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Detailed Meeting Summary/Minutes Del Rio 2003
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
GOOD NEIGHBOR ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD
Board Meeting
Del Rio Civic Center
Del Rio, Texas
July 30-31, 2003
Detailed Meeting Summary/Minutes
Final, Approved
Table of Contents |
Page |
| List of Participants | 1 |
| Background | 1 |
July 30 Meeting Summary |
|
| Introduction and Greetings | 3 |
| Speakers Address Meeting Theme: Interplay between Environment and Infrastructure and Economic Viability of Rural Communities: An Examination of Success Stories and Challenges | |
| Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
| Conservation Sector | 3 |
| Academic Perspective | 4 |
| Maquiladora Sector | 5 |
| Good Neighbor Board Member Report-outs (part 1) | 6 |
| Guest Presentations Continue | |
| Flooding Issues | 8 |
| Solid Waste Issues | 9 |
| Competition for Water | |
10 |
|
| Good Neighbor Board Member Report-outs (part 2) | |
| Debrief on Meeting with Council on Environmental Quality Chair | |
| Comment Letters Update | |
July 31 Business Meeting |
|
| Approval of the Minutes | 11 |
| Report-Out on Consejos of Mexico | 11 |
| Indicators of Effectiveness | 11 |
| Other Board Comments, Meeting Plans | |
| Seventh Report Discussion | 11 |
Meeting
Summary/ Minutes of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Good Neighbor Environmental Board
Board Meeting
Del Rio Civic Center, Del Rio, Texas
July 30-31, 2003
Meeting Participants
Chair
Placido dos Santos, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Board Members Present
Amanda Aguirre, CEO-President, Western Arizona Area Health Education
Center; Arizona State
House of Representatives
Larry Allen, Malpai Borderlands Group
Diana Borja, Office of Border Affairs, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Gedi Cibas, Border Coordinator, New Mexico Environment Department
William Fry, President of Quality Assurance in Environmental Affairs, HEB Grocers
Paul Ganster, Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias, San Diego
State University
Valecia Gavin, President, Border Environmental Health Coalition, Doña
Ana County, New Mexico
John Klein, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior
Bill Luthens, EPA, Dallas, alternate for Laura Yoshii
Jerry Paz, Corporate Vice-President, Molzen-Corbin & Associates, Las Cruces,
New Mexico
Ed Ranger, environmental lawyer, Tempe, Arizona
Diane Rose, Mayor, Imperial Beach, California
Doug Smith, Sony Electronics
Shannon Sorzano, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S.
Department of
Housing and Urban Development
James Stefanov, International Boundary and Water Commission (alternate for
Commissioner
Carlos Ramirez)
Nancy Sutley, California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, California
Rosendo Trevino, State Conservationist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources
Conservation Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Dick Walling, Office of the Americas in the Middle East, U.S. Department of
Health and Human
Services EPA Staff
Geraldine Brown,Office of Cooperative Environmental Management (OCEM)
Oscar Carrillo, GNEB Associate Designated Federal Officer
David Cobb, El Paso Border Office
Khanna Johnston, OCEM
Elaine Koerner, GNEB Designated Federal Officer
Carlos Rivera, El Paso Border Office
Celia Rivas, Intern
Surabhi Shah, OCEM
Speakers
Hector Chavez, Director of Public Works, Eagle Pass, Texas
Malia Cox, Laughlin Air Force Base
Elston Eckhardt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
Ing. Geraldo Flores
Bea Harrison, The Nature Conservancy
Jim Harrison, The Nature Conservancy
Mike Mecke, Texas A&M, Texas Cooperative Extension Service at Fort
Stockton
Mario Morales, Rio Grande Nueces Resource Conservation and Development
Council (RC&D)
Darlene Shahan
Steve Walthour
Guests
Umberto Aguirre, Restoration Board, Laughlin Air Force Base
Manuel Ayala, Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation
Services (alternate
for Rosendo Trevino)
Harold Bean, Del Rio Fire Chief
Darryl Campbell, Del Rio Landfill Coordinator
Rudy Chappa, Del Rio City Council
Susan Codel-Leonard, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce
Roberto Conseco, Consulate of Mexico in Del Rio
Mike Evans, Reservoirs Manager, Del Rio
Terry Francisco, Del Rio Mayor's Office
Dr. Martinez, Del Rio Health Environment
Rebecca Moore, U.S. Border Patrol
Diane O'Brien, U.S. Consulate
Russ Pumfrey, Office of Border Affairs, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Raphael Quintanilla
Doris Turney, County Chair's Office
Rick Van Schoik, Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy
Angelica Villegas, Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias, San Diego
State University U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Good Neighbor Environmental Board
Board Meeting
Del Rio Civic Center, Del Rio, Texas
Detailed Meeting Summary, July 30-31, 2003
Background
The Good Neighbor Environmental Board (the Board) is an Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) independent advisory committee. It advises
the U.S. President and Congress on good-neighbor practices along the
U.S.-Mexico border. The focus is on the environmental infrastructure
needs of the U.S. states that are contiguous to Mexico.
