[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 165 (Friday, August 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43543-43544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21576]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5558-7]
Availability of Border Environment Cooperation Commission
Certification Criteria Document
AGENCY: Border Environment Cooperation Commission.
ACTION: Request for public comments on the BECC Certification Criteria
document.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the BECC
Certification Criteria document for public review and comment during
the special public meeting of the BECC Executive Committee on September
26, 1996, at the Hotel Lucerna, located at Triunfo de la Republica
#3976, in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the BECC on or before
September 26, 1996. Oral comments may be received on September 26,
1996, during a special public meeting of the BECC Executive Committee,
at the Hotel Lucerna, located at Triunfo de la Republica #3976, in Cd.
Juarez, Chihuahua. To mail comments, receive a copy of the document, or
for further information contact:
Ms. April Lander, Program Manager--Environment, Border Environment
Cooperation Commission, P.O. Box 221648, El Paso, Texas 79913; Tel:
(011-52-16) 29-23-95; Fax: (011-52-16) 29-23-97; E-mail:
alander@cocef.interjuarez.com
H. Roger Frauenfelder, General Manager, Border Environment Cooperation
Commission, P.O. Box 221648, El Paso, Texas 79913.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Border Environment Cooperation
Commission (BECC) is pleased to announce the availability of the
revised Certification Criteria for public review and comment. The
Criteria were first adopted by the BECC Board of Directors following an
extensive public review and comment process in August 1995.
The changes in the revised document from its original, community-
tested version reflect the knowledge gained from a year's operating
experience. The BECC has already incorporated suggestions from the
border municipalities and states, project sponsors, non-governmental
organizations and border residents to streamline the process without
disturbing the integrity of the document. Furthermore, the format of
the document has been adjusted to be easier to understand and
duplication has been eliminated.
In other areas, the document has been enhanced to include an
explanation of the project development assistance program, 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. Eight projects have been
certified by the BECC Board of Directors using the Criteria to date.
Projects that are certified by the BECC qualify for financing
consideration from the North American Development Bank (NADBank),
BECC's sister institution, and other funding sources.
To be certified by the Board of Directors, project sponsors must
comply with general criteria and five specific criteria including: (1)
environment and human health; (2) technical feasibility; (3) financial
feasibility; (4) community participation; and (5) sustainable
development.
Submitting Comments
The BECC is accepting comments from the public on the revised
criteria over a 45 day comment period. Written comments must be
submitted to the BECC on or before September 26, 1996. Oral comments
may be provided a special public meeting of BECC's Executive Committee
from 3:00 pm-7:00 pm, on September 26, 1996, at the Hotel Lucerna,
located at Triunfo de la Republica #3976, in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua.
The criteria document will be revised following a review and
synthesis of the written and oral comments made by the public. It is
anticipated that the BECC Board of Directors will consider the final
document for approval during a regular public meeting scheduled for
October 29, 1996, in Laredo, Texas. The BECC encourages public comments
to be incorporated directly onto a copy of the document available on a
computer diskette. The revised criteria document is also available on
the BECC Home Page: http://cocef.interjuarez.com, or upon request.
[[Page 43544]]
Dated: August 12, 1996.
H. Roger Frauenfelder,
General Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-21576 Filed 8-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
