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(c) Housing Assistance Council, 1998 ISBN 1-58064-084-2
Border Environment Cooperation Commission Headquartered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) is an autonomous, bi-national organization created to support environmental infrastructure projects in the 100 kilometers region on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border. The BECC was established in November 1993. It was intended to further the goals of the North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA) and the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. BECC is charged with the responsibility of addressing the environmental infrastructure needs that have resulted from rapid growth on both sides of the border. In this capacity, BECC addresses the needs of border residents in the protection of health and the environment, implementing wastewater treatment projects, and preventing water pollution. As such, the Commission identifies, assists, and certifies projects for funding from NADBank. BECC received 41 project proposals in 1995, costing an estimated total of $577 million. The majority of these requests were submitted by communities on the Mexican side of the border. North American Development Bank The North American Development Bank (NADBank) is a complementary institution to the BECC and is located in San Antonio, Texas. It was established to provide loans and loan guarantees to projects certified by BECC. NADBank was created by the same bi-national agreement which established the BECC. It is also charged with the responsibility of improving environmental conditions along the U.S.-Mexico border. At the end of 1995, NADBank had approximately $750 million in lending capacity, comprised of cash contributions made equally by the United States and Mexico.
Appendix B |