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Tabie of Contents:
El Paso Border Office Regional
Restructure	1
Managing Air Quality on US-
MX Int. Border (JAC)	1-2
Paso del Norte Water
Taskforce Workshop	3-4
Disposal of Scrap Tire Under
Local Gov't Control	4-6
Making a Visible Difference:
Anthony, New Mexico	6-7
Emergency Response
Hazardous Rail Car Leak
Mitigation El Paso/Juarez/Dona
Ana County Project	7-9
Emergency Response:
Harlingen - Matamoros ....9-10
New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural
Taskforce Public
Meeting	10-11
Four-State Activities (Amistad,
Falcon, Gulf)	11-14
Children's Health Symposium:
El Paso, Texas	14-15
3-State	& 4-State RWG Partner
Calls	15-16
Border 2020 Project
Funded	17
Region 6 U.S.-Mexico Border
Team	18
4-State	RWG Contact	19-20
3-State RWG Contact	21
Office of Environmental
Justice, Tribal and
International Affairs
EPA Region 6
El Paso Border Office
4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100
El Paso, Texas
(915) 533-7273
OEJTIA Director.
Arturo Blanco
Border Office Director:
Carlos A. Rincon
Border Program Staff:
Maria Vasquez
Debra Tellez
Maria Sisneros
View of City of El Paso Texas.
EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program
Newsletter
EL PASO BORDER OFFICE REGIONAL RESTRUCTURE
In October 2015, the El Paso Border Office
was restructured and joined with the Office
of Environmental Justice and Tribal Affairs
to become the Office of Environmental
Justice, Tribal and International Affairs
(OEJTIA). The OEJTIA works closely with
communities to facilitate culturally sensitive
communication, find solutions, or reduce
environmental challenges.
The Environmental Justice (EJ) program's
goal is to ensure that all people are
protected from disproportionate impacts of
environmental hazards by working with and on behalf of impacted communities.
The U.S.-Mexico Border program honors commitments for joint U.S. and
Mexico responsibility under the La Paz Agreement for protection of the
environment and public health in the border region. The Tribal Affairs program
serves 66 federally recognized Tribes on a government-to-government basis,
consistent with their inherent sovereignty, to resolve environmental concerns.
The OEJTIA also administers the General Assistance Program (GAP) that
awards grants to tribes; implements the Border 2020 plan; and administers the
EJ2020 plan throughout Region 6.
MANAGING AIR QUALITY ON OUR U.S. - MEXICO INTERNATIONAL
BORDER: THE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (JAC) FOR AIR QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT" HELD ITS 66TH MEETING
The Paso del Norte (PdN) region located where Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua
meet, encompasses Ciudad Juarez, Chih. El Paso, TX and Dona Ana County, NM and
forms a single metropolitan area separated by an international border, where thousands
of people cross daily making it one of the busiest U.S. Port of Entries; while united by
common cultural, historical, and economic factors. PdN residents have suffered serious
air pollution problems taking a heavy toll on the region's environment.
After decades of frustration, many express optimism and have seen real progress in the
fight to improve air quality due in part by efforts from the JAC. The JAC comprised of a
group of concerned citizens that include government officials, environmentalists,
business leaders, and non-governmental organizations, acknowledged that air pollution,
regardless of its orgin, affects everyone. The JAC is committed on reducing air
pollution in the PdN region and improving air quality by developing constructive policies
and programs that aim to significantly improve the region's air quality.
Conventional state and federal environmental policies are hindered by political
boundaries, but because pollution does not stop at the border, the JAC has pushed for
a regional approach to address the air quality problem. Through successful efforts Paso
del Norte residents are now able to engage government regulators and develop
cooperative strategies to improve air quality throughout the international air basin.
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EPA Region 6: LJS-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
"MANAGING AIR QUALITY ON OUR U.S. - MEXICO INTERNATIONAL BORDER...JAC" Cont'd
Key Factors are responsible for the success of the Paso
del Norte JAC, which for the most part, cannot be reduced
to a single formula, however, there are several binational
tasks that have been identified as key factors that might be
useful to others interested in establishing a similar
community-based organization.
1.	From its inception, members held a common
understanding of the problem and shared a
common objective: to improve air quality.
2.	Getting the right people involved, early in the
process; government, business, and civic leaders
that could make things happen.
3.	Focus on finding solutions rather than assessing
blame; members shall adopt the philosophy that air pollution is a common problem requiring solutions.
4.	Set goals and objectives early that have both short and long term objectives. Short term objectives are important so the
group can have a sense of accomplishment. Long term goals and objectives also help keep the group focused
because some problems cannot be solved very quickly.
5.	Encourage members to stay involved, because the endeavor is an inclusive organization, allowing anyone interested in
finding solutions to the air pollution problem to join.
6.	During initial meetings, brainstorming sessions are held to solicit input from members of the community that resulted in
members becoming stakeholders in the success of JAC's projects.
7.	Good timing. As a result of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the border received increased attention
from both the U.S. and Mexican governments. Environmental concerns led to a commitment to reducing pollution in the
border region.
8.	Patience is critical to establishing new organizations.
CO Design Values and Population in the El Paso Area
50 ppm	Thousands V,000
		
