U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program
Spring 2018 Newsletter
Santa Cruz River in Arizona. Photo credit: Tom Konner.
Arizona-Sonora and California-Baja California
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Dear Border 2020 Stakeholders
We are pleased to share with you our most recent newsletter highlighting
accomplishments and events from the past year in the Arizona-Sonora and
California-Baja California border communities.
Thanks to all our program partners for making possible these environmental
and public health improvements in the U.S.-Mexico border region.
We look forward to your continued engagement in the Border 2020
U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program,
Hector F. Aguirre
Director; San Diego Border Office

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Improving Air Quality
Partnerships and
Getting Involved
Regional Workgroups and Task Forces
EPA at the Arizona-Sonora regional meeting (March 2017).
The Border 2020 Program relies on regional
workgroups and task forces, represented by
federal, state and local leadership, to support
and guide program implementation. These
stakeholders helped develop the 2017-2018
Action Plans detailing specific activities,
projects and completion timeframes.
In 2017, the California-Baja California and
Arizona-Sonora Regional Workgroups and Task
Forces met thirteen times through several
business and public plenaries in the border
region, reaching over 700 community border
residents and key stakeholders.
The air, water, waste, and emergency
preparedness and response task forces discussed
on-going environmental efforts, upcoming
priorities, and implemented specific media-type
related trainings/workshops.
For more information 011 the Border 2020
Program and how to become involved in the
regional workgroups and task forces, please visit:
http:/ /www.epa.gov/horder2020 or contact
Lorena Lopez-Powers (lopez-Powers.L,orena@
epa.gov).
Jeremy Bauer (Bauer. Jeremy(cpepa.aov) and
Lauren Maghran (Maahran.Lauren(a)epa.aov)
Transboundary Air Pollution Linked
to Burning and Industry in Mexicali
Imperial County is a rural, agricultural region home to
180,000 Californians and is a non-attainment area for
PM2.5 (fine particles with diameters 2.5
micrometers and smaller, also known as soot). Across
the border is Mexicali, a city of one million. Because
Imperial County and Mexicali share an air basin,
emissions from one side of the border influence air
quality on either side.
In April 2018, the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) will complete the first phase of an
EPA-funded study on the origins and movement of
PM2.5 from Mexicali to Imperial County to better
understand impacts on California air quality and
associated public health effects.
Preliminary results show PM levels in Mexicali are
consistently higher than those of Calexico, CA.
Calexico levels typically increase only when Mexicali
experiences high PM2.5 episodes. Further testing
demonstrates increased levels in Mexicali
concentrations are primarily due to industrial
emissions and burning activity (e.g., based on
presence of carbon compounds).	2
50-70 M.m
(microns) in diameter
90 Jim (microns) in diameter
FINE BEACH SAND
HUMAN HAIR
CPM2.5
Combustion particles, organic
compounds, metals, etc.
<2.5 (itn (microns) in diameter
4* PM10
Dust, pollen, mold, etc.
0 (im (microns) in diameter

