o %PBO^ BORDER 2020: U.S.-MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM Summary of the Draft Framework Document The draft Border 2020 Program is the latest environmental program implemented under the 1983 La Paz Agreement. It builds on the current Border 2012 Environmental Program, emphasizing regional, bottom-up approaches for decision making, priority setting, and project implementation to address the environmental and public health problems in the border region. As in Border 2012, the new program encourages meaningful participation from communities and local stakeholders. The draft Border 2020 Plan also strengthens its focus in regional areas where environmental improvements are needed most, establishing thematic goals, supporting the implementation of projects, considering new fundamental strategies, and encouraging the achievement of more ambitious environmental and public health goals. The Guiding Principles will support the mission of the Border 2020 Program and will ensure consistency by continuing the successful elements of previous binational environmental programs: > Reduce the highest public health risks, and preserve and restore the natural environment > Adopt a bottom-up approach > Address disproportionate environmental impacts > Improve stakeholder participation > Foster transparency, public participation, and open dialogue > Strengthen capacity > Achieve concrete, measurable results > Measure program progress through the development of environmental and public health-based indicators > Recognize tribal sovereignty of U.S. Tribes and address issues impacting tribes on a government-to-government basis MISSION STATEMENT As a result of the partnership among U.S. Border Tribes and federal, state and local governments in the United States and Mexico, the mission of the Border 2020 program is to: Protect the environment and public health in the U.S.-Mexico border region, consistent with the principles of sustainable development.1 In this program, sustainable development is defined as "conservation-oriented social and economic development that emphasizes the protection and sustainable use of resources while addressing both current and future needs and present and future impacts of human actions." > Address the specific concerns and protect and preserve the cultural integrity of Mexican indigenous communities Border 2020 has established five fundamental strategies that will complement and inform the way we will achieve the goals and objectives of the program: 1. Climate Change 2. Underserved Communities 3. Children's Health 4. Environmental Education 5. Strengthening Tribal, State, Federal and International Partnerships Border 2020 has identified six long-term Goals with specific Objectives to address the most serious environmental and environmentally-related public health challenges in the border region. Some objectives and sub-objectives targeted by these strategic goals are broad and are expected to serve as guidance in the development of biennial action plans. Biennial action plans will establish priority and near-term targets that pay attention to the particular needs of a geographic area, region, or community, and adapt to emerging issues and/or unanticipated resource constraints. Page 1 of 3 10/13/2011 ------- Goal #1: Reduce Conventional Air Pollutant and GHG Emissions • Continue to focus on air pollution reductions in binational airsheds • By 2018, maintain effective air quality monitoring networks and timely access to air quality • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and alternatives or renewable energy projects Goal #2: Improve Water Quality and Water Infrastructure Sustainabilitv and • By 2015, increase homes connected to safe drinking water (DW) and — By 2015 ~ 8,500 homes with DW - By 2015 ~ 39,000 homes with WW • Help DW and WW utilities become more efficient and sustainable • Reduce levels of metals, sediment, or bacteria entering rivers and watersheds Goal #3: Materials Management and Clean Sites • Develop capacity to improve collection and recycling of e-waste, plastics, and trash • Develop scrap tire pile prevention and recycling capacity • Develop institutional capacity to clean up contaminated sites • Continue to share information on border area hazardous waste facilities Goal #4: Improve Environmental and Public Health through Chemical Safety (THIS GOAL ISA U.S. PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME) • Minimize obsolete and unwanted agricultural chemicals in the border region • Reduce exposure to hazardous chemicals and asthma triggers • Reduce exposure of farm workers and their families to pesticides • Train health care personnel and promotoras on dealing with pesticide-related illnesses/poisonings Goal #5: Enhance Joint Preparedness for Environmental Response • Update eight sister city joint contingency plans with risk identification and reduction of all hazards • Facilitate easier trans-boundary movement of equipment and personnel • Continue updating the U.S.