tm Population
-•-One-Hour CO Design Value
—One-Hour CO NAAQS: 35.4 ppm
iSooSoooaoo
>-Eight-Hour CO Design Value
—Eight-Hour CO NAAQS: 9,4 ppm
Carbon Monoxide levels from 1991-2015 in El Paso Texas.
Over 50 Bi-national stakeholders attended the May 2016
Meeting.
On May 12, 2016 the JAC, chaired by U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), Mark
Hansen, and the Mexican Environment and Natural
Resources Secretariat's (SEMARNAT), Ana
Patricia Martinez, along with the other JAC
members and stakeholders, celebrated the 20th
anniversary of the creation of the establishment of
the JAC. "This group continues to be a model for
binational cooperation and border communities,"
said EPA Region 6 Regional Administrator Ron
Curry, adding that "...area residents should be
proud of local leaders for their commitment to bring
healthier air to their children and families."
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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EPA Region 6: LJS-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Paso del Norte Water Taskforce Workshop
On May 20th, 2016, the Border 2020 Water Taskforce in
conjuction with the Paso del Norte Water Taskforce
(PDNWTF) held a joint workshop in El Paso, Texas at the
University of Texas at El Paso. The workshop served as
part of an effort to re-convene the PDNWTF which
originally formed in 1998 in an effort to bring stakeholders
together to work cooperatively on a regional approach for
future planning and discussion of water sources in the
region, and to help assure water quality and availability
within the Paso del Norte Region.
Much like the Border 2020 Water Taskforce, which was
created to identify water issues of the highest priority in
the region, the workshop was held to bring key bi-national
stakeholders to discuss cooperative alternatives for managing the water in the region. The region's water
currently faces a number of threats, one of which includes the possibility for greater demand and less
availability of water due to diverse factors.
Prior to the workshop, members of the PDNWTF in conjuction with Texas A&M Kingsville conducted a
survey of stakeholders in the region which included irrigation districts, water utilities, water governance
institutions, water planning agencies as well as other water stakeholders to gather feedback on current
methods of water management practices. The purpose of the survey was to document how stakeholders:
1) currently address changing hydrologic conditions; 2) plan to operate under a scenario of future water
shortage; and 3) envision a sustainable water future for the PdN segment of the Rio Grande/Bravo.
About 50 bi-national stakeholders attended the workshop in El Paso, Texas. Both commissioners for the
US and Mexican Sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC/CILA) gave
opening remarks. UTEP President, Dr. Diana Natalacio, spoke during the lunch session. Brief expert
report presentations were given on: 1) 2030 Projected water supply and demand in the PdN segment of
the Rio Grande/Bravo for Mexico, Texas and New Mexico; 2) 2030 Projected population growth in the
PdN; 3) How climate change and variation are reducing surface water supply; 4) How reservoir
sedimentation reduces Elephant Butte storage volume; 5) Results of the stakeholder survey on water
management practices and 6) Next steps for the PDNWTF.
During the final session of the workshop, attendees voted on the next steps to which the PDNWTF
priorities should focus on engaging stakeholders. Approximately 14% of the atteendees agreed that
focusing on technology was the top priority, followed by Governance (i.e. cross-border both state and
internationally) at 13% and then conservation efforts, primarly from irrigation district efforts but not
excluding municipal, on-farm practices and river management. The table below lists all of the next step as
voted on by attendees.
PDNWTF attendees
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EPA Region 6: LJS-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Paso del Norte Water Taskforce Workshop cont'd
STRATEGY	VOTES	%
Reuse
11
5.2%
Economic Incentives
18
8.6%
Education
22
10.5%
Environment
16
7.6%
Legal/Regulatory
15
7.1%
Engagement
24
11.4%
Governance
28
13.3%
Green Infrastructure
20
9.5%
Technologies
29
13.8%
Conservation
27
12.9%
Results on Priorities for PDNWTF
DISPOSAL OF SCRAP TIRES UNDER STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL: A
SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF BlNATIONAL COOPERATION. - Rethinking scrap tires as a
resource and not a waste, through a binational cross border business driven approach.
Cuidad Juarez was home to the largest
scrap tire pile on the U.S.-Mexico border,
estimated to have had more than six million
tires in 2004, creating a permanent risk of
fire, insect and rodent borne diseases and
death. Currently this site, emblematic of the
scrap tire problem on th border, is virtually
clean as a result of a coordinated effort by
the Cuidad Juarez and other stakeholders.
A successful example of a binational
cooperation is the Paso del Norte Tire
Advisory Committee (TAG), spearheaded in
2014 by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), EPA Region
6 in Dallas, and the State of Texas Alliance
for Recycling (STAR), with support from the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
Ciudad Juarez Tire Pile prior to Border 2020 Program
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Scrap Tires Cont'd
As an important deliverable under the Border 2020 program and utilizing the Public-Private Partneship
(PPP) approach, the TAC assembled binational workgroups to rethink scrap tires as a resource - not a
waste. The TAC developed actions to effectively manage scrap tires as a binational resource in the Paso
del Norte region that can serve as a model for other regions. This creative approach created a forum and
gave voice to a diverse group of participants and experts from the scrap tire community, including elected
officials, NGOs, the tire industry, processing and recycling companies, and government officials from
local, state, and federal offices. Active participants include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
the TCEQ, Mexico's Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT the Border
Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), the North American Development Bank (NADB), Grupo
Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC), and other Public-Private Partnership (PPP) members, such as
nongovernment organizations theUnion Ecologica de Juarez, A.C. and the State of Texas Alliance for
Recycling (STAR), as well as the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), a private industry
association.
Scrap tires, mostly converted into piles of shredded tires, best describe final disposal in border
communities. Local governments in Texas, New Mexico, and Chihuahua, being the public entities nearest
to citizens, are ideal parties to secure a real and true final disposal of scrap tires, including disposal that
may occur outside their jurisdictions, across international and state borders, under appropriate
environmental international rules and regulations. The un-checked flow of scrap tires across multiple
jurisdictions underlines the importance of the TAC. The issue of scrap tire collection, storage, shredding
and final disposal is one that requires financial collaboration of all involved stakeholders: the consumers,
the generators, the transporters, the solid waste - environmental departments of local governments, state
regulatory agencies, and private sector recyclers/shredders.
The TAC continues carrying out activities and outcomes with a PPP approach by moving forward on
four strategic goals:
1.	Fair and effective enforcement
2.	Develop end markets
3.	Secure funding
4.	Legislative
The leadership team recruited stakeholders which formed into workgroups to address each of the four
strategies. Each workgroup created an action plan to guide them in the short and long term, all the time
developing a business plan that may serve as a template for a public-private partnership in managing
used tires, keeping at all time a business theme: "Rethink scrap tires as a resource - not a waste.
Carlos Rincon is working closely with Ciudad Juarez's
entrepreneurial stakeholders, known as Union Ecologica de
Juarez, A.C., a group that for the last two years has carried out a
domestic business plan for shredding tire piles in northern states
of Mexico, especially Chihuahua. Ciudad Juarez's business
partners have accumulated infrastructure and a contract with a
Mexican consortium of cement plants capable of processing and
reclaiming more than 5,000 shredded used tires per day and are
looking into the New Mexico and Texas used tire piles and new
tire shops to legally transport discarded used tires for disposal in
cement factories in northern Mexico.
Illegal Scrap Tire Pile in Cuidad Juarez
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Scrap Tires Cont'd
Members of the TAC and stakeholders for each of the four strategic goals meet quarterly in moving
forward with tasks and actions that each strategic goal has established. The next meeting is in Las
Cruces on August 18.
Making a Visible Difference (MVD): Anthony, New Mexico
EPA developed the Making a Difference (MVD) Initiative to
"work each and every day - hand-in-hand with other federal
agencies, states, tribes and local communities - to improve the
health of American families and protect the environment one
community at a time, all across the country to better support the
efforts of communities, especially those that are environmentally
overburdened, underserved, and economically distressed." The
City of Anthony, formed in 2010, is in the early stages of
community development planning. The city does not own any of
its utilities, and lacks adequate zoning and subdivision
regulations as well as recreational facilities. The city hopes to
have green components installed to detain flows and remove
sediment to deal with flooding issues. EPA will work with the
community to assist with the development of sustainable
municipal services and infrastructure by fostering partnerships and
federal, state and local agencies.
The City of Anthony received Technical Assistance under the Office of Sustainable Development (OSD)
Program's Building block tool which consisted of the Sustainable Strategies for Small Cities and Rural
Areas Technical Assistance workshop. Three conference calls between the City of Anthony, OSD, and
the El Paso Border office staff members were conducted to finalize the plans for the technical assistance
workshop in addition to a self-assessment completed by Anthony staff. On February 23-24, 2016 the
Sustainable Strategies for Small Cities and Rural Areas workshop was brought to Anthony. The Mayor
and staff gave a tour of Anthony, highlighting their vision for Anthony which was followed by a community
meeting.
The second day consisted of the actual workshop focused on
identifying and revitalizing the down's main street, strengthening
the local economy, providing housing options and efficient
infrastructure. The final product was a Next Steps Memorandum
for the Sustainable Strategies for Small Cities and Rural Areas
will serve as an action plan for the City of Anthony to use as a
guide for moving forward in their city growth. Attendees included
representatives from Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
