By Ned Strong, Executive Director, LASPAU

The Border Ozone Reduction and Air Quality Improvement Program (Border Program), funded by a grant to LASPAU from InterGen Services, examines effective, scientifically based and measurable methods to reduce ozone creation and improve air quality along the border region of Imperial County, California, and Mexicali, Baja California.

As a component of the program, a conference on air quality issues was held at CETYS Universidad in Mexicali on September 2, 2004. The conference was designed to provide information on current research and to stimulate new proposals for applied research grants funded by the program. The 84 conference participants included Mexican and U.S. air quality researchers and professionals as well as government and business leaders working with environmental issues on both sides of the border.

The conference began with an overview of border air quality issues by Paul Ganster, chairman of the Management Committee of SCERP and director of the Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias at San Diego State University. Enrique Blancas de la Cruz, rector of the CETYS Universidad system, then described the impact of the Border Program on Mexicali.

The first of two panels addressed defining the priority needs for air quality improvement in Mexicali. The distinguished panel of Mexican environmental leaders included Ricardo Castellanos of PROFEPA; Hugo Ariel Zepeda Berrelleza of SEMARNAT; Enrique Villegas, director of ecology for the state of Baja California; Alfredo Babúm of CANACINTRA; Cándido Zataraín of the Dirección de Ecología Municipal; and Raúl del Moral of CONACYT.

The second panel provided an opportunity for conference attendees to discuss air quality issues with the four current recipients of Border Program research grants, whose projects range from monitoring and mapping pollen sources in the Mexicali region to investigating how increasing the efficiency of vehicle traffic in the area can reduce ozone precursors.

Additional conference presentations included a report on current research on air quality and new initiatives by Alberto Mendoza of the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey campus, and a description of current research on solid waste by Martín Medina Martínez of the Colegio de la Frontera Norte. Closing remarks were given by Rosa León, host of a Mexicali radio show on area business and development concerns.

If you are interested in further information about this or any other program administered by LASPAU, please see the Programs section of LASPAU's website.