BOARD APPROVES FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS DURING PUBLIC MEETING

BECC RECOGNIZES "COMITE 13 COLONIAS"

BECC ANNOUNCES PUBLICATION OF REVISED PROJECT CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

IBWC HOLDS BINATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO

DISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY PROCEDURES APPROVED

NEW CO-CHAIRS APPOINTED TO LEAD BECC ADVISORY COUNCIL

NEW STEP I PROJECTS RECEIVED

The BECC Board of Directors approved four projects for certification during its 10^th public meeting on Saturday, November 9^th, in Laredo, Texas. The four projects, two from Mexico and two from the United States, have a total estimated capital cost of $9.2 million dollars, and will benefit more than 100,000 border residents.

On the U.S. border, the Board certified a Wastewater Treatment Plant for the City of Somerton, Arizona, with an estimated capital cost of $1.5 million dollars and a project to improve the water and wastewater treatment systems for Mercedes, Texas, with an estimated capital cost of $4.5 million.

On the Mexico border, the Board certified two sanitary landfill projects in the State of Sonora: one for Agua Prieta, the other for Puerto Peñasco, with an estimated capital cost of $1.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

The four certified projects bring the total number of BECC-certified projects to twelve. With certification, these projects now qualify for financing consideration from the North American Development Bank (NADBank), BECC's sister institution, located in San Antonio, Texas.

Laredo Mayor Saul N. Ramirez and Nuevo Laredo Public Works Director Lauro Villarreal, representing Nuevo Laredo Mayor Monica Garcia, welcomed the more than 150 people who attended and participated in the meeting, representing non-governmental organizations, municipalities, state and federal agencies, and the public-at-large. Public comments were presented to the Board of Directors on each of the four projects before certification.

BECC General Manager Roger Frauenfelder presented a Special Recognition to the representatives of the "Comité 13 Colonias", a community-based organization located in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, during the November 9^th public meeting, for

"its efforts to benefit the communities surrounding the FINSA Industrial Park of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Its committed and responsible efforts set a precedent in the certification of private sector projects along the border. Furthermore, the committee facilitated collaboration between the community and the private sector, the Matamoros Sewer and Drainage Service Board, and both the BECC and NADBank in order to meet the community's environmental infrastructure needs as well as sustainable development objectives."

Special recognition was also given to BIMEXSA, on behalf of the FINSA Industrial Park, and the Matamoros Sewer and Drainage Service Board for their involvement and cooperation in providing not only environmental improvements but also contributing to auxiliary community-benefits for the city and people of Matamoros.

The Recognition was granted after several months of negotiations between the Comité and FINSA, in defining a $50,000 investment project for the Matamoros community, the result of a "certification condition" set by the BECC Board during the January 18th public meeting in Nogales, Sonora. FINSA and the Comité agreed that the resources would be used to evaluate and improve several aspects of the community's infrastructure.

The BECC is pleased to announce the publication of the revised Project Certification Criteria (Criteria). The revised Criteria were approved by the BECC Board of Directors during the November 9^th public meeting in Laredo, following an extensive public review and comment process. The Criteria were first adopted by the BECC Board of Directors in August 1995.

The changes in this document from its original, community-tested version reflect the knowledge gained from a year's operating experience. The BECC has incorporated suggestions from the governments of the United States and Mexico, border states and municipalities, project sponsors, non-governmental organizations, and border residents to streamline the process without disturbing the integrity of the document.

In other areas, the document has been enhanced to include an explanation of Technical Assistance, Principles for Private Projects, and High Sustainability Recognition. These new programs and policies have strengthened the Criteria and will benefit communities along the entire border.

The Criteria are utilized by the BECC to evaluate and certify environmental infrastructure projects. Twelve projects have been certified by the BECC Board of directors using the Criteria to date.

To be certified by the Board, project sponsors must comply with six categories of criteria including: 1) General; 2) Human Health and Environment; 3) Technical Feasibility; 4) Financial Feasibility and Project Management; 5) Community Participation; and 6) Sustainable Development.

Electronic and/or hard copies of the revised Project Certification Criteria are available by request. Please contact: April Lander, Program Manager - Environment, at tel: (011-52-16) 29-23-95, or e-mail: alander@cocef.interjuarez.com. The document is also available on the BECC's Home Page: http://cocef.interjuarez.com.

Soon to be available is a matrix summarizing public comments received during the public review process. Comments are organized by subject, and accompanying each is a brief description of the BECC's response. This document will be posted on the BECC's Home Page and will also be available by request.

The U.S. and Mexican Sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), hosted an open-house for local elected officials, government leaders, non-governmental organizations and media representatives from San Diego and Tijuana at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), located in San Ysidro, California, on Monday, November 25^th.

IBWC Commissioners John Bernal and Arturo Herrera presided over the event, which included a briefing on the SBIWTP, its history and purpose, and a tour of the facility expected to begin operating in March 1997. The event also introduced the Parallel System Improvement Project, a binational project to complement the SBIWTP and help the City of Tijuana improve the reliability of its wastewater collection system.

