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Border Celebrates Environmental Improvements
ENSENADA, MEXICO (4/27/06) The cleanup of more than two million waste tires, improved bio-terrorism response training, and a new drinking water system were among the accomplishments discussed at the Border 2012 U.S.-Mexico environmental program’s annual meeting in Ensenada, Mexico.
Through the Border 2012 program, the U.S. and Mexico are working together to improve public health and the environment along the 2,000-mile border region, home to approximately 12 million people.
Specific Environmental Improvements
Removed more than two million tires that posed significant bi-national human health and fire risks in the Mexicali and Ciudad Juarez border region.
Removed 2,000 tons of hazardous waste from an abandoned U.S.-owned lead smelter to protect the local community in Tijuana.
Retrofitted approximately 23 diesel trucks that cross the border to reduce emissions along the San Diego-Tijuana border.
Improved drinking water and wastewater infrastructure systems for 1.5 million border residents, through investments administered by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and North American Development Bank. Many communities along the border don't have potable water and must rely on water trucks (pipas) to bring water to their communities. Typically, border residents get water from these trucks for their cooking, bathing, and other needs (photo at right).
Signed an agreement to establish the Baja California Emergency Management Institute, a bi-national public-private partnership that focuses on sustainable emergency preparedness training along the border region.
Provided safe drinking water to the indigenous Kumeyaay community of San Antonio de Necua in Baja California, Mexico. The old water system was contaminated with fecal coliform and caused severe gastrointestinal illness. This project leveraged the investment of over $900,000 by Mexico’s Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples in developing water systems for indigenous communities. The children in the photo at right, members of the local community, enjoy safer water because of this successful binational partnership.
The communities along the U.S. and Mexico border face critical challenges in addressing the issues of clean air, clean water, and the proper disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. In an effort to continue improving environmental health in the border region, the Border 2012 program will focus on the following immediate priorities:
- Increasing access to safe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
- Developing a comprehensive bi-national waste tire management strategy for the entire border region to prevent future tire piles.
- Retrofitting diesel buses and trucks and improve availability of low sulfur diesel fuel.
- Disposing of old pesticides stored along the border.
- Strengthening inspection capacity at ports of entry and industrial facilities.
The annual meeting of the Border 2012 Program brought together delegations from both countries to discuss progress and priorities for the 10-year binational cooperative plan that protects public health and the environment along the border. Federal, state, local, tribal and indigenous community representatives, non-governmental organizations, and academia participated in the meeting.
For more information on the accomplishments and agreements from the annual Border 2012: U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program meeting, see the Border 2012 National Coordinators Joint Communiqué (PDF). ( 2 pp, 40K About PDF)