The U.S.-Mexico Border 2025 Program organized a two-day binational event in Brownsville, Texas, on November 13-14, 2024. This initiative was spearheaded by the Border 2025 Program's Goal 4: Emergency Preparedness & Response lead agencies. These included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the National Coordination for Civil Protection (CNPC), the Matamoros Local Mutual Aid Committee (CLAM), and the city of Brownsville.
The event focused on enhancing joint preparedness and response capabilities for oil spills and hazardous environmental emergencies along the U.S.-Mexico border. Ronald D. Crossland, EPA Region 6 Superfund Director, emphasized the significance of such collaborations: “The importance of this event cannot be overstated. As we’ve seen time and again, emergencies do not respect international boundaries. A hazardous material release or oil spill along our shared border has the potential to impact communities in both the United States and Mexico. It is therefore crucial that we work together, share knowledge, and coordinate our efforts to ensure the most effective response possible.”
Throughout the two days, representatives from federal, state, and local agencies from both countries exchanged information on resources and capabilities related to hazardous material incidents along the border. The event featured a tabletop exercise to assess a joint contingency plan between Brownsville and Matamoros aimed at responding effectively to hazardous material releases that pose risks to public health and the environment.
Furthermore, first responders from both nations received training in air monitoring and train derailment response techniques. The sessions took place at various locations including the International Technology, Education and Commerce Campus (ITECC) in Brownsville.
On November 14th, practical training exercises were conducted at Brownsville Fire Department Station 8.
For more details on EPA emergency response activities or inquiries regarding this event, contact Pratistha Adams via adams.pratistha@epa.gov or Carolina Valdes at valdesbracamontes.carolina@epa.gov.