Senator Udall's office, Senator Heinrich's office, NGO's, and
EPA R6 staff members Arturo Blanco, Carlos Rincon, Maria
Sisneros and Debra Tellez.
Elections for the City of Anthony were held shortly after the
workshop. Debra Tellez met with the newly elected Anthony
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
February 23-24, 2016 Attendees Workshop
leveraging resources from other
View of Main street in Anthony, New Mexico
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Making a Visible Difference (MVD): Anthony, New Mexico Cont'd
Mayor March 31st to brief her on the Making a Difference initiative, Building Blocks workshop and to get
her vision for the City of Anthony as other initiatives are pursued.
A coordinated effort between Rio Grande Council of Governments along with EPA R6 staff members
(Debra Tellez, Nelly Smith, Susanna Perea, and Tom Ruiz) and the Mayor of Anthony assisted the City of
Anthony into submitting a letter of interest for the next phase of the Office of Sustainable Communities
Smart Growth Program. SGIA offers technical assistance to communities wanting to incorporate smart
growth in their development. The City of Anthony was seeking assistance in creating an Economic
Development Growth council and assistance with architectural and infrastructure design of its main street
and implement the actions from the Feb 2016 Building Blocks Anthony Workshop. In order to identify
lessons learned and best practices that will guide the agencies work in communities going forward, OSD
created a more consistent reporting framework to help convey the story of Making a Visible Difference
efforts and better measure the effectiveness of the MVD approach. Debra Tellez captured all project,
partner, and status information on the Anthony MVD program to input into the database.
Emergency Response: Hazardous Rail Car Leak Mitigation El Paso/Juarez/Dona Ana
County Project
The City of El Paso received a Border 2020 Grant of $30,000 in
2015, to increase preparedness and response involving
hazardous railcar leak incidences in the Paso del Norte region.
Hazardous rail cargo crosses the international boundary via the
"Black Bridge" between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua, Mexico. Many of the railcars are staged in downtown
El Paso, with the potential of exposing thousands of people in
both El Paso and Ciudad Juarez to an incident that would have an
immediate and dire effect on the populace and environment when
exposed to a hazardous substance. In addition, a newly
constructed inter-modal facility in Doha Ana County, New Mexico
adjacent to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry has increased the
amount of rail traffic in the region and thus increasing	July 2015 Training Event First Responded
the potential for hazardous railcar incidents.
The project funded helped to increase preparedness for possible
hazardous railcar incidences, increase mitigation capabilities and
helped to re-establish and continue communications between
first responders between the communities of El Paso, Ciudad
Juarez and Doha Ana County. The project entailed the purchase
of the three Midland Kits, equipment used to stop and contain
leaks that may occur if a railcar incident were to occur involving
hazardous substances. Each of the jurisdictions received one of
these kits. The kits are the most state of the art pieces of
equipment that first responders can use for such incidences.
None of the three jurisdictions had this piece of equipment prior
to the grant. The equipment was necessary as the rail industry
July 2015 Responders from Cuidad Juarez, Dona Ana and
El Paso
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Emergency Response: El Paso Cont'd
has changed to what is termed "next generation" railcars for the transportation of a diverse array of
hazardous materials. These new railcars use different valves and fittings to load and unload the material
being transported, thereby, making much of the traditional mitigation equipment the region possessed
now obsolete.
In July 2015, more than 120 first responders from El Paso,
Ciudad Juarez and Doha Ana County Fire Department, over
a three day period, received the proper training needed to
operate and learn how to use the Midland Kits. Trainers
from BNSF who invented the Midland Kit trained the
responders, utilizing a mock railcar that was transported
from their training rail yard. The training consisted of
lecture, PowerPoint and dialogue between the training
participants and instructors. The final portion of the training
involved utilizing a Midland Kit on a training rail car, to
properly learn how to handle this piece of equipment. The
training event was covered by the local media, generating
six new stories on the local television in both El Paso and
Juarez, as well as, two newspaper articles, one in the El
Paso Times and another in the El Diario de Juarez.
In April 2016, once the Midland kits had been purchased by El Paso Fire Department, a half-day
refresher training was held with representatives from each of the jurisdictions. In addition, that day each
of the jurisdictions received their own Midland Kit to take back to their respective cities. With the funding
of this project, the first responders within the region are now better equipped and prepared to deal with
hazardous materials spills involving railcars. In addition, there is an increase in awareness and
knowledge among the first responders of the threats that involve railcars in the region. With each
jurisdiction within the Paso del Norte having its own state-of-the art Midland kit, each jurisdiction they can
better respond to such incidents. Last, communication among the jurisdictions was re-established and
strengthened with the training event that occurred.
April 2016 Refresher Training
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Emergency Response: El Paso Cont'd
Equipment Exchange to Ciudad Juarez and Dona Ana County First Responders.
Emergency Response: Bi-National Tabletop and Functional Exercises between the cities
of Hariingen, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas
The City of Hariingen received a $60,000 Border 2020 Grant of for cross-
training and exercises with the City of Matamoros. The objectives of the
project included: training for the tactical incident management of on-
scene operations at a Hazardous Materials Incident; preparation of the
First responders to manage during the first hour of a Hazardous Materials
Incident; learn how to identify hazardous Materials transporting
containers; learn control techniques for leaks and spills and; train to use
the Incident Command System (ICS) and remote communication
technology. Part of the training included review the sister-city contingency
plan in place and utilizing it while conducting a table top and functional
exercise.
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
May 2016 Training Event First
Responders between Hariingen and
Matamoros.
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Emergency Response: Harlingen-Matamoros Cont'd
The training and two exercises conducted took place from May 16 through May 20, 2016. The training
included:
Rescue and Recovery: Introduction response information exposure and contamination and
decontamination procedures;
•	Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical science personal protective equipment
•	Product Control: Container types product control measures.
The table top and functional exercises looked at a response that involved a release of a ton from a
chlorine cylinder as well as a release of chlorine from a rail car. The project funded resulted in the
enchancement of a bi-national response by including the latest technology advancements for
communications; enchanced the response capabilities of responding to a potential chemical
exposure/accident that could affect both sides of the border; and updated the sister city plan contacts.
The final day which included the functional exercise was covered by local media. The story can be found
at: http://www.rgvproud.com/news/local-news/fire-departments-team-up-for-hazmat-training
Practice medical evaluation of hurt personnel during exercise
New Mexico/Chihuahua Rural Task Task Force Public Meeting
On May 17, 2016, the New Mexico-Chihuahua Rural
Task Force held a public meeting at the Columbus
Library, Columbus, NM. Mayor Phillip Skinner provided
welcome remarks, followed by Ing Martin Palomares,
Desarrollo Urbano y Ecologia Ascension, Chih., who
has served as the Rural Task Force Leader from Mexico
for the past four years, two of which have been without a
U.S. counterpart. NMED District Supervisor Mike
Kensler a longtime supporter of the Task Force having
attended and presented at last year's public meeting,
also provided opening remarks.
CarlOS RinCOn led the meeting With the mission Of the Public meeting in Columbus, New Mexico (May 17, 2016)
U.S.-MX Border 2020 Program. Twenty five participants
Medical monitoring of responders during May 2015 exercise
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
New Mexico/Chihuahua Rural Task Task Force Public Meeting cont'd
attended the meeting which focused on Holistic Range Management, Climate Smart Agriculture (UACH),
as well as issues related to the need for Water Conservation in Ascension and the need for Solid Waste
Management program in Palomas. Professor Gerardo Bezanilla of the Autonomous University of
Chihuahua presented preliminary results of his Border 2020 project on slowing or reversing the effects of
desertification caused by overgrazing. Peter Edmunds, Border Partners discussed water conservation
efforts, in-house and community gardens and gray-water being used for irrigation. Dr DuBois discussed
the effects of dust storms on health and safety He also is working with the National Weather Service to
inform the public about dust events via social media. Dr. David Johnson, a researcher at the New Mexico
State University (NMSU) Institute for Energy and the Environment, presented the results of his recent
experiments with soil amendments made using composted cow manure. He showed an increase in crop
production by shifting from a bacterial-dominant to a fungal- dominant product while building the soil and
without using fertilizers. These results may ultimately cause a shift away from the use of chemical
fertilizers, which can cause air and water quality problems. Attendees included, SEMARNAT, NMSU and
UACH academia, NGO's, and local residents.
Four-State Regional Workgroup Activities
The Four-State Regional Workgroup is the most complex of the
four regional workgroups within the Border 2020 Program, due
to its geographical expanse and the number of municipalities it
contains. The region includes parts of three Mexican States and
a total of at least 29 municipalities on Northern Coahuila, Nuevo
Leon and Tamaulipas, and 168 cities and towns on the U.S.
side of the border.
The Four-State RWG is divided into three geographically based
Task Forces (TFs) — a) Amistad, b) Falcon, and c) Gulf, each
of which has established subject-specific committees related to
its priority concerns and the goals of the Border 2020 program.
The subcommittees in each task force are: Waste, Water,
Environmental Education and Health, and Emergency
Preparedness. (NOTE: It should be noted that these task forces
do not have an Air subcommittee and the Amistad TF does not
have a Water subcommittee.)
4-State RWG Geographic Map
