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United States and Mexico Explore Regional Approaches to Improve Border Air Quality;

Release Date: 05/13/2004
Contact Information:



John Millett, 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov


(05/13/04) The United States and Mexico are launching three projects to explore strategies for jointly combating air pollution in regions along the border. EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Jeff Holmstead and Mexico’s Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) Undersecretary for Environmental Protection and Management Francisco Giner De Los Rios recently announced the projects, which are part of the U.S.-Mexico Border Air Quality Strategy (BAQS). The international pilot projects will lead to a greater understanding of the impacts of air pollution and seek joint solutions to air pollution that affects both sides of the border. The projects will: evaluate the feasibility of establishing an emissions trading program, or economic incentives program for the El Paso, Texas-Ciudad Juárez region; investigate the practicality of managing the Paso del Norte (El Paso, Texas-Ciudad Juárez, Chihuaha-DoZa Ana County, N.M. area) as one airshed; and explore how best to achieve low-cost emission reductions in the Imperial Valley, California-Mexicali, Baja California area. The BAQS was launched in November 2002 to encourage air quality improvement to protect health and promote economic growth along the U.S.-Mexico border.