Day 1 - July 30, 2003
Greetings
Chair Placido dos Santos welcomed visitors and the Board, noting the
absence due to medical reasons of Carlos Ramirez and Karen
Chapman.
Mayor Dora Alcala, coincidentally a new member of the Board, welcomed
her fellow members to Del Rio, a city of 34,000 and the Val Verde county
seat. Its No. 1 employer is the Laughlin Air Force Base. The area suffered
a devastating flood in 1998.
Presentations on Meeting Theme: Interplay between Environment and Infrastructure and Economic Viability of Rural Communities: An Examination of Success Stories and Challenges
Nonprofit Sector
Jim Harrison, The Nature Conservancy, with Bea Harrison
The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect biodiversity by protecting habitat. Scientists determine what needs to be preserved within particular eco-regions, and then the Nature Conservancy partners with landowners to protect it. They also work as consultants.
The nearby Devil's River is the highest priority of the Edwards Plateau eco-region. The main goal is to protect the water, without which there would be no biodiversity. There is the river itself, the riparian zone, and the mesa tops and slopes that drain into the river. The Nature Conservancy is purchasing 88,000 acres near the river's headwaters. It plans to resell the property to others who will donate a conservation easement to the Conservancy. One concern in west Texas is the difficulty ranchers and heritage landowners are having staying in business. When they have to sell, the land is often divided into smaller lots, and that viable landscape is lost.
Questions and Comments
Q Mr. Paz asked if there are any point source discharges into the Devil's
River.
A Mr. Harrison replied that there are not.
Q Mr. Ganster inquired if there are problems with invasive plant species
in the riparian area.
A Ms. Harrison answered that there are not so many on Devil's River.
It is so dry that most of the invasives that have been introduced just
cannot make it.
Q Mr. Fry asked how the Nature Conservancy is funded.
A Mr. Harrison explained that it is a private organization, funded by
individual corporations and other groups. They apply for government
grants, but are basically just funded by private individuals. They
also pay county taxes just like everybody else does.
Mr. Trevino observed a need to look at the Grassland Reserve Program, established with the Farm Bill and very similar to the Conservation Reserve Program, in which developmental easements are rented or purchased by the government and often managed by a nonprofit.
Q Mr. dos Santos pointed out that the majority of the newly acquired
land does not include the river itself. He wondered why this is.
A Mr. Harrison replied that a heritage landowner where the river emanates
has done a good job taking care of that. The Nature Conservancy purchased
drainage property nearby, as well as river frontage and contributing
springs.
Conservation Sector
Mario Morales, Rio Grande Nueces Resource Conservation and Development
Council (RC&D)
The RC&D program was developed with the 1962 Farm Bill and is administered to the National Resources Conservation Services as part of the USDA. Its purpose is to promote conservation development and wide utilization of natural resources, and to provide a system of rural development. It is a partnership between federal agencies, the federal government, and local entities, but the vast majority of a council's decisions are the responsibility of the local group. Concerns are identified and area plans are developed at the local level, with input from state conservationists and program managers. Our charge is to serve as a catalyst for groups to share knowledge and resources to solve common problems, while striving to eliminate duplication of efforts and finding niches not filled by other groups. There are 375 RC&Ds, many of which are 501(c)(3). The new Rio Grande Nueces Council, which is a member of the U.S./Mexico RC&D Border Coalition, has several projects, including helping to equip volunteer fire departments, reorganizing irrigation districts, energy projects, work at a stockshow yard fairgrounds, and more. There are a lot of opportunities.
Questions and Comments
Q Mr. Trevino asked Mr. Morales to give the Board an idea of the federal
to local match.
A Mr. Morales explained that it varies from state to state, depending
on what services the agency provides.
Q Mr. Trevino asked if, on a national basis, it is about $1 federal
for every $19.
A Mr. Morales replied that the RC&D is able to leverage that federal
dollar and get 19 times the value. They mix and match; a lot of times
it is just in-kind services, not so much a physical dollar in a bank
account.
Q Ms. Aguirre asked if Mr. Morales works in Arizona as a coordinator
through our Arizona Conservation Districts.
A Mr. Morales confirmed that the Conservation Districts are the petitioners
for the authorization of an RC&D.
Q Mr. Ganster asked if there is any cross-border work, or if there are
restrictions that draw a hard line.
A Mr. Morales stated that there are limitations with federal funds; a
reason for the U.S./Mexico Border Coalition is to try to address that.
They are currently limited to information exchange.
Q. A community guest asked if the coalitions should include Ciudad Acuña.
They have problems with contamination in the Los Vacas River, which affects
water from Del Rio down to the Gulf. The municipality has very few funds,
but can provide information and studies.
A. Mr. dos Santos stated that binational cooperation at a local level
is key to solving lots of international problems here.
A. Mr. Conseco added that the IBWC is working on the Las Vacas. They
could do a little more work locally with the spread of information about
the solutions they are working on.
Ms. Borja commented that the Border Coalition might be interested in the Border 2012 meeting in Laredo, Texas on August 28, which includes local, state and federal interests and treats the river as the center of a region.