In 2015 through early 2016, each of the region s TFs had three
public meetings focusing on highlighting actions that were covered at the Waste Policy Forum that took place
in Tijuana, B.C. early in 2015. At each of the TF meetings, the program also addressed discussion on the two-
year action plan priorities, highlighting the various Border 2020 projects that had been funded in 2013-2014
and presenting to stakeholders the Border 2020 projects that were funded in 2015.
Brief narrative of the 2016 meeting at each of the three TFs:.-
Amistad Task Force. - Granting that the March 10, 2015 meeting took place in Ciudad Acuna we
continued rotating the meeting locations. The December 8, 2015 meeting took place in Del Rio, TX, while
the March 9, 2016 meeting was held in Eagle Pass, with attendance of about50 people, including local
environment and ecological departments, as well as public works and Civil Protection managers,
representing Piedras Negras, Ciudad Acuha and Nava, Coahuila, Eagle Pass and Del Rio, TX.Kickapoo
CHIHUAHUA •
COAHUILA
NUEVO
LEON
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Four-State RWG Activities Cont'd
Traditional Tribe, state officials from TCEQ and Coahuila Environment Secretariat, BECC, educational
institutions, USEPA and SEMARNAT.
The Amistad TF level of collaboration and engagement from B2020 partners underscores the importance
of projects implemented on a binational scope that address environmental priorities with strategies that
include the assurance of water availability with high drinking standards, reducing waste, and ways to
share experiences and best practices that addresses effects of environmental threats.
A B2020 success story is the Arroyo las Vacas project that includes stream clean up, ecosystem
restoration, wildlife conservation and education components, creating a geographical database,
identifying areas of concern and of environmental wealth that resident can access, making it a tool for
discussion useful to make decisions on improving conditions of the Arroyo las Vacas. The Secretariet of
Coahuila led this project together with Ciudad Acuha, the TCEQ, the University of Texas at Austin, and
the Technological Institue of Ciudad Acuha.
The Southwest Border Area Health Education Center conducted a Promotora environmental education
training on pesticide awareness and asthma triggers, an example which builds up partnership between
the UT School of Public Health, Texas Department of State Health and Human Services, Mexican
Consulate and Eagle Pass Independent School District. In this project, students, teachers and parents
received training and six Promotoras were certified to train residents on risks to minimize exposures to
harmful chemicals. At 30 homes, certified promotoras did a pre-assessment of chemicals used at
households, and a post assessment to identify changes in behavior patterns.
A project on materials and waste management conducted by Eagle Pass established a Plastic Bag
Ordinance that would: 1) Protect the environment by reducing use of plastic bags, 2) Protect life and
property from flooding resulting from storm drainage obstructed by plastic bags, 3) Protect fish, animals
and rivers from the adverse effects of plastic bags, and 4) Promote the beautification of the City of Eagle
Pass. As of April 1, 2016, businesses must provide signage of the phase out period including Information
about benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. A five-member environmental advisory committee was
formed to monitor the effects of the ordinance and report back to city council.
The Falcon Task Force.- WASTE Committee met
on March 8, 2016, hosted by City of Laredo
Environmental Services, with25 people
attending, including managers from local
environment and solid waste departments, as
well as Representatives of the Laredo City
Council and the Mayors of Laredo and Nuevo
Laredo, who joined Stategovernment official
representatives of TCEQ and the Nuevo Leon
Secretariat f oEnvironment and Sustainable
Development., BECC, Mexico's Consulate
General, local educational institutions, USEPA
and SEMARNAT.
Meeting Participants in Falcon Task Force on March 8, 2016.
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Four-State RWG Activities Cont'd
The Falcon TF Waste Committee meeting included a site visit to Laredo's recycling center, encouraging
stakeholders to share about updates related to waste projects within the two year action plan. At the
meeting the recently appointed Mexican Co-Leader for the Falcon Emergency Response Committee was
introduced to the group. The City of Nuevo Laredo Ecology Director provided an overview of the City's
household hazardous waste (HHW) program including the City's HHW facility. The Nuevo Laredo
administration is working with its waste service provider to upgrade their collection services, which will
complement the city's HHW collection program and promote environmental stewardship in the
community. The program started in 2005 and consists of residents bringing spent used oil, paint waste,
pharmaceutical and detergents among other HHWs.
The Waste Committee Co-facilitators proposed developing a list of certified waste transporters that
collect Electronic-Waste (e-Waste lor used electronics), and such directory could be shared at BECC's e-
waste Forum that is
scheduled to take place in the Baja California/California border region. The City of Laredo has been
promoting environmental stewardship in the community investing in renewable energy by phasing out
incandescent light bulbs and replacing with 7000 LED lamps. Laredo Environmental Services in
conjunction with the City's Health Department have been cleaning up streams to prevent vector sources
and illness related to Dengue and Zika viruses.
As a resourceful partner the Technological University of Nuevo Laredo is working with Roadrunner Mulch
on a project to reuse scrap tire material. Augusto Garcia Mier y Teran of Roadrunner Mulch discussed
scrap tire disposal and possible solutions. Roadrunner Mulch collects, grinds, processes, sorts, and
distributes rubber mulch, buffing and crumb rubber. The company has processed over 200 metric tons
per month and recycled more than 2 million pounds of rubber. It has offices in Mexico City and a
retreading plant in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Because a tire recycling business requires large volumes of
scrap tires to be profitable, the amount of scrap tires generated in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo makes it
difficult to justify a multi-million tire recycling complex from a financial perspective.
Gulf Task Force - Waste Subcommittee Meeting, met on Friday, March 11, 2015 in Pharr, Texas. The
meeting was attended by approximately 30 bi-national stakeholders from both the U.S and Mexico.
Attendees included representatives from EPA, TCEQ, Tamaulipas Secretariet of Environment and
Sustainable Development (SEDUMA), City of Reynosa, City of Pharr, BECC, University of Texas Rio
Grande Valley and others.
The meeting included presentations from SEDUMA who had two Border 2020 Projects funded in 2015.
Both projects awarded to SEDUMA were related to scrap tire management and solid waste recycling
programs. The projects focused on assisting the municipalities of Rio Bravo and Valle Hermoso,
Tamaulipas develop a strategic management plan for their municipal solid waste. The goals of the project
include: reorientating their traditional solid waste management including collection and disposal to
integrated waste management; promote environmental education and training to help reduce waste
generation and encourage best management practices on segregation, reuse and recycle; strengthen
municipal environmental legislation on solid waste; strengthen administrative and operation areas
response for waste management; and implement an inventory of urban solid waste generators.
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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The City of Pharr, a previous recipient of Border 2020 funds,
presented their recycling program "Let's Clean it and Green
it Up" as well as gave stakeholders a tour of their recycling
facility. The City of Pharr received a Border 2020 grant to
offer more frequent and convenient solid waste dispoal
events, as well as host more beautification and cleanup
events and improve their recycling and outreach programs.
Stakeholders also heard a presentation by an NGO
"Recycled Dreams" which teaches women in the community
the skills needed to make recycled bags and purses from
various recyclable materials which can then be turned and
sold for a profit. The organization focuses not only on giving
women a way to pursue some economic opportunity to improve their economic situation, but also
promoting and creating awareness of recycling and keeping communities clean.
Children's Health Symposium: El Paso, Texas
The Children's Environmental Health program is central to EPA's mission. In
the past three years, the EPA's U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 program in regions 6
and 9 have provided more than $500,000 to a dozen organizations to
specifically address children's health. Funding has supported capacity-building
through training for childcare and school personnel, for environmental home
assessments, to educate
farm workers about take-home pesticide exposures, and to train those who
train others. These efforts have directly impacted about 25,000 people, who, in
turn, impacted 35,000, or even 50,000 people in the border region.
In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's began to work with
several partners to address binational environmental challenges and
disproportionate health impacts that burden border communities, especially as
they impact children. Both Region 6 and Region 9's Office of Children's Health,
in coordination with EPA's headquarters Office of Children's Health Protection
decided to address and bring greater awareness to children's health
protection along the border through a variety of initiatives. One of these
initiatives included promoting two children's health symposiums focused
specifically on children's health protection. Children's health along the border is often affected by the
mismanagement of pesticides, poor indoor and outdoor air quality, misuse of chemicals and other waste,
poor water quality, and binational chemical emergencies. It is important that healthcare professionals,
public health practitioners, community health promoters or promotoras, and others in the community that
work or care for children understand the crucial links between the environment and health in order to take
steps towards improving children's health outcomes in communities along the Border.
The first children's health symposium: Children's Environmental Health on the Border: Protecting
Children Where They Live, Learn, and Play was held at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center in El Paso, Texas, September 24-25, 2015. EPA Region 6 partnered with Texas Tech-Southwest
Center for Pediatric Environmental Health at Texas Tech, US/Mexico Border Health Commission, the
US/Mexico Border 2020 Program, and Children's Environmental Health Programs, and the Border
Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) for the binational symposium. Texas Tech is now home to
Gulf TF particpants tour Pharr Recycling Center
Ron Curry, Region 6 Regional
Administrator
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
14