-Mexico Joint Contingency Plan Goal #6: Compliance Assurance and Environmental Stewardship • Improve information sharing between enforcement agencies on the movement of hazardous waste across the border • Use Toxics Release Inventory (in the U.S.) and RETC (in Mexico), annually to identify top polluters of toxic releases • Training and information exchange on laws and regulations of respective countries To complement and support the goals and objectives, Border 2020 encourages the use of Border 2020 Tools. The tools are not intended to be all-inclusive and are listed on page 28 of the Framework Document. They include: > Disadvantaged and Underserved Communities > Pollution Prevention Techniques > Public Health Interventions > Sustainable Management of Water Resources Page 2 of 3 10/13/2011 Reduce Exposure to Contaminated Water waste water (WW) treatment Key differences between 2012 and 2020 Border 2020 includes: > An 8-year implementation horizon > Five new guiding principles > 2-Year Action Plans that account for resource and priority changes and that consider the particular needs of a community or geographic area > Indicators and Communication Committees > A stronger communication component > Updated goals and objectives ------- > Environmental Information > Regulation and Policy Development > Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance Assistance > Environmental Education and Training > Infrastructure Planning and Development Organizational Structure and Coordinating Bodies (see figure) remain similar to the previous Border Environmental Program. Consistent with the La Paz Agreement, National Coordinators from each country manage overall program implementation, and ensure cooperation, coordination and communication among all coordinating bodies. Regional Workgroups are multi-media and geographically-focused, and emphasize regional public health and environmental issues. They coordinate activities at the regional level and support the efforts of local Task Forces and coordinate with U.S. Tribes and Mexican indigenous communities. Each Regional Workgroup has one state and one federal co-chair from each country. The Regional Workgroups may create Task Forces to identify priority issues and help facilitate pilot projects by engaging with local, state and tribal governments, academia, NGOs, and the public. Policy Fora focus on border-wide and multi-regional issues (identified as a priority by two or more regional workgroups), primarily federal in nature (requiring direct, high-level, and sustained leadership by federal program partners in the United States and Mexico) and that require broad policy considerations. Each of the six Policy Fora has a federal co-chair from the United States and Mexico. Communication is an essential element of past and present U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Programs. Border 2020, like the previous program, Border 2012, will depend on a bottom-up communication approach. In order to ensure effective and timely communication, and engagement, with the public, program partners and stakeholders, a communication strategy will be developed and updated regularly to ensure that efforts are streamlined and effective. Staff from EPA and SEMARNAT will organize these efforts taking into consideration input from Border partners. Operational Guidelines designate minimum standard operating and reporting procedures for coordinating bodies and are detailed on page 35 of the draft document. Interagency Cooperation and Leveraging of Resources - In order to maximize interagency cooperation, Border 2020 will consider the relevant activities implemented by other institutions and the input provided by organizations that represent a broad spectrum of programs and perspectives from governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sectors. Achievement of the goals of Border 2020 will also depend on continued availability and efficient utilization of funding from federal, state, and local governments as well as from public/private partnerships and collaborations. Border 2020 will encourage all parties to participate in leveraging resources when developing projects, policies, and programs to meet its goals and objectives. Please submit comments by November 30, 2011 to: border2020.comments@epa.gov or frontera2012@semarnat.qob.mx. For more information please visit our websites: www.epa.gov/border2012 and http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/temas/internacional/frontera2012. Page 3 of 3 10/13/2011 BORDER 2020 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE NATIONAL COORDINATORS (EPA-SEMARNAT) Advisory Committees on Communications and Indicators t - Regional Workgroups • Arizona/ Sonora • California/ Baja California i • New Mexico-Texas- Chihuahua • Texas- Coahuila- Nuevo Policy Fora • Air • Water Leon- Tamaulipas • Material Management ~ & Clean Sites ¦ • Environmental & Public Health Task Forces • Emergency Preparedness • Created and managed by & Response the Regional Workgroups • Compliance Assurance • Identify priority issues and and Environmental help facilitate pilot Stewardship projects by convening local, state, and tribal governments, academia, NGOs, and the public. ------- |