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Border News
Chlorine Exercise and Training, Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mexico: On July 24, 2007 the U.S. EPA Region 6 hosted training on the software program called Computer Aided Software and Emergency Operations (CAMEO) and Incident Command System levels 100 and 200 in Piedras Negras, Coahuila in Mexico. The training was at the request of the Mexican federal government Civil Protection and PROFEPA (Mexico EPA). In attendance were over 50 local and state emergency managers and firefighters from the State of Coahuila. The training was taught entirely in Spanish with simultaneous English translation available.
On July 26, 2007 EPA Region 6 participated as an observer / evaluator along with firefighters from Eagle Pass, TX for a chlorine exercise sponsored by DuPont and FerroMex. The exercise scenario was a train collision near the US / Mexico border with a propane tanker truck that would cause a small release of chlorine from one of the rail cars. The hazardous materials response from FerroMex (rail transporter), DuPont (owner of Chlorine) and the local firefighters was tested. Also being tested was the binational notification from Mexico to the USA from CENACOM (Mexico National Center of Communications) to the US NRC (National Response Center). For more information, please contact Valmichael Leos, (214) 665-2283
EPA and bi-national Partners are coordinating a midpoint assessment of the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Program. Full story and request for comments »
The U.S-Mexico Border Program (Border 2012) Celebrates Progress and Looks Towards Future. Summaries of the National Coordinators' Meeting and EPA Administror, Steven Johnson's visit. Full Story »
Fourteenth & final border sister city agreement signed under the U.S. EPA Environmental Program Border 2012. On Monday, June 25, 2007, the last of the 14 major sister city agreements was signed between the communities of El Paso, Texas – Municipality of Juarez, Chihuahua -Sunland Park, New Mexico. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson and Region 6 Administrator Richard E. Greene were on hand to witness the signing of this event. Full story »
Environmental Progress along the Mexican Border Highlighted in Two New Reports. (Washington, D.C. - May 11, 2007) Two new reports highlight important health and environmental progress in the border region under the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Environmental Program. “These reports show significant environmental progress despite substantial growth in the border’s economy and population,” said Jerry Clifford, EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of International Affairs and Border 2012 U.S. National Coordinator. “They also confirm that international collaboration improves the environment, human health, and the quality of life while making economic and environmental sense.”
Both reports are available in PDF format on the Indicators Webpage.
National Coordinators Meeting - May 22-24, 2007. The National Coordinators of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mexico’s Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) are pleased to announce their annual National Coordinators Meeting (NCM) under the Border 2012 Environmental Program to be held in San Antonio, Texas, May 22-24, 2007.
Update: the meeting was held and the
Reports are now available.
Wastewater treatment plant initiates operation in Ojinaga, Chihuahua. Start-up of the wastewater treatment plant in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, which was certified by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) and partially financed by the North American Development Bank (NADB), was celebrated today. The plant, which cost an estimated US$1.89 million to build, will benefit more than 24,000 residents over its useful life. More Information
El Paso, Texas To Start Recycling (STOP, THINK, RECYCLE! Campaign). The City of El Paso, Texas will begin its recycling program on April 22, 2007. El Paso is one of the largest communities that has not had a curbside recycling program in place. The City of El Paso has had six citizen collection sites opened throughout the city, however, it hopes to increase its citizens' participation in recycling through its new program. For more information please read the City of El Paso press release (PDF). (1 pg 46k)
SmartWay Transport Partnership. SmartWay upgrade kit demo projects call for projects RFP - Border area is eligible - RFP guidelines (PDF) 
- More Information (PDF) (2 pp 41k)
The SmartWaySM Transport Partnership (SmartWay), established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2004, is a voluntary, public-private partnership with the ground freight industry. Truck and rail freight is integral to the nation’s economy; however, heavy-duty diesel vehicles are major consumers of fossil fuels and major contributors to air pollution. The SmartWay Transport Partnership promotes a variety of strategies designed to reduce energy consumption and vehicle emissions that also lead to a reduction in costs for truck and rail freight operators.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is partnering with EPA to support the SmartWay initiative in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The NCTCOG is currently seeking applications from companies with Class 8 heavy-duty diesel vehicles who are interested in outfitting their trucks with SmartWay Transport Partnership Upgrade Kits. Applications must be received between January 15 and February 23, 2007. Smartway Transport Partnership (PDF) (2 pp 41k)
State of the Border Region 2005 is the first of a series of environmental indicator reports produced by the United States-Mexico Border 2012 program. The report’s indicators track environmental conditions and trends for water, air, land, public health, emergency preparedness and response, and enforcement and compliance in the U.S.-Mexico border region since the start of the program in 2003 through the end of 2005. The Border Indicators Task Force published the report in December 2006. Full Report (PDF) (24 pp, 1.64 M, About PDF)