Contents:
BECC, NADBank, and Border States Kick-Off Small Communities Initiative
BECC Tours Facilities in Piedras Negras and Cd. Acuña
Tips for Good Community Participation
BECC, NADBank, and Border States Kick-Off Small Communities Initiative
The BECC and NADBank, together with representatives from the ten border states, kicked-off a binational initiative to address the needs of small communities during a meeting held on February 26th, in El Paso, Texas. Supported by the Western Governor's Association, the idea for a small community initiative originated following discussions with state representatives regarding the limitations of small communities on both sides of the border to develop environmental infrastructure projects. During the first in a series of planning meetings, representatives from border states caucused to address the unique needs of small communities and how they would be better served by the BECC-NADBank process. Issues regarding technical assistance, grants, and lower interest loans surfaced as the forefront of these needs.
With some of the major small community issues identified, the representatives plan to meet again in early April to discuss them further detail, particularly as they relate to technical assistance. For more information regarding the Small Communities Initiative, contact Ms. Angeles Villarreal, BECC's Project Evaluation Coordinator, at (011-52-16) 29-23-95; e-mail avillarreal@cocef.interjuarez.com.
BECC Tours Facilities in Piedras Negras and Cd. Acuña
The General Managers of the BECC, together with officials from the U.S. and Mexican Sections of the International Boundary and Water
Commission (IBWC), State and Municipalities of Coahuila, toured existing water and wastewater treatment facilities in Piedras Negras and
Border Environment Cooperation Commission
P.O. Box 2216 48
El Paso, Texas 79913
e-mail: becc@cocef.interjuarez.com
Cd. Acuña, during a one-day visit to the region. BECC Director Rogelio Ramos arranged detailed presentations on the condition of existing facilities and the need for additional wastewater treatment capacity in the two Coahuilan border cities. Presently, the U.S. and Mexican sections of IBWC are working on the facilities plans for new wastewater treatment plants in both Piedras Negras and Cd. Acuña.
The General Managers also had an opportunity to visit the site of a proposed regional solid waste landfill located half-way between the two border cities. The regional landfill would serve as a cost-effective way for the cities to handle their municipal solid waste.
All three projects, the two wastewater treatment plants and a regional solid waste landfill, have been submitted to BECC for consideration.
Tips for Good Community Participation
...then, you'll be interested to know more about the BECC community participation criteria...
As per the BECC Guidelines for Project Submission and Criteria for Certification, projects submitted to the BECC must comply with the community participation criteria in order be considered for certification. Participation from the public in the process of developing environmental infrastructure is fundamental to a project's long-term success. Knowing project benefits and project costs helps community members make a conscious decision to support a project, not only from a health and environmental perspective, but from a financial perspective as well.
BECC community participation criteria requires project applicants to implement a BECC-approved community participation plan. BECC requires a plan so that project sponsors will plan and give the community an opportunity to participate in the development of infrastructure in their area. Planning helps a project sponsor identify key issues that need to be addressed in securing public support. A successful plan should include the follow components:
Local Steering Committee. Although this criteria is not mandatory, it can help a project sponsor achieve greater success in garnering public support. By developing and utilizing a steering committee with broad participation, one can more easily educate a larger segment of the community. A steering committee can be given a number of tasks to help promote a project: media relations, speaker's bureau, public education, etc.
Consultations. Meetings with local organizations are an excellent way to educate different sectors of a community about a project. Arranging and participating in meetings takes time and commitment.
However, these meetings are painless ways to let different groups in a community know how a project will benefit them on a day-to-day basis.
Public Meeting. Finally, a publicly noticed public meeting is required to give citizens an opportunity to learn more about a project and ask questions on the record. If a steering committee is utilized and local meetings are conducted, the public meeting will be a session during which informed citizens can ask good questions and receive direct, honest answers. Ultimately, the public meeting must demonstrate community support for the project.
Public participation does not end with the completion of an environmental assessment, a permit, or BECC certificaiton. On-going education programs and public participation is something that should be institutionalized and practiced throughout the project's life for a sustainable future.