Academic Perspective
Mike Mecke, Texas A&M, Texas Cooperative Extension Service at Fort
Stockton
Mr. Mecke presented the Rio Grande Basin Initiative (riogrande.tamu.edu) for Texas Water Resource Institute Director Dr. Alan Jones, who was attending a funeral. The project is funded through the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service, an agency of the USDA. The four partners—Texas and New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the Texas and New Mexico State University Cooperative Extensions—collaborate with many groups, including agricultural commodity organizations, county extension agents, and other universities. Tasks include working with irrigation districts, trying to establish some institutional incentives for efficient water use, and looking at saline wastewater management. They are trying to establish an irrigation technology center to evaluate and demonstrate farm-scale application of irrigation technology as well as other efficient technologies and cropping systems. Other tasks involve urban landscape water conservation, promoting drip irrigation and native plants, in-home efficiency, water-quality protection, aquatic and riparian weed management, use of reclaimed water, basinwide hydrology salinity modeling and technology, and education and outreach in remote areas.
Questions and Comments
Q Mr. Fry asked what the Rio Grande Basin Initiative would like to see
the federal government do in terms of encouraging or enabling the implementation
of those technologies.
A Mr. Mecke would like to see the technical abilities and personnel put
back into the Natural Resource Conservation Service, which has been repeatedly
cut. More research money is needed to go to the USDA, ARS. Also, more
should go to extension to collaborate with universities, communities,
and RC&D councils, which do a lot of good, especially for small communities.
Q Ms. Sutley asked if the Institute is measuring changes in water-use
efficiency. She also wanted to know how much of that change has been
institutionalized and would continue past a drought. She wondered about
the potential use of reclaimed water in either agricultural or rural
uses, to reduce use of ground and surface water.
A Mr. Mecke answered that the measurement is ongoing, and USDA funds
have stepped up the pace of it. The potential for reclaimed water is
very high for pasture or hay crops.
Mr. Smith added that the work at Texas A&M is quite successful. Sony has worked with them, and they accomplished things other chemists said could not be done.
Maquiladora Sector
Ing. Geraldo Flores (in Spanish)
[Beginning portion not audible.] In Mexico, there is nothing similar to the rule of universal residuals. As a result, they have to be handled as hazardous, and there must be more areas of storage, as well as more paperwork. They do not have authorized transporters for Class I materials. The transporters usually used come from other cities, which increases the cost: Mexico is paying twice as much for a load.
Questions and Comments
Ms. Borja commented that this was the clearest presentation she has seen,
and that it should be heard in other places.
Q Mr. dos Santos asked if Mr. Flores needs receipts.
A Mr. Flores answered yes.
Q Ms. Aguirre inquired where in Mexico the hazardous materials are disposed.
A Mr. Flores stated that the hazardous materials are disposed of close
to Monterrey. It is the only approved point for elimination, which
is a problem. One of the sites is a private industry; the other, he
believes, is a cement company.
Q Mr. dos Santos asked if there is an organization of professionals
of the companies that is dedicated to environment safety.
A Mr. Flores explained that there is not; they have internal programs,
but not one that involves all of the industry.
Mr. dos Santos commented that perhaps that would be an opportunity. Arizona
has the collaborative Program Amigo that has had a lot of success managing
waste materials.
Ms. Borja stated that she has noticed that the majority of people outside the industry believe the majority of material Mexico sends here is hazardous. There should be some communications that this is not the case, and that what hazardous material there is does not stay on the border but goes to Houston for elimination.
Q Mr. dos Santos asked if there is any international collaboration in
the companies of Ciudad Acuña and the representation of the fire
stations.
A Mr. Flores explained that they have a contingency plan to involve all
the fire people in Mexico and Del Rio, giving them all the information
on the materials handled and inviting them to our installations.
(Part 1 of Presentations Ends)
Good Neighbor Board Member Report-outs - Part 1
Ms. Borja reported that it has been a year of downsizing and contracting.
The board has been tracking and working with BECC and NADBank on water
conservation, which has been their big-ticket item. The first regional
workgroup was held in Ciudad Juárez for the Border 2012 meeting.
Ms. Sorzano stated that in the border region, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has been working on a satellite-mapping GIS project and has for the first time been able to coordinate information from Mexican bureaus. They are working with the Mexican government on housing finance; this program involves a course for Mexican bankers, developers and builders on building a viable mortgage market. On the U.S. side, there are some things going on with colonias.
Mr. Luthens reported that the first national coordinators meeting in a long time for Border 2012 is coming up. He has been working on the Air Policy Forum, which is trying to develop binational air pilot projects into border air-quality strategy.
Mr. Trevino stated that funding has been received, and they are in a rush of trying to commit it before the end of the fiscal year. They are very involved in the Farm Bill's Environmental Quality Incentives programs and a grassland reserve program. They are trying to help their constituents be more effective in managing resources in the face of the droughts in the West. They have limited staff, but are accessing local experts.