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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Children's Health Symposium Cont'd
the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, a network of physicians jointly funded by EPA and the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The Unit sponsored the symposium and Texas Tech
provided continuing education credits to attendees.
The two main goals of the symposium were: 1) to increase knowledge of how early childhood exposure
can affect children's health; and 2) to facilitate networking among the healthcare community, promotoras,
and the public. More than 150 doctors, nurses, promotoras and public health professionals from Texas,
New Mexico and Chihuahua attended the 2-day symposium.
Thirty experts presented on asthma, lead and mercury exposure, climate change impacts on children's
health and a dozen other topics. Simultaneous English-Spanish translation was provided for all the
presentations. Discussion topics included: climate change impacts on children's health, and prenatal
exposures; childhood breathing-healthy lungs and good indoor air quality; e-cigarettes; unconventional
petroleum exploration concerns; carbon monoxide; asthma, and lead. Final symposium agenda,
presentations, and speaker bios are available for download at the symposium website.

Children's Health Symposium Attendees
3-State and 4-State Partner Calls
MONTHLY BORDER PARTNERS CONFERENCE CALL: The El Paso Border Team began in 2006
having monthly calls with Border 2020 Federal and State Co-Chair Border staff in order to keep each of
the agencies updated on ongoing border meetings and efforts as they relate to the Border Program. The
meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of month with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ), the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT in Spanish), New Mexico
Environment Department (NMED), the Secretariat of Urban Development and Ecology for state of
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
15

