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International Commissions

FY 2007 Budget in Brief

Bureau of Resource Management

February 6, 2006

Resource Summary

($ in thousands)

All FY 2005 Actuals reflect the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION
UNITED STATES AND MEXICO - SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Resource Summary

($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The FY 2007 request provides $28,453,000 for Administration, Engineering, and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) activities for the International Boundary and Water Commission, an increase of $811,000 over the FY 2006 appropriation. This request includes wage increases of $483,419, and $327,581 to fund anticipated increases in the operation and maintenance of agency-wide operations.

Program Description

The mission of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is to:
 ? apply the rights and obligations that the governments of the United States and Mexico assumed under numerous boundary and water treaties and related agreements;
 ? improve the water quality of the boundary rivers (the Tijuana, Colorado, and Rio Grande Rivers);
 ? resolve border sanitation problems;
 ? distribute boundary rivers? water to both countries at agreed upon proportions;
 ? operate the international flood control projects along the boundary rivers;
 ? operate the international reservoirs for the conservation of Rio Grande water and for hydroelectric generation;
 ? preserve and maintain the boundary in the international rivers (the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers);
 ? maintain and demarcate the land boundary; and 
 ? operate and maintain international wastewater treatment facilities.

The IBWC Salaries and Expenses appropriation ensures that the rights and obligations of treaties and agreements between the United States and Mexico are met through administration, engineering, and the operation and maintenance activities using funds appropriated to IBWC. O&M activities will continue to

be performed at two international wastewater treatment plants, two international dams and power plants, five diversion dams on the Rio Grande, and numerous smaller in-river structures, such as weirs and grade-control structures. Additionally, the USIBWC is responsible for the O&M of six flood-control projects with over 550 miles of levee and related structures. These flood control projects protect approximately 3 million residents and 1.5 million acres of adjoining farmland in the U.S. and Mexico. Program stability in this activity is vital to continue operations and maintenance of aging structures along the entire 1,952-mile border and to accomplish necessary studies and special maintenance requirements.

In addition, the Commission will:
 ? implement joint water quality programs for the observation of the biological, mineral, chemical, and toxic quality of international river waters;
 ? ensure compliance with National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in Nogales, Arizona, and the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in San Ysidro, California;
 ? design water conveyance structures for the new higher capacity American Canal, including box culverts, wasteways, and transition structures; and design of operation and maintenance facilities for flood control, hydrologic, groundwater, sanitation (water quality), and boundary demarcation and preservation projects;
 ? conduct various planning (pre-design) and environmental studies to address a variety of border issues, including surveys, environmental investigations, water quality, border sanitation and boundary preservation studies and other small-scale studies required prior to design and construction; and
 ? investigate and report on the most feasible measures for solving border sanitation problems along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Benefits

The work of the IBWC facilitates the solution of international boundary and water problems, which benefits populations on the international border between the U.S. and Mexico and improves relations between the two countries. Particular emphasis is placed on the resolution of critical environmental issues.

PART / Program Evaluation

The USIBWC supports three of the Department?s performance goals ? close, strong and effective U.S. ties with allies, friends, partners and regional organizations; the containment or resolution of existing and emergency regional conflicts; and the development of partnerships, initiatives, and international treaties and agreements that protect the environment and promote efficient energy use and resource management.

The USIBWC is in the process of developing annual and long-range work plans for each program, to identify and prioritize agency requirements in accordance with the President?s Management Agenda (Government Wide Initiatives) and USIBWC strategic plan. The USIBWC has implemented measures and technologies to maximize benefits and minimize costs whenever possible.

The USIBWC has used a streamlined process to address heavy equipment needs at its 12 field offices. Instead of replacing all heavy equipment, the USIBWC will only replace the most commonly used and needed pieces of heavy equipment critical to agency operations. The agency will share this heavy

equipment among regional field offices, and rent used equipment when specific needs arise. In FY 2005, the USIBWC purchased two semi-truck transport trailers (lowboys) to transport and share heavy equipment. Sharing and renting of heavy equipment is expected to provide a cost reduction of approximately $4.5 million over our original plan.

