Dallas, Texas – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo has joined the El Paso, Texas, Sunland Park, New Mexico, and the Municipality of Juarez, Chihuahua, Sister City Plan under the U.S.-Mexico Border 2012 Emergency Preparedness Program. In signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cross Border Communications and Emergency Response Strategies: Binational Hazardous Materials Emergency Plan Modification, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo becomes the first Native American Tribe along the borders of New Mexico and Texas and their corresponding Mexican States to participate in this emergency preparedness program.

This agreement creates a tri-national task force to develop joint emergency preparedness strategies, develop a tri-national emergency communications and notification plan, and exchange information on hazardous waste toentify threats to the region.

More about activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xapodcast/sep2009.html

Contact Information: Dave Bary Phone: 214-665-2200 Email: r6press@epa.gov