Irasema Coronado, Professor of Political Science, University of Texas at El Paso and CEC Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) member spoke about transparency, risk communication and stakeholder engagement at the CEC Chemicals Management Forum on May 16, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. More information: http://www.cec.org/chemicals2012

1. NORTH AMERICAN
CHEMICALS FORUM
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
May 16, 2012

2. Thanks!
• To organizers
• To participants

3. Irasema Coronado, Ph.D.
• U.S. Member of JPAC
• Past Member of Good Neighbor Environmental Board
USEPA
• Political Scientist
• Cross- Border Cooperation
• Border Environmental Issues
• Environmental Justice

4. JPAC
• The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) composed of
fifteen citizens (five from each country) advises the
Council on any matter within the scope of the North
American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, and
serves as a source of information for the CEC Secretariat.

5. JPAC's vision is to promote continental
cooperation in ecosystem protection and
sustainable economic development, and to
ensure active public participation and
transparency in the actions of the
Commission.
As a group of volunteer citizens, JPAC
sees itself a microcosm of the public:
independent individuals who contribute
diverse but rich institutional experience and
cultural perspectives

6. Concerns Regarding Chemicals
• Transporting (rail, highway)
• Handling
• Shipping
• Storing
• Disposing
• Accidents

7. Right to Know
• Contingency Plans
• Rapid Response
• Health Risks
• Exposure
• Harm to the environment
• Air, water, soil

8. Environmental NGOs on the Border
• Have lost momentum
• At the height of NAFTA Environmental NGOs on the
border were important actors locally, nationally and
internationally
• Not anymore
• Border Residents are concerned with economic
issues, employment and security, environment is not high
on their priority list

9. Environmental Issues
• Have lost saliency on the border
• Asarco
• Westway Colonia (irritants)
• Arcelor Mitel Border Steel (workers and community)
• Water Issues
• Elections in US and Mexico

10. Role of Governments
• To ensure safety of citizens vis a vis Chemicals
• People are trusting government to do the right thing
• One less thing that citizens have to worry about
• People are not aware of the different levels of government
vis a vis their role in environmental protection

11. Be aware and sensitive to…
• Different languages
• Different socio-economic backgrounds
• Different literacy levels
• Oral Communication Radio Stations on the Border and
Reservations
• Facebook, twitter
• Religious organizations
• Community Organizations
• Schools

12. Develop Youth Programs
• Summer Camps
• Schools
• Community Centers
• Native American Communities

13. JPAC Advice Letters
Open to your suggestions and recommendations