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Improving Air Quality, Continued
The air is particularly hazardous between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day due to traditional,
celebratory burning of fireworks and bonfires. At the levels observed, residents in Calexico inhale the
equivalent of a teaspoon and a half of soot over the course of the holiday week, while in Mexicali,
residents breathe in over a teaspoon of
soot on Christmas Day alone. This is
especially worrisome given the small
size of PM2.5 particles, recognizing
they can travel deep into the lungs and
even reach the bloodstream.
EPA is currently funding a binational
campaign by the Imperial County Air
Pollution Control District to discourage
bonfires and fireworks and provided a
grant to CARB to update an inventory
of air pollution emissions originating
in Mexicali. Officials in Mexicali will
use this information to prioritize
emissions reductions activities.
EPA Supports Border Tribe Facing
Transboundary Air Pollution
In July 2016, a member of the Tohono O'odham Nation reached out to the U.S. EPA San Diego Border
Office to share concerns of smoke and pesticides crossing from Mexico into the reservation, located in
southern Arizona adjacent to the border. EPA invited the Tohono O'odham tribal member to share these
concerns at an upcoming Border 2020 air quality task force meeting.
EPA also responded by inviting a representative from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
(CEC) to present on their "Submissions on Enforcement Matters," allowing submitters to raise concerns
if they have reason to believe that an environmental law is not being effectively enforced by Canada,
Mexico or the U.S. Once a submission is received, the CEC confirms it meets their requirements, and
then begins the creation of a "factual record," an information-collection exercise which can include site
visits.
Following additional meetings, dialogue, and a site visit by the CEC to the Tohono O'odham Nation after
the initial presentation in October 2016, CEC received an official submission from Tohono O'odham
Nation on January 10, 2018, asserting impacts by "unannounced episodes of smoke drift from Mexico
(agricultural burns)." The submission asserted the agricultural burnings had been occurring since June
2016, and noted the failure of effective enforcement of Mexican environmental laws.
On February 29, 2018, CEC determined that the submission met their criteria to formally request a
response from the state and federal officials in Mexico. CEC will continue to work with the Tohono
O'odham Nation and Mexican government officials to determine appropriate next steps for the
complaint.
Tohono O'odham Nation's persistence, with modest input from EPA, has helped make progress to
address transboundary movement of smoke due to agricultural burning. For the latest information and
additional details, please visit the CEC website.	a
Sunrise over Mexicali on Christmas Day 2017 when many celebrate with
fireworks and bonfires. Photo Credit: Eliud Gil Samaniego

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Enhancing Water Quality
Roger Kohn (Kohn.Roaer(a)epa.aov) and Douglas Liden (Liden.Doualas(a)epa.aov)
Achieving Tijuana River Improvements
EPA Region 9 committed resources in 20x7 to help repair the aging wastewater infrastructure in
Tijuana, Baja California, thereby reducing transboundary sewage spills. Historically, these spills have
led to beach closures throughout San Diego County, hurting the economy of hundreds of businesses and
threatening the health of residents who might come into direct contact with raw sewage.
With $3M in EPA funding, administered by the North American Development Bank (NADB), the water
utility in Tijuana completed a $7M wastewater infrastructure improvement project. These works
included the repair of 6 miles of large wastewater collection pipes, the rehabilitation of 35 manholes, and
first-time wastewater collection service for over 400 households. In addition, in November of 20x7, the
NADB Board certified a project to repair 2.5 miles of a major wastewater collection pipe in Tijuana that
will help prevent major spills as large
as xo million gallons per day, which is
over half the average dry weather flow
in the Tijuana River. EPA will fund
$x.2 M, 40% of the project total, while
Mexico will provide 60%.
EPA also agreed to fund a diagnostic
study, to be completed in 20x8, to
examine operations and maintenance
procedures in Mexico and
alternatives for new and/or improved
infrastructure on both sides of the
California-Baja California border to
reduce the number of transboundary
flows in the Tijuana River.
In 20x7, EPA chose to fund two ocean
monitoring/modeling projects with Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Southern California Coastal
Water Research Project to better assess impacts of wastewater flows in the Tijuana River, Estuary, and
California beaches. These studies will help measure the transport of sewage from Tijuana along the
California coast, leading to more accurate and timely beach alerts as well as preventing water-borne
illnesses.
While vast improvements to mitigate transboundary flows have been achieved in the past two decades,
this effort is still a work in progress. EPA will continue to work with our partners such as Tijuana's local
water utility (CESPT), the Mexican Federal Water Commission (CONAGUA), the International
Boundaxy and Water Commission (IBWC) and the NADB to develop wastewater infrastructure
rehabilitation projects to improve water quality in the Tijuana River Watershed.
Sewer collection pipe in repair, after collapse. Tijuana, MX. March 29, 2017
4

