NCJ Number
109400
Journal
Criminal Justice Journal Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (Fall 1987) Pages: 99-119
Date Published
1987
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Solving the transnational pollution problem involving the New River, which flows from Mexico into Imperial County, Calif., will require the U.S. Congress to grant enforcement powers to the Federal agencies that have been established and designated to monitor, regulate, and control these problems.
Abstract
The New River is the most polluted river in California and probably in the entire Nation. Its pollution comes from many sources, all of which are located in Mexico. Assembly plants belonging to United States multinational corporations are a major source of industrial waste and pollution. These plants do not have to meet the strict pollution standards required within the United States. The many treaties and agreements that exist all lack enforcement provisions. Jurisdictional enforcement problems similarly exist across international borders. The United States should enact specific provisions for the international enforcement of antipollution statutes to be directed at multinational corporations whose pollution outside the United States has a direct impact within the borders of the United States. Mexico would probably have little opposition to this enforcement, because it would cost Mexico nothing. The United States corporations would still locate in Mexico to take advantage of the inexpensive labor and thus continue to help Mexico's economic development. 114 references.