The USIBWC is using new technologies and methods to efficiently evaluate our Rio Grande Flood Control Projects, which include approximately 510 miles of levees. The USIBWC conducted an integrated "high tech" approach using geophysical methods to identify questionable or high-risk flood levee segments. This innovative approach has substantially decreased the number of geotechnical soil samples needed to evaluate the structural integrity of the levee system, while providing more comprehensive coverage. Implementations of geophysical methods are estimated to have saved the agency between $7 million to $8 million over traditional geotechnical investigative methods in the lower Rio Grande area alone.

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION
UNITED STATES - CONSTRUCTION

Resource Summary

($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The FY 2007 budget request of $5,237,000 will increase the IBWC Construction appropriation by $5,000 above the FY 2006 enacted level. This increase provides funding for ongoing projects of the Commission. The FY 2007 request will provide an increase of $601,000 in the Water Quality Program to comply with Public Law 106-457, as amended by Public Law 108-425, The Tijuana River Valley Estuary and Beach Sewage Cleanup Act, which is offset by funding decreases of $347,000 in the Boundary-wide Program, and $249,000 in the Water Quantity Program.

The USIBWC will continue to carry out construction and rehabilitation projects related to border sanitation, infrastructure security, flood control, distribution and deliveries of international waters, and boundary demarcation. These projects are organized into three program groups: Boundary-wide, Water Quantity, and Water Quality. In this endeavor, the USIBWC will explore best and innovative practices from both the private and other public sectors. The FY 2007 funding requests for the construction activities are as follows:

Boundary-Wide Program ($850,000):
Facilities Renovation - $575,000: Originally funded in FY 1992, this project will continue with a multi-year program to renovate and modernize deteriorated USIBWC facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border region to current industry standards. These facilities, most of which were constructed between 1930 and 1950, require major rehabilitation work to meet OSHA safety standards, current environmental laws, and to provide more efficient, effective and secure working environments. The project consists of structural, electrical and mechanical improvements, as well as renovations necessary for compliance with environmental, occupational safety and health, handicap, and other regulatory requirements.
The FY 2007 request will be used to construct the second phase of upgrades at Falcon Water Treatment Plant, and re-roof three USIBWC homes that house dam operators at Falcon Dam. Funding will also be used to replace the perimeter fencing and lighting at Mercedes to provide increased security at the facility.
Heavy Equipment Replacement - $275,000: Originally funded in FY 2001, this program will continue to replace existing deteriorated and obsolete heavy construction equipment. Funding will improve the agency?s operational efficiency and productivity by significantly reducing the time spent repairing old equipment. Heavy construction equipment is essential for daily operations such as levee maintenance, floodway mowing, erosion control, arroyo clearing, roadway maintenance, riprap replacement, sludge, and silt removal. Having the proper equipment available and in an operational status has proven also to be critical during flood events and other emergencies. The proper equipment greatly improves the agency?s ability to control flooding and protect approximately 3 million residents and 1.5 million acres of property.
FY 2007 request will be used to purchase a front-end loader for the Upper Rio Grande field offices.
Water Quantity Program ($3,387,000):
Rio Grande Canalization - $250,000: Initially funded in FY 1993, this project will stabilize the Rio Grande channel between Caballo Dam in New Mexico and American Dam at El Paso, Texas. This project, authorized by the Act of August 29, 1935 (49 Stat. 961), facilitates water deliveries to Mexico under the 1906 Convention and protects against Rio Grande floods. Channel scouring has exposed foundations of bridges, siphons, flumes and diversion dams in portions of the Rio Grande channel. In addition, preliminary engineering studies indicate that the existing protective levee system may be inadequate to provide flood protection for the design flood of the system, placing the adjacent communities and farmland in jeopardy. Thus, the USIBWC will construct the necessary erosion protection works in the Rio Grande, rehabilitate deficient areas of the flood control system, and construct required environmental mitigation efforts along the project.
The FY 2007 request will fund the project design and environmental mitigation design for rehabilitation of levees in Canutillo, Texas.
Rio Grande Flood Control System Rehabilitation - $2,437,000: This project, which started in FY 2001, will continue a multi-year effort to evaluate and rehabilitate the Rio Grande Flood Control System along the international segment of the river, downstream of the Rio Grande Canalization Project. The project work includes engineering evaluation of approximately 370 miles of the levee system, rehabilitation of the inadequate levees, replacement of the failed Riverside diversion dam, preservation of the river channel and flood plain, inundation mapping, and aerial boundary mapping and demarcation efforts along the Rio Grande.
The FY 2007 request will be used to prepare the project design for the 12-mile levee reach from Pe?itas to the Main Floodway, and continue construction of the Hidalgo Loop Levee which will include approximately 0.5 mile of new levee and about 600 feet of floodwalls.
Safety of Dams Rehabilitation - $550,000: Originally funded in FY 2001, this project will continue a multiyear effort for the rehabilitation and proper operation of all USIBWC dams, as recommended by the Joint Technical Advisors of the Federal Safety of Dams Program. The U.S. Section of the IBWC is solely responsible for operation and maintenance of two diversion dams on the Rio Grande (American and International), and jointly responsible for four international dams (Amistad, Falcon, Anzalduas, and Retamal). These dams provide for distribution of the Rio Grande waters between the U.S. and Mexico as well as for the conservation, flood control, water storage, power generation, and regulation of the flow of the river
The FY 2007 request will be used to construct upgrades of gate penstocks numbers 1, and 5 and to continue the rehabilitation of the spillway gates, hoist equipment, and all-weather equipment at Amistad dam. The request will also provide for upgrade of the gate position indicators, backup power, and switchgear at Retamal dam.
Colorado River Boundary and Capacity Preservation - $150,000: Originally funded in FY 1998, this project will restore the carrying capacity of the international segment of the Colorado River as required by Minute 291 to ensure compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty. Floods in 1983 and 1993 filled the Colorado River with approximately 20 million cubic yards of sediment. This sedimentation, which reduced the capacity of the channel and promoted vegetation growth, threatens the USIBWC?s ability to deliver a guaranteed annual allocated volume of Colorado River waters to Mexico as required by the 1944 Water Treaty. The project will include surveying, mapping, vegetation management, channel alignment excavation and protection, revision of the international flow standards, and international boundary restoration and preservation efforts.
The FY 2007 request will be used to initiate silt removal operations on the upstream portion of Morelos Dam. The hydraulic model based on the new project design flows will be concluded and agreed to with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Mexico.
Water Quality Program ($1,000,000):
Secondary Treatment of Tijuana Sewage (Public Law 106-457) - $1,000,000: The project will provide for the secondary treatment of Tijauna sewage as mandated by Public Law 106-457, The Tijuana River Estuary and Beach Cleanup Act of 2000. Public Law 106-457 provides for the secondary treatment of a total of not more than 50 mgd in Mexico of effluent from the SBIWTP, if such treatment is not provided for at a facility in the United States, and of additional sewage emanating from the Tijuana River area, Mexico. In FY 2006 the USIBWC will continue to evaluate available alternatives in order achieve compliance with PL 106-457.

