Press Release: Ten U.S. and Mexican States Meet on Environmental Issues

For Immediate Release (C-27-97)
Contact: Communications Office (916) 324-9670
November 14, 1997

555 Capitol Mall, Suite 525
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-9670
FAX (916) 445-5563

TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA--On November 13 and 14, 1997, the State of Baja California and the State of California co-hosted the second annual meeting of the Environmental Secretaries of the ten U.S. and Mexican border states. California Secretary for Environmental Protection Peter M. Rooney represented California at the meeting, which was held in Tijuana, Baja California.

In June 1995, the Governors of the ten border states agreed that such meetings are necessary to coordinate state level efforts to improve the environment of the rapidly growing border region. State level environmental cooperation between California and Baja California is considered to be a model for the other border states.

In a November 13, 1997, letter from Governor Pete Wilson to Governor Hector Teran Teran of Baja California, the Governor expressed his thanks for the continuing cooperation between the two states.

Governor Wilson said of the meeting, "California attaches great significance to this effort, which serves the dual purpose of safeguarding public health while protecting our shared environment."

At the meeting, the Environmental Secretaries reached agreement on a wide range of recommendations, which will be forwarded to the border state governors for consideration when they meet in 1998.

Following the meeting, Secretary Rooney said, "This meeting was very productive. It provided a much needed forum for the border states to identify common environmental problems and agree to specific actions to resolve them."

Secretary Rooney is the current chairman of the California Border Environmental Cooperation Committee (Cal/BECC). Cal/BECC is an alliance between California, Baja California, and Baja California Sur for the purpose of addressing the environmental infrastructure needs of the California-Mexico Border region.

Cal/BECC is charged with identifying mutually agreed upon environmental infrastructure needs and seeks government and private sector funding for those projects. In addition Cal/BECC assists local agencies in promoting environmental infrastructure project proposals for funding by United States, Mexican, and by binational agencies.

1997 Reeases | Current Releases | Archived Press Releases