Bill Overview
Title: Nogales Wastewater Improvement Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes requirements to address wastewater from the International Outfall Interceptor, which is a pipeline that carries wastewater from the United States-Mexico border to the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant, which is located in Rio Rico, Arizona, treats sewage and wastewater originating from Nogales, Mexico, and Nogales, Arizona. The bill transfers the ownership, operations, and maintenance of the pipeline from the city of Nogales, Arizona, to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. The commission must construct, operate, and maintain a debris screen at the pipeline's Manhole One for intercepting debris and drugs coming into the United States from Nogales, Mexico. The bill also limits the portion of the costs that the city of Nogales, Arizona, must pay for the Nogales sanitation project.
Sponsors: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3]
Target Audience
Population: People in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico
Estimated Size: 20000
- The Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant serves Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico, which means residents from both cities would be the primary population directly affected by this bill.
- The city of Nogales, Arizona, will experience financial relief due to reduced costs associated with the sanitation project.
- Ownership and operational changes could impact employees and operational stakeholders involved with the wastewater management in these regions.
- The construction of a debris screen could indirectly affect individuals involved in cross-border trade and activities, particularly related to security and regulatory practices.
Reasoning
- The population in focus includes residents of Nogales, Arizona, who are projected to directly benefit from financial relief and improved sanitation infrastructure.
- Different stakeholders include local government employees, workers at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant, residents of Rio Rico, where the plant is situated, and border security personnel.
- Budgetary constraints limit the scalability of the project. However, since the population impacted is around 20,000 in Nogales, Arizona, it should be manageable with appropriate fiscal management.
- The policy might have low direct personal impact on those outside of sanitation-related jobs or local government roles but can indirectly affect overall civic wellbeing, infrastructure reliability, and environmental health.
- The US Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission taking over operations is crucial for enhanced cross-border wastewater management, potentially easing financial burdens.
Simulated Interviews
City Planner (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The transfer of financial responsibility to the federal government is a relief for our city budget.
- This change allows us to focus more on other community projects and emergency management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (Rio Rico, Arizona)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There is uncertainty about how federal management will change our daily operations.
- Positive environmental changes are expected due to the debris screen implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the changes improve local health by reducing waterborne diseases.
- Environmental improvements could positively influence school participation and attendance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financial relief for the city is necessary as taxpayers should not bear all these costs.
- The policy should include more long-term environmental monitoring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retail Worker (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems to affect the city more than me directly.
- I hope it improves living conditions over time, especially with waste management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Border Patrol Agent (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The debris screen should help with preventing illicit activities at the border.
- Federal management could relieve us from additional financial stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is expected to reduce health risks associated with wastewater overflow.
- Financial relief is significant for local public health funding opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act is a case study in cross-border environmental policy for my studies.
- I'm optimistic about the long-term environmental benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Environmental Activist (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s vital that we monitor how funds are spent to ensure maximum efficiency.
- This policy should help prevent contamination spillage into our rivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Restaurant Owner (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvements in public infrastructure usually help with attracting customers.
- I’m hopeful for less unpredictable shutdowns due to water issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 5: $4000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1500000, High: $2500000)
Key Considerations
- Long-term federal maintenance costs versus short-term local economic impacts from construction projects.
- Potential political and regulatory implications of transferring operations to a federal entity.
- Environmental considerations regarding the improved treatment and disposal of wastewater.