The FY 2007 request will provide funds for costs associated with the contract for implementation of the Public Law, and as agreed upon in IBWC Minute No. 311 between Mexico and the U.S.

Program Description

The purpose of the IBWC-Construction program is to investigate, design, construct, operate, and maintain joint construction projects independent of or with Mexico that address boundary demarcation, border sanitation, trans-boundary groundwater, and flood control problems. This appropriation ensures that the rights and obligations of treaties and agreements between the United States and Mexico are met through construction activities using funds appropriated to the USIBWC. In addition, the Commission will:
 ? implement joint water quality programs for the observation of the biological, mineral, chemical, and toxic quality of international river waters;
 ? promote successful resolution of a broad range of trans-boundary environmental issues; 
 ? ensure compliance with National Pollution Discharge System (NPDES) permits for the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP) located in Nogales, Arizona, and the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) located in San Ysidro, California;
 ? design, construct and maintain water conveyance structures, and operation and maintenance facilities for flood control, hydrologic, groundwater, sanitation (water quality), and boundary demarcation and preservation projects;
 ? investigate and report on the most feasible measures for solving border sanitation problems along the U.S.-Mexico border; and
 ? conduct various planning (pre-design) and environmental studies for flood control, hydrologic, groundwater, border sanitation (water quality), and boundary demarcation and preservation programs.

Benefits

Benefits of this appropriation include:
 ? implementing boundary preservation, water conveyance, flood control, and sanitation projects consistent with treaty obligations between the Governments of the United States and Mexico, and various Acts of Congress;
 ? promoting successful resolution of a broad range of trans-boundary environmental issues;
 ? maintaining the natural boundary between the United States and Mexico;
 ? preventing potentially destructive flooding in towns along the boundary; and
 ? preserving the water quality for human and other use on both sides of the boundary.

