Assistance to Border Environment Infrastructure Fund projects in Arizona

• Guided design and construction consultants for the Somerton Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• Worked with North American Development Bank staff to expedite funding for the Patagonia Wastewater Treatment Facility. This was the first Arizona BEIF project; it had been held up for over three years because of financing.
• In cooperation with Border Environment Cooperation Commission staff, succeeded in augmenting funding to complete the Gadsden wastewater pump station and force main. The project was leveraged with U.S. Department of Agriculture and Water Infrastructure Finance Authority funds.
• Work with Yuma County staff to find realistic conceptual plans for the Colonia B and C projects.
• Continue technical assistance to Douglas for the BEIF water and wastewater treatment plant by working with the city engineer to leverage BEIF funding with WIFA loans.
• Worked with BECC staff in Huachuca City for the city to define its BEIF projects.
• Continued work with Nogales on the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Office of Border Environmental Protection engineer was technical leader for the design. The focus was on creative procurement efforts to expedite development of the project.
• Assisting Nogales, Ariz. in the use of Congressional line-item funds for municipal wastewater collection system improvements.
• Consult with Bisbee project staff to help find cost-cutting measures in the construction of the municipal wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment plant.

Assistance to binational Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) projects

• Continued participation with Nogales, Sonora, wastewater and water projects. The focus has been on questions of engineering controls for wastewater spillage during construction, specification of materials resistant to destructive wastewater environments and workplace safety.

Assistance to general water/wastewater issues along the Arizona border

• Assessed the San Luis poor quality potable water issues. Sought a hardship grant from WIFA for remediation study. Served as technical project manager. Water treatment facilities are being installed.
• Worked with the Naco Sanitary District for improvements to its treatment plant under a WIFA hardship grant. The project received "2003 project of the year" from the Arizona Water Pollution Control Association.
• Collaborated with Cochise County and International Boundary and Water Commission to react to fugitive transboundary wastewater flows entering Arizona from Naco, Sonora.
• Worked in conjunction with the ADEQ border hydrologist to ensure appropriate disinfection of Nogales Wash.
• Integrated with WIFA to provide enhanced service along the border.

Role of the Border Engineer in Technical Assistance

• Provides experienced engineering oversight and consultations to ensure appropriate concept and design; helps to manage expectations of the project sponsors to assure satisfaction with the results.
• Ties together funding and technical assistance; leverages the comparative advantage from several sources to enhance project successes.
• Provides long-term technical backup for small communities; expands the sponsor’s public works staff to diminish the additional staff strain associated with a BEIF project.
• Provides local experience for regulatory compliance; immediate answers to regulatory questions reduces project costs significantly.

Innovative solutions, ability to work cordially with local entities and long-term oversight bolsters project sponsor sustainability; assurances of project appropriateness and integration into the technical community are foundations of sustainability.

Back