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Enhancing Water Quality, Continued
Preventing Severe Flooding through Green
Infrastructure in Nogales, Arizona
Frequent flooding during monsoon storms severely impact both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border in the
Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora region. Sediment created through storm-related erosion scours
wastewater collection pipes and can lead to sewer line breaks, which threaten public health.
To reduce flooding and sediment production, EPA funded both the Municipal Planning Institute of
Nogales (IMIP) and the Watershed Management Group, a non-profit based in Tucson, Arizona, to
promulgate the concept of "green infrastructure" in Nogales, Sonora. Green infrastructure, according
to EPA, uses vegetation, soils, and other elements and practices to restore some of the natural processes
required to manage water and create healthier urban environments. At the neighborhood or site scale,
green infrastructure includes storm water management systems that mimic nature's ability to absorb and
store water.
Contouring the land to capture rainwater
These projects, which were completed in 2017, resulted in the following:
28 community events and trainings with 700+ community members participating.
88 professionals trained at an advanced 2-day course on green infrastructure.
15 professional trained at a 2-day training on native plants and nursery management.
Multiple on-the-ground demonstration projects that have created over one million liters of
stormwater infiltration capacity (see photos above).
Construction of a sediment trap constructed of large rocks (gabion) that can capture over 650
cubic meters of sediment.
The adoption of a green infrastructure law by the state of Sonora (April 2017).
Together, IMIP and the Watershed Management Group continue to demonstrate through these projects
that investment in local green infrastructure is a beneficial and cost-effective way to reduce the threat of
floods and sediment on the city's infrastructure.
5

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Reducing Waste
Emily Pimentel (Pimentel.Emily(tpepa.aov)
Trash Cleanups and Mitigation in Mexicali
Illegal dumping of household trash, tires, and other materials into the City of Mexicali's agricultural
drain contributes to urban blight, adverse environmental impacts, and public health threats associated
with mosquitoes and other vectors of diseases.
I	part of a trash mitigation and rehabilitation of five
'	I ,	agricultural drains in Mexicali completed through a
£ • > ' v	»u _ tmr | $100,000 Border 2020 grant and leveraged with a $200,000
||^J!p. * JJIUI [J J J	S	grant to the Sonoran Institute (SI), in 2017 the SI
.	* 5,520 tons of trash, equivalent to 6,066 cubic meters
or 2.4 times the volume of an Olympic swimming
1,760 scrap tires, equivalent to 440 vehicles.
The grantee developed an integrated waste management
approach with short and long-term goals to address
prevention through infrastructure and service needs,
enforcement, and environmental education. For example,
the SI installed a trash trap across the international drain
to prevent trash flow into Imperial County as a short-term
solution until adequate trash collection services are
established.
As part of a long-term and city-wide, green corridor
initiative in Mexicali, SI completed a pilot-scale ecosystem
restoration and landscaping task along the Tula, Mexicali,
and Norte drains to build support among key
stakeholders for a drainage system that would be valued,
instead of trashed.
Trash trap at International Drain
Tula Drain during trash removal.
SI also launched "Mexicali Fluye," a city-wide educational
campaign raising awareness of trash impacts, drainage
ecosystem values, and actions to mitigate trash, and
rehabilitate the agricultural drains into green corridors.
See link for video.
This grant directly benefited the 17,420 people who live
adjacent to drains and the transboundary community by
reducing the environmental health risks associated with
illegal dumping.
©CameraName 89T31 °C#	10-30-2016 03:17:19
Tula Drain after trash removal.
6

