MEXUS Activities Overview

MEXUSMEXUSActivities Overview Activities Overview

CAPT DANIEL RYAN

Eighth Coast Guard District

Chief, Marine Safety Division

PLAN MEXUSPLAN MEXUS

The Joint Contingency Plan Between Mexico and the United States Regarding Pollution of the Marine

Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons and Other Hazardous Substances

PLAN MEXUS PLAN MEXUS BackgroundBackground

On 24 July 1980, the United States and the Mexican government signed the “Agreement of Cooperation Between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Regarding Pollution of the Marine Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons and Other Hazardous Substances”.

PLAN MEXUS PLAN MEXUS Background (Cont.)Background (Cont.)

After nearly twenty years of cooperative work, the MEXUS Plan was signed on February 2000 in Mexico City

Signatory to the Plan were Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, VADM James C. Card, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Mexican Navy, ADM Manuel Garcia Carmona Santiesteban

MEXUS PLANMEXUS PLANMEXUS provides for Bilateral cooperation in response to pollution incidents that could affect the coastal waters of both countries

Can also be activate in cases where the impact of the waters of one country would be of such that would justify the request to the other country for assistance

Two geographic annexes, MEXUSGULF and MEXUSPAC, complement the MEXUS Plan.

MEXUSGULF MEXUSGULF EXERCISE EXERCISE May 29 –31, 2002

MEXUSGULF EXERCISE MEXUSGULF EXERCISE Scenario Scenario

9,000 barrels of crude from exploration activities involving drill ship DISCOVERER SPIRIT 180 miles East from Brownsville, TX and just North of Mexican Waters.

Trajectories indicated that oil would impact Mexico and Texas beaches in 21 days.

Unocal Sugar Land Command Post submitted requests to USCG and Mexican Navy for the use of dispersants.

EQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENTEQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENT

Offshore Skimming Operations Cotton seed hulls simulated oil

U. S. Coast Guard VesselsUSCGC Harry Claiborne with VOSSUSCGC Amberjack – support

Mexican Navy VesselsHondoOnjuku

MEXUSGULF JOINT MEXUSGULF JOINT RESPONSE TEAM MEETINGRESPONSE TEAM MEETINGMatamoros, Mexico Feb 11-12, 2003Matamoros, Mexico Feb 11-12, 2003

MEXUSGULF JRT MEETING MEXUSGULF JRT MEETING Main ObjectivesMain Objectives

"Get to Know" opportunity for bi-national Joint Response Team agencies

Bi-lateral familiarization of agencies roles, jurisdiction & responsibilities

Identify South Texas & North Tamaulipas Environmental areas of concerns

Opportunity to build a bridge between Coastal and Inland efforts

From US: DOT, DOD, DOS, DOE, DOI, DOC, FEMA, EPA, GSA, TGLO, TCEQ

From Mexico : SEMAR, SEMARNAT, PROFEPA, SAGARPA, PEMEX, SCT,

National Water Commission, State of Tamaulipas

MEXUSGULF JRT

MEXUSGULF SIGNINGMEXUSGULF SIGNING

Signed by RADM Casto D8 Commander and VADM Cano ZN-1 Commander

4 originals sets of the MEXUSGULF Annex (one English and one Spanish copy per set), sets distributed as follows:

CGD8First Naval ZoneMexican Navy HeadquartersCoast Guard Headquarters

MEXUSGULF Future ActivitiesMEXUSGULF Future Activities

Participate in Inland MEXUS exercise in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico March or April 03

MEXUS exercise off coast of Tampico Mexico as proposed by Mexican Navy in July / August 03 time frame