Mr. Ranger explained that he is an adjunct professor teaching law at Arizona State University, and the class has developed proposals that are going right to the governor's office. They involve children's border health care, getting the federal government to support the Arizona-Sonora Emissions Trading Program, an analysis of the economic impact of Mexico's Federal Waste Wall law (like Superfund), and hazmat cross-border transportation within the context of Homeland Security. He is working on ASU's Pan-American Institute to develop relationships among universities throughout the Americas. He accepted a position as Mexico's special counsel on climate change. There appears to have been a change of heart with respect to the Nogales International Waste Water Treatment Plant and the $60 million earmarked through BECC and NADBank. It is an ongoing process, but he is keeping his fingers crossed.
Mr. Cibas reported that the attendance was impressive at the New Mexico-Chihuahua-Texas regional group meeting for Border 2012, but rural areas were not well-represented. The Board needs to think about how we address problems in less-populated areas. Also, there are data systems across the border that differ in concepts and in units of measure. We are working on GIS programs to coordinate this, as well as on a small but symbolically important rainwater harvesting project.
Mr. Ganster stated that the last SCERP Border Institute produced a number of draft papers looking at the state of the environment in different sections of the border. (Mr. Van Schoik offered that the next border institute will probably be the intersection of security policy and sustainable science as it applies to border regions.) The next meeting of the Border Trade Alliance Environment and Health Committee, which is half made up of GNEB members, meets Sept. 25-26 in Mexico City. San Diego State and the Autonomous University of Baja California have launched an effort funded by USAID that will result in a joint master's degree of public administration and transborder governance, which will increase understanding and help develop networks. San Diego State has partnered with the county and stakeholder groups in Baja to develop a binational vision for the Tijuana watershed.
Mr. Klein reported that Water 2025 meetings have been developing dialogue and fostering an information exchange among communities with serious shortages and water-usage issues throughout the West. Water 2025 has tremendous opportunities and relevance for border water issues, There are some salt-cedar eradication programs going on in various basins, and his department has been involved in putting together a drought workshop—we are facing the start of a 20-25 year drought.
Umberto Aguirre, Laughlin Air Force Base, stated that he is a representative of the community of Del Rio. He had not known about the Board, but he thinks the group is doing a good job, and he wished them luck. He has been working with the base's Restoration Advisory Board and has a lot of information to share after the session.
Phillipe Basulto Corona stated that Ciudad Acuña has had a smoke problem for many years. They are making a strong effort to have a good waste-disposal system to eliminate the air contamination. It is being funded by NADBank.
Mr. Mecke announced that there will be a national meeting on rainwater harvesting Aug. 20-23 in Austin, Texas.
Ms. Borja summarized Mr. Corona's comments from a meeting four years ago of the mayors of Del Rio, Ciudad Acuña, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. The Acuña mayor asked, "Why can't I make an application to BECC/NADBank for a landfill, and why can't that landfill serve all four areas? We are closer to each other than we are to anyone else in our own states." Now, with 2012, there are policy forums that could consider this internationally.
(Guest Presentations Continue - Part II)
Flooding Issues
Elston Eckhardt, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is part of the U.S. Army but does work worldwide with a mission of both civil works (broken down by river boundaries) and military construction (more of a state approach). Local governments must be sponsors of their projects. Since the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, local communities have had a very significant role, cost-sharing on the projects and on the studies that make them happen. Most studies are shared 50/50, while local sponsors usually cover 20 to 50 percent of project cost, some of which happens in the form of lands, easements, rights-of-way and relocations. If these total more than 50 percent of project cost, the federal government will reimburse the sponsor to make it 50/50.
Flood-damage reduction and ecosystem restoration are high priorities under the current administration. Flood-reduction projects must have a benefit-to-cost ratio greater than one, while ecosystem restoration projects are sized and evaluated based on an incremental cost of each habitat unit. The total benefits figure for flood projects is the difference between the yearly average of damages that would be incurred with the project in place and the damages that would be incurred without it. The yearly cost is figured sort of like a 50-year mortgage. The Corps also consider the net total benefits, which is the annual costs subtracted from the annual benefits. There are other considerations, such as environmental tradeoffs or the sponsor's preferences.
Questions and Comments
Q Mr. Fry asked what the mechanism is for a community to request a project.
A Mr. Eckhardt replied that, for large projects, a community contacts
the Corps of Engineers by letter, and then there is usually a two-year
process for getting it into the President's budget. There are shortcuts,
if people know congressmen, or if the Corps gets money directly from
Congress. For smaller projects, a community can write a letter to its
local district. Congress gives the Corps money every year for these smaller
projects.
Q Mr. Paz asked about the ecosystem restoration projects. Do they extend
into things like wastewater treatment for discharges into streams?
A Mr. Eckhardt answered no; that is more the EPA's role and EPA's
will. The Corps of Engineers' focus is in low-lying areas around
streams and the wetlands. The Corps focuses a lot on urban streams.
Q Ms. Gavin asked if the Corps is working on any Rio Grande projects.