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Reducing Waste, Continued
Campo Band Zero Waste Plan
Unmanaged trash contributes to public health risks and poses
significant environmental harm including the clogging of streams and
creating unsightly views. In the border region, unmanaged trash raises
potential transboundary impacts to water quality and streamflow.
Addressing these problems is a priority for the Campo Band of Mission
Indians (Campo Band), located along the U.S.-Mexico border in
California.
In 2015, Campo Band raised concerns about transboundary solid waste
issues to representatives implementing the Border 2020: U.S.-Mexico
Environmental Program. The Border 2020 Program provided funds to
conduct a solid waste assessment and prepare a Zero Waste Plan. The
Zero Waste Plan was completed in January 2018.
Along with the recommendations in the Zero Waste Plan, Campo Band
is actively exploring other materials management activities including
short and long-term goals to develop a self-sustaining waste and
recycling program and transfer station.
Strengthening Emergency Preparedness
and Response
Bill Jones (lanes. Bil!fa)epa..aov)
Emergency Preparedness and Response Training
for First Responders & Industry
ASU is presently undertaking a follow-up project
in Nogales, Sonora to develop tabletop exercise
course content and to train maquiladora
wan wosflifs
The U.S.-Mexico border region is highly industrial and hazardous materials pose a threat to
communities and transboundary air and watersheds. Through technical support from EPA and a grant
from the NADB, Arizona State University (ASU) led the development of a binational Hazardous
Materials Emergency Response Training
(HAZMAT) Pilot Program with industry,
academia, and federal, state, and local agencies
in Nogales, Sonora that trained over 200 students
and certified 14 instructors. A key success of the
grant was the establishment of a training institute
at Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales, capable of
delivering emergency response courses for
managing hazardous materials incidents.

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Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response, Continued
environmental health and safety managers and emergency response personnel on the activation and use
of the Sister City Plans for Ambos Nogales, Douglas-Agua Prieta and San Luis-San Luis Colorado.
The fundamental objective of the collaborative training and exercises is the implementation of tactical
objectives by industry emergency staff and first responders during pre-emergency planning, high risk
operations, and the four phases of response: discovery, initial response, sustained response, and
Termination of the emergency event.
Binational Emergency Response to Tire Fire near Douglas, AZ
Jk
W
border region.
Binational emergency preparedness and response
coordination is critical because toxic smoke,
contaminated water and other impacts from disasters
and incidents transcend local, state and international
boundaries. From 2000-2013, there were
approximately 200 chemical emergencies in the
border areas of Sonera, Mexico reported to the
Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection
(PROFEPA), representing a 36% increase.
Emergency preparedness efforts - sister city
emergency plans, training, exercises, equipment -
have been put to the test in real-life emergencies and
led to a more efficient coordinated response in the
When a major tire fire on December 7, 2017 sent dangerous billows of smoke from Agua Prieta, Sonora
into Douglas, Arizona, Douglas firefighters crossed the border and helped put it out. In 2016, the
Douglas fire department responded to tire ignitions and warehouse fires in Agua Prieta. On another
occasion, when a huge fire in Douglas was about to take an entire city block, Douglas received assistance
from Mexican firefighters.
In Spring 2018, a 200-hour HAZMAT technician training will commence for 20 Douglas and Agua
Prieta firefighters, which will result in additional HAZMAT technicians in Douglas and a full HAZMAT
team in Agua Prieta so that they can better respond to incidents and continue to assist each other in
emergencies across borders.
EPA has worked to ensure proper personal protective gear for first responders and to determine the best
options for protecting the public under different scenarios (e.g., evacuation routes, shelter in place). In
addition to testing known issues and scenarios, training and exercises provide valuable lessons learned
regarding unanticipated issues. Since the inception of the Border 2020 program, over 10,000 people have
been trained on both sides of the border.
"The Border 2020 program brings people together to better understand and coordinate emergency
preparedness and response tactics. The result is emergency responders on both sides of the Border
who are better trained and equipped to protect human health and the environment,"
-Mario Novoa, Fire Chief, City of Douglas

