96-14115. U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Plan

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 28581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14115]




[[Page 28581]]

[FRL-5515-8]


U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of the Draft Framework Document for 
the U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Program.

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SUMMARY: The Border XXI Program is a binational environmental planning 
program for the border area and is the second phase of the Integrated 
Border Environmental Plan (IBEP), released in February 1992. The goal 
of the Border XXI Program is to protect human health and the 
environment and promote sustainable development in the border area (the 
area extending 100 Km on either side of the boundary between the U.S. 
and Mexico). It broadens the scope of issues beyond those addressed 
under the IBEP and, through binational workgroups, deals with the 
following concerns: natural resources; environmental health; air; 
water; hazardous and solid wastes; contingency planning and emergency 
response; enforcement; pollution prevention; and, environmental 
information resources. Strategies which are central to the Border XXI 
Program include public involvement, decentralization of border decision 
making, and increased environmental cooperation between the different 
governmental agencies operating in the border region. To promote 
integrated regional planning, the Draft Framework Document is organized 
around five geographic regions: California-Baja California, Arizona-
Sonora, New Mexico-Texas-Chihuahua, Texas-Coahuila-Nuevo Leon, and 
Texas-Tamaulipas. The Draft Framework Document, developed in 
cooperation with the Department of Interior and Department of Health 
and Human Services, reflects an evolving process that will benefit from 
the experiences and input of various stakeholders, such as the four 
U.S. and six Mexican border states, as well as tribal nations, local 
communities, academia, non-governmental organizations, the private 
sector and border citizens.
    Through a series of both domestic and binational public meetings 
which took place during September through November of 1995 in various 
border communities, efforts were made to inform the public of 
objectives of the program and the process adopted for its involvement. 
At that time, the public also was given an opportunity to comment on 
the workgroup objectives for the program. These comments were taken 
into consideration by the binational workgroups in the development of 
this draft document.
    To provide additional opportunity for input, the public will have 
45 days from the date of release to comment on the Draft Border XXI 
Framework Document, which is the first of related documents that will 
be released under Border XXI. Additional public meetings for receiving 
verbal comments on the draft will be held during this comment period. 
Locations and dates of the meetings will be announced separately. The 
Final Framework Document will be released in the Fall of 1996.

DATES: The Draft Border XXI Framework Document will be made available 
to the public beginning June 13, 1996. Comments must be submitted no 
later than July 29, 1996.

Availability of Document and Submission of Comments: Copies of the 
document and information on submission of written comments may be 
obtained through an EPA ``Toll-Free'' Telephone number: [phone]. 
In addition, interested persons in Texas and New Mexico may obtain 
copies by contacting the EPA El Paso Border Office; interested persons 
in California and Arizona may obtain copies through the EPA San Diego 
Border Office. These offices also have information on the locations of 
information repositories for the Border XXI Program in various cities 
along the border. The address and phone numbers for these EPA offices 
are listed below. Copies may also be obtained through the following EPA 
Home Page: http://www.epa.gov/region 09.
    Comments may be submitted in writing to the Border Offices or 
electronically to the following Internet address: 
[e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For obtaining information in Texas or 
New Mexico contact: Marvin P. Waters, Director, EPA El Paso Border 
Office, 4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100, El Paso, Texas 79902; Telephone 
[phone]; FAX [phone]. For obtaining information in 
Arizona or California contact: Colleen M. Smith, Director, EPA San 
Diego Border Office, 610 West Ash Street, Suite 703, San Diego, 
California 92101; Telephone [phone]; FAX [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to copies of the Draft Framework 
Document, fact sheets on the Border XXI Program and summaries of the 
domestic meetings held last year may be obtained by contacting the 
Toll-free number listed above or by contacting one of the following:
    EPA Border Office--El Paso: 4050 Rio Bravo, Suite 100, El Paso, 
Texas 79902; Telephone [phone]; FAX [phone]. Office 
Hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    EPA Border Office--San Diego: 610 West Ash Street, Suite 703, San 
Diego, California 92101; Telephone [phone]; FAX [phone]. 
Office Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
    U.S. EPA Public Information Center, 401 M Street, SW., Washington 
DC 20460; Telephone [phone]; FAX [phone]. Office Hours: 8 
a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    EPA Headquarters: EPA Library (INFOTERRA), Room Mall 2904, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: [phone]; FAX (202) 
260-3923. Library Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Telephone Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

    Dated: May 28, 1996.
Alan D. Hecht,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of International Activities.
[FR Doc. 96-14115 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
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