U.S. and Mexico Progress on Key Environmental Border Issues
AEN News
Washington - The U.S.-Mexico border region is one of the most
ecologically diverse areas in the world, extending 2,000 miles
from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, with natural
features as different as deserts, mountains and beaches.
Friday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy
Administrator Marcus Peacock met with Mexican Environmental
Undersecretary Felipe Vazquez at the annual meeting of
the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission (BNC) on the unique
environmental challenges for protecting the border's
environment and public health. More than 11.8 million
people reside here, including four U.S. and six Mexican
states, 26 American Indian Tribes, and seven Mexican
native populations.
The U.S. EPA works with other countries, particularly our
neighbors to the north and south, to protect the environment
and public health of all North Americans. The BNC is an
annual cabinet-level meeting designed to emphasize the
close relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. The 2006
BNC is comprised of 15 workgroups each co-chaired by a
U.S. and Mexican cabinet level official. The BNC's
Environmental Health Work Group (EHWG) is co-chaired
by the heads of EPA and Mexico's environmental agency,
SEMARNAT.
"Today's meeting demonstrates that by working together, we
can achieve cleaner air and water for all of our border
citizens," said Deputy Administrator Peacock. "I am especially
pleased at the agreement on methane recovery, and look
forward to other landmark accords in the future."
The U.S. and Mexico signed a Letter of Understanding identifying
areas of cooperation in a "Methane to Markets" agreement.
Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component
of natural gas. The Methane to Markets Partnership is an
international initiative that focuses on advancing
cost-effective, near-term methane recovery from sources
in the petroleum sector for use as a clean energy source.
Seventeen countries currently participate in this
international initiative which improves the environment
world-wide by reducing global methane emissions.
The U.S. applauded Mexico for its commitment to the delivery
of low-sulfur fuels in key areas of Mexico beginning this year.
EPA has been working closely with Mexican environmental and
energy concerns to promote adoption of cleaner fuel standards
in Mexico. Mexico recently announced proposed fuel
specifications that would harmonize with U.S. gasoline
and diesel ultra-low sulfur fuel specifications. Low
sulfur diesel fuels will be delivered to the border
region beginning in 2007.
The officials were also pleased to announce the first
collaboration between a U.S. and Mexican state under the
State-to-State environmental collaboration initiative announced
at the 2004 BNC meeting. The governors of Chiapas and Wisconsin
signed a mutual letter of intent to share expertise on sustainable
forestry and forest fire management. The agreement
helps these states leverage resources and share expertise
and technology.
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