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Promoting Environmental Stewardship
and Environmental Compliance
Emily Pimentel (Pimentel. Emily faiepa.aov) arid Marcela VonVacario (Vonvacano.Marcela(a)epa.aov)
Reducing the Transfer of Illegal Hazardous Waste
The illegal import and export of hazardous waste is a threat
to safety, public health and the environment and can promote
scam recycling and unfair business practices. To address these
issues, EPA funds the port of entry inspection program lead by
California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
DTSC and the Emergency Response Division, in partnership
with San Diego County, inspected north bound trucks
crossing into the United States for compliance with federal
and state hazardous materials management and import/
export requirements.
They also collaborated on special southbound inspection
operations, which engages multiple federal, state, and local
agencies to address special import/export concerns.
Participants included the U.S. Department of Transportation,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the California
Highway Patrol.
Photo - taken by Jessica Rodriguez
Two special operations were conducted April and June of 2017,
with DTSC participation in San Diego and Calexico. These
inspections required hazardous materials experts who are trained in how to work in enclosed spaces and
extreme temperatures. As seen in the photo, Carlo Rodriguez of the DTSC San Diego office, in a
modified level-C personal protection (Tyvek suit), is conducting the inspections at the southbound truck
stop in Calexico on a day when the temperatures hit 117 F. These operations resulted in the inspection of
78 southbound trucks and two separate cases of violations of hazardous waste transport requirements
involving used cars and lead contaminated cathode ray tubes from electronic devices.
Addressing Environmental Health
Jessica Helgesen (He la es e n J e ss i c a (a) ep a. a av)
Preventing Asthmatic Emergency Visits and
Reducing Asthma Triggers in Imperial County
The children of Imperial County, California experience some of the highest rates of asthma emergency
visits in the state. The reasons include a naturally high concentration of asthma triggers in the
environment, lifestyle, and cross border air pollution, among other factors. Breathing with asthma is the
equivalent of how it feels when you plug your nose and try to breathe through a straw with your mouth. ^

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Addressing Environmental Health, Continued
To help reduce emergency room visits, the Border
2020 Program funded the Imperial Valley Child
Asthma Program (IVCAP) from 2016-2017 to
conduct in-home asthma interventions for over 100
asthmatic children of 20 low-income families
living in Imperial County. These families were
identified through 13 Healthy Homes forums
attended by 223 residents under the same grant.
The project also included training of over 50
low-income housing maintenance workers on
Healthy Homes practices focused on practical
and cost effective methods for making residents'
homes healthier.
In coordination with staff of the El Centro
Regional Medical Center, EPA served as
moderator for the 2017 "Stop and Listen Asthma
Forum" held in El Centro, California (Imperial
County) for World Asthma Day and Air Quality
Week. EPA presented a summary of the Agency's
work in protecting public health and the
environment in Imperial County and along the
U.S.-Mexico border.
EPA staff stand by pledge poster designed to encourage the reduction of asthma
triggers in homes and schools in Imperial County
Approximately 75 participants attended the event
hosted by the Regional Medical Center, including
public officials, medical providers, teachers,
students, and the public. Participants signed a
Pledging to reduce sthma triggers in their homes and schools
The need for work on asthma triggers in Imperial
County continues. EPA is extending funding to
educate approximately 70 families on asthma
management through additional home visits to
continue to reduce hospitalizations and trips to the
emergency room.
"Those monies may not last long, but will definitely help the patients we serve who don't have the
money to buy these products," Aide Fulton said. "This program focuses on the elimination of
triggers at home and is going to help them maintain long-term control of the disease."
Fulton is the current program manager for the Imperial Valley Child Asthma Program.
10
¦Free Smoke-Free
/ill stand up for those with asthr
AJ I
(DERSTANDING
IVCAP team: Rubi Alvarez, CHWLourdes Salazar,
CHW, Aide Fulton, RN, AE-C, and Graciela Ruiz, CHW
pledge poster committing to stand up for those
with asthma in Imperial County by electing to keep
schools and homes clean and dry, smoke-free and/
or fragrance-free. Results suggest many are not yet
ready to reduce the use of fragrance, demonstrating
the need for additional outreach or targeted
messaging.

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Border 2020: U.S.-Mexico
Environmental Program
*0/Vter>^
Border 2020 and Children's Environmental Health Grants in Region 9
Read our recent press releases about projects selected to improve air and water quality, reduce waste,
strengthen emergency preparedness and response, promote environmental stewardship and address
environmental health needs: https://www.epa.gov/border2020/horderwide-puhlications
Recent Publication
Read about the history and impact the Border Programs have made to improve public health and the
environment: https://www.epa.gov/border2020/border-publication-protecting-environment-and-p1.1blic-health
Protecting the Environment
and Public Health
Click here to sign-up for our Border 2020 listserve!

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