PART / Program Evaluation

The U.S. Section of the IBWC is tentatively scheduled for its first PART review in 2006, as a component of State?s budget request for FY 2008. The USIBWC supports three of the Department?s performance goals ? close, strong and effective U.S. ties with allies, friends, partners and regional organizations; the containment or resolution of existing and emergency regional conflicts; and the development of partnerships, initiatives, and implemented international treaties and agreements that protect the environment and promote efficient energy use and resource management.

The USIBWC is in the process of developing annual and long-range work plans for each program, to identify and prioritize agency requirements in accordance with the President?s Management Agenda (Government Wide Initiatives) and USIBWC strategic plan. The USIBWC has implemented measures and technologies to maximize benefits and minimize costs whenever possible.

The USIBWC has used a streamlined process to address heavy equipment needs at its 12 field offices. Instead of replacing all heavy equipment, the USIBWC will only replace the most commonly used and needed pieces of heavy equipment critical to agency operations. The agency will share this heavy equipment among regional field offices, and rent used equipment when specific needs arise. In FY 2005, the USIBWC purchased two semi-truck transport trailers (lowboys) to transport and share heavy equipment. Sharing and renting of heavy equipment is expected to provide a cost reduction of approximately $4.5 million over our original plan.

The USIBWC is using new technologies and methods to efficiently evaluate our Rio Grande Flood Control Projects, which include approximately 510 miles of levees. The USIBWC conducted an integrated "high tech" approach using geophysical methods to identify questionable or high-risk flood levee segments. This innovative approach has substantially decreased the number of geotechnical soil samples needed to evaluate the structural integrity of the levee system, while providing more comprehensive coverage. Implementations of geophysical methods are estimated to have saved the agency between $7 million to $8 million over traditional geotechnical investigative methods in the lower Rio Grande area alone.

INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSIONS

Resource Summary
($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The FY 2007 request provides $20,651,000 for U.S. support for the International Fisheries Commissions.
This request includes:
 ? $12,140,000 for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and $2,300,000 for the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which support the core functions of these two commissions;

 ? $2,800,000 for the Pacific Salmon Commission, which includes $100,000 to fund negotiations for the key Pacific Salmon Treaty annexes that expire in 2008;

 ? $1,800,000 for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission to continue programs necessary to conserve and manage the commercial tuna stocks;

 ? $1,361,000 to pay the U.S. share of annual assessments and program expenses of the 11 other commissions and activities included under this appropriation; and

 ? $250,000 for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which the United States anticipates joining in FY 2006 with the first full U.S. assessment due in FY 2007.

Program Description

These organizations facilitate international cooperation to achieve conservation of shared living marine resources and/or sustainable use of shared fish populations by:

 ? coordinating scientific research into the size, health, and distribution of shared fish populations and other living marine resources, and evaluating the effects of fishing and environmental conditions on these resources;
 ? recommending conservation and management measures to member governments based on scientific advice; and
 ? where appropriate, allocating harvesting rights to member nations according to relevant criteria and consistent with approved conservation and management measures.

The International Fisheries Commissions appropriation provides for:

 ? the treaty-mandated U.S. share of operating expenses of ten international fisheries commissions and organizations, one sea turtle convention, the International Whaling Commission, two international marine science organizations, and the Antarctic Treaty;
 ? travel expenses of U.S. Commissioners and their advisors; and
 ? compensation payments to non-government employees of the Pacific Salmon Commission for days actually worked as U.S. Commissioners, panel members, advisors, and/or alternates.

Benefits

U.S. leadership in these organizations secures and maintains access to a fair share of international fisheries resources for U.S. commercial and recreational fishers, protects vulnerable marine species, strengthens the well-being of coastal communities, and advances key U.S. interests such as regional economic stability and protection of the global marine environment.

Membership in these organizations produces the following benefits to the United States:

 ? management and conservation of commercial and recreational fisheries that generate income over $12 billion annually to the U.S. economy;
 ? continuation of efforts to eradicate sea lampreys in the Great Lakes and their tributaries to allow depleted fish stocks to rebuild;
 ? assurance that U.S. fishermen have the opportunity to harvest an equitable share of common fish resources;
 ? protection against the depletion of fishery resources and degradation of the marine and the Antarctic environment;
 ? assurance of the protection of whale stocks through the International Whaling Commission;
 ? peaceful uses of the Antarctic region, including marine protected areas;
 ? conservation of vulnerable marine species such as sea turtles and dolphins; and
 ? fora for discussion of problems of mutual interest among the United States and other fishing nations.

