I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2546
To authorize appropriations for the provision of financial assistance to protect
public health, the environment, and water quality along the United
States-Mexico border.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 28, 1993
Mr. DE LA GARZA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Public Works and Transportation
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the provision of financial
assistance to protect public health, the environment, and
water quality along the United States-Mexico border.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Good Neighbor Envi-
ronmental Assistance Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to protect the economy,
public health, environment, and water quality of the Unit-
ed States-Mexico border area which is endangered and is
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being polluted by raw or partially treated sewage, effluent,
or other pollutants.
SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Upon approval of the necessary
plans and specifications, the Administrator is authorized
to provide financial assistance to the Secretary of State,
acting through the American Section of the International
Boundary and Water Commission, or any other Federal
agency, any other appropriate commission, entity, or bor-
der State designated by the President. Such financial as-
sistance shall be for the construction of projects—
(1) consisting of wastewater treatment works to
protect the residents and surrounding areas from
pollution resulting from any inadequacies or break-
downs in wastewater treatment works and systems;
or
(2) consisting of treatment works to provide
primary or more advanced treatment of municipal
sewage and industrial waste.
(b) LIMITATION.—The Administrator may make
grants for construction of treatment works described in
subsection (a) in Mexico only if, after public notice and
comment, the Administrator determines that treatment
works in Mexico, in conjunction with any wastewater
treatment works or other project constructed under this
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or any other Act, are not sufficient to protect residents
of border States from water pollution originating in
Mexico.
(c) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.—The Commis-
sion or such other agency, commission, entity, or border
State as may be designated under subsection (a), is au-
thorized to operate and maintain any treatment works
constructed under subsection (a) in order to accomplish
the purposes of this Act.
(d) APPROVAL OF PLANS.—Any treatment works for
which financial assistance is made under this Act shall be
constructed in accordance with plans developed by the
Commissioner or such other agency, commission, entity,
or border State as may be designated under subsection
(a), in consultation with the appropriate officials of the
affected border State, and approved by the Administrator,
to meet the construction standards which would be appli-
cable if such treatment works were being constructed
under title II of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—Construction of the treatment
works under subsection (a) shall be at full Federal expense
less any costs paid by the affected border State and less
any costs paid by the Government of Mexico as a result
of agreements negotiated with the United States.
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SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act.—
(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(2) the term ‘‘border State’’ means the States
of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas; and
(3) the terms ‘‘construction’’ and ‘‘treatment
works’’ have the meanings such terms have under
section 212 of the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act (33 U.S.C. 1251).
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years
beginning after September 30, 1993, such sums as may
be necessary to the Administrator to provide financial as-
sistance under this Act and such sums as may be nec-
essary to the Commission or such other agency, commis-
sion, entity, or border State as the President may des-
ignate under section 3 to carry out this Act.
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