaulipas
Signed on December 21, 1998. Title: Cross Border
Contingency Plan — U.S./Mexico — Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.
McAllen, Texas-
Reynosa, Tamaulipas;
Del Rio, Texas-Ciudad
Acufia, Coahuila;
Presidio, Texas-
Ojinaga, Chihuahua; El
Paso, Texas-Ciudad
Juarez, Chihuahua
Work underway on several of these plans.
Columbus, New
Mexico-Puerto
Palomas, Chihuahua
Expected to be signed in 1999. Title: Cross Border
Contingency Plan — U.S./Mexico — Columbus/ Puerto
Palomas.
Douglas, Arizona-Agua
Prieta, Sonora
Binational letter of understanding to cooperate in case of
emergencies. Effective April 29, 1999.
Naco, Arizona-Naco,
Sonora
There is no binational Sister City Plan at present. (Naco,
Arizona, is an unincorporated townsite of Cochise County.)
Nogales, Arizona-
Nogales, Sonora
San Luis, Arizona-San
Luis Rfo Colorado,
Sonora
In Nogales, a binational Steering Committee was established.
The International City and County Manager's Association has
been assisting U.S. EPA in providing assistance to this Sister
City pair. The Plan's first draft was developed and used as a
starting point for Steering Committee discussions in July and
August 1999. A bilingual simultaneous translator was retained
to assist at meetings and for Plan development. A third draft
is under review.
In San Luis, a meeting with the Mayor, Fire Chief, LEPC, and
U.S. EPA resulted in a commitment to begin Plan
development. U.S. EPA has initiated research to gather
essential documents and data.
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
STATUS OF SISTER CITY PLANS (cont'd)
Calexico, California- Two mutual aid agreements have been developed: the first
Mexicali, Baja in September 1993, entitled City of Calexico-City of Mexicali
California Mutual Aid Agreement; the second in February 1996, entitled
United States/Mexico — Imperial County/Ayuntamiento de
Mexicali, B.C. —Emergency Services Mutual Aid Agreement.
San Diego, California- Communication plans exist for San Diego and Imperial
Tijuana, Ensenada, Counties in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.
Tecate, and Playas de
Rosarito, Baja
California
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT1 UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
Presented in Chronological Order (Presented by State in the Final Table)
February 17, 1998
Arizona. The State of Arizona completed a new State
Emergency Response & Recovery Plan which specifically
references the U.S.-Mexico Joint Contingency Plan and
makes notification of Mexico a responsibility of the Arizona
State On-Scene Coordinator when incidents that
threaten/impact Mexico occur within the border region.
March 29, 1998
Nogales, Arizona. Nogales Fire Department, Santa Cruz
County, and the Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality partnered with the Union Pacific Railroad to conduct
a functional night-time hazardous materials exercise that also
included a law enforcement element involving the illegal
transport of hazardous waste. Seventeen agencies were
involved, with over 120 people actively participating. The
drill was nearly full scale, with a staged collision between a
tractor-trailer and a train. The collision was presumed to
cause a fire and result in a plume of smoke (with unknown
components) crossing the border into Mexico, leaving victims
in its path on both sides. A Mexican Fire Department Engine
responded across the U.S. border to assist in tactical
operations. The exercise successfully tested emergency
response capacity and contingency plans on both sides of the
border, and identified a need to develop cross border
contingency plans that include both U.S. Customs and
Mexico Customs input, as well as a need for additional
communications, equipment and training resources.
1998
Nogales, Sonora/Arizona. The derailment of three tanker
cars in a heavy traffic area created a unique opportunity via
a request from Mexico's Proteccion Civil officials to the
Nogales Fire Department and Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality Southern Regional Office. The filled
tankers contained sulfuric acid, but there was no release.
The tankers were righted and salvaged without off-loading
and eventually continued to their destination in southwestern
Sonora. Continued production and increased volumes of
transport of sulfuric acid through the region by highway and
rail continue to create additional safety and response
concerns.
