MEXUS Activities Overview CAPT DANIEL RYAN Eighth Coast Guard District Chief, Marine Safety Division

PLAN MEXUS The Joint Contingency Plan Between Mexico and the United States Regarding Pollution of the Marine Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons and Other Hazardous Substances

PLAN MEXUS Background On 24 July 1980, the United States and the Mexican government signed the “Agreement of Cooperation Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Regarding Pollution of the Marine Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons and Other Hazardous Substances”.

PLAN MEXUS Background (Cont.)  After nearly twenty years of cooperative work, the MEXUS Plan was signed on February 2000 in Mexico City  Signatory to the Plan were Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, VADM James C. Card, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Mexican Navy, ADM Manuel Garcia Carmona Santiesteban

MEXUS PLAN  MEXUS provides for Bilateral cooperation in response to pollution incidents that could affect the coastal waters of both countries  Can also be activate in cases where the impact of the waters of one country would be of such that would justify the request to the other country for assistance  Two geographic annexes, MEXUSGULF and MEXUSPAC, complement the MEXUS Plan.

MEXUSGULF EXERCISE May 29 –31, 2002

MEXUSGULF EXERCISE Scenario  9,000 barrels of crude from exploration activities involving drill ship DISCOVERER SPIRIT 180 miles East from Brownsville, TX and just North of Mexican Waters.  Trajectories indicated that oil would impact Mexico and Texas beaches in 21 days.  Unocal Sugar Land Command Post submitted requests to USCG and Mexican Navy for the use of dispersants.

EQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENT  Offshore Skimming Operations  Cotton seed hulls simulated oil  U. S. Coast Guard Vessels  USCGC Harry Claiborne with VOSS  USCGC Amberjack – support  Mexican Navy Vessels  Hondo  Onjuku

MEXUSGULF JOINT RESPONSE TEAM MEETING Matamoros, Mexico Feb 11-12, 2003

MEXUSGULF JRT MEETING Main Objectives  "Get to Know" opportunity for bi-national Joint Response Team agencies  Bi-lateral familiarization of agencies roles, jurisdiction & responsibilities  Identify South Texas & North Tamaulipas Environmental areas of concerns  Opportunity to build a bridge between Coastal and Inland efforts

From US: DOT, DOD, DOS, DOE, DOI, DOC, FEMA, EPA, GSA, TGLO, TCEQ From Mexico : SEMAR, SEMARNAT, PROFEPA, SAGARPA, PEMEX, SCT, National Water Commission, State of Tamaulipas MEXUSGULF JRT

MEXUSGULF SIGNING  Signed by RADM Casto D8 Commander and VADM Cano ZN-1 Commander  4 originals sets of the MEXUSGULF Annex (one English and one Spanish copy per set), sets distributed as follows:  CGD8  First Naval Zone  Mexican Navy Headquarters  Coast Guard Headquarters

MEXUSGULF Future Activities  Participate in Inland MEXUS exercise in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico March or April 03  MEXUS exercise off coast of Tampico Mexico as proposed by Mexican Navy in July / August 03 time frame