by Kelly Simmons, Managing Editor and Senior Writer
NEW RESIGNATION HITS BECC
A new resignation at the Border Environment Cooperation Commission has hit the Agency again. In February, a U.S. member of the Board of Directors, Peter Silva sent a resignation letter to President Bill Clinton, stating that he wanted to "pursue new professional opportunities". It is the third resignation in a month for the bi-national agency. In mid January the Agency's two top administrators also resigned, effective in mid February. The move comes amid wrangling among environmentalists, business leaders and government officials that the Agency has not living up to its mandate.
BECC CERTIFIED PROJECTS
Since it began operations in February of 1995, the BECC has certified 12 projects for financing from the North America Development Bank. Those projects are: A Wastewater Reuse project in El Paso, Texas at a cost of $11.7 million; a Wastewater Treatment system for colonias in El Paso County at a cost of $110,000; a Wastewater Treatment in Ensenada, Baja California at a cost of $8 million; a Water Treatment plant in Brawley California to replace the existing plant at a cost of $17 million(NADBank financing has been approved); a Water Supply and Distribution Project in Nogales, Sonora at a cost of $39 million; a upgrade of water treatment facilities in Douglas, Arizona at a cost of $2 million; a Wastewater treatment plant at an industrial park in Matamoros, Tamaulipas at a cost of $1 million (NADBank financing has been approved); a Water supply and wastewater treatment project in Naco, Sonora at a cost of $750,000 (NADBank financing has been approved); a new Wastewater treatment project in Somerton, Arizona at a cost of $1.5 million; a water supply and sewage collection project in Mercedes, Texas at a cost of $4.3 million (NADBank financing has been approved); a Sanitary landfill project in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora at a cost of $1.7 to replace an open air dump; a Sanitary landfill project in Agua Prieta, Sonora at a cost of $1.5 million to replace existing open air dump that will be full in 2 years.
BECC TECHNICAL GRANT PROGRAM
In order to address problems experienced by communities wishing to submit proposals for environmental projects to the BECC for certification, the Commission has created a new Technical Assistance Grant program in February. The $10 million program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) out of its $100 million Border Fund for 1997. The Border Fund is designed to support water quality projects on both sides of the border. In its first year, the Border Fund went solely to wastewater treatment and 1997 is the first year any funds will be earmarked for drinking water projects. The BECC is still inviting public comment on the newly created Technical Assistance Grants Program, but community leaders and environmentalists see the program as a positive step in often confusing and frustrating process of seeing a project through the certification process.
The BECC can be reached on-line at http://cocef.interjuarez.com
Source: El Paso Times