Would they be interested in a restoration project by the Elephant Butte
and Acia Dam, or is that too far from the river?
A Mr. Eckhardt answered positively, and stated that he would like to
know more about that effort. The Corps of Engineers has a Rio Grande
reconnaissance effort going on right now, which would include an attempt
to find partners to carry projects further.
Solid Waste Issues
Hector Chavez, Director of Public Works, Eagle Pass, Texas
Mr. Chavez gave an overview of the tire problem in his community. While the state of Texas boasted a good record last year in disposing of tires, smaller communities like Eagle Pass did not see that success, going from 43,000 tires in 1997 to 10,000 last year in Maverick County.
One impact of so many tires is mosquitos, which can pass on Dengue fever, encephalitis, malaria, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. Outbreaks can have serious economic impacts as well. Without elimination of the tires, mosquito abatement is difficult, expensive and ongoing. Another problem is fire risk, with tire fires burning longer and more intensely, sending a lot of unwanted products into the atmosphere that carry health risks and can contaminate drinking water and other resources. The cost of management is often beyond what a fire department can absorb. Previous state programs have been learning experiences, with state-subsidized shredding programs leading to a mountain of tire shreds instead of a mountain of tires, failing to address the end product.
The ending of disposal fees is also a problem. Elimination is costly, but the problem is already costly, with the fire management and the diseases being produced. The state needs to look at implementing a disposal fee again.
Questions and Comments
Mr. dos Santos noted that the issue of tires came up a lot in the Border
2012 public meetings. There are certainly transboundary implications.
Board members mentioned some alternative uses, including artificial reefs, and baling for slope stabilization and gravity walls.
Q Mr. Stefanov asked if incineration and use of that energy for some
beneficial use is even a possibility.
A Mr. Chavez responded positively. A lack of technology has been a problem
in the past, but it has come a long way. We should look at what Europe
is doing with waste-to-energy.
Q Mr. Luthens wondered if it is harder to get the supply with the demand
in border communities.
A Mr. Chavez said that it was more difficult. The facilities and major
users are elsewhere, and it costs a lot to ship.
Q Ms. Borja observed that, looking at one issue at a time, it is easy
to say, "OK, we can do that." But when all these issues are
layered on one another, the problems are exacerbated and it does not
seem doable.
A Mr. Chavez noted that it is certainly too much for the cities and the
counties. The state needs to be involved. And with the implementation
of fees, the money is already there; it is just not being used correctly.
Mr. dos Santos commented that it takes money not only to promote the proper use of waste tires, but also to create viable enforcement programs so that illegal dumping does not continue.
Competition for Water
Darlene Shahan and Steve Walthour
Ms. Shahan started off by saying that in Kinney County, which includes springs that recharge the Rio Grande, they have established a groundwater conservation district. This is the state's preferred method for groundwater management, but many interested water exporters have accused the county of acting out of fear and the county has been faced with many challenges to the district's authority. Legislation was introduced this past session to take away the district's authority and ability to protect its aquifers, as well to cut off most of its funding. It was masked as a defense against a renegade district abusing its power. The district had to divert research funds to defend against this attack.
If Ms. Shahan were to make any recommendations, it would be that federal, state and environmental agencies strive to discover means of financial support in a defense of local district rules and in the promulgation of necessary science, with education and support for local directors. Without help for all the districts, local water resources and the environment are up for grabs.
Mr. Walthour noted that part of Kinney County's water resources is in the Edwards Aquifer, which has implemented a permitting program that is going to require limitation of groundwater to municipalities, industrial users, and even irrigators. Over the next few years, the amount of water they can use is going to ratchet down, so they are going to go out looking for water (there are market forums trying to develop a market for Kinney County's groundwater, and farmers who are not doing very well economically are looking at the idea of selling some of their water rights). During the permitting process, there were claims for four times as much water than they can show was actually ever used in the county. Part of that has to do with the community's concern about having enough water for their own use. The district does not have a firm grip on the science of where the water comes from and where it goes.
Questions and Comments
Q Ms. Sutley asked what the standards are for issuing a permit for groundwater
use.
A Mr. Walthour stated that one of the primary standards is beneficial
use. And, provided there is enough to go around, a well owner is entitled
to maximum historical use.
Q Ms. Sutley asked if there is the ability to prevent the use by claiming
water and unreasonable use.
A Mr. Walthour answered that the question of unreasonable use is a broad
mark, sort of in the eye of the beholder.
Q Mr. Klein inquired whether the success or failure of a wealthy farmer
in central northern Texas who is proposing to pump vast sums of groundwater
and move it to the highest bidder will help set precedents that would
affect Kinney County.
A Mr. Walthour does not think so. The economics in actually building
the pipeline have a lot to do with whether he is successful.
A Ms. Shahan added that she did not know that his activities would affect
theirs. He is going through the courts, and they are not being handled
that way.
Q Mr. Paz asked if federal oversight would be more beneficial than local
control.
A Mr. Walthour answered no; he thinks in this case local control is important,
if financing can be obtained to help with it. Federal agencies have been
helping Kinney County gather the science.