PART / Program Evaluation

The International Fisheries Commissions underwent initial PART analysis in FY 2004 for the FY 2006 budget. This review identified program planning, management, results, and accountability to be "adequate." This review indicated that each commission has ambitious short- and long-term measures (including three efficiency measures), which have been met or exceeded, for example:

 ? number of multilateral regional fisheries management organizations implementing comprehensive schemes to improve compliance with conservation and management measures by both members and non-members and
 ? estimated parasitic sea lamprey abundance in all Great Lakes as a proportion of the maximum target level that would allow for healthy fish populations.

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) will continue to work with OMB to implement recommendations from the PART analysis. OES will continue to improve its program-wide measures; in particular, OES will increase the number of outcome-oriented measures and efficiency measures.

Other Marine Conservation Organizations

Request by Commission

($ in thousands)

BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION

Resource Summary
($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) is a bi-national institution, jointly funded by the United States and Mexico. The $2,175,000 request for FY 2007 is the U.S. contribution to the BECC, an increase of $92,000 above the FY 2006 estimate. The increase will fund wage and price increases and safety issues. The FY 2007 contribution will enable the BECC to continue assisting border communities in the identification, development, design and certification of border environmental infrastructure projects that will be considered by lending or grant-making institutions, such as the North American Development Bank (NADB). It will also enable the BECC to continue its public involvement and public outreach process. Border communities have a great need not only for infrastructure but also for resources to develop that infrastructure properly. Through an effective partnership, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Project Development Assistance Program (PDAP) has provided $41,200,000 in funds to the BECC that are used to provide technical assistance to communities to develop and design water and wastewater projects since the inception of the program through FY 2005. Funding for development and design of solid waste projects comes from the NADB, and funding for development and design of other sector projects come from BECC operating funds and the NADB. Other sector projects include, but are not limited to, hazardous waste, air quality, public transportation, clean and efficient energy, municipal planning and development, water conservation, waste and wastewater hookups, and waste reduction and recycling.

Program Description

Established and authorized under a side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the BECC?s central objective is to assist states, local communities, private industry, and non-governmental organizations in developing effective solutions to environmental problems along the U.S.-Mexico border. The geographical area includes 100 km in the U.S and 300 km in Mexico. The BECC provides technical and financial planning assistance and certifies environmental infrastructure projects.

The BECC assists states, localities, and private investors that propose environmental infrastructure projects by providing technical support--such as engineering analysis, project development and design, financial feasibility studies, community participation, environmental assessment and sustainable development--to border communities seeking to develop environmental infrastructure projects. In addition, the BECC mobilizes the resources from U.S. and Mexican environmental agencies and other sources, and provides access to the resources of the NADB. Under the BECC?s public participation program, the BECC notifies the public about specific projects and receives comments from affected communities to ensure extensive public involvement and support in the policies and decisions of the Commission.

The BECC projects to certify approximately 7 projects in FY 2006 with an estimated value of $188 million. The process of identifying potential new projects and developing these projects has matured into a comprehensive system well coordinated and integrated with the NADB and federal agencies in both countries.

In FY 2006 and FY 2007 the BECC projects it will receive approximately 40 applications that satisfy the BECC basic criteria as follows: (a) location within the designated geographical area, (b) solving an environmental or human health issue, and (c) constituting a water, wastewater, solid waste, or sector projects. BECC?s mission continues to be the improvement of quality of life for the more than 22.3 million residents residing within the designated geographical area.

BECC is governed by a bi-national Board of Directors, composed of ten members (five from the U.S. and five from Mexico), representing federal, state and civil society on the border. Members of the Board of Directors are appointed by the President of the United States and the Secretariat of Environmental and Natural Resources for Mexico.

