News Release C-02-00

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 324-9670 FAX (916) 445-5563

For Immediate Release (C-02-00) Contact:  Edd Fong (916) 324-9670 March 28, 2000

CAL/EPA SECRETARY HICKOX MEETS WITH BAJA CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
TO DISCUSS BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SACRAMENTO -- California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Winston Hickox met last night with Baja California Governor Alejandro Gonzalez Alcoser to discuss environmental issues of mutual interest, including the desire of Cal/EPA to expand the existing cooperative relationship between California and Mexico to address environmental issues along the California-Baja California border.

Governor Alcoser was accompanied by Baja California’s Director of Ecology
Adolfo Gonzalez Calvillo; Secretary for Economic Development Juan Antonio Martinez; Secretary of Health, Dr. Carlos Astorga; Secretary of Tourism Juan B. Tintos Funcke; and Secretary of Agriculture Genaro Lopez.

"California and Mexico have so much in common that it is natural for us to work together to address environmental issues of mutual concern," said Secretary Hickox. "The California-Baja California border region has 5 million residents and significant agricultural and industrial activity that affects the region’s environment. Environmental problems in the region invariably impact residents on both sides of the border. That’s why our collaborative relationship with Mexico to address environmental problems in the region is so important."

During the meeting, Governor Gonzalez Alcoser received presentations from representatives of two California companies that provide environmental services, Nolte and the IT Group. Nolte specializes in wastewater treatment services, including engineering, planning, surveying, and management. The IT Group specializes in services to operators of solid and hazardous waste transfer, storage, recycling, and disposal facilities.

"Working together with Mexico on environmental issues not only makes good environmental sense, but it also makes good economic sense," Hickox said.   "California companies have some of the best environmental technology and expertise in the world. Our cooperative efforts with Mexico on environmental issues will provide business opportunities for California companies."

During the meeting at Cal/EPA offices in Sacramento, Governor Alcoser and Secretary Hickox discussed how Cal/EPA and the Department of Ecology for the state of Baja California can further cooperate to address common environmental concerns, including coordination with the Border Environment Cooperation Commission on regional environmental projects, solid waste management issues in the region, participation in the federal government’s Border XXI programs, wastewater treatment and reuse, and California environmental services and technologies that might be useful in the region.

Cal/EPA has been an active participant in the California Border Environmental Cooperation Committee (Cal/BECC) since 1994. Cal/BECC is composed of high-level government officials from California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur.  The committee was established by the Commission of the Californias to seek out environmental infrastructure projects that are mutually beneficial to California and Baja California. Secretary Hickox succeeded Baja California’s Director of Ecology Adolfo Gonzalez Calvillo as chairman of Cal/BECC in June 1999. Since that time, the level of cooperation and activity on border region environmental issues has increased.

The meeting at Cal/EPA took place on Monday night the first day of Governor Gonzalez Alcoser’s three-day visit to California.

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