Mr. dos Santos noted that it is important to hit everyone equally with reductions. Also, there is nothing that can convince people to take that, short of seeing the consequences of a failure to manage. When those kinds of impacts are made visible, then you can start to manage a resource that is largely invisible to people.
Role of Military
Malia Cox, Laughlin Air Force Base
Laughlin is an undergraduate pilot training facility and an active base. The goal of the Restoration Program is to protect human health and the environment by cleaning up and restoring sites where past activities have caused contamination. The dense clay soil has prevented a lot of contamination, but it has also made it hard to get it out once it is in there. Laughlin uses innovative techniques and teamwork to reduce costs and increase the quality of the products we get for the tax dollars it uses. Modern technologies are a lot cheaper, and they have had some successful pilot projects to test new methods. A soil vapor extraction device was the first thing that worked on the fuel contamination at the site where people used to be trained on putting out airplane fires. The contractor finished so quickly that there was time to test a biovent system, too. They do not have the final results back from that yet, but it might save the base a lot of money.
Questions and Comments
Q Ms. Rose asked why they have the environmental clean-ups if Laughlin
is still an active base.
A Ms. Cox answered that all bases had to do an assessment starting in
1985. It was Air Force and DoD-wide. And if contamination was found,
a base was required to go into a clean-up process.
Ms. Sutley recommended that the base look into the Environmental Council of the States, which promotes state cooperation in finding innovative technology to deal with clean-up at federal facilities.
(Guest Presentations End)
Good Neighbor Board Member Report-outs - Part II
Ms. Sutley reported that pressure from Imperial County and the congressional delegation helped get Integra's Mexicali plant to install scrubbers on all its units. They are doing some lead-contamination research on some candy wrappers coming from Mexico.
Mr. Stefanov stated that Debra Little is the acting commissioner while IBWC Commissioner Ramirez is on medical leave. Minute 309 was signed a few weeks back, and Minute 310 will probably be signed this week. IBWC is continuing with assessments of levies along the Rio Grande, and they are staring to implement a GIS.
Ms. Rose reported that there is a legal situation where the state of California sued the IBWC over international plants' failure to meet the state's Clean Water Act standards, and the regional and state control boards have disagreed on it. It looks like it is scheduled for trial at the end of the year. The Ocean Observation System is up and running. Early results show that treated effluent is not circulating back toward the shore.
Mr. Walling stated that they are putting together a departmental border framework plan. The Environmental Health Workgroup for Border 2012 and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission are both meeting in September. Public health infrastructure related to emergency preparedness and response remains a top priority.
Ms. Gavin noted that New Mexico is working on a state health plan and a state water plan, which includes looking at desalination. She has joined the board of the Paso Del Norte Health Commission, which is composed of doctors from UTEP, El Paso, and Ciudad Juárez.
Mr. Fry reported that HEB Grocers is pushing forward on installing solar heating in at least one of its stores, something that came out of the field trip on the Board's last meeting. Regarding obesity, they are exploring the possibility of grocery tours to teach kids how to shop and eat healthily, knowledge they can take home to their parents. By putting air conditioning unit compressors on the ground instead of the store roof, they have reduced the amount of structural steel needed.
Mr. Allen stated that the Malpia Borderlands Group continues to work on conservation easements. They have been quietly purchasing some land and have about half the area under easements. They are also working on restoring natural fire to the ecosystem and have had a successful prescribed burn.
Mr. Smith reported that Sony parts are now cadmium-free, and the TV circuitboards from Sony's Mexicali plant are lead-free, a process that reduces emissions, too. By 2005, there will not be any more lead used in Sony's products. Sony makes its products to sell anywhere, so European regulations are setting some guidelines for them everywhere. Using money they received from selling recyclables, they built a recreation center with a health clinic at out Tijuana plant.
Mr. dos Santos stated that there was great participation for the Border 2012 Regional Workgroup meeting. Task forces were established for the Nogales air issues, binational emergency preparedness and response, water, enforcement and waste management, and children's environmental health.
Debrief of the Chair's Meeting with Council on Environmental Quality Chair
Mr. dos Santos reported that Ms. Koerner organized this meeting with CEQ Chair James Connaughton and Kenneth Peele, a member of his staff who also serves with the National Security Council. Mr. Connaughton was interested in trucking issues, emissions trading, and power plant issues. He expressed great gratitude for the Board's past work. He thinks they have built a bridge.
Mr. Dos Santos stated that the Board had sent a letter after its last meeting to the President and Congress urging $100 million instead of $50 million for the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF). Of course, the budget ended up with $50 million, which is now being considered by Congress. There is still an opportunity to try to boost it. An El Paso Times article references our letter, and an op-ed piece takes the same position. There is increasing attention to the problem.
Day 2 - July 31, 2003
Approval of the Minutes
The Board approved the minutes of the previous meeting, with a few additions
and clarifications. Ms. Koerner asked people to send her corrections
on the updates workgrid, in case she had left anyone out or incorrectly
volunteered someone for an activity.
