JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR CD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA \ EL PASO, TEXAS \ DOĽA ANA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO November 4, 1997 Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico JAC Members present: For the United States of America: Ms. Jan Hartman - representing Dr. Chip Groat - UTEP - Center for Environmental Resource Management; Dr. Elaine Barron - El Paso physician, member of the Texas Water Development Board, and former Chairman of the Paso del Norte Air Quality Task Force (PDNAQTF); Ms. Cecilia Williams - Chief -Air Quality Bureau -New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED); Mr. Archie Clouse - Air Program Director - Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission - TNRCC Region 6; Mr. John Cordova - City of El Paso, Texas; Dr. Carlos Rincon - Border Air Program Director - Environmental Defense Fund (EDF); Mr. Tom Martin - Environmental Manager - ASARCO; Mr. Danny Vickers - President - EDM International and former Chairman of the PDNAQTF; Mr. George Avalos - Transportation Director - Dona Ana County, NM; Mr. Bill Luthens - EPA - Region 6 For the United Mexican States: Biol. Maria del Pilar Lopez Marco- Delegada Federal for the Procudaduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente; Dra. Angela Gavalera Ramos representing de Dra Rosalba Rojas Martinez - Director of Environmental Health Effects Section for the Secretaria de Salud; Ms. Donagi Guillen Lopez - MEM- Mexican Ecological Movement Ing. Jose Trevi¤o Fernandez - Environmental Department Director for the State of Chihuahua; Ing. Oscar Iba¤ez Hernandez - Director-Department of Urban Development and Ecology -CD Juarez, Chih; Mr. Angel Peralta Miram - Representing the Business Community; Dr. Felipe Adrian Vazquez - Chihuahua Consultative Committee for Sustainable Development; Dr. Victor Hugo Paramo - National Institute of Ecology (INE) for the Secretariat of the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (SEMARNAP). Executive Summary Victor Hugo Paramo began this meeting by welcoming all in attendance. The agenda and minutes for the previous meeting were approved. John Gillen from TNRCC made a presentation on the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) which is a comprehensive document that addresses methods of meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in a non-attainment area. Elements of a SIP are the following: 1) An emissions inventory (EI) - a summary of point, area, and mobile sources emissions. 2) Modeling using the Urban Airshed Model. Test the performance of the model based on known episodes where ozone concentrations are known, input control strategies and see what results the model gives. 3) Submit Control Strategies. Using a Control Measure Catalog consider where you obtain the most cost effective reductions and the feasibility of reducing specific emissions such as NOx, CO, Pb, ozone, and volatile organic compounds (VOC),. 4) Implementation of Control Strategies. This involves providing timeframes for industry and small business to install control equipment. 5) Monitored Attainment. TNRCC currently has a 15% ROP (Rate of Progress) report for TX cities. Victor Hugo Paramo and Matthew Witosky presented a letter in support of the JAC Bylaws signed by Dr. Adrian Fernandez and Mr. David Howekamp, Co-Chairs of the Air Working Group representing Mexico and the US respectively. Dr. Paramo indicated he would be accepting recommendations for an administrative liaison for the Mexican delegation. Victor Hugo Paramo provided an update on the proposal regarding requirements for importation of used vehicles into Mexico. He indicated a study on this recommendation should take place. In researching this issue he discovered rules that refer to importation of vehicles, including requirements that businesses importing vehicles must show proof that the vehicle complies w/ vehicle emissions for the state of origin. The appendix to NAFTA refers to vehicle importation; there are local rules allowing sanctions (fines) to vendors who sell vehicles without inspection tests, etc. He will inform the AWG about these discoveries, but indicated that this issue must be studied. In Mexico, national vehicle emissions standards and statewide emissions limits currently do not exist. He recommended that SEMARNAP will continue to analyze legal requirements w/ EPA (MW) to determine what vehicle importers need to do to comply. He will also request input from the Cd. Juarez Municipal government to attempt to solve this problem. The framework may not be exact but is a start. Bill Luthens introduced Allyson Siwik from EPA-OAQPS. She will work with the JAC on Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs). At the previous JAC meeting the recommendation was made in support of the SEP concept and to form a technical commission to develop a list of projects. EPA would provide support for this project through a contractor who could determine which projects to undertake and the level of possible pollution reductions. Pilar Lopez indicated that while it is good to have a list of projects to pursue it is important to establish the mechanisms by which these SEPs will be carried out. If a US company is fined and wishes to undertake a SEP in MX it is important to identify where the investment can be made, but we must work together to establish the mechanisms where we can confirm that the commitment has been carried out. It was recommended that Luis Raul Cordova, Matt Witosky & Victor Valenzuela work together to develop a list of participants for a technical commission. Danny Vickers provided an update on the Border Crossing 2000 Task Force which has changed its name to the Paso del Norte Infrastructure Collaborative. The PDN-IC is pursuing an April 20, 1998 opening date for the Dedicated Commuter Lane (DCL) to be located at the Stanton Street Bridge, an underutilized one-way bridge for traffic entering MX from the US. The DCL transforms the bridge from a one-way