Document zqEepdJazjy26RxJYYpg1J56

GAIL GRIFFIN STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 14 CAPITOL COMPLEX. SENATE BUILDING 1700 WEST WASHINGTON PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85GGT-289 (602) 928-5895 TOLL FREE: 1-800-352-8404 FAX: (602)417-3055 E-MAIL: gav JVrtzfftra Jiiaie penate COIVI NSITTEES: NATURAL RESOURCES. ENERGY AND WATER, CHAIR GOVERNMENT RULES January 25, 2018 Edward Drusina, Commissioner International Boundary and Water Commission. U.S. Section 417 i North Mesa, Suite C-100 El Faso, TX 79902-1441 Alexis Strauss, Acting Regional Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street Mail Code: ORA-l San Francisco, CA 94105 Aiex Hinojosa, Managing Director North American Development Bank 203 South St, Mary's, Suite 300 San Antonio, Texas 78205 RE: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED - Transboundary untreated sewage flows from Naco, Sonora into Naco, Arizona Dear Mr. Drusina, Ms. Strauss, and Mr. Hinojosa: This letter is to request your immediate action to mitigating transboundary untreated sewage flows from Naco, Sonora into Naco, Arizona, including tributaries that eventually feed the San Pedro River in Arizona. Although the frequency of these transboundary sewage flows have increased since the summer of 2017, my home is near Naco and within the legislative district I represent and I am well aware that these issues have impacted this area for well over 20 years. I understand that your agencies have assisted with response actions to stop these sewage flows over the past several months, some of which has included the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) lending Naco, Sonora equipment and the North American Development Bank (MADB) funding rental equipment and services. 1also understand that through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (ERA) Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BE1F), Naco, Sonora received NADB support in the past for improvements to its wastewater treatment system and that the city has submitted an application through the same program to rehabilitate its current wastewater treatment and collection system. With these items in mind, 1request that you please take action to expedite the following: EPA and IBWC establish a streamlined process with participation from state partners for cities, counties and municipalities to communicate when a binational sanitary sewer overflow is taking place to trigger response actions within 24 hours of when notification first occurs, immediate notification and mitigation is critical to protect the residents of this area. As institutions of the federal government, EPA and IBWC should work cooperatively to develop processes and capacity to provide leadership in crisis management of this binational issue when responses are necessary. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 5 ED 002061 00058217-00001  1BWC should ensure that an effective mitigation plan, along with equipment and training, is in place for Naco, Sonora to impede cross-border sewage flows (of treated and untreated wastewater, accidental releases or intentional) by March 30, 2018. 1understand that establishing a new Minute with the Mexican Section of IBWC may be necessary to accomplish this. I ask that you please engage State of Arizona partners as you are developing this plan. ERA and NADB expedite the review, approval and funding of the Naco, Sonora wastewater treatment system rehabilitation application submitted by the city. ERA and NADB, once funding is approved for that project, ensure that grant requirements are met and that maintenance accountability measures are in place. Although infrastructure has been established in the past, Naco, Sonora has been unable to obtain the resources that are necessary to adequately maintain the infrastructure. I am seeking a lasting solution to this decade's long problem that has significantly and negatively impacted my constituents. Given limited resources we all face, I strongly encourage you to collaborate in a spirit of accomplishing results for our mutual customers. Thank you. Respectfully, Arizona State Legislature CC: Jose Nunez, Principal Engineer, IBWC U.S. Section Toms Torres, Water Division Director, U.S. ERA Region 9 Salvador Lpez, Chief Environmental Officer, NADB ADEQ Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 5 ED 002061 00058217-00002