1Or not previously reported in an earlier update.
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
November 7,1998
Douglas, Arizona. A disaster exercise was conducted involving
23 agencies from both sides of the U.S./Mexico border and over
170 people. The nearly full scale exercise simulated a motor
vehicle accident involving a tour bus carrying 40 passengers
(simulated by 22) and a tractor-trailer carrying unknown chemicals.
The accident was staged at a location near a Department of
Corrections (DOC) facility and involved the release of an
unknown gas, requiring evacuation of the area, including the
DOC complex. The exercise successfully tested the response
and contingency capacity of three local elements: 1) Hazardous
Materials Response; 2) Mass Casualty Response; and 3)
Department of Corrections Evacuation Response. Numerous local
strengths and areas for improvement were identified.
January 1999
Washington, D.C. The United States-Mexico joint contingency
planning and emergency response activities calendar was
launched by U.S. EPA, which posted a calendar on its border
programs Internet webpage at http://
www.epa.gov.swercepplborder.html. This world-wide-web-based
electronic calendar may be used to publicize federal, state, and
local events and activities pertaining to chemical emergency
preparedness and response along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Anyone may submit their activities to the calendar.
February 2-4,1999
Las Vegas, Nevada. The U.S. EPA hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada
the annual meeting of the U.S. National Response Team and
Regional Response Team Co-Chairs. Participants included
representatives from U.S. Departments and Agencies including:
EPA (Headquarters and Regional staff), United States Coast Guard,
General Services Administration, Department of Energy, Centers
for Disease Control, National Response Team, Department of
Defense, Department of Health and Human Services/Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The annual meeting addressed HAZMAT emergency preparedness
and response issues and activities. Action items relevant to the
U.S.-Mexico border include: (1) continue to develop agreements
with Sister Cities; (2) mentor other countries in preparedness and
response; (3) incorporate specific agencies/ organizations for
certain bilateral issues; and (4) develop a strategy to increase the
NRT's international effectiveness.
8
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
March-June 1999
March 8, 1999
El Paso, Texas. Three of the four scheduled meetings of the Joint
U.S.-Mexico Response Team Workgroup on Public Outreach took
place in El Paso. The conclusions and results of these meetings
will be available after the series of four meetings concludes.
Tijuana, Baja California. Meeting and Tour of Tijuana Direccion
de Bomberos y Proteccion Civil (Fire and Civil Protection
Department). This meeting was initiated by Mexico's Proteccion
Civil to discuss opportunities for working bi-nationally on
emergency response and preparedness issues along the San
Diego/Tijuana border. The meeting was followed by a tour of the
facility, including Geographic Information Systems (CIS) and
tracking systems and equipment. Representatives from the State
of California and U.S. EPA were interviewed on Televisa Tijuana.
Participants agreed to establish ongoing communication on
emergency response issues related to the goals of the U.S.-Mexico
Joint Response Team (e.g., notification of release and emergency
response events, contact list updates, exchange of information on
training and capacity building).
March 8-11,1999
Seattle, Washington. The Biennial International Oil Spill
Conference (IOSC), focusing on the prevention, behavior, control,
and cleanup of oil spills, was hosted by U.S. EPA, U.S. Coast
Guard, American Petroleum Institute, International Petroleum
Industry Environmental Conservation Association, and the
International Maritime Organization. The 1999 IOSC included a
wide variety of activities to promote an international exchange of
information and ideas. Authors from approximately 20 countries
presented papers and posters on preventing and responding to
oil spills. In addition, 150 U.S. and foreign companies,
institutions, and government agencies exhibited oil industry
products, equipment, and services. The latest response
equipment and techniques were displayed during an on-water
demonstration. Participants also were able to attend courses on
oil spill response. The next IOSC will be held in Tampa, Florida
in 2001.
