By Gallego                                           H.C.R. No. 266

         75R15233 EFD-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The citizens of the United States and Mexico

 1-2     recognize the importance of conservation, protection, and

 1-3     enhancement of the environment for the long-term economic and

 1-4     social well-being of citizens on both sides of the border; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, In testament to this belief, the governments of both

 1-6     nations have demonstrated their nations' commitment  to protecting

 1-7     natural resources and public health  by enacting the environmental

 1-8     provisions of the La Paz Agreement and the North American Agreement

 1-9     on Environmental Cooperation; and

1-10           WHEREAS, Both nations have acknowledged that the transport of

1-11     air pollutants occurring in urban regions along the United

1-12     States-Mexico border is a serious problem that will continue to

1-13     escalate with increased urbanization and industrialization spurred

1-14     by rapid economic expansion; and

1-15           WHEREAS, As Mexico's primary neighbor to the north, the State

1-16     of Texas has a special interest in the status of the environment

1-17     along the border region; in recent years, the citizens of Texas

1-18     have been concerned with the deterioration of air quality,

1-19     particularly in the region of Big Bend National Park; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Declining air quality has contributed to poor

1-21     visability and threatens to affect the operation of the

1-22     Hobby-Eberly Telescope recently constructed at the McDonald

1-23     Observatory in West Texas at a cost of approximately $13.5 million;

 2-1     this large optical telescope is the result of years of

 2-2     collaborative efforts among international scientists and

 2-3     universities and promises to yield valuable information regarding

 2-4     the origin, evolution, and nature of deep space; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, While many factors may be contributing to the

 2-6     decline in visibility and air quality in the region, several

 2-7     studies have indicated that emissions from two power plants near

 2-8     Piedras Negras, Mexico, are releasing significant amounts of sulfur

 2-9     dioxide into the atmosphere; prevailing wind patterns carry the

2-10     emissions into the Big Bend region, contributing to the smoggy and

2-11     hazy conditions; and

2-12           WHEREAS, While it is the sovereign right of each country to

2-13     develop natural resources in accordance with its own environmental

2-14     policies and laws, each nation must realize that pollution does not

2-15     respect political boundaries and that activities should be carried

2-16     out in a manner that does not cause harm to the health and welfare

2-17     of its neighbors across the border; now, therefore, be it

2-18           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-19     hereby respectfully urge the National Congress of the United

2-20     Mexican States and the Legislature of the State of Coahuila to

2-21     reduce pollution from the Carbon I and Carbon II power plants near

2-22     Piedras Negras, Mexico; and, be it further

2-23           RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official

2-24     copies of this resolution to the president of the United Mexican

2-25     States, to the National Congress of the United Mexican States, to

 3-1     the governor of the State of Coahuila, and to the Legislature of

 3-2     the State of Coahuila with the request that this resolution be

 3-3     officially recognized as a memorial to the government of the United

 3-4     Mexican States.