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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
3-State and 4-State Partner Calls Cont'd
Chihuahua (SDUE in Spanish) and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (YDSP). The conference calls focus on
environmental border events in the Texas-New Mexico-Chihuahua (TX-NM-CHIH) region that each
agency conducts. As events occur, updates are discussed to better prepare for the event and receive
input by the border partners. In the past months, updates that have been discussed include the Border
2020 2-year workplans for the TX-NM-CHIH Regional Workgroup that focused on projects and actions
that were completed or will be completed in 2015 through 2016. In addition, border projects funded and
their status are shared amongst the group, as well as, any activities that took place as part of these
projects. Other discussions included taskforce meetings: the Joint Advisory committee (January and May
2016); New Mexico-Chihuahua taskforce (May 2016); Water Taskforce jointly with Paso del Norte Water
taskforce Workshop (May 2016). Ongoing discussion regarding the PROAIRE, air quality management
plan for Cuidad Juarez, has been included in each monthly call. Partner meetings that have taken place
has included the Bi-national Health Council meetings in El Paso, Texas and Presidio, Texas. In addition,
TCEQ hosted their annual Trade Fair in May 2016.
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Border 2020 Projects Funded
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding more than $521,000 to 14 organizations in
Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. The funds will support projects such as conservation, waste collection,
water quality protection, recycling expansion, green infrastructure and improving environmental education
in the region.
The following organizations received grants:
•	Federacion Mexicana de Asociaciones Privadas de Salud y Desarrollo Comunitario, A.C. -
Received $50,000 for sustainable and resilience housing
•	Subsecretaria de Medio Ambiente, Tamaulipas - Received $20,866 to strengthen solid waste
programs
•	Secretaria de Medio Ambiente del Estado de Coahuila de Zaragoza - Received $16,777 for
electronic waste recycling
•	City of Harlingen Fire Department - Received $60,000 to support binational tabletop exercises
•	Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez - Received $43,204 for a green infrastructure and
sustainability project
•	Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua - Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecologia - Received
$41,388 for a soil conservation and management project
•	Secretaria de Desarrollo Urbano y Medio Ambiente, Tamaluipas - Received $9,385 for
energy efficient lighting
•	Texas A&M University-Kingsville - Received $38,885 for storm water improvements
•	Grupo Ecologico Green Tec-Osos del Instituto Tecnologico de Piedras Negras - Received
$36,054 for electronic waste recycling
•	The University of Texas at Austin - Received $58,575 for a water quality improvement initiative
•	Brownsville Public Utilities Board - Received $25,000 for an educational campaign to help
eliminate water discharges
•	Junta de Aguas y Drenaje de Matamoros - Received $25,000 for an educational campaign to
help eliminate water discharges
•	City of Pharr, Recycling Center- Received $36,390 for a green campaign
•	Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Facultad de Comercio, Administracion y Ciencias
Sociales de Nuevo Laredo - Received $11,000 for Environmental Education and Legislative action
reforms
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Region 6 U.S.-Mexico Border Team
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR - Ron Curry
DRA, Coleman , Sam	 214-665-3110
R6 U.S. Federal Co-Chair for Border 2020
Blanco, Arturo - OEJTIA Director
EJ, Tribal and International Affairs Office 214-665-3182
Smith, Rhonda - Deputy Director	 214-665-8006
•	Laura Gomez Rodriguez- Team Lead, White House
Council on SC2 	 956-578-1547
•	Paula Flores-Gregg, Texas EJ and Border Liaison
	 214-665-8123
El Paso Border Office
Main / Public Line	 915-533-7273
Fax	 915-544-6026
Conference Room		ext. 226
VTC	 915-532-3410
Border Program 1800#	 1-800-334-0741
Address: Region 6, El Paso Border Office
4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79902
Rincon, Carlos	 ext. 222
•	Director, R6 El Paso Border Office,
Air Quality, Environmental Compliance Assistance,
Texas / Chihuahua Rural Task Forces, and
TX/Coahuila/Nuevo Leon / Tamaulipas Task Forces
Sisneros, Maria	 ext. 224
•	TX/Coahuila/Nuevo Leon/Tamaulipas Regional
Workgroup Liaison
•	Water Quality, Emergency Preparedness and
Response TF; Environmental Health Task Force;
Environmental Education TF forTX/NM/CHIH
Regional Workgroup
•	Program Communications and Outreach
•	Publications and Website
Tellez, Debra	 ext. 229
•	NM/TX/Chih Workgroup Liaison
•	Chihuahua / New Mexico Rural TF
•	NM-EJ Liaison
Vasquez, Maria	 ext. 222
•	El Paso Border Office Manager
Office of External Affairs
Gray David - Director	 214-665-2200
Wang, Jonathan	 214-665-2296
•	Border/EJ Liaison
Vela, Austin	 214-665-9792
•	Congressional Liaison, NM & TX
Office of Regional Council
Payne Jr., James O	 214-665-8170
•	Office of Regional Counsel
Witthoeft, Paul M	 214-665-8057
•	Assistant Regional Counsel
Multimedia Division (Goals 1 and 3)
Stenger, Wren - Director	 214-665-6583
Price, Lisa - Deputy Director	 214-665-6744
Goal l:Reduce Air Pollution
Hansen, Mark	 214-665-7548
•	Chair, Joint Advisory Council & Technical Advisor
for BECC grants on Air
Goal 3: Promote Materials Management, Recycling and
Clean Sites
Bellew, Renee	 214-665-2793
•	Waste Policy Forum Liaison
•	Technical Advisor for BECC grants on Waste
Lawrence, Rob	 214-665-6580
•	Energy and Climate Change
Selzer, Paula	 214-665-6663
•	Children's Public Health & Technical Advisor for
BECC grants on Children's Health
Wilson, Monica	 214-665-6719
•	Grants Administration
Water Division (Goal 2)
Honker, Bill- Director	 214-665-3187 Goal
2: Improve Access to Clean and Safe Water
Tellez, Gilbert	 915-533-7273
•	Water Policy Forum Liaison & Technical Advisor for
Border Water Infrastructure
Gandara, Salvador	 214-665-3194
•	Project Officer for BECC, NADB Infrastructure
Grant
Ruiz, Thomas	 214-665-3153
•	Community Outreach Coordinator
Superfund Division (Goal 4)
Edlund, Carl - Director	 214-665-8124
Goal 4: Enhance Joint Preparedness for
Environmental Response
Todd, Brandi	 214-665-2233
•	Emergency Preparedness and Response
•	Border 2020 Emergency Preparedness and
Response Policy Forum Liaison
•	Representative on the U.S.-Mexico Joint Response
Team & Technical Advisor for BECC grants on
Emergency Response
Enforcement Division (Goal 5)
Blevins, John - Director	 214-665-2266
Goal 5: Enhance Compliance Assurance &
Environmental Stewardship
Potts, Mark	 214-665-2723
•	Goal 5, Enforcement and Compliance
•	Enforcement Group & Technical Advisor for BECC
grants Liaison
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
18