Report-Out on Consejos of Mexico
Mr. Ganster reported that at the end of June, he went to a meeting of
the Northwest Council for Sustainable Development, which is one of
the border councils of Mexico that is a roughly our counterpart. It
was a very positive experience. He has not fully checked out all of
this information, but this is what he observed to be their structure.
These councils in Mexico are the outgrowth of the 1992 Earth Summit
and Agenda 21. The Border Region Consejo began work in 1995, and its
Northern Committee was later split in two, a northeast and a northwest.
These two are our counterparts. Their general purpose is to create
a mechanism to take public input, consultation and social participation
to the government on environmental policy and sustainable development,
and vice-versa. They are formally a body to evaluate and provide consultation
and advice to SEMARNAT. The mandate is pretty broad, and it includes
coordinating with equivalent groups, like GNEB.
Each Consejo is made up of representatives elected by the social, academic, NGO, business and state sectors. The elections can be difficult, since they can involve a lot of small groups in what is basically a grassroots process. The Northwest Regional Council has 24 members from Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora and Sinoloa. A president and technical secretary are elected for one-year terms. Staff support is provided by the Coordinating Unit of Social Participation and Transparency (UCPAST). The council needs to meet every three months, with 10 days' notice before a regular meeting, or five in emergencies. With the EPA/State Department requirement of 21 days' notice for international travel, it is hard for us to attend. That is a good illustration of how both systems work, but when put together, there are these little discontinuities.
Their meeting agenda included the election and installation of new officers, half-hour presentations (Mr. Ganster's was followed by very detailed questions), member report-outs, SEMARNAT's responses to the council, and breakout sessions in the afternoon for technical commissions, which do most of the work of the council.
Their main product is the set of specific recommendations and questions to SEMARNAT that the ministry then has to respond to. It is a nice level of interaction, really direct access despite all the layers, perhaps because Mexico's environmental bureaucracy is still top-down and relatively small. The councils have had ecologists and biologists involved from the beginning, so collectively they have a lot of expertise.
There are good potential synergies with the Board. We could explore jointly addressing some transborder issues, perhaps sending a joint letter. Mr. Ganster encouraged Board members to attend their meetings and continue this dialogue.
Mr. Ganster added later that the Consejos had had their budgets reduced, and that U.S. groups could consider if they could support one or two people coming to the San Diego meeting. Presentations planned for that meeting may address the Consejos' structure and function, as well as the priority issues for the individual councils.
Questions and Comments
Q Ms. Borja noted that something like communication or a joint
letter has to be eased into. It can take a lot of coordination, though
such
communication is very valuable, knowing for example that one group
has the money for something, another has the technology, etc. She asked
if 2012 was mentioned during the meeting.
A Mr. Ganster stated that, yes, there was a report-out and some discussion;
clearly, everyone was aware of it.
Q Ms. Borja asked if there was a lot of turnover with the last election.
A Mr. Ganster stated that there was some, but they have it spaced out.
There is pretty good institutional memory.
Mr. Carrillo commented that maybe the Board should start with a letter to SEMARNAT, and that would be something the Consejo could help with at the San Diego meeting.
Q Mr. Paz asked if their issues are similar to the United States. Do
they have the same feeling about not having control on the other side
of the border?
A Mr. Ganster replied that some of the issues are the same, and they
have a strong understanding that many of the issues need to be dealt
with in a binational way.
Mr. dos Santos observed that, with SEMARNAT getting the input of so many groups, it would be tough for the Board to remain engaged with all of them. Maybe the Board needs to rely somewhat on the EPA-SEMARNAT relationship. He wondered if EPA would like anything procedurally from the Board to establish and maintain such a connection.
Mr. Walling suggested sharing the minutes of the Board's meetings with the Consejo, which may lead to some information coming the other way.
Later, Ms. Koerner clarified that only U.S. citizens can be members of the Board, since it is a federal advisory committee.
Indicators of Effectiveness
Paul Ganster
Some things are difficult to measure, like certain medium-
and long-term impacts and cumulative effects of Board activities, or
the understanding
of environmental issues that we bring to border communities. Quantitative
indicators include the number of letters and reports; the number of citations
to reports in other administrative or Congressional documents, or in
science literature; website hits; the number of guests or presentations
at meetings, etc. Qualitative indicators include the value of what is
said in our reports and in such citations, how well the presentations
seen reflect the communities, whether public comments are really conveying
much to us that's new or of use. Are we getting into the regional
media? Should there be a subgroup to work with media contacts for meetings?
Do we put out press releases? What about the activities of individual
members, making rotary club presentations and the like?
One way to be more effective is to maximize the impact of the annual report, perhaps timing it to coincide with the Strategic Planning Session when the Board is in Washington and can use personal interaction with Congress to increase visibility. The Board members could attract some press coverage in their own communities, too. And transborder work with the Consejo can also raise visibility.
Ideas to track indicators include dedicating a section of the annual report to a follow-up on the previous year's action items, establishing a list of newspapers to search periodically for references to the Board, and counting results on an annual Google search.
