The United States
Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) have joined forces to bring sweeping change to the U.S.-Mexico Border
Region. Public-Private Sector funding began flowing on August 20th into the
first two of numerous border locations for installation of computer equipment,
enabling technology and connectivity to EPA information resources. Imperial
Valley, California's San Diego State University (SDSU) at Calexico and the San
Xavier, Arizona District of the Tohono O'Odham Indian Nation are the first two
sites.
|
(Photo: Fege & Martel at EPA's Border Office) |
Joint logistics and evaluations were coordinated among: USMCOC's Chief Information Officer, John Liddell; EPA's District 9 Director, Marie Martel; EPA Border Liaison Dave Fege; and, SDSU's Dr. Paul Ganster on August 20, at the EPA's San Diego Liaison Border Office. Overall environmental information requirements throughout the region were part of the group's coordinated focus. |
|
At the August 20th meeting, Fege provided invaluable working insight and offered to assist program development. Fege offered necessary internet links for website development as well as computer training suitable for the Calexico node. Liddell demonstrated some of the initial work that already has been posted on the USMCOC website in support the program. Liddell also outlined discussions being held about future stages of the federal Border XXI Program. |
(Photo: Fege & Liddell at EPA's Border Office) |
Also at the San
Diego meeting, Dr. Ganster received background information about USMCOC's
Wiring the Border project. Wiring the Border addresses sustainable economic
development and its direct relationship to EPA's "Environmental
Information Workgroup."
|
(Photo: Paul and Marie, EPA Border Office) |
(Photo: John and Paul, EPA Border Office) |
|
(Photo: Imperial Valley Campus, SDSU) |
Afterward, Liddell and Martel traveled to the Imperial Valley Campus, San Diego State University (SDSU). August 21st, SDSU Advisor Javier Fajardo and Liddell installed two computer systems in the campus library. A meeting also convened among SDSU Dean, Dr. Khosrow Fatemi Kimberly Collins, Director for the California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studies, Liddell, Fege, and Martel. |
|
The objective of this meeting was to help identify the environmental information needs for the entire Imperial Valley community. Air quality, residents' health, and issues related to watershed data were addressed. During the meeting the usefulness of EPA's Environmental Indicators were praised and the desire for additional EPA information was requested.
|
(Photo: Library, Imperial Valley Campus, SDSU) |
|
(Photo Left to Right: Dave Fege, Javier Fajardo, Marie Martel, Dr. Khosrow Fatemi and Kimberly Collins) |
Collins provided the group a brief profile of the community:
|
In many cases, environmental information is complex and a simple format is needed.
Pictorial documents (comic books) geared to a population with a 3rd or 4th grade education may work best as sources of environmental information.
The local school district has been aggressively implementing computers and the Internet.
EPA Data Collection Target Groups include farm workers, small businesses, local government and children.
(Photo: Library, Imperial Valley Campus) |
Collins reminded that the SDSU allows local children to use library computers which go hand-in-hand with environmental awareness and dissemination of EPA information. Martel stressed to Collins that EPA would provide support in the overall effort through direction to other federal and state educational websites.
|
|
Since SDSU assists the local community with economic development, the USMCOC Wiring the Border E-Commerce Project, which provides computers and Internet access to small and mid-size businesses, was also of great interest. Collins was interested in learning more about plans for Imperial Valley and pleased to hear that USMCOC is already working with the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Imperial Valley and the Board's economic development projects. |
(Photo: Marie and Javier in the Library) |
|
(Photo: John and Javier installing in the Library) |
Other topics included high-speed Internet access, local health issues, and EPA grants. Martel was asked to prepare an article for the CCBRES (California Center for Border and Regional Economic Studies) Bulletin on "EPA-Wiring the Border effort, and Martel was invited by Dr. Fatemi to attend an SDSU conference sponsored by USMCOC in early October. |
After the
successful installation of the equipment and productive discussions about the
community's environmental requirements, Liddell and Martel departed for the
second site at Tucson, Arizona.
|
(Photo: Dr. Fajardo and Liddell)
|
(Photo Left to Right: Dave Fege, Javier Fajardo, Marie Martel, Dr. Khosrow Fatemi and Kimberly Collins) |
|
(Photo: San Xavier Mission) |
On
August 22, a meeting was held with former State Senator Frank Felix,
Mr. Austin G. Nunez (Chairman San Xavier District Tohono O'Odham),
Hon. Albert C. Zapanta (CEO, U.S. - Mexico Chamber of Commerce),
Liddell and Martel at the Tohono O'Odham San Xavier Headquarters,
located close by the Mission |
(Photo: San Xavier Mission) |
Nunez shared
information about the 11 political districts, the organization of land owners,
the Tohono O'Odham Industrial Park, and the tribal interest in economic
development. (Tribal lands are in both Mexico and the United States. The Tohono
O'Odham's proximity to both the highway and Tucson provide many advantages in
relation to economic development. )
|
(Photo L to R: Chairman Nunez, Marie Martel, and Al Zapanta) |
Mr. Zapanta provided background information about the project. Current environmental issues related to the tribe were also a focus. USMCOC was asked to return in three weeks to provide training and final placement of computers. The council at the reservation will be determining the final location of these systems at their next meeting on the 18th of September. Mr. Zapanta also offered to return and brief the Council on other programs USMCOC is involved in along the Southwest border
|
The meeting was a
great success and the first steps towards disseminating EPA information for this
community were well received. The next site to be scheduled is the AYUDA
Community Center (a colonia) in Texas on September, 20
EPA's benefit from this joint effort with USMCOC is demonstrated by tangible and
intangible elements. While EPA's goal is being met by providing access to
environmental information among border residents in a tangible manner, Wiring
the Border also promotes Environmental Justice, Hispanic Outreach and
environmental education on an intangible level.
Our initial site installations demonstrate the benefits Public-Private sector
complemetarity. While EPA's primary interest is environmental, USMCOC can use
its influence to promote sustainable development. USMCOC thereby provides a
unique conduit through which EPA can effectively reach Native American,
colonias, and small and mid-sized business.