bridge into a two-way bridge is expected to improve traffic flow from MX into the US. Currently everything needed to complete the task is available: funding and support from Mexico. US Customs seems to be the only obstacle by desiring that the lane be located at the Zaragoza Bridge on the far eastern sides of both Juarez and El Paso. Considerations for having DCL's are trade, population growth, and faster movement of people into the US from MX. Expected cost to use the DCL is $180-190/Yr. Average wait-time may be reduced to 3 minutes from the current 20 minutes. The DCL conceptually works like this: a computer chip is installed into a DCL vehicle entering the US, activating a camera, pre-screening the vehicle, and allowing it to enter the US Customs primary inspection area. Victor Hugo Paramo (VHP) made a presentation on the oxy-fuels initiative to sell oxygenated fuel during the winter months in Juarez. INE has requested and is awaiting further information from PEMEX on the gasoline it distributes in this city. Daniel Chacon gave an update on current air quality conditions in Cd. Juarez. VHP requested that in the short-term it would be good to have a joint quarterly report available for the next meeting. The report could be a summary of the number of times an exceedance of the standards was registered. A brief discussion took place on availablity of emissions inventory information from Mexican sources. -Danny Vickers (DV)asked what process must be followed to obtain EI data of Juarez industries from MX. He has often heard that we need to integrate EI data to model the airshed. From an industrial point of view there are businesses that would like to go public about their emissions, but there are also businesses which are not good environmental citizens. -Dr. Paramo indicated that INE currently is reviewing EI data submitted by MX industries. INE must look at point, area, and mobile sources. There are also aspects of MX law that address confidentiality with respect to public availability of individual source data. Data is best offered in the aggregate form. Matt Witosky made a presentation on a proposed study of the emissions from brick making operations in Cd. Juarez. The study would be divided into two parts. Part One would look at volumetric flows, NOx and CO. During this test an examination of kilns would be made to determine the design of a hood for Part Two which will look at particulate emissions. Octavio Chavez, chairman of the Paso del Norte Air Quality Task Force, provided the following comments: 1) On the Oxy-fuel initiative he is worried that the response time and time frames provided by PEMEX may cause failure of this program if it is again implemented. When oxy-fuels programs were first implemented, drivability problems were encountered; PEMEX also is not responding to his requests for action on this initiative. 2) On reporting air quality data there are discrepencies between the US and MX on the number of days that air quality standards were exceeded; we need to look at air quality reporting "from the same page". 3) On availability of data he is developing a website at ITESM where all data can be placed in a public forum. Ing. Bernardo Escudero made a presentation on the Certification of Clean Industries in Cd. Juarez which occurred on 20 October, 1997. Several GM facilities in Juarez were presented with this certification as part of the environmental audit and "Clean Industries" activities carried out by PROFEPA. Carlos Rincon made a proposal for a workshop to follow-up the 26-27 Jun, 1996 symposium on Managing Transboundary Air Quality in the PDN Region. This workshop could serve to develop both short-term and long-term goals of the JAC. A small group would form to begin the groundwork for this workshop. Jan Hartman discussed an EPA Request for Proposals to provide input data for the Urban Airshed Model of Emissions & other data of local industries in El Paso, Juarez, and Sunland Park. She requested that members on the JAC support UTEP as it will be submitting a proposal. The next JAC meeting date is Feb. 19, 1998 in the US. Summary of agreements made during the fifth meeting of the JAC for the Improvement of Air Quality in the Paso del Norte AQMB. 1) The Mexican members will send to the co-president of the AWG proposals for possible candidates to occupy the position of the administrative liaison as has been established under Article IV, section 4.2 of the bylaws and operating procedures of the JAC. Proposals shall be submitted to Luis Raul Cordova Chavez. 2) The Mexican delegation on the JAC shall continue monitoring the disposition of the law established for the importation of automotive vehicles into Mexico. Victor Hugo Paramo shall be responsible for carrying out this action. 3) Both parts shall establish a list of participants for the technical commission for International SEPs. Victor Valenzuela, Luis Raul Cordova, and Matt Witosky shall be responsible. 4) The Mexican delegation shall continue soliciting PEMEX regarding the distribution of oxygenated gasoline in Cd. Juarez. Victor Hugo Paramo shall take the lead. 5) Both delegations shall verify air quality reports regarding the particular days when air quality standards were exceeded in El Paso and Juarez. Oscar Iba¤ez and Jesus Reynoso will take the lead. 6) Both parts shall identify and submit information regarding the JAC which shall be accessed via an Internet page to be established by ITESM, Cd. Juarez Campus. Victor Valenzuela, Luis Raul Cordova, Octavio Chavez shall be responsible. 7) There will be a meeting among governmental members from both sides of the JAC to discuss the brickkiln emissions study for determination of emissions factors of pollutants emitted by Cd. Juarez brickkilns. 8) On 17 & 18 Feb., 1998, a forum to discuss the Strategic Plan for the JAC shall take place. 9) Individual JAC members shall submit proposals regarding possible support for UTEP regarding funds available for environmental projects. 10) The next JAC meeting shall take place 19 February, 1998.