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Outcomes of the Ten State Retreat:
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The representatives of the State agencies responsible for environmental quality and protection for the States of ARIZONA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, CALIFORNIA, CHIHUAHUA, COAHUILA, NEW MEXICO, NUEVO LEON, SONORA, TAMAULIPAS and TEXAS came together for a "Ten State Retreat: A Regional Approach to the U.S.-Mexico Border Environment." This meeting was held in Austin, Texas on November 18 -19, 1996. These representatives of the ten States sharing the United States-Mexico border met to agree on actions supporting the environmental issues addressed at the XIV U.S.-Mexico Border Governors' Conference on May 31, 1996 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
At the Retreat, the representatives agreed that the most effective and efficient means to improve the quality of the environment and to protect the health of the citizens in the border region is through coordination and collaboration. The overall objective of the Retreat was to integrate environmental programs in the border region through increased State-to-State cooperation. To further the Retreat's objective, the State representatives at the Retreat developed specific Joint Activities that represent a model of cooperation. With the assistance of the Western Governors' Association, a progress report on the Joint Activities will be presented to the Governors at the XV U.S.-Mexico Border Governors' Conference scheduled for June 5-6, 1997 in Torreón, Coahuila.
JOINT ACTIVITIES
The representatives of the States at the Retreat agreed that the following activities between the U.S. and Mexican border states will move us toward greater integration of environmental programs:
* Establish programs for reuse, reduction, and recycling, including water conservation.
* Develop a border-wide electronic environmental information sharing mechanism, support development of Geographic Information System databases and pursue compatible methods and measures to enable information sharing.
* Develop programs for volunteers (including professionals), and establish a recognition/award system.
* Collaborate with the maquiladoras and other industries as a source of technology and information exchange.
* Develop state-to-state environmental strategic plans.
* Develop and implement low-cost and clean technologies.
Additionally, the state representatives identified other state-to-state activities in which two or more states are involved or which they may pursue in the future.
* Ensure wastewaters are treated, including the control of non-domestic discharges in municipalities, and improve the condition and coverage of treatment plants.
* Promote public education and outreach, including schools.
* Identify resources to implement environmental programs.
* Create and support regional centers of information.
* Develop recycling workshops.
* Leverage conventional and non-conventional resources and funds from both private and public sectors.
* Develop and implement "Train the Trainer" programs in all media.
* Develop personnel exchange programs.
JOINT REQUEST TO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER GOVERNORS
In addition to the Joint Activities, the State representatives at the Retreat agreed to recommend the following to the U.S.-Mexico Border Governors:
* At the next meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Governors' Conference include a session on environmental issues to which the leaders of both federal environmental agencies as well as representatives from the World Bank, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Mexico's Ministry of Finance, the U.S. State Department, and Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Relations will be invited. This meeting will serve to further a more meaningful participation by the states in the programs of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, the North American Development Bank, the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and Border XXI to increase the effective allocation of resources.
* Recognizing the uniqueness of the border area and that resources and environmental regulations are more effectively directed by regional and local entities, promote a refocus of resources to regionally and/or locally based solutions.
* To request a review of procedures to improve the efficiency by which World Bank funds are distributed to the Mexican states and, where applicable, raise environmental budget ceilings.
* To achieve sustainable development, promote on-the-ground environmental improvements. In addition, it is important to protect NAFTA's historical precedent of including environmental concerns in international trade agreements.
* To promote the use of common technical terms and methods by federal environmental agencies.
* To continue to support the agreements reached at the previous Border Governors' Conferences.
UNITED STATES
ARIZONA
Russell Rhoades, Director
Department of Environmental Quality
Placido dos Santos
Border Manager, Environmental Quality
CALIFORNIA
James M. Strock
Secretary for Environmental Protection
Michael A. Kahoe
Deputy Cabinet Secretary
Governor Wilson's Office
NEW MEXICO
Mark E. Weidler
Cabinet Secretary
New Mexico Environment Department
Thomas C. Turney
State Engineer
TEXAS
Ralph Marquez, P.E.
Commissioner, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
John Howard
Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Director
Governor's Office
MEXICO
BAJA CALIFORNIA
M.C. Adolfo González
Director General
Dirección General de Ecología
Quím. Ruben Sepúlveda Márques
Subdirector de Normatividad, Análisis y Gestión Ambiental
CHIHUAHUA
Arq. Francisco José Prieto Muñoz
Director General de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología
Ing. José Treviño Fernández
Jefe del Departamento de Ecología
Dirección General de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología
COAHUILA
Dr. Rodolfo Garza Gutierrez
Director General de Ecología
Ing. Rafael Salgado
Director de Educación Ambiental
NUEVO LEON
Ing. Julián de la Garza Castro
Subsecretario de Ecología
Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Obras Públicas
Dra. Pilar Tomás Cid
Coordinadora de Proyectos Especiales
Subsecretaría de Ecología
SONORA
Psic. Maria Elena Barajas Olvera
Directora
Dirección General de Normatividad Ecológica
TAMAULIPAS
Arq. Arturo Sepúlveda Lerma
Subsecretario
Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología
Quím. Andrés Ochoa
Director de Ecología