Questions and Comments
Ms. Koerner noted that the U.S. General Services Administration is conducting
survey of the hundreds of federal advisory committees, and the Board's
work on this matter would be useful to them.
Ms. Borja stated that there ought to be an indicator of evaluating the context. The Board should not just assume that because something worked one year, it needs to be done the same way the next.
Mr. Fry liked the idea of measuring results through follow-up, not just measuring activities.
Ms. Aguirre suggested setting up a benchmark that reflects not only the federal and state interests, but local communities. When the Board looks at recommendations, it should also note the trickle effect of a policy or recommendation.
Ms. Koerner mentioned a previous five-year review of the Board's work, which may be useful in continuing the discussion. She was also concerned about the indicator of whether recommendations have been taken or not, since the Board is just an advisory group (not a program or project), and because there are many reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the Board why a recommendation may or may not be taken.
Board members volunteered to communicate on the matter of indicators before the San Diego meeting, perhaps looking to fit a plan into the Strategic Planning Session.
Ms. Johnston noted that one of the roles of the Office of Cooperative Environmental Management is to look at the EPA's federal advisory committees as a while. The Good Neighbor Environmental Board got very high marks for the members' level of engagement, and there is definitely a need to capture some best practices here. Also, in a discussion of indicators, the Board should take note of the kinds of things that Elaine Koerner has to report to the GSA. The indicators could make that reporting easier.
Other Board Comments, Meeting Plans
Ms. Sorzano reported on the major points of a speech by Mexican Minister
of the Environment Victor Lichtinger: convincing the Mexican government
that the environment was important, noting the close link between the
environment and trade, and dealing with tires on the border.
Mr. Ranger made a recommendation that the Board write a letter to parties involved in the Nogales International Water Treatment Plant, asking them to continue their good-faith efforts to resolve the situation. Mr. Ranger offered to prepare a draft and submit it to the Board for a comment period.
Ms. Koerner announced that Mr. dos Santos' term as chair had been extended for another year by former Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, and she asked other members whose terms were about to expire to let her know of their interest in another term. Mr. dos Santos, who believes the Board is well served by changes, said that his second year of appointment would be his last as chair. He hoped the next chair would come from within, to ensure some continuity.
Ms. Rose updated the Board on planning for the San Diego meeting, which will now be referred to as the Imperial Beach meeting, since the Board decided to meet not in downtown San Diego but in the nearby city where Ms. Rose is mayor. The theme will be border-region communication, and there are plans for a session with the Consejo and field trips to Tijuana. Other topics of local interest include the border fence and the fact that it is an oceanside community.
Seventh Report Discussion
Mr. dos Santos reported on the status of the introductory section, which
will address the scope of the report, the phases in a child's
life, children's daily activities, and the environment in children's
neighborhoods. There is a question whether recommendations should be
made in the introduction section or in the subject area sections. Ms.
Koerner said that the Part One workgroup is also looking at key definitions
and developing language for the report.
Since the Deming meeting, some groups have revisited the decision to restrict "child" to the period from the fetal stage to age 18. Some members were concerned that the Board was biting off more than it could chew with the prenatal period, while others were concerned about the political implications of including a fetus in the definition of "child." After much discussion of the need to include that stage of development versus the potential dangers of including it in the report, Ms. Sutley suggested addressing the prenatal issues in the report but simply not include that stage under the definition of "child." Board members—including the very pregnant Ms. Chapman, who was reached by phone—accepted this proposal. A question remained whether the postnatal period would be broken into different stages.
Mr. Pumfrey reported that the air-quality group is dealing with the challenge of making air quality a children's issue by looking at ways in which children are more susceptible to pollution: They breathe more air per pound of body weight, they are likely to be playing outside, and they have more time for cumulative impacts. The group is looking at the particular environments: outdoor play, indoor school air, bus fumes, the surroundings of children who are farm workers or bridge workers and may be near pesticides or idling cars. They are trying to keep the main body of the text free of jargon, putting explanations in boxes instead.
Mr. Fry solicited stories of innovative solutions and community anecdotes to help put a personal face on water problems. He wondered if the report was to highlight problems or to move the administration to action, and he was concerned that it not be a mere rehash of existing work. The water group was struggling with how to frame issues that affect all age groups.
Ms. Koerner said the food group is trying to compile a typical diet for a child in the border region. The skin group has been compiling community-related stories. Steve Niemeyer on Diana Borja's staff has been helpful, and Board members are encouraged to contribute if they can.
Ms. Sutley sees nothing wrong with making general recommendations but talking specifically about children. A bigger concern is to what extent the Board needs to include some scientific basis to say children are particularly affected by something.
Mr. dos Santos thought a general recommendation would be more meaningful if it were one of few, and he urged the Board to focus on just a few recommendations. He also suggested looking at data gaps, where information needs to be developed.
Ms. Koerner made plans to distribute workgroups' drafts by email. Mr. dos Santos thanked the participants and Del Rio Mayor Alcala, and the meeting was adjourned. As a field trip, some members took a boat tour of the nearby Amistad National Recreation Area.
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