Benefits

The benefits of the BECC include:

 ? Assistance for states and localities and other public entities and private investors in:

• coordinating environmental infrastructure projects to address serious environmental degradation problems along the 2,000 mile U.S.-Mexico border;
• developing, implementing, and overseeing environmental infrastructure projects in the border region, including the development, design, and other technical aspects of such projects;
• analyzing the financial feasibility and/or the environmental and sustainable development aspects of environmental infrastructure projects in the border region;
• evaluating social and economic benefits of environmental infrastructure projects in the border region; and
• organizing, developing, and arranging public and private financing for environmental infrastructure projects in the border region;

 ? Certification of applications for financing to the NADB for environmental infrastructure projects in the border region;

 ? Innovative approaches to address common environmental infrastructure needs along the international border; and

 ? Forum for public input into critical decision making on the development and implementation of infrastructure projects.

PART / Program Evaluation

The BECC has initiated the development of a comprehensive needs assessment that provides, together with the project prioritization analysis, a projects and issues agenda for future fiscal years. The BECC measures performance of the projects and issues agenda by the implementation of project components and resolution of social and environmental issues.

The BECC continues to work through the EPA's PDAP, Department of State, Government of Mexico, and other grant funding agencies in an effort to accomplish its mission. Key ongoing strategies for improving the health, environment, and other conditions for the more than 22.3 million residents of the U.S.-Mexico border region include:

 ? development and administration of a needs assessments through the input of communities, local authorities and State governments;
 ? implementation of a strategic plan with the intention of integrating a complete BECC work program, as a basis for planning future actions and use of resources;
 ? continued assistance to border communities in identifying potential alternatives to environmental and health problems;
 ? ensuring compliance with BECC public participation and outreach process;
 ? continued improvements to the project management information system (PMIS);
 ? continuing with ISO recertification process; and
 ? continuation of performance-based budgeting.

The BECC has achieved targets for protecting the environment, promoting efficient energy use and resource management in support of its mandate of improving social and environmental issues by addressing environmental, health, and other conditions in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Since its inception, the BECC has certified 105 projects, benefiting over 8,000,000 residents in communities along the U.S.-Mexico border region. Of the 105 projects certified, 24 projects are in operation, 39 projects are under construction, 11 projects are in the bidding process, 25 projects are under design, and the six (6) remaining projects are either being redefined or inactive (funding was obtained elsewhere). These projects represent a total investment of over $30.6 million in technical assistance, and an investment of $2.18 billion in construction projects.

In FY 2006 and FY 2007 the BECC intends to continue developing and designing projects for certification by its Board of Directors. The BECC has completed the development of a needs assessment to identify existing requirements in the communities in the U.S. and Mexico border region. The collected information will be used in support of its strategic plan. The needs assessment will have an annual follow-up with the purpose of identifying new projects. The BECC completed the process of prioritizing projects for FY 2005-FY 2006 in order to determine what project needs will be addressed first.

In addition, the BECC continues to improve its project management information system (PMIS) in an effort to better track the BECC?s performance, identify opportunities for improvement in project development, and streamline the process even further. The BECC also expects that by the beginning of FY 2006, it will have instituted a project costing system which will create the foundation for the implementation of performance-based budgeting (PBB). The development of the project costing system will permit the BECC to track project labor costs, identify any duplication of efforts, identify areas for improvement, measure efficiencies and inefficiencies, and cut costs through targeted improvements. This will provide the core data for a new system of process and efficiency measures.

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

Resource Summary
($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The FY 2007 International Joint Commission (IJC) budget request is $6,127,000. Funding at this level will support operations of the International Joint Commission (IJC) and special investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey through reallocation to highest priority efforts.

Program Description

The IJC's mission is to develop and, where appropriate, administer programs to assist the governments of the United States and Canada to address water quality and quantity issues and air pollution problems along the U.S./Canadian border through the implementation of the provisions of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and related international agreements. In addition, the United States? share of the IJC?s Great Lakes Regional Office (Windsor, Ontario), created by the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), is funded through this account.

During FY 2007, the IJC will continue to manage water levels and flows in the Great Lakes and other boundary waters to achieve an appropriate balance among the many significant interests dependent on or affected by water levels. The unpredictable increase in both drought and flooding events in border watersheds has placed greater demands on the resource, especially in the west, and intensified the need for careful and well analyzed control of the outflows from regulated structures during high and low water periods.

