BECC Certification Criteria

Our Role in the US/Mexico Border  The Border Environment Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank are bi-national organizations created in 1993 under a US-Mexico Border Environment Cooperation Agreement.  The Agreement was signed in October 1993 and is a side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement.  The purpose of the BECC is to help preserve, protect and enhance the environment of the US-Mexico Border Region by identifying, developing and certifying* environmental infrastructure projects. * The NADB finances the construction of projects certified by BECC.

An Environmental Infrastructure Project is a project that will “ prevent, control or reduce environmental pollutants or contaminants, improve the drinking water supply, or protect flora and fauna so as to improve human health, promote sustainable development, or contribute to a higher quality of life ” * A project must be located in the US-Mexico border region defines as 100 km north and 300 km south of the international border between the US and Mexico. Our Role in the US/Mexico Border * (Chapter V, Article 2 of the BECC/NADB Charter.)

Project Certification Criteria General Meets requirements for appropriate project type, project category, location, legal authority and purpose. Selects appropriate technology according to cost-effectiveness, industry standards and institutional capability to implement, operate and maintain the project. Defines a viable financing structure considering financial feasibility and long-term sustainability with limited impact on user fees and a balance in sources of funds Promotes community involvement through interactive community participation, consultation and transparency Applies principles of sustainable development throughout the project cycle, such as institutional capacity building, cooperation with local/regional plans, and conservation. Technical Financial Public Participation Sustainable Development Preserves, protects and enhances human health and the environment, satisfies environmental laws and regulations, and addresses trans-boundary effects Human Health & Environment

Planning, Project Development, Certification and Financing Approval Process

 Air Quality problems impact communities in the border regardless of location  Increasing street paving will reduce suspended particulate matter and as a result better the population’s overall health  Additional benefits due to increase street pavement coverage are: Safety increases Transportation service Economic activity Real Estate values Air Quality Projects

 12 Paving Projects Certified  The projects have a total construction cost of 875 million dollars  Close to 232 million square feet of unpaved roads have been paved – 5.5 million linear feet  An estimated 200 Thousand Tons of PM 10 were reduced from the atmosphere

 2 Paving Projects under development  Garcia NL estimated project cost $ 9.6 MD and will directly benefit 9200 people  Nuevo Laredo Tamp. estimated project cost $ 61.5 MD and will benefit 120,000 people Air Quality Projects

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