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
March 26-2 7, 1999
April 12,1999
Nuevo Laredo, Texas. On March 26-27 the Texas Association of
Hispanic Fire Fighters conducted the "Reaching 2000 Binational
Seminar," its first seminar in the border area. Participation was
diverse, including many public and private entities such as the
Latino Peace Officer Association, Emergency Management of
Texas, Partners of the Americas, DPS, the Texas State
Commission on Firefighter Standards, technical school students
from Nuevo Laredo, maquiladoras, and Proteccion Civil. Sessions
were held on the following topics: first on scene scenarios,
including an emphasis on crime scene preservation and terrorist
use of chemicals; traffic and crowd control; managing an incident;
triage tagging and decontamination of patients; remediation
concepts in HAZMAT incidents, and the Incident Command
System. Juan Carcfa, Houston Fire Department Rescue Captain,
provided an overview of an upcoming course in Structural
Firefighting to be held in Houston.
San Luis, Arizona. U.S. EPA held a Border XXI Open House to
inform the community of the National Coordinators Meeting to be
held in Ensenada, and of the importance of having active
community involvement. This activity was geared to local
governments and any interested community members. There
were 35 to 40 participants from the U.S. and Mexico. The
meeting was filmed, and will be included in the Border XXI video
being developed by U.S. EPA Region 9.
10
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
April 29, 1999
Cities of Calexico, California and Mexicali, Baja California.
These two cities held a bi-national, full-scale HAZMAT/mass
casualty exercise ("Operation Big Spill") conducted independently
but simultaneously in Calexico, CA and Mexicali, Baja California.
In Calexico, the exercise was conducted by the Imperial County
Fire Department, with the active participation of various
organizations including the California Department of Toxic
Substances and the Region 6 Local Emergency Planning
Committee. Since the exercise location was in close vicinity to
Yuma and San Luis, Arizona and San Luis Rio Colorado,
invitations were extended to the local fire departments in those
towns so that responders could observe and take back with them
information about planning future binational exercises.
Photo courtesy of Rebekah Hoffacker.
April 29, 1999
Douglas, Arizona and Agua Prieta, Sonora. The Mayor of
Douglas, Arizona and the Municipal President of Agua Prieta
signed letters indicating their intent to work together to develop
Sister City cross border contingency plans. This significant news
was presented by the HAZMAT coordinator of the Douglas Fire
Department at the Border XXI National Coordinators meeting
held in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. Efforts to continue
Sister City plan development have been supported by a U.S. EPA
grant.
11
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
May 11-14, 1999
Ensenada, Baja California. The U.S.-Mexico Border XXI National
Coordinators Meeting brought together representatives from
federal, state, and local governments. The workgroup for
Contingency Planning and Emergency Response developed the
following recommendations: (1) test notification procedures, (2)
encourage industry participation, (3) address the transport of
hazardous materials, (4) overcome training and equipment
shortages, and (5) include Y2K and counter-terrorism
presentations at the next U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Joint Response
Team meeting.
Full Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico
Border XXI National Coordinators.
Photo courtesy of Rebekah
Hoffacker.
JRT/Workgroup Meeting.
Photo Courtesy of Kim Jennings.
vv.
12
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
An award was presented to Fendol Chiles at the National Coordinators Meeting in Ensenada, Baja California o
May 1 1, 7999 for his dedication, leadership, and significant contributions towards implementation of the Region
6 Sister City plans under the U.S. -Mexico Border XXI Program Contingency Planning and Emergency Response
Workgroup. Photo courtesy of Kim Jennings.
May 20-21, 1999
Sacramento, California. Annual California/U.S. EPA Border
Retreat to discuss appropriate State partners and identify
opportunities for cross-Workgroup efforts.
