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[North America]

Joint North American Efforts

North American Initiatives

Sharing a continent, the countries of North America have long studied each other and implemented the best initiatives of their neighbors. More recently the governments have been working together. I am currently aware of two initiatives by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the US: the North American Emergency Response Guidebook (NAERG) and the efforts of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).

North American Emergency Response Guidebook (NAERG)

In 1996 Canada, the US, and Mexico published a joint North American Emergency Response Guidebook that replaced the Canadian CANUTEC Dangerous Goods Initial Emergency Response Guide and the US Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook. This was a first step toward harmonizing the dangerous goods / hazardous materials regulations of all three countries. While Canada and the US had similar regulations, Mexico implemented a substantial number of related regulations since 1993 in order to integrate into the hazard communication systems shown in the NAERG.

NAERG
[ERG]

Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

The second initiative is that of the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), established by the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation between the Government of Canada, the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the United States of America. The CEC is the joint working group of the federal environmental bodies of each country. The projects of the CEC include such items as a regional / continental PCB management plan.

Other Sites

I also tend to use these resources:
  • International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Primer
  • US NIOSH/World Health Organization's International Chemical Safety Cards
  • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Commercial motor vehicle out-of-service criteria
  • US EPA site on Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention - Canadian and Mexican Border Programs

    HazMat Resources
    [Drums] [North America] [Canada] [USA] [Mexico] [Private Sector] [Drums]
    Hazard Communication Joint N. America Effort Canadian Agencies USA Agencies Mexican Agencies Private Sector Organizations HazMat Page

    This page created by Glