Partners
The Border Environmental Program is a collaborative effort that includes all Boards, Departments and Offices of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), other California State Agencies, the government of Baja California, and Tribal Nations located along the border region. The goals and objectives of the program can only be accomplished through the coordinated efforts of many state, federal, and tribal agencies on both sides of the border. The following contains a list of the partner organizations, and their roles in the Border Environmental Program.
- California State Agencies/Departments/Offices
- U.S. Federal Agencies
- Mexican Partners
- Infrastructure Financing and Certification
- Tribes
California State Agencies/Departments/Offices
Cal/EPA Boards, Departments, and Offices
The mission of the Cal/EPA is to improve environmental quality in order to protect public health, the welfare of our citizens, and California's natural resources. Cal/EPA will achieve its mission in an equitable, efficient, and cost-effective manner. The Border Affairs Unit helps coordinate the efforts of the Cal/EPA boards, departments, and offices:
- Air Resources Board
- California Integrated Waste Management Board
- State Water Resources Control Board
- Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region
- Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region
- Department of Pesticide Regulation
- Department of Toxic Substances Control
- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Resources Agency
The California Resources Agency is responsible for the
conservation, enhancement, and management of California's
natural and cultural resources, including land, water, wildlife,
parks, minerals, and historic sites. The Agency is composed of
departments, boards, conservancies, commissions, and programs.
Department of Water Resources
The mission of the California Department of Water Resources is
to manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with
other agencies, to benefit the State's people, and to protect,
restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.
Department of Health Services
The mission of the California Department of Health Services
(DHS) is to protect and improve the health of all Californians.
Other DHS web sites of interest include the Office of Border
Health, and Environmental Health Investigations Branch.
Office of Emergency Services
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall
state agency response to major disasters in support of local
government. The office is responsible for assuring the state's
readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and
war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in
their emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is working with Mexico and U.S. state and local governments
to protect and improve the environment of the U.S./Mexico border
area, improve our understanding of the border environment, and
increase cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico in addressing
priority environmental issues of the two countries, both inside
and outside the border area.
The Border XXI program is a binational, interagency program aimed at protecting and improving the environment and environmental health while fostering sustainable development in the U.S./Mexico border area. Objectives, which are central to the Border XXI Program, include public involvement, decentralization of border decision-making, and increased cooperation between the different governmental agencies operating in the border region.
USEPA provides grants to several Cal/EPA boards and departments, including the State Water Resources Control Board, the Integrated Waste Management Board, and the Department of Toxic Substances Control. The USEPA has played a key role in securing and administering funds for environmental infrastructure projects.
United States
International Boundary and Water Commission
The mission of the IBWC is to provide sensitive, timely, and
fiscally responsible boundary, water, and environmental services
along the United States and Mexico border region.
Mexican Partners
State of Baja California, Mexico
Baja California Dirección General de Ecología (Baja
California Directorate of Ecology)
The goals of the Baja California Directorate of Ecology are
to study and regulate industrial and air emission activities
that may have a negative impact on the environment or the
atmosphere.
Comisiòn Internacional de Lìmites y Aguas (CILA)
CILA is the Mexican segment of an organization that is
combined with the U.S. International Boundary and Water
Commission. The mission of CILA is to apply the rights and
obligations which the Governments of the United States and
Mexico assume under the numerous boundary and water treaties and
related agreements, and to do so in a way that benefits the
social and economic welfare of the peoples on the two sides of
the boundary and improves relations between the two countries.
Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources or SEMARNAT)
The work of the ministry is performed in the following four areas:
- To perform activities to halt and revert the pollution of life support systems (to air, to water and soil). These activities include restoration, as well environmental pollution prevention and protection.
- To halt and revert the loss of natural capital, including reforestation, controlling soil erosion and ecosystem regeneration.
- To conserve the biodiversity of ecosystems biodiversity with an emphasis on Natural Protected Areas and to other priority conservation areas, and to overall biodiversity protection and the sustainable uses of wild species.
- To promote sustainable development. These activities includes all actions which allow SEMARNAT to exert an influence over other sectors of government and industry to ensure that to their actions not only fulfill their social and economic aims, but are also compatible with conserving the environment.
Within SEMARNAT are two environmental organizations, the Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE) and the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (PROFEPA).
Instituto Nacional de
Ecología (National Institute of Ecology)
The INE is responsible for Mexico's overall environmental policy
formulation and implementation, and for the development of
environmental regulations and standards, as well as for
conducting research on the environment. They issue regulations,
develop technical standards and regulations, issue permits, and
evaluate studies for high-risk activities such as hazardous
waste disposal. In addition, INE has responsibility for such
issues as natural resource conservation; forestry maintenance,
protection, and restoration; hazardous waste cleanup; and
ecosystem management. In coordination with other state offices,
the INE oversees the environmental impact assessment process
throughout the country.
Procuraduría
Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Federal Prosecutor for
the Protection of the Environment or PROFEPA)
PROFEPA has the authority to monitor compliance with,
investigate violations of, and enforce environmental
regulations. They have administrative prosecutorial authority
and the power to assess penalties. PROFEPA conducts
environmental audits, and may refer violations to the Federal
Attorney General for action with a recommendation to seek
criminal sanctions against violators. Since its creation,
PROFEPA has implemented a program of inspections leading to
increasingly tough enforcement follow up when violations are
discovered.
Congreso del Estado de Baja California (Baja California Congress)
Comisión Estatal del Agua del estado de Baja California (Baja
California State Water Commission or CEA)
CEA is responsible for water quality and the distribution of
water in the State of Baja California.
Comisión Estatal de
Servicios Públicos de Tijuana (State Public Services
Commission of Tijuana or CESPT)
CESPT is the local utility responsible for providing water and
wastewater services for the cities of Tijuana and Rosarito.
Comisión Estatal de Servicios
Públicos de Ensenada (State Public Services Commission of
Ensenada or CESPE)
CESPE is the local utility responsible for providing water and
wastewater services for the city of Ensenada.
Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tecate (State
Public Services Commission of Tecate or CESPTE)
CESPTE is the local utility responsible for providing water and
wastewater services for the city of Tecate.
Comisión Estatal de
Servicios Públicos de Mexicali (State Public Services
Commission of Mexicali or CESPM)
CESPM is the local utility responsible for providing water and
wastewater services for the city of Mexicali, the Mexicali
Valley and San Felipe.
Infrastructure Financing and Certification
North American Development Bank
The North American Development Bank (NADBank) and its sister institution, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), were created under the auspices of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The NADBank operates under the November 1993 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States Concerning the Establishment of a Border Environment Cooperation Commission and a North American Development Bank (the "Charter"). Established in San Antonio, Texas, the NADB is a bilaterally funded, international organization, in which Mexico and the United States participate as equal partners.
Border Environmental Cooperation Commission
The functions of BECC are to:
- Work with the affected states and local communities, private investors and nongovernmental organizations in developing solutions to environmental problems in the region of 62 miles on either side of the US/Mexico border.
- Prepare, develop, coordinate, implement and oversee environmental infrastructure projects in the border region, including the design, site and other technical aspects.
- Assess the technical and financial feasibility and evaluate social and economic benefits of environmental infrastructure projects.
- Organize, develop and arrange public and private financing for projects. BECC will seek to mobilize private capital to the maximum extent possible in order to leverage government funding.
- Certify applications for financing to be submitted to the NADBank, or other sources that may request such certification.
- Provide technical and financial planning assistance for environmental infrastructure projects, giving preference to projects involving potable water supply, wastewater treatment, municipal solid waste management and other related projects.
Twenty-six Indian Tribal Nations recognized by the United States are within the Border Region. Some of the lands of these Tribal Nations extend into Mexico, and the Tribal Nations do not recognize either federal border. Many of these nations have existing and emerging environmental programs. The Border Affairs Unit seeks to engage Tribal governments in its implementation of the Border Environmental Program.
California-Baja California Border Environmental Program, http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Border/
Contact, Alejandro Rodarte arodarte@calepa.ca.gov