In FY 2007, the IJC also plans to continue work as detailed in the Plan of Study for the Upper Great Lakes, completing the Plan?s Year 1 efforts and undertaking the Plan?s Year 2 efforts. The five-year study assesses changes in the St. Clair River and determines changes required to the Orders of Approval for the operation of structures at the outlet of Lake Superior affecting water levels and flows on Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario.) The orders governing the Upper Great Lakes are nearly a quarter-century old and do not fully consider the needs of interests that have grown in the region over time, environmental considerations, potential changes in timing and volume of water supplies, and the effects of possible changes in the St. Clair River. Significant variations in water levels have and will continue to have social and economic impacts. Work on the Upper Great Lakes study will achieve efficiency by building on the knowledge, methods, and models developed in the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence Study while recognizing differences necessitated by the degree of outflow control and the geographic scope of the Upper Lakes.

The IJC will continue work on references (requests for IJC studies) issued by the two governments over the previous fiscal years and those expected to be issued during FY 2007 and will carry out its responsibilities pursuant to its Orders of Approval and under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and Boundary Waters Treaty. These activities include:

 ? continuing support of international watershed initiatives in the border region for the purpose of improving cross-border communication, protecting shared resources, and facilitating local and regional problem solving;
 ? continuing a multi-year review of orders for regulation of the controlling structure on the Okanogan River (British Columbia and Washington);
 ? continuing the analysis of common groundwater and surface water uses in boundary areas outside the Great Lakes Basin as requested from governments of the U.S. and Canada;
 ? assessing progress in developing and implementing Lakewide Management Plans and in remediation clean up of Areas of Concern designated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement;
 ? convening a biennial meeting on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to consult with the public;
 ? continuing to assist the governments in their comprehensive review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement;
 ? implementing an integrated approach to water quality and water quantity responsibilities in the Souris River basin (North Dakota, Manitoba, Saskatchewan);
 ? subject to the receipt of referrals from governments, continuing a program to harmonize and coordinate binational programs to prevent the introduction of aquatic alien invasive species into the Great Lakes and other border regions and assessing progress by the governments in this effort, assessing the impacts of proposed coal-bed methane development in the Flathead River basin (Montana and British Columbia); evaluating transboundary impacts of operations by Teck Cominco along the Columbia River (Washington and British Columbia); and undertaking the assessment of a proposed mine on the Taku River in British Columbia that may pose a risk of substantial damage to the salmon fishery in Alaska; and
 ? supporting the U.S. Government?s program to monitor water levels and flows in several boundary and transboundary rivers and to meet apportionment requirements, which is accomplished through an interagency agreement with the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Benefits

The quality and quantity of boundary waters, including the Great Lakes, are maintained and monitored to ensure that millions of Americans and Canadians will not lose the economic, recreational and aesthetic benefits that they now derive from these waters nor suffer from damages to the resource. The prompt and effective prevention and/or resolution of potential environmental or other disputes ensure the maintenance of the strong relationship that exists between Canada and the United States.

PART / Program Evaluation

The IJC supports three of the Department?s performance goals --close, strong and effective U.S. ties with allies, friends, partners and regional organizations; the containment or resolution of existing and emergency regional conflicts; and the development of partnerships, initiatives, and implemented international treaties and agreements that protect the environment and promote efficient energy use and resource management. The IJC?s annual project agenda consists of scientific and technical studies performed at the request of the two national governments, some known in advance, others requested in the course of the fiscal year.

A long-term program goal is to ensure the IJC?s ability to address existing and emerging issues to help the two governments prevent and resolve disputes, such that the IJC is able to respond to references issued by the two governments, and to address issues early and as much as possible at the local level so that more substantive transboundary controversies are averted and the need for formal references avoided. A short-term program goal toward this end is steady progress in ensuring scientific, technical, and institutional capacity. The structure of the Commission?s boards and task forces is a critical component of this capacity, providing a forum for relevant agencies, academics, industry, and others in both countries to bring their scientific and technical expertise to bear, to address emerging issues, and to discuss these issues with the local public. In FY 2005, the IJC and its 21 boards and task forces conducted 59 public consultation meetings in communities along or near the international boundary. Also in FY 2005, 18 reports were issued under the auspices of the IJC and its boards and task forces providing information on work undertaken on the Commission?s various responsibilities, information on water quality and water quantity requirements, and issues and developments in various watersheds along the boundary.

