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Government Officials and Public Meet and Discuss U.S.-Mexico Border Environment

Release Date: 9/28/2000
Contact Information: For more information contact the Office of External Affairs at (214) 665-2200.

     The binational coordinators of the Border XXI program brought together stakeholders from every level in the U.S. and Mexico to meet with the public in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 20-21, 2000, to review accomplishments and exchange ideas about protecting human health and the environment along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border.

     Under the Border XXI Program the United States and Mexico collaborate on projects to protect the environment, public health and natural resources and to ensure a high quality of life for residents along the U.S.-Mexico border. Stakeholders include federal, state and local government officials, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and business and industry associations.

     "I am pleased with the partnerships we have created with our Mexican counterparts. The progress we have made to build or improve physical infrastructure and negotiate binational  process agreements will serve the border community for years to come. Much remains to be done to protect human health and the environment in the border region, and EPA is committed to continued assistance," said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Gregg Cooke.

     Nine binational workgroups reported progress made in 1999 and 2000, and summarized key accomplishments of the last five years. For example, the Pollution Prevention Workgroup reported that 21 site assessment visits to maquiladoras to provide assistance resulted in annual reductions in water and energy consumption and waste production for a total savings of $10.1 million.

     The Contingency Planning and Emergency Response Workgroup works to prevent catastrophic loss of life, health or resources in the event of environmental disasters such as chemical accidents. This workgroup revised Annex II of the La Paz Agreement, modified the U.S.-Mexico Joint Contingency Plan (JCP), completed 6 sister city contingency plans, developed bilingual tools and protocols, and held binational exercises and training sessions.

     The Air Workgroup highlighted the creation and continuing efforts of the first-ever Joint Advisory Committee, which provides significant leadership in developing air quality plans and priorities for the Paso del Norte region.  

     The Cooperative Enforcement and Compliance Workgroup signed the Information and Mutual Legal Assistance Guide, which will lead to more cross-border enforcement actions.

     The Environmental Health Workgroup presented a report indicating that although lead poisoning in children is a concern in some areas, it does not appear to be a major public health problem border-wide. However, pesticides continue to be a growing concern to the border population.

     The Environmental Information Resources Workgroup developed environmental indicators, published Mexico's Reporte del Estado Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales en la Frontera Norte de Mexico (Report on the State of the Environment and Natural Resources on the Northern Border of Mexico), and completed the bilingual Border EcoWeb internet site.

     The Hazardous and Solid Waste Workgroup announced that the Consultative Mechanism for the Exchange of Information on New and Existing Facilities for the Management of Hazardous and Radioactive Waste within 100 kilometers of the U.S.-Mexico Border was signed December 1999. The mechanism addresses public concern on both sides of the border about hazardous and radioactive waste facilities in the border region.

     The Natural Resources Workgroup reported that several Joint Declarations with recommendations for cooperation enhancement and future actions on the Rio Grande/R¡o Bravo, the Colorado River Delta, and the San Pedro River Basin were signed.

     The Water Workgroup highlighted that potable water services improved in Mexico from 88 percent of the population served to 93 percent served.  The availability of sewage services increased from 69 percent served in 1995 to 75 percent in 2000, while wastewater treatment improved from 34 percent to 75 percent served. Funding for providing services to the colonias in the United States and for sewage and water projects for U.S. Tribes in the border region has also been obtained.

     A Joint Communique reporting the results of the meeting more fully will be available soon.  More information on the Border XXI Program is available on the Internet at https://www.epa.gov/usmexicoborder.