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: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]
Target Audience
Population: Residents of Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico
Estimated Size: 19770
- The Nogales Wastewater Improvement Act of 2022 primarily impacts populations in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico, as it directly addresses wastewater that travels through these regions.
- The International Outfall Interceptor collects wastewater from both the Nogales in Arizona and Mexico, impacting all residents connected to this system.
- The transfer of pipeline ownership to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission shows a bi-national approach to water management issues, implying international cooperation and impact.
- The legislation specifically affects the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves a critical role in regional sanitation for both U.S. and Mexican communities.
Reasoning
- We need to consider a variety of factors including geographic location, socio-economic status, occupation, and connection to the wastewater system to understand the different impacts of the policy.
- Since the bill involves cross-border wastewater management, some affected individuals might reside outside the typical U.S. boundary, such as in Mexico.
- The budget constraints suggest that the program is adequately funded to make significant changes but might not fully resolve all issues due to limited resources.
- The bill includes a significant change in municipal finances by adjusting cost burdens, which can impact local government operations and, consequently, services provided to residents.
- Understanding the potential impact on everyday life, such as reduced flooding, improved public health due to better sanitation, and economic impacts on city budgeting, is crucial.
- A broad range of Cantril wellbeing scores will demonstrate varied personal perceptions and the longitudinal effect over time.
- Inclusion of people not directly impacted helps understand the policy's reach and limitations.
Simulated Interviews
small business owner (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems beneficial as it may improve local sanitation systems.
- Reduced financial pressure on the city might lead to better services or lower local taxes.
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 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
city council member (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this is a vital step towards sustainable water management.
- I'm relieved that the city won't bear the full financial burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 3 |
university student (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly affected but support policies improving environmental conditions in Arizona.
- This shows an effort in cross-border cooperation, which I value.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
retired teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support improvement in infrastructure but don’t feel directly impacted.
- It's good to see Nogales getting necessary support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
wastewater facility engineer (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will help us better manage and maintain operations at the plant.
- I'm hopeful this reduces systemic pressures we experience frequently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
school principal (Nogales, Mexico)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this will improve public health conditions at the school.
- Better sanitation helps us focus more on education rather than illnesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 1 |
environmental policy analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This sets a great precedent for international environmental cooperation.
- I feel encouraged by such collaborative approaches despite not being directly affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
farmer (Santa Cruz County, Arizona)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvement in the pipeline should positively affect water quality for my farm.
- I'm optimistic about lower contamination risks to my crops.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
healthcare worker (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A reliable wastewater system could reduce health issues related to contamination.
- Less disease means better public health outcomes and less strain on our resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 3 |
civil engineer (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm intrigued to see how this will affect infrastructural issues long-term.
- It might serve as a model for other cross-border projects, which is exciting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 3: $13000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $11000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $13000000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The transfer of ownership to a federal entity might introduce more rigorous standards and increased costs.
- Limitations on city cost contributions are designed to alleviate financial stress on the city of Nogales, Arizona.
- Debris interception at the pipeline could have security implications as well as operational ones.