May 24, 1999 Phoenix, Arizona. A Nogales Sister-City meeting was held in
coordination with the CAMEO® 99 Conference. U.S. EPA
provided U.S. and Mexican representatives from Nogales, Sonora
with Invitational Travel to participate. U.S. EPA took this
opportunity to hold a meeting with parties present from Nogales
to discuss establishing a binational Steering Committee for Sister
City Planning and determine next steps.
:'" *
Photo courtesy of Kim Jennings.
13
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
May 24-28, 1999
Phoenix, Arizona. CAMEO® 99 Conference. The CAMEO® 99
Conference included the first training in the use of the Spanish
version of CAMEO® . The training was hosted by U.S. EPA,
NOAA, and the Arizona Emergency Response Commission.
CAMEO® (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency
Operations) is a suite of programs for Windows and Macintosh
which includes chemical databases, an emergency management
program, MARPLOT (a mapping program), and ALOHA (an air
dispersion model). The conference included representatives from
the U.S., Mexico, Panama, and Argentina.
Photo courtesy of Kim Jennings.
1st half 1999 Nogales, Arizona. The HAZMAT Coordinator for the Douglas,
Arizona Fire Department participated in all Nogales planning
activities and the CAMEO® Spanish training in order to begin
Sister City planning in Douglas/Agua Prieta.
1st half 1999 Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa, Laredo/Nuevo
Laredo, Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras, and El Paso/Cuidad Juarez.
A contract has been awarded to develop an inventory database
of emergency response capabilities in these Sister Cities. This
inventory database will provide information on the emergency
response resources and assets of U.S. and Mexico municipal
government operations (e.g., fire, police, medical). This
information will be compatible with CAMEO® and in a format to
allow its incorporation into the electronic Area Contingency Plan
(ACP) and the Local Emergency Contingency Plans, which include
the Sister City Plans.
14
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
• 1st half 1999 Cochise County, Arizona. U.S. EPA settled an enforcement case,
under EPCRA/CERCLA Section 103, which included a
Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to benefit the local
community and emergency responders. As part of this
settlement, emergency response equipment was purchased for
the Cochise County LEPC and the Benson and Fry fire
departments to better respond to hazardous material releases.
• June 4,1999 United States and Mexico. The United States-Mexico Joint
Contingency Plan was formally signed by both nations on June 4,
1999.
June 29-30, 1999
Phoenix, Arizona. Annual State/Tribal/U.S. EPA Border Retreat.
Participants addressed enhanced cooperation and coordination,
identified potential projects, and addressed improved tribal
involvement in border programs. Participants exchanged
information, identified Workgroup goals; shared successes and
accomplishments; discussed challenges, barriers and failures to
implementing Workgroup goals; and identified opportunities to
address gaps. Those with interest in Emergency Response and
Contingency Planning (ER&CP) also met among themselves, and
there was general agreement to establish an ongoing U.S.
EPA/Arizona/Sonora ER & CP subgroup.
July 21, 1999 San Luis, Arizona/San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. A binational
HAZMAT Tabletop Exercise ("Cautious Reaction") was successfully
conducted. U.S. EPA helped to facilitate the exercise design,
conduct the exercise, and participate in the after action de-brief.
The exercise was conducted to evaluate cross border
communication and resources coordination of participating
agencies and their ability to support response to a major
HAZMAT emergency utilizing the incident command system.
August 10, 1999
August 23-25, 1999
San Diego, California. A mock exercise organized by the San
Diego County Agriculture Department, with the participation of
San Diego County Health Department and Tijuana Proteccion
Civil, was conducted to test the effectiveness of the lines of
communication established between California and Mexico
pertaining to the safe use of pesticides.
Eagle Pass, Texas. This was the first of the five Spanish CAMEO®
courses scheduled by U.S. EPA Region 6. The purpose of these
courses is to familiarize U.S. and Mexican local officials (e.g.,
medical, fire, police, emergency response personnel) with
information available through Spanish CAMEO.