For more information on developing a community participation plan, contact Tracy Williams (twilliams@cocef.interjuarez.com) or Gonzalo Bravo (gbravo@cocef.interjuarez.com) at: (011-52-16) 29-23-95.
TIPS FOR GOOD PARTICIPATION
Public Meetings on Project Applications
Ecoparque - Tijuana, Baja California
Representatives from Ecoparque, an alternative, low-cost wastewater treatment plant project submitted to the BECC, located in Tijuana, Baja California, conducted a public meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 1996, at the Cultural Center in Tijuana. More than 50 people attended the meeting, including representatives from Tijuana and San Diego, California. The two hour meeting provided an overview of the $350,000 dollar project and an opportunity for people to ask detailed questions on the project components. The Ecoparque project is designed to treat urban wastewater and use the treated water to irrigate city green areas and parks. For more information, contact Ecoparque at (011-52-66) 84-2-26.
Wastewater Treatment Plant and Ecoforest - San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora
Nearly 200 people attended a public meeting on a project proposal to the BECC that, in two phases, would extend the wastewater collection system and construct a wastewater treatment plant to treat municipal wastewater and use the treated effluent to irrigate a 4,446 acre forest outside of San Luis Rio Colorodo, Sonora. The $12 dollar million project was presented by San Luis Rio Colorado, Dr. Jorge Figeroa. The public meeting was conducted to comply with BECC criteria, although this project is not up for consideration by the Board of Directors during the April 30th public meeting. For more information on the Ecobosque project, contact Organismo Operador Municipal de Agua Potable, Alcantarillado, y Saneamiento de San Luis R.C. (OOMAPAS) at (011-52-633) 4-11-72.
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Plant - Naco, Sonora
The H. Ayuntamiento Constitucional de Naco, Sonora and the Municipal Potable Water, Distribution, and Treatment Operator, will conduct a public meeting on March 15, 1996, at 6:00 pm, in the Municipal Auditorium in Naco, Sonora, on the water supply and wastewater treatment project submitted to the BECC.
For more information, please contact Miquel Angel Gonzalez Robles at (011-52-633) 4-02-36.
The BECC has received Step I forms for the following projects. Please not that the listing does not represent any type of BECC staff recommendation concerning the possibility of project certification.
For more information on these projects, please contact Ms. Tracy Williams at Tel: (011-52-16) 29-23-95; e-mail twilliams@cocef.interjuarez.com.
BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
The Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) cordially invites you to attend a public meeting of the Board of Directors on Tuesday, April 30, 1996, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, at the Hotel Lucerna, located at Triunfo de la Republica #3976, in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua.
Draft Agenda
I. Report from General Manager
Report on the status of previously certified projects
Availability of BECC Annual Report
Status of Small Communities Initiative
II. Consideration of Project Certification for Naco, Sonora Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
III. Review of Projects that may be recommended for certification at the July 18th Board of Directors meeting
Wastewater Treatment Plant - Somerton, Arizona (sponsored by the City of Somerton)
Tire Recycling - Mexicali, B.C.(sponsored by Santa Rosalia)
Ecoparque - Tijuana, B.C. (sponsored by COLEF)
Wastewater Treatment Plant - Cd. Juarez, Chih. (sponsored by the City of Juarez)
IV. Consideration of Approving two Rules of Procedure
Complaints
Confidentiality
V. Policy for Certification of Private Sector Proposals
VI. Criteria for Recognition of High Sustainability of Projects
VII. Comments by Directors/Advisors
Any member of the public interested in submitting written comments to the Board of Directors on the projects proposed for certification should send written material to the BECC staff 15 days prior to the scheduled public meeting. Anyone interested in making a brief statement to the Board may do so during the public meeting.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, or if you would like to obtain more information regarding the Naco, Sonora project, please contact the BECC Office: Tel.: (011-52-16) 29-23-95; Fax: (011-52-16) 29-23-97; E-mail: becc@cocef.interjuarez.com.
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