Summary of the Public Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC)

Summary Written by Molly Spieczny, Texas Center for Policy Studies

June 22, 2000

The Board of Directors of BECC held their 24th public meeting at 10:00 am on June 22, 2000 at the Centro de Convenciones Cibeles in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. The Board of Directors certified all four candidate projects presented at the meeting. These included a water and wastewater project for Tecate, Baja California; a wastewater project for Nogales, Arizona, an improvement to the sewer and wastewater treatment systems project for San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora; and a paper recycling facility and wastewater treatment facility in Región Cinco Manantiales, Coahuila.

Director Lynda Taylor chaired the meeting. Before the approval of the agenda, several distinguished attendees were recognized. Pete Silva, a BECC Deputy Manager, and member of the Board of Directors since the organization was created, was given a plaque and commended by several members of the board. Silva is now working for the California Water Board and it is anticipated that he will continue to interact with BECC in his new capacity. As of July 10, 2000, Javier Cabrera will be the new Deputy General Manager of BECC. The Board also recognized Fernando Macias as the new General Manager. Macias, currently Doña Ana County Manager, spoke about his anticipation to work with BECC, starting July 10, 2000. Director John Bernal then spoke about how Macias was chosen after six candidates were interviewed from a pool of 35 applicants.

After the approval of the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting March 24, 2000, Arturo Herrera gave the Executive Committee Report. Herrera announced that the committee has spoken with a number of sources about possible ways to supplement BECC's budget for the following fiscal year. The committee will meet again next month to discuss the option of working with the National Bank of Mexico. BECC had requested two million dollars from the U.S. Congress, yet as of the time of the meeting, Congress had only consented to funding BECC with 1.5 million dollars. Director Taylor stated that this funding is not sufficient for BECC to enter the realm of solid waste facility development and mentioned the possibility that members of the BECC staff might have to be cut back during the next year without the additional funding. She encouraged members of the audience to support the funding and to bring this issue to the attention of their congressional delegation.

Herrera then recognized Gloria Melendez for her excellent work during the last quarter and announced that the Executive Committee has finished the annual report for 1999. It just needs to be physically put together and bound.

Javier Cabrera then gave the Advisory Council Report. Eighteen members of the Council from both Mexico and the U. S. met yesterday and approved BECC's procedural rules, which should be in effect for the next four years. The council also discussed increasing the role communities play in BECC's interaction with the public.

John Hutton was then called to the microphone to speak about the US General Accounting Office's report about environmental infrastructure on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Hutton gave an overview of the report, saying it is divided into three main sections; 1. Problems, 2. Programs and Funding, and 3. Solutions. He said the report has a bi-national view and includes case studies on both sides of the border. In addition to the 3.1 billion dollars currently funded to the examined projects, an additional 3.2 billion would be needed to maximize their effectiveness. Other problems include a lack of utility management skills to maintain current infrastructure.

The first project presented for certification was the Improvement and Expansion of Water and Wastewater Systems for Tecate, Baja California. The objective of this program is to expand the distribution of potable water and the recollection and treating of residual water for Tecate's 67,006 current residents (estimated to increase to 246,738 by 2020). The project consists of constructing 27,028 meters of water lines into areas currently not covered (colonias). The MIA (Manifiestación de Impacto Ambiental) has approved the program, stating the increase should have no negative impact on other aspects of the environment. At a cost of $7,934,148 (9.5 p./1 dol.), the Board of Directors Certified the Project, stipulating that total funding is contingent on the funding BECC receives during the next year.

Because the mayor of San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora attended the meeting but was pressed for time, the next presentation was the construction of a Wastewater Treatment Plant and Rehabilitation and Expansion of the Wastewater Collection System. The project would cover wastewater collection for 85% of the city's service area, up from the 36% which is currently covered and the new system would be in compliance with local and regional standards. The project has met approval after considering its health, environmental, social and economic factors. The project should cost $13,500,546 (US) and 36% of it will be funded municipally. BECC certified the program, mentioning that future funding will depend on funds received by BECC.

(The presentations of the next two projects were abbreviated because Director Taylor announced that several Board Members needed to leave within twenty minutes).

The third project presented was the replacement of the International Outfall Interceptor, Upgrade and Expansion of the International Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Partial Replacement of the Wastewater Collection System in Nogales, Arizona. In addition to increasing service to the 21,000 current residents of Nogales, the project would comply with the criteria for an NPDES permit. The program has met all criteria for certification including public participation and sustainable development. It was certified by BECC with the stipulation that funding is dependent on funding received by BECC.

The final presentation was the proposed Recycling Paper Facility and Wastewater Treatment Facility in Región Cinco Manantiales, Coahuila. The program would extend the capacity of landfills and reduce the consumption of live trees as well as improve the management of municipal solid waste. The MIA has approved it. BECC certified the project, and unlike the previous three, this is funded primarily by a private company and will be used as a model for the Public/Private Partnership, where private projects are eligible for public funding if they benefit the community. BECC will fund 36% of the $ 18.1 million dollar project.

The Technical Assistance Report was then given, announcing that $1,429,008 dollars worth of technical assistance has been approved in April to June of 2000. The Sustainable Development Report was then given, and it was announced that on June 20, 2000 the Sustainable Development Work Group had updated a draft of the New Sustainable Development Work Plan for International Review and Comments by Staff, Board and Advisory Council. The approval of the final draft of the work plan is scheduled for September 14, 2000.

No other issues were raised for discussion and the meeting was called to a close.