The improvement project, and a project to retrofit Tijuana's existing wastewater treatment system located at Punta Bandera, have been submitted to the BECC by the Comisión Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Tijuana (CESPT) for certification consideration. Two independent citizens committees have been established in San Diego and Tijuana to evaluate the project and assist with community outreach.

In July 1990, the United States and Mexico, through the IBWC, formed a clean water partnership and signed IBWC Minute No. 283, to address the urgent wastewater problems in the Tijuana River Valley. Spearheaded by the IBWC, the partnership involves the design, construction and operation of an international wastewater treatment plant with an ocean outfall disposal system and the parallel system improvement project.

The SBIWTP will be capable of providing secondary treatment for 25 million gallons of raw sewage per day (MGD) and will resolve a long-term problem of untreated wastewater entering the Tijuana river and contaminating the tidal estuaries and ocean, which has posed a danger to public health, environment and economy of the region. The International Plant is an example of the increasing environmental cooperation between the two countries to safeguard the quality of life along the international border.

For more information, contact M.R. Ybarra, Secretary of the IBWC, U.S. Section, at (915) 534-6698.

During the November 9^th public meeting, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the Procedures Regarding Disclosure and Confidentiality. The adoption of the Procedures by the Board came after several rounds of public review and comment. The approved Procedures are available on BECC's Home Page: http://cocef.interjuarez.com, or by contacting the BECC directly at (011-52-16) 29-23-95.

Two new co-chairs were appointed by the Governments of the United States and Mexico, to lead the BECC Advisory Council into its second year. U.S. Advisor Sandra Ferniza, of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Mexican Advisor, Alfredo Alvarez, with the Cultural Center of Tijuana, were selected by their respective governments to co-chair the elite Advisory body. Advisors Ferniza and Alvarez, who were active members of the Council prior to nomination, will take over for Rick Reyes and Oscar Romo, who chaired the Council from its inception.

In accordance with Article I of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission's (BECC) Procedures Regarding Public Notice and Comment on Project Applications, the BECC has received a Step I Form for the following projects for the month of November. Please note that this listing does not represent any type of BECC staff recommendation concerning the potential for project certification.

Diversification of Water Uses in the El Paso Valley, Texas. The project will provide a mechanism to efficiently deliver water historically developed for agricultural purposes so that it can be jointly used by agricultural, municipal and industrial interests along the border. Total Est. Cost: to be determined. Contact: Mr. Edmund Archuleta, General Manager, El Paso Water Utilities, 1154 Hawkins Blvd. El Paso, Texas 79925. Tel: 915-594-5699. Rec'd: 11/10/96.

Sewage system improvements for the cities of Camargo, Mier, Miguel Alemán, Nueva Cd. Guerrero and Díaz Ordáz, Tamaulipas. Sewage system improvements based on the development of a Master Plan for the frontera chica of Tamaulipas for the planning, design, and construction of the infrastructure project priorities. Total Est. Cost: to be determined. Note: Step I forms were submitted separately for each city. Each project relies on the results of the Master Plan, sponsored in part by the BECC. Contact: BECC Engineering Program Manager Adolfo Urias at (011-52-16) 29-23-95. Rec'd: 11/12/96.

Sewer System Rehabilitation and Improvements, Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Sewer pipe replacement, trunk sewer rehabilitation and completion of the pumping station #11. Total Est. Cost: $3.5 million. Contact: Victor Alfonso Sánchez Ruelas, Gerente General, Junta de Aguas y Drenaje, Emilio Carranza #914 Nte. H. Matamoros, Tamps. 87330. Tel: (88) 12-3500. Rec'd: 11/13/96.

Immediate Sanitation Actions, Nogales, Sonora. This is the Step II of the Nogales, Sonora Water Supply Project. The project includes "quick fixes" for the expansion and rehabilitation of the sewer network, wastewater treatment plant, and a wastewater reuse program. Total Est. Cost: $4.5 million. Contact: Vernon Perez Rubio, Secretaría de Infraestructura Urbana y Ecología de Sonora, Palacio Admvo. Adolfo de la Huerta, Commonford y Tehuantepec, Hermosillo, Son. 83000. Tel: 17-17-64. Rec'd: 11/14/96.

Parallel Conveyance System and Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation, Tijuana, B.C. The project includes the construction of a parallel conveyance system to the Punta Banera wastewater treatment plant and the rehabilitation and expansion of the plant. Total Est. Cost: to be determined. Contact: Ismael Grijalva Palomino, Director General, Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana. Blvd. Federico Benitez #4057 Col. 20 de Noviembre, Tijuana, B.C. 22430. Tel: (66) 22-40-62. Rec'd: 11/20/96.

If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Edgardo Tovilla, BECC's Technical Coordinator, at (011-52-16) 29-23-95.

February 11, 1997 El Paso, Texas

May 1997 Mexicali, Baja California

August 1997 Las Cruces, New Mexico

December 1997 Piedras Negras, Coahuila