Dick Kamp/Wick Comunications Environmental Liaison

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is assigning 3 full time hazardous materials inspectors to the border ports of entry at Nogales, Douglas, and San Luis, Arizona.

The one-year budget for the ADEQ inspectors, recently signed by Governor Napolitano provides funding for ADEQ to hire three full-time hazardous waste inspectors " to review waste shipments coming into Arizona from Mexico to ensure they are being transported safely in accordance with all requirements of state and federal law.

"ADEQ will post an inspector at each border crossing where the waste shipments are likely to occur," according to Communications Director Mark Shaffer. "No one at either the federal or state level is inspecting hazardous' waste shipments coming into Arizona from Mexico,"

ADEQ Director Owens said. A lack of oversight of toxic and hazardous materials (that could be explosive, flammable or could react with other materials with toxic or explosive results) has been a long-standing border-wide concern.

ADEQ referred to problems with pesticide-fumigated furniture in Nogales in 2005 and San Diego-area sludge lighting on fire as recent problems.

US Customs spokesperson Brian Levin was the Nogales Customs Hazardous Materials Coordinator for 10 years at the port of entry.

Customs was unaware of the ADEQ plans. Levin said, "We've been very lucky not to have had any hazardous materials emergencies at the Nogales port resulting from transport of materials. There have been spills on the Sonoran side from railroad tanker cars (from the Grupo Mexico Nacozari smelter) but none of those crossing the border have been a problem yet."

Levin added that, "our problems have come from commodities such as furniture that has been fumigated but without any markings or notices on the truck. Also, fruit, such as grapes, heavily fumigated with sulfur dioxide pads that were not properly aired out. We've had one incident where inspectors felt sick and went to Holy Cross hospital in Nogales for observation. If we have any concerns at all over hazardous materials, then we call the Nogales Fire Department that is trained in hazmat emergencies."

Nogales will allow hazardous materials to pass over the border 24 hours a day. Smaller ports such as Naco do not permit them to cross, added Levin, and others may limit their hours.

He anticipated that ADEQ inspectors would work closely with Arizona Department of Transportation inspectors at the ports.