ADEQ's efforts focus on solidifying a program in Arizona to manage and mitigate undocumented migrant (UDM) waste in a more sustainable, cost effective and collaborative manner. From January 2007 to mid-2008, the Department worked on a pilot UDM Waste Project*. Its objectives were largely met with most exceeding expectations. A draft strategy was developed that identifies means and ways to accomplish cleanups and manage UDM waste in a more integrated, efficient and sustainable manner, with close coordination of state-federal efforts. The pilot also served to define the scope, complexity and challenges of a state-wide UDM effort.

Major needs identified in this strategy include:

• Consolidate a collaborative framework via a Federal-State partnership agreement (organized under the Borderlands Management Task Force - BMTF);
• Design and develop web-based enter for information management and outreach;
• Design and kickoff of the enabling first step of the program, Waste Assessment;
• Implementation of a Phase I effort in the Central Sub-Region to demonstrate that the proposed UDM strategy is feasible and adds value;
• Design a fundraising plan focused on sustaining implementation of the UDM Waste Program;
• Facilitate UDM waste cleanups by stakeholders of non-federal lands.

The consequences of UDM waste in Arizona are well documented**, and shown to seriously affect human health, environmental quality and economic well-being. Impacts include trash accumulation, illegal trails and paths, erosion and watershed degradation, damaged infrastructure and property, loss of vegetation and wildlife, campfires and escaped fires, abandoned vehicles and bicycles, vandalism, graffiti and site damage (historical, archaeological), and occurrence of bio-hazardous waste. Some reports exist on occurrences of infectious and communicable diseases. Current efforts highlight the need to solidify a strategic border-wide collaborative to address:

• The UDM waste problem is growing, not shrinking.
• The deposition of UDM waste and migrant trail networks are spreading, affecting an ever-widening area, impacting lands more remote, more fragile, and more removed from the border, and with increasing environmental, human health and economic impact.
• Cleanup of affected non-federal lands frequently "fall through the cracks".
• Waste assessment is deficient or lacking altogether, preventing more strategic, comprehensive and effective approaches.
• UDM funding to date has been primarily federal monies allocated either through congressional earmarks or"stand-alone" annual budget allocations of one agency for federal lands, with little attention to the border-wide/long-term nature of the problem.

A Follow-On Project
A second phase will be carried out starting second semester 2008-09. Its purpose is to put in place those tools and methodologies needed to enable the future implementation of a comprehensive borderlands UDM waste program that reduces land contamination and related health, economic and environmental impacts in Arizona. ADEQ's pilot served to identify the two major constraints to UDM Program development: 1) the almost complete absence of UDM waste assessment, and 2) the lack of tools needed to facilitate collaborative information management and outreach for UDM waste cleanup. Consequently, the follow-on project will:

• Design and develop a web-based UDM center for information management and outreach;
• Design and kickoff the enabling first step of the program, waste assessment; and
• Implement a pilot effort in the Central Sub-Region to demonstrate that these tools and methodologies are feasible and add value.

Benefits to the Public and Environment
The UDM Program will help protect the natural environment and economic values of the Arizona borderlands as well as the health and welfare of its inhabitants.

* The "Mitigation and Cleanup Strategy of Solid Waste from Undocumented Migration in the Arizona-Sonora Border Region (UDM Waste Project)", BECC/EPA Technical Assistance Agreement #TAA06-021.

** BLM reports: "2006 End-of-Year Report"; and "Summary of 2003-2005 Accomplishments".

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