Hazardous Waste Management

As part of the outreach commitments for both the U.S. EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) grant activities and the Border Environmental Program Strategic Plan, there has been an ongoing partnership with U. S. EPA, Cal/EPA, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the County of San Diego to provide hazardous waste management training courses in Baja California.

DTSC has an ongoing program to monitor and inspect shipments of hazardous waste to and from Mexico and to cite and prosecute transporters violating California and federal hazardous waste transportation laws.

The Border Affairs Unit with a grant from the USEPA and in cooperation with DTSC and Baja California authorities will incorporate Pollution Prevention (P2) strategies/techniques into Environmental Management Systems (EMS) programs tailored for Small and Medium-sized Business in California and Baja California. This hybrid P2-EMS program will be introduced through training workshops to be conducted along the California/Mexican Border. Up to 4 small or medium-sized businesses based in San Diego and/or Imperial Counties, or the cities of Tijuana, Tecate, or Mexicali, will be chosen as a pilot project for application of the P2-EMS system. The businesses will be involved in the vehicle service repair, electronics, or wood furniture manufacturing industry.