Arizona-Sonora Environmental Strategic Plan 2017-2021 PROJECTS FOR BUILDING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY IN THE ARIZONA-SONORA BORDER REGION 2 ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures Letter from Agency Directors 06 Executive Summary 08 Environmental Context of the Arizona-Sonora Region 10 Strategic Plans of Arizona and Sonora Agencies and Potential Synergies 12 The Arizona-Sonora Environmental Strategic Plan Process 13 Implementing the Arizona-Sonora Environmental Strategic Plan 15 Economic Competitiveness and the Environment in the Arizona-Sonora Border Region 21 Strategic Environmental Projects 2017-2021 21 Overview of Strategic Arizona-Sonora Environmental Projects 22 Water Projects 26 Air Projects 29 Waste Management Projects 32 Wildlife Projects 33 Additional Projects for Future Consideration 33 Water Projects/Prioritization 36 Air Projects/Prioritization 37 Waste Management Projects/Prioritization 38 Wildlife Projects/Prioritization ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 5 LETTER FROM AGENCY DIRECTORS LIST OF FIGURES 08 Figure 1: The U.S.-Mexico Border Zone 09 Figure 2: Border environmental concerns identified by CEDES/ADEQ Dear Colleagues, Friends and Neighbors, 10 Figure 4: CEDES Strategic Areas Overview, 2016-2021 We present to you this first Arizona-Sonora Environmental Strategic Plan for 2017-2021. In June 2016, the Environment and Water Committee of the Arizona-Mexico Commission/Comisión So- Figure 5: ADEQ Strategic Plan Overview 11 nora-Arizona agreed to produce this plan in order to enhance synergies and maximize the effec- tive use of resources. This plan is the latest effort in a long history of cross-border collaboration 12 Figure 6: Overview of Strategic Plan Development Process, 2016 involving bilateral, federal, state and local agencies, as well as the private sector and non-gov- ernmental organizations in Arizona and Sonora. 12 Figure 7: Strategic Plan Working Groups In addition to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the State of Sonora Ecology and Sustainable Development Commission, supporters and collaborators included the Arizona 13 Figure 8: Overview of Strategic Plan Activities, 2017 Game and Fish Department, State of Sonora Water Commission, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Border Environment Cooperation Commission, North American Development Bank, 14 Figure 9: Example of an AMC/CSA Action Plan and Progress Report and the North American Research Partnership. We look forward to working with additional partners from the non-governmental, academic, and 14 Figure 10: Project Monitoring Tool private sectors as we move toward implementation of the plan to help us ensure progress. Sincerely, 15 Figure 11: Arizona-Sonora Megaregion Dominant Industry Sectors 16 Table 1: Arizona-Sonora Border Counties/Municipios — 20 Most Concentrated Industries (2013) Misael Cabrera, P.E. Ing. Luis Carlos Romo Director of the Arizona Department Executive Commissioner, State of of Environmental Quality Sonora Ecology and Sustainable Development Commission 6 ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY sources, and collaborating organizations. the implementation of these projects during the The 15 strategic projects selected address a 2017-2021 period and will be made public. Arizona and Sonora share a number of environ- range of issues within the areas of water, air, A Memorandum of Understanding was de- mental challenges both along and across their waste management and wildlife. Fourteen ad- veloped and subsequently presented at the 362-mile shared border. Water, air, solid waste, ditional projects were selected by the agencies Comisión Sonora-Arizona/Arizona-Mexico and wildlife issues do not end at political bound- as meriting consideration as time and resources Commission meeting in Hermosillo on Decem- aries, meaning the two states’ environmental, The objective of theArizona-Sonora allow and are also included as part of the plan ber 1-2, 2016. The memorandum will serve as a water, and wildlife agencies must work together Environmental Strategic Plan itself. formal framework for collaboration between the as well as with their federal and bilateral agency is to have one guiding plan for the A monitoring tool is also included with this two state governments and for implementation counterparts to achieve lasting solutions in the Arizona-Sonora border region that plan. The tool will be used to track progress on of the strategic plan. region. The development of the Arizona-Sonora Environmental Strategic Plan emerged from a the various organizations supporting long history of cross-border collaboration involv- binational collaboration can utilize to STRATEGIC ARIZONA-SONORA ing bilateral, federal, state and local agencies as enhance synergies and maximize ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, 2017-2021 well as the private sector and non-governmental the effective use of resources. organizations in Arizona and Sonora. ADEQ/CEA WATER Prioritization In June 2016, in order to enhance synergies 1 Stormwater Control in Nogales, Sonora for the Protection of Binational Infrastructure and maximize the effective use of resources, the and Public Health Environment and Water Committee of the Arizo- 2 Infrastructure for Metals and E. coli Attenuation in the San Pedro River na-Mexico Commission/Comisión Sonora Arizo- Arizona Department of Water Resources. Bilateral organizations such as the North American Devel- 3 Implementation of Green Infrastructure in Nogales, Sonora for the Protection of Binational na agreed to produce the Arizona-Sonora Envi- Stormwater Quality ronmental Strategic Plan for 2017-2021. opment Bank and federal agencies such as Mex- 4 Industrial Pretreatment Support in Nogales, Sonora for the Protection of Binational The Arizona Department of Environmental ico’s Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Water Quality Quality and the Commission for Ecology and Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection ADEQ/CEDES AIR Prioritization Sustainable Development for the State of Sonora Agency were also consulted during the process. 1 Installation and Operation of Air Quality Equipment in Sonora Border Communities were named as the lead agencies, and the Border In addition, it was envisioned that the plan Phase 1. Rehabilitation of current equipment. Phase 2. Acquisition of new equipment. Environmental Cooperation Commission sup- would incorporate elements of the economy and 2 Ozone Monitoring Pilot Project in San Luis Río Colorado ported the coordination of the project. Additional community as these were priority areas for the state agencies collaborated on specific topics, two states’ new administrations. To this end, the 3 Expansion of Air Quality Smartphone Application to Yuma including Sonora’s State Water Commission, North American Research Partnership (NARP), an ADEQ/CEDES WASTE MANAGEMENT the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the independent, non-profit research organization, Prioritization was asked to provide research on economic com- 1 Identification and Cleanup Prioritization of Waste-impacted Sites in Combination with a petitiveness and the environment (in addition to Solid Waste Management Education Campaign organizing, editing and producing the plan itself). 2 Comprehensive Electronic Waste and Discarded Domestic Appliances Management Program This plan was developed through a series of 3 Development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the Management of Solid Waste, including: conference calls, workshops and individual (a) Research of urban solid waste infrastructure lag and landfill locations. (b) Provision of municipal solid waste collection, transport, and disposal equipment. consultations. Two multi-agency workshops (c) Establishment of at least one solid waste recycling plant project. were held in Tucson (September 13-14) and AZGFD/CEA WILDLIFE Hermosillo (November 1) to discuss: a) the Prioritization development and selection of key projects, b) 1 Population Study of the Sonoran Pronghorn in Arizona and Sonora criteria for considering these projects and c) their prioritization. 2 Monitoring of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Population in Arizona and Sonora The plan features sections regarding back- 3 Improvements to the Mexican Grey Wolf Captive Breeding Program ground on Arizona-Sonora environmental is- sues and collaboration, economic competitive- 4 Identification of Priority Areas for Jaguar Conservation in Southern Sonora ness and the environment, strategic projects, 5 Bighorn Population Study in Sonora additional projects, potential project funding 8 ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 ARIZONA-SONORA ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021 9 ADEQ oversees air Figure 2: Border Environmental Concerns/CEDES ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT quality, waste man- OF THE ARIZONA-SONORA REGION agement, water quality BORDER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS regulations, and regu- Figure 1: U.S. - Mexico Border Zone IDENTIFIED BY CEDES Environmental latory programs. CEDES Challenges and addresses air quality CONCERNS and waste management Opportunities Updating waste management infrastructure for the Two States programs, while CEA is the authority in Sonora Strengthening the management of waste requiring special handling The development of responsible for issues the Arizona-Sonora related to water quantity Identifying and cleaning up contaminated sites and clandestine dumping sites Environmental Stra- and quality. tegic Plan emerged Strengthening air quality