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COLORADO RIVER DELTA BI-NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS ENGLISH 24 consent. In most cases the authority to enter into and implement IBWC minutes is found within the 1944 treaty or other boundary treaties, which charge the IBWC with their execution, or within other existing U.s. statutory authorities. Once authorized by the Department of State to do so, the U.S. IBWC finalizes the terms and conditions of the Minutes with its Mexican counterpart. Following signature the Minutes are forwarded to the Department of State and to the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs. They have traditionally entered into force as agree- ments between the United States and Mexico following the specific approval of both govern- ments. JAIME PALAFOX PRIVATE CONSULTANT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mr. Palafox said he wanted to describe some of the institutional alternatives that exist on an international level that could aid in understand- ing concerns about the Delta and whether those concerns are warranted or need further study. The technical side of the Delta must first be understood before talking about the legal side. A better understanding of the water flows and existing conditions in the Delta, as well as the overall health of the ecosystem, is needed. ~ are now environmpnt::llc()nC'prns that didn't exist when the 1944 Treaty was adopted and adopting ~ute 306 i~e avenlle of addressing this c~e. In 1983, existing treaties were considered insufficient to deal with erupting environmental problems. T~az Agre~nt hetween Mexico and the U.S., is a border agreement that allows the countries to address environmental -- - ,~oble~of joint concern. It includes local, state and federal institutions, including the IBWC and includes issues such as hazardous waste, air emissions and other issues. This is what existed prior to the North American Free Trade Agree- ment (NAFTA). Within NAFTA what are known as the parallel agreements were signed. Under NAFTA, the Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC) was formed and designated NAFTA as having an obligation to environmental issues for the three countries (U.S., Mexico and Canada). The commission is available to study j~ probl~ms between the countries and develo action progt:'ams to analyze and improve envi- ~ ----- ronmental situations within the countries. The ;--.-- .--- commission has a $10 million annual budget and currently spends about $7 million annually. The commission also has research capabilities that allow it to verify that countries are complying with their environmental regulations. NAFTA promotes sustainable development ---- including citizen involvement in environmental issues. If local governments do not comply with their own environmental regulations, citizens can make them comply through complaints. It also a ows citizens, bo ithin and outside of the coun ortunit to present m- .-~ pl~~!.sme country is not meetingjts en~~~ ~ental obl!gatio~. This helps to maintain objectivity and also applies to transboundary environmental impacts. The ECC, by establish- ing agreements on transboundary environmen- tal impacts, has shown desire to make the treatment of environmental issues more transboundary permeable. Ecosystems do not ,~have borders. There should also be more compli- }~Ij lJI-ance with regards to e~nging information. ~II ...------ The North American Development Bank, established under NAFTA, is designed to assist "')'~ with the construction of environmental infra- :t structure in the U.S. and Mexico. They have $10 million annually to spend on feasible projects. The bank is overseen by a board of directors that establishes priorities for use of the financing. These priorities are undergoing adjustments by President Fox who wants to use the funding in more efficient ways. Additional money will be budgeted by the National Water Commission and other Mexican institutions. The ECC works with the bank, other institutions and the com- munity to analyze the projects and determine what is best. There fore, th~ ~.Cl.nk and.Jhe ECC were created as two ~Earate institutions in