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EPA Region 6: US-MX Border 2020 Program Newsletter
Texas-Coahuila-Nuevo Leon-Tamaulipas Regional Workgroup Co-Chairs & Staff

U.S. Federal Co-Chair
Sam Coleman
Regional Deputy Administrator, U.S. EPA
Staff: Carlos Rincon, EPA/Region 6 Border Coordinator,
Rincon.Carlos@eDa.aov 915-533-7273
Maria Sisneros, EPA Reaion 6 El Paso Office
Sisneros.maria@eDa.aov
Mexican Federal Co-Chair
Lie. Jesus Gonzalez Madas
Delegate, SEMARNAT Tamaulipas
Horacio del Angel, Subdelegado de Proteccion al
Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, SEMARNAT Tamaulipas
834-318-5254
horaciodelanael@tamauliDas.semarnat.aob.mx
U.S. State Co-Chair
Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., P.E.
Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Staff: Steve Niemeyer. P.E., Border Affairs Manager and
Colonias Coordinator 512-239-3606
TCEQ- Austin
steve. niemever@tcea.texas.aov
Claudia Lozano-Clifford, REM.,
Lead Border Team Coordinator
TCEQ- Harlingen office, Gulf Task Force
956-430-6035
claudia. lozano@tcea.texas.aov
Victor Wong,
Border Program Coordinator
TCEQ- Laredo Office, Falcon and Amistad Task
Forces
956-753-4050
victor, wona@tcea.texas.aov
Eddie Moderow, Program Coordinator
TCEQ- Austin
512-239-0218
eddie.moderow@tcea.texas.aov
Desiree Ledet, Program Coordinator
TCEQ- Austin
512-239-6132
desiree. ledet@tcea.texas.aov
Mexican State Co-Chairs
Ing. Roberto Russildi Montellano, Secretary of
Sustainable Development, State ofNuevo Leon
Dr. Alfonso Martinez Munoz,
Subsecretario de Proteccion al Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales
alfonso.martinezm@nuevoleon.aob.mx
812-033-2100
Biol. Eglantina Canales, Secretary of the Environment,
State ofCoahuila
Oscar Flores, Subsecretario de Gestion Ambiental
844-698-1091 ext. 7268
oscar.floresOsema.aob.mx
Alejandra Carrera, MC., Directora de Conservacion
844-698-1098
Aleiandra.carrera@sema.aob.mx
Ing. Humberto Rene Salinas Trevino
Secretary of Urban Development and Environment, State
of Tamaulipas 834 107-8615
Ocean. Heberto Cavazos Lliteras,
Subsecretario de Medio Ambiente
834-107-8291
Heberto.cavazos@tamauliDas.aob.mx
Dra. Silvia Casas Gonzalez
Direccion de Transversalidad v Cambio Climatico
834-107-8261
silvia.casas757@amail.com
Lie Lucero Chavez 834-1078292
ssma@tamauliDas.aob.mx
Mexican Staff Liaison for Workgroup
Gustavo Pantoja Villarreal, 867-718-6336, 867-727-0486
austavoDantoia@hotmail.com
(BECC contractor")
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
19

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TX-COAH-NL-TAUM TASK FORCE CO-LEADERS

Gulf
Falcon
Amistad
U.S.
John Wood, Port of Brownsville
Commissioner 956-778-7175
iwarealtv@aol.com
Joe Rathmell, County Judge, Zapata County
956-765-9920
'ete Saenz Jr., Mayor of Laredo, TX 956-791-
7389 n
Staff: Riazul Mia, 956-721-2000
rmia@ci.laredo.tx.us
Ramsey Cantu, Mayor of Eagle
Pass, TX
Staff: Ivan Morua, 830-773-1111
imorua@eaaleDasstx.us
MX
Lie. Jose Elias Leal, Presidente
Municipal, Reynosa, Tamps.
899 932-3205
ioseeliasleal@revnosa.aob.mx
Staff: Ara. Pedro Luis Corte Cruz 899
230-1212
Dcortecruz@vahoo.com.mx
Ing. Carlos Canturosas, Presidente Municipal
of Nuevo Laredo, Tamps.
Staff: Arq. Carlos De Anda, 867 109-6643,
cdeandah@hotmail.com
Vacant
Lie. Ana Gabriela Fernandez
Osuna, Alcaldesa de Nava,
Coahuila
Staff: Prof. Luz Maria Menchaca,
877-128-6785
lmmenchaca@hotmail.com
TX-COAH-NL-TAUM COMMITTEE CO-FACILITATORS

