BISBEE — This year, officials intend to update and consolidate two cross-border prevention and emergency response plans between Cochise County and Sonora, Mexico.

The United States and Mexico signed a joint contingency plan in 1999. It set forth a broad framework for planning efforts for 14 sister city pairs along the U.S.-Mexico border from California to Texas.

The binational plan called for increased communication, coordination and cooperation to deal with the release of hazardous substances in the border area. The goal is to more effectively and efficiently use resources on both sides of the border to prevent and respond to emergency situations to protect public health, safety and environment.

Currently, there is one plan between Douglas and Agua Prieta, Sonora. There is another plan between Naco, Sonora, and Cochise County, said Michael Evans, Cochise County’s emergency services coordinator.

“The plans were first written in 2002,” he said. “What we are trying to do now, with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency and a group called Border 2012, is to combine the Douglas-Agua Prieta plan and the Naco-Cochise County plan into one plan.”

“EPA really wants the plans to be bumped up to the county level as opposed to the local level,” he added. “The state of Arizona also would like the plans bumped up to the county level because the state of Arizona is working on an emergency plan with the state of Sonora. If there is already a county plan in place, it is much easier for the states to put their plans in place.”

The binational plans benefit Mexico and the United States because the effects of an incident involving hazardous material, such as chlorine or sulfuric acid, can easily spread across the border.

“We want to stop it before it gets in the United States,” Evans said. “But it is the right thing to do to help our neighbors in Mexico.”

In the past, assets of the Naco, Ariz., and San Jose fire departments crossed the border to help put out fires at the Naco, Sonora, dump. Also, local officials gave technical assistance to authorities in Agua Prieta for some sulfuric acid spills from accidents along Sonora’s Highway 2.