| Montreal, 9/12/2002 – The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of North America announced today that it will review Mexico's enforcement of environmental law with respect to a shoe-parts manufacturer that has allegedly caused health and environmental problems in a Mexico City neighborhood.
Ángel Lara García filed a citizen submission (SEM-02-005) with the CEC on 25 November 2002. In his submission, he asserted that the manufacturing facility of ALCA, S.A. de C.V. releases highly toxic contaminants into the neighborhood of Santa Isabel Industrial, where Mr. Lara García lives.
The health and economic effects allegedly attributable to the emissions produced by the company are cited in the 183 documents submitted by Mr. Lara García. He claims that the factory should close or relocate since, "according to environmental standards, which have not been respected, it is a source of pollutants."
The documents make multiple references to the presence of strong odors from fuels and solvents. And Mr. Lara García claims that complaints lodged with the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection) and other agencies have been to no avail.
The citizen submissions mechanism of the CEC enables the public to play a whistle-blower role on matters of environmental law enforcement. Under Article 14 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), members of the public may submit a claim alleging a NAFTA partner has failed to effectively enforce its environmental law. Following a review of the submission, the CEC may investigate the matter and pursue a factual record of its findings.
Please visit the Citizen Submission on Enforcement Matters page for more information.
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