Gulf
Falcon
Amistad
WASTE
U.S.
Art Rodriguez, Director of Public Health,
Brownsville, TX 956 542-3437, ext.
6514, ar
John Porter, Director of Env. Services,
Laredo, 956-794-1650
iDorter@ci.laredo.tx.us
Vacant
MX
Ing. Hector Quiroz Torres, Director de
Ecologia, Reynosa, Tamps 899 282-4485
heauitol@amail.com
Ing. Atilano Ramirez, Consultant,
CAREME, Nuevo Laredo, 867 712-43-
06
Ing. Alfredo Lucero, Director de
Ecologia, Piedras Negras, 878 782-6666
or 878 789-9419, aฃ
WATER
U.S.
Joe Hinojosa
Santa Cruz Irrigation District # 15
956-383-3441
iosehinoiosa290@amail.com
ihinoiosa80@vahoo.com
Jose Garza, Frank Tejeda Center,
956-326-2896
iose.aarza@teexmail.tamu.edu
No committee
MX
Ing. David Negrete, CILA-Reynosa
Agustin Boone, CILA, 867 713-49-73
aboone@cila.aob.mx
No committee
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH
U.S.
Beatriz Tapia, MD, UTHealth Science
Center, 956-365-8820
taDiab@uthscsa.edu
Gennv Carrillo. MD Texas A&M Health
McAllen C956 668-6321
acarrillo@SDh.tamhsc.edu
Dr. Hector Gonzalez, Laredo Health
Department, 956-795-4922
haonzalez@ci.laredo.tx.us
Ivan Santoyo, Laredo Environmental
Services, 956-794-1650
isantovo@ci.laredo.tx.us
Dr. Antonio Garza, Kickapoo Tribe of
Texas, 830-421-5364
MX
Ing. Alfredo Hassanille, Asociacion de
Maquiladoras, Matamoros, 868-125-0218
Ing. Marco Garza, Universidad
Tecnologica de Nuevo Laredo,
867 789-00-0000 ext. 112,
m or
dirvinc@utnuevolaredo.edu.mx
Ing. Victor Manuel Ibarra, Instituto
Tecnologico de Piedras Negras,
878 783-0135
ina victor m@Drodiav.net.mx
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
U.S.
Ricardo Saldana, Hidalgo Co. EMC
956- 318-9615
ricardo.saldana@co.hidalao.tx.us
Steve Land in, Fire Chief, City of
Laredo, 956-795-2150
slandin@ci.laredo.tx.us
Manuel Melh , Fire Chief, City of Eagle
Pass, 830-757-2698
mmello@eaaleDasstx.us
MX
Ing. Manuel Montiel, CLAM Matamoros,
AMMAC
868 8137938 or 868 9076414
Manuelmontiel48&hotmail. com
Ing. Juan Pablo Villarreal, Universidad
Autonoma de Tamaulipas, 867-113-
0682
iuanD reves@vahoo.com
Brigido Ivan Morenc, Director de
Proteccion Civil de Acuna,
877 888-2106
Droteccioncivilacuna@amail.com
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
20

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2016 Texas-New Mexico-Chihuahua Regional Work Group Contacts Co-Chairs

Name
Organization
Phone
Email
Support Staff
Phone
U.S. Federal
Sam Coleman, Deputy
Regional Administrator
EPA
214-665-6701
coleman.sam@epa.gov
Debra Tellez:
tellez.debra@epa.gov
915-533-7273
U.S. State
New Mexico
R.C. Flynn, Secretary
NMED
505-827-2855
Ryan.flynn@state.nm.us
Butch Tongate
Butch.tongate.state, nm. us
505-827-2855
U.S. State
Texas
Bryan W. Shaw, Chairman
TCEQ
512-239-5515
Curtis Seaton (for appts/mtgs):
Curtis.seaton@tceq.texas.gov
Steve Niemeyer:
steve.niemeyer@tceq.state.gov
Gina Posada:
eugenia.posada@tceq.texas.gov
512-239-3606
915.834.4977
Mexico
Federal
Brenda Rios Prieto
SEMARNAT
011-52-614-442-1501
brenda.rios@ semarnat.gob.mx
Gerardo Tarin
gerardo.tarin@semarnat.gob.mx
011-52-616-
6687
Mexico
State Chihuahua
Arq. Nieves Maloof
Secretary
SDUE
011-52-614-415-
7514

Alfredo Ruiz Coughanour
magofenik@hotmail.com
011-52-614-
429-3627
US TRIBE
Frank Paiz, Governor
Ysleta del Sur
Pueblo
915-859-8053
fpaiz@ydsp-nsn.gov
Evaristo Cruz
ecruz(ฎvdsD-nsn.aov
915-859-7913

Task Force Co-leaders
Cou
ntry
Co-Leader
Organization
Phone
Email
1
Goal 1: Air
Objetivo 2: Aire
MX
Dra. Alba Yadira Corral
Universidad Autonoma de Cd. Juarez
UACJ
01152-656-688-1885
acorral@uacj.mx


US
Dr. Wen-Whai Li
University of Texas at El Paso
915-747-8755
wli@utep.edu
2
Goal 2: Water
Objetivo 1: Agua
MX
Dr. Rene Franco Barreno
Paso del Norte Water Task Force
656-611-1947
656-611-4989
rfra nco @fra ncoyasociados.com


US
Lorenzo Arriaga
Paso del Norte Water Task Force
915- 449-5479
Irnzrrg034@gmail.com
3
Goal 3: Waste
Objetivo 3: Residuos
MX
Rene Franco Ruiz
Franco & Associates
011152656-616-6609
renefranco@francoyasociados.com


US
Cristina Viesca-Santos
El Paso County District Attorney's Office
915-546-2050
Cristina.Viesca@ca.epcounty.com
4
Goal 4: Emergency Response
Objetivo 5: Emergencias Ambientales
MX
Efren Matamoros
Proteccion Civil
1656-318-4948
licmadominguez@hotmail.com
Mabe71 @hotmail.com


US
VACANT



5
Goal 5: Compliance Assistance
Objetivo 6: Cumplimiento de Ley
MX
Lie. Joel Aranda
PROFEPA
011-52-656-682-39-
90, ext 18253
jaranda@profepa.gob.mx


US
Pamela Aguirre



6
Environmental Health
Salud Ambiental
MX
Dr. Enrique Suarez y Toriello
FEMAP
656-616-0833
esuareztoriello@msn.com
esuarez@femap.org


US
Bruce Sanfilippo
Memorial Medical Center
575-521-2218
Bruce.Sanfilippo@lpnt.net
7
Environmental Education
Education Ambiental
MX
Lie. Claudia Janet Laffont
Casta no n
Directora de Aqua 21, A.C
656-616-5228
656-613-1800
aqua21 ac@gmail.com
aqua21 @prodigy.net.mx m


US
Patricia Juarez
University of Texas at El Paso-CERM
915-747-7976
pJuarez@utep.edu
8
Chihuahua / New Mexico Task Force
MX
Ing Martin Palomares
Desarrollo LTrbano y Ecologia Acension, Chih
636-112-5145
lmpcera@gmail.com


US
VACANT



9
Chihuahua / Texas Task Force
MX
Miquel Antonio Carreon Rohana
Presidente Municipal, Ojinaga, Chih.
626-453-0304
Chacuaco70@hotmail.com


US
Cindy Guevarra
County Judge, Presidio
432-729-4452
eljuez@att.net
Volume 1: September 2015 - May 2016
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