A second long-term program goal is to ensure that the operation of facilities affecting international water levels and flows remains relevant for current and anticipated conditions. A short-term goal within this context is to ensure steady progress in reviewing the IJC?s decades-old international approvals in light of changed social, technical, and climatic conditions. The IJC?s Study Board reviewing the 50-year old regulation of Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence River outflows is completing its work in early FY 2006. The IJC expects to consider the options provided by the Board, make its decision, and implement that decision during FY 2006. The Study Board?s five-year effort is within budget and on schedule. The IJC plans to take advantage of lessons learned by initiating in FY 2006 a multi-year review of the 25-year old regulation of Lake Superior outflows and its effects on the Upper Great Lakes. The IJC also plans in FY2006 to develop a Plan of Study for the review required of Zosel Dam on the Okanogan River.

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION

Resource Summary
($ in thousands)

FY 2005 Actual reflects the rescission of 0.54% to Commerce, Justice, State appropriated accounts and the general rescission of 0.80% provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447).

FY 2006 Estimate reflects the rescission of 0.28% provided through the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-108) and the general rescission of 1.0% provided through the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Pandemic Influenza, 2006 (P.L. 109-148).

Explanation of Request

The FY 2007 budget request of $1,285,000 for the International Boundary Commission (IBC) will support the Treaty requirements to maintain the U.S - Canadian Boundary. Funding will allow the IBC to conduct four field projects that will maintain the required effective boundary line between the U.S. and Canada. The planned projects are:

 ? Repair and Maintenance of the Range Towers in Point Roberts, WA;
 ? Clearing boundary vista and Monument Maintenance along the North Line and Monument Brook Maine/New Brunswick (87 miles);
 ? Monument maintenance and vista clearing along the 49th Parallel Minnesota/Manitoba (60 miles); and
 ? GPS survey of the 49th Parallel Montana/ British Columbia.

The IBC will continue its advisory and regulatory roles concerning construction crossing the boundary and to provide boundary specific information and technical data to the public and private sectors.

Program Description

The IBC is obligated by the Treaty of 1925 to maintain an "effective" boundary line between the United States and Canada. The Treaty specifies that, to be "effective", the boundary line must be accurately delineated and marked with stable identifying monuments, offering a 20-foot wide clear line-of-sight (i.e., "vista") from one boundary monument to the next along the entire 5,525 mile border. The IBC maintains more than 5,500 boundary monuments and more than 2,800 reference monuments which are used to locate the water boundary. To preserve the integrity of the international boundary line, the IBC regulates construction crossing the boundary and provides boundary-specific positional and cartographic data to the public and private sectors. The IBC appropriation provides funds to implement U.S. obligations under the Treaty, thereby maintaining and preserving an effective boundary line between the two countries that ensures the sovereignty of each nation over its territory by clearly establishing where one?s rights and responsibilities end and the other?s begins, thus virtually eliminating the potential for serious and costly boundary disputes.

Although the boundary was cleared, surveyed and marked years ago, a cyclical program of maintenance is required to sustain an effective boundary line. The necessity of continuous maintenance is due to the deterioration/destruction of boundary monuments and to brush and timber overgrowth obstructing the 20-foot wide vista.

The IBC has begun to convert all North American Datum 27 (NAD27) map coordinates that currently define the boundary to NAD 83 positions.

The FY 2006 budget of $1,411,000 will fund the IBC operations and three boundary maintenance projects:
 ? Monument maintenance, vista clearing and resurvey of the 49th Parallel (35 miles) Montana/Saskatchewan,
 ? Vista clearing and monument maintenance of the 49th Parallel (60 miles) in Minnesota/Manitoba, and
 ? Inspection resurvey and monument maintenance on the St. John River (72 miles) in Maine/New Brunswick.

Additionally the Commission will begin the first year of a five-year program to re-map the United States - Canadian Boundary.

Benefits

A well-marked and maintained boundary supports the missions of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, especially in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. A well-defined boundary is necessary so that individuals coming upon the boundary anywhere along its length are aware of the country they are in, and thus what laws they are under. An ambiguous boundary line would needlessly complicate and disrupt the business of government and private industry as well as the lives of the people living and working along it.

PART / Program Evaluation

The work of the IBC supports the Department?s strategic goals in Regional Stability and Homeland Security. The IBC proposes to track performance by comparing the projects accomplished to the projects targeted for that year in the IBC?s 15-year long-term and 5-year short-term plans for maintaining an effective boundary.