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US- Mexico Border Exercise, 2023

 
Site Contact:
Pratistha Adams
OSC

(adams.pratistha@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Eagle Pass, TX 78852
 response.epa.gov/BorderExercise2023

On April 19 and 20, 2023, R6’s US-MX Border 2025 Program, will host an event in Eagle Pass, TX involving a knowledge exchange and tabletop exercise. The last time EPA Region 6 hosted such as event was over 10 years ago in El Paso, Texas when EPA partnered with US NORTHCOMM on providing training and equipment to border responders. This April 2023 event is being supported by EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), Goal 4 Emergency Preparedness and Response Policy Workgroup leads.

 

There will be several local, state, and federal agencies from the United States and Mexico participating in the event (listed below). On the first day, the knowledge exchange will provide an opportunity for federal, state, and local binational agencies to highlight what protocols, authorities, and resources each can provide during a response to a HAZMAT incidence along the US-Mexico border. A tabletop exercise will be conducted on the second day of the event to test the local US and Mexican agencies’ abilities to respond to a binational incident affecting the communities of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila.  The tabletop scenario will provide local responders an opportunity to exercise the current Sister Cities Plan and identify shortcomings in the plan that need to be addressed. Trainings for local responders on the topics of air monitoring and train derailment response techniques will also be provided on the second day of the event. Union Pacific and BNSF Railway will provide a training to US and Mexican local responders on railcar incidents and use of specific rail equipment used during railcar incidents. EPA Region 6 staff will provide local binational responders training on air quality monitoring equipment use.

 

The event objectives are provided below:

 

  • To improve coordination and communication between US and Mexico local, state, and federal agencies in the event of a hazardous material release and/or oil spill along the border.
  • To implement the B2025 Sister City plan, identify any potential procedures/communications that may have changed since its initial draft, and identify any potential gaps within the plan.
  • Learn the capabilities, resources, and roles of participating agencies in the event of a unified hazardous material response.

 

Participating entities and the highest level of staff expected to participate from each entity is provided below:

 

  • U.S.
    • EPA –HQ Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) Branch Chief (invited, not confirmed)
    • Kickapoo Tribe – Police Dept. Officer
    • TCEQ – R16 Emergency Response Coordinator
    • TDEM – District Coordinator
    • Maverick County – County Judge and Sherriff
    • City of Eagle Pass – Mayor, Police Chief, Fire Chief, School District, Hospital Env. ER POC
    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Port of Entry Director (invited, not confirmed)
    • Rail partners – Union Pacific and BNSF Railway
  • Mexico
    • Federal
      • PROFEPA –  Director of Environmental Emergencies (Mexico City)
      • Civil Protection – Director (Mexico City)
    • State of Coahuila – Civil Protection Deputy Director
    • City of Piedras Negras – Fire Chief, Civil Protection Director
    • Mexican Customs – Assistant Port Director
  • Other
    • Union Pacific Railroad – Director of Hazardous Materials
    • BNSF – Director of Hazardous Materials


Eagle Pass Fire Department Protección Civil y Bomberos De Piedras Negras and EPA with radiation equipment. Protección Civil y Bomberos De Piedras Negras with radiation equipment. EPA providing air monitoring equipment training. Protección Civil y Bomberos De Piedras Negras with Robert Houston with the EPA. EPA providing air monitoring training. EPA providing air monitoring training. EPA providing air monitoring training. Protección Civil y Bomberos De Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass Fire Fighters training. Protección Civil y Bomberos De Piedras Negras BNSF delivering training on tanker car valves. BNSF delivering training on tanker car valves.. BNSF delivering training on tanker car valves. BNSF delivering training on tanker car valves. BNSF delivering training on tanker car valves. Hands-on training at the Eagle Pass fire station. Tabletop participants Tabletop participants EPA START Jose Ojeda EPA START Jose Ojeda Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras Border Office Director at EPA, Carlos Rincon Comandante Francisco Contreras de Protección Civil TDEM and TCEQ Comandante Francisco Contreras de Protección Civil Chief Mello discussing the Sister City Plan. Union Pacific's knowledge exchange. EPA START demonstrating radiation equipment. EPA START demonstrating radiation equipment. EPA demonstrating equipment to Piedras Negras Civil Protection. EPA START demonstrating equipment to Eagle Pass Fire Department. Equipment and EPA response trailer demonstration Prepping for knowledge exchange. Tabletop exercise Francisco Contreras discussing activation of the Sister City Plan Tabletop exercise Tabletop exercise Chief Mello Chief Mello Chief Mello and Assistant Fire Chief Cardona Chief Manuel Mello Chief Manuel Mello Participants Participants during Knowledge Exchange Opening remarks by Earthea Nance, Administrator for Region 6 Bomberos de Piedras Negras and EPA El Paso Office Bomberos de Piedras Negras and EPA Fire departments from Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. EPA air monitoring equipment EPA START demonstrating equipment to Eagle Pass Fire Department. EPA OSC Alejandro Lara speaking with bomberos from Piedras Negras. Participants at the EPA LRV handling air monitoring equipment. EPA START discussing equipment with Eagle Pass Fire Department Proteccion Civil EPA air monitoring equipment EPA LRV EPA emergency response equipment EPA START with Eagle Pass Fire Department Maverick County Judge Maverick County Judge Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Police Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Police OSC Pratistha Adams OSC Nabil Mzee EPA Eugene Lee Participants EPA LRV and equipment Chief Mello speaking with Eagle Pass fire fighters. Bomberos from Piedras Negras Participants Participants Lunch EPA START speaking with Eagle Pass FD HazCat kit Equipment show & tell Equipment show & tell.