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New Report on Natural Disasters, Environment Along the U.S. - Mexico Border

Release Date: 03/17/2008
Contact Information: Dave Ryan, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C. - March 17, 2008) The Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB), an independent Presidential advisory committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will announce a new report Wednesday in Washington on how U.S. and Mexican officials can improve their cooperation in coping with floods and other natural disasters and their effect on the environment along the border.

The U.S.-Mexico border region provides a compelling example of vulnerable populations often not prepared for natural disasters. Unlike the situation in many emergencies, residents with different cultures, backgrounds and languages must attempt to coordinate their responses across the border, often through informal channels.

GNEB will deliver this latest U.S.-Mexico border report to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).

The GNEB advises the President and Congress on environmental conditions in the U.S.-Mexico border region. CEQ is the White House office that serves as the President's environmental advisor. Wednesday's report is the latest in a series of studies on how to effectively maintain strong environmental protection measures along the nearly 2,000-mile southern border. The GNEB Web site address is: epa.gov/ocem/gneb

WHAT:
News conference announcing new bilingual report on U.S.-Mexico border environmental challenges -- "Natural Disasters and the Environment Along the U.S. - Mexico Border -- Eleventh Report of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board to the President and Congress of the United States." Following the news conference, the media is welcome to attend a public meeting where outside experts will discuss the report. The news conference is on the first day of a two-day meeting of the GNEB, March 19-20. The first day will consist of speakers; the second day will be a business meeting.

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. EDT

WHERE:
Hilton Washington Towers (across street from Marriott), State Room (Terrace Level), 1919 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Phone: (202) 483-3000

METRO:
(3 ½ blocks north of Dupont Circle metro at the corner of Connecticut and T Streets)

NOTE:
EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson will be at the meeting giving Keynote Remarks at 10:10 a.m. on the 19th, but he will not be part of the news conference.