15
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
PLANNED UNITED STAT ES-M EX I CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
All Activities are Tentative (Presented by State in the Final Table)
September 1999
Washington, D.C. English and Spanish versions of the
new Y2K compliant version of CAMEO® will be released
with additional information in the chemicals and response
information database. The new version of CAMEO® also
has enhanced data import and export capabilities.
September 29-30, 1999 Guanajuato, Gto. Mexico. PROFEPA will host the next
annual United States-Mexico Joint Response Team (JRT)
meeting on September 29-30, 1999. Potential topics to
be discussed at the meeting include national and
international issues related to joint contingency planning
and emergency response. Participants will include U.S.
and Mexican members of the JRT and stakeholders at the
Federal, State, and local levels of government, as well as
the industrial sector.
October 1999
October 1999
Late 1999
Cities of Nogales, San Luis, and Douglas. U.S. EPA
expects to approve three grant proposals that seek
assistance for Sister City plan development and
emergency response preparedness. The grants also
identify specific equipment to be lent to the key HAZMAT
planners and responders in Mexico so that
communication between the Cities can be improved and
exercised.
San Diego, CA. U.S. EPA expects to approve grant
assistance to Southwestern College of San Diego (in
cooperation with the San Diego Office of the California
Office of Emergency Services). The objective of this grant
is to allow concerned parties 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 availability of data for the
different software will also be considered in the
evaluations, and the willingness of industry to support the
system will be assessed.
Arizona. U.S. EPA has arranged for Superfund CORE
grant funding to the Arizona Department of
Environmental Quality to support their border planning
and response activities and arrange for HAZMAT training
for Sister Cities.
16
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
PLANNED UNITED STAT ES-M EXI CO BORDER
CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES (cont'd)
Late 1999
Calexico and Mexicali. The California Department of
Toxic Substances (DTS) and U.S. EPA are currently
discussing ways to facilitate a Sister City agreement
between Calexico and Mexicali. The specific role of DTS
will be to provide U.S. EPA Superfund CORE grant funds
to Calexico for the purchase of hazardous materials
emergency response equipment in order to increase
response capability in the area.
2nd half, 1999
Texas. EPA Region 6 has scheduled delivery of a Spanish
CAMEO® course in five Texas cities. The first course was
held August 23-25 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The remaining
cities in which the course will be taught are Brownsville,
McAllen, Laredo, and El Paso. Participants in these
courses include Bomberos, Proteccion Civil from Mexico,
local fire departments, police department personnel in
U.S. cities, and Local Emergency Planning Committee
members.
December 1999
San Diego, California. U.S. EPA Region 9 expects to
complete development of a video on the Border XXI
Program. The video will present an overview of the
Border XXI Program and discuss the decision-making
process used for the entire Border XXI Program,
highlighting the importance of public participation. The
video will be produced in English and Spanish, and will be
made available to communities in Arizona and California.
January 19-21,2000
San Francisco, California. U.S. EPA Region 9 is planning
to sponsor a Chemical Emergency Prevention and
Preparedness Conference involving U.S. and Mexican
border HAZMAT planners early in the year 2000.
April 4-6, 2000
St. Louis, Missouri. The HAZMAT 2000 spill
prevention conference will be sponsored by the U.S.
EPA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and
the National Response Team, among others. This
conference will bring together communities, industry,
states, and nations to examine existing policies and tools
that foster accident prevention, preparedness, and
response activities.
17
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STAT ES-M EXI CO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
Presented by State (Presented in Chronological Order in Previous Tables)
Texas
New Mexico
Recent Activities:
— Joint Response Team Outreach Meetings (El Paso; March-June,
1999)
— Reaching 2000 Binational Seminar (Nuevo Laredo; March 26-27,
1999)
— Spanish CAMEO course (Eagle Pass; August 23-25, 1999)
— Contract awarded to develop an inventory of emergency response
capabilities (Cities of Brownsville/Matamoros, McAllen/Reynosa,
Laredo/Nuevo Laredo, Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras, and El
Paso/Cuidad Juarez; 1 999)
Planned Activities:
— Four Spanish CAMEO courses (Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, and El
Paso; late 1999)
Recent Activities:
— None reported for this update.
Planned Activities:
— None reported.
California
Recent Activities:
— "Operation Big Spill" (Cities of Calexico, California and Mexicali,
Baja California; April 29, 1999)
— Annual California EPA Border Retreat (Sacramento; May 20-21,
1999)
— Mock pesticide exercise at San Diego County (San Diego; August
10,1999)
Planned Activities:
— U.S. EPA Super-fund CORE grant Workplan Development (TBD,
1999)
— U.S. EPA grant assistance to Southwestern College of San Diego
(expected October 1999)
— Development of plans to help facilitate the preparation of the sister
city agreement between Calexico and Mexicali (Calexico, California
and Mexicali, Baja California, 2nd half of 1999)
— Video on the Border XXI program (San Diego, December 1999)
— U.S. EPA Region 9 Chemical Emergency Prevention and
Preparedness Conference (San Francisco, California; January 19-21,
2000)
18
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STAT ES-M EXI CO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
(cont'd)
Arizona
Recent Activities:
— State Emergency Response & Recovery Plan (February 1 7, 1998)
— Binational Functional Night-time Hazardous Materials Exercise
(Nogales; March 29, 1 998)
— Derailment in Nogales, Mexico Provides Technical & Scientific
Support Opportunity (Nogales, 1998)
— Binational Functional Hazardous Materials Exercise (Douglas;
November/, 1998)
— Border XXI Open House (San Luis; April 12, 1 999)
— Douglas and Agua Prieta Executive Officials Sign Cross Border ER
Letters of Intent (April 29, 1999)
— Nogales Sister City Meeting (Phoenix; May 24, 1999)
— CAMEO® 99 Conference, which included training for Spanish
CAMEO® (Phoenix; May 24-28, 1999)
— Annual State/Tribal/U.S. EPA Border Retreat (Phoenix; June 29-30,
1999)
— Operation "Cautious Reaction" (San Luis; July 21, 1999)
— Douglas-Nogales sister city planning cooperation (Nogales; 1 ^ half of
1999)
— Enforcement settlement results in emergency planning equipment
(Cochise County, 1999)
Planned Activities:
— U.S. EPA Super-fund CORE grant Workplan Development (TBD,
1999)
— U.S. EPA grant to the City of Douglas (expected October 1999)
— U.S. EPA grant to the City of Nogales (expected October 1 999)
— U.S. EPA grant to the City of San Luis (expected October 1999)
19
-------
SEMIANNUAL REPORT ON UNITED STATES-MEXICO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
RECENT AND PLANNED UNITED STAT ES-M EXI CO
BORDER CONTINGENCY PLANNING ACTIVITIES
(cont'd)
• Events of Recent Activities:
Interest in — Launch of the United States-Mexico joint response activities
Other calendar (Washington, D.C.; January 1999)
Locations — Annual National Response Team and Regional Response Team Co-
Chairs (Las Vegas, Nevada; February 2-4, 1999)
— Meeting and tour of Tijuana Direccion de Bomberos y Proteccion
Civil (Tijuana, Baja California; March 8 ,1999)
— Biennial International Oil Spill Conference (Seattle, Washington;
March 8-11,1999)
— U.S.-Mexico Border XXI National Coordinators Meeting (May 11-14,
1999)
— Signing of the U.S.-Mexico Joint Contingency Plan (June 4, 1999)
Planned Activities:
— Distribution of Spanish CAMEO® (Washington, D.C.; September,
1999)
— Annual United States-Mexico Joint Response Team meeting
(Guanajuato, Mexico; September 29-30, 1999)
— HAZMAT 2000 Spills Prevention Conference (St. Louis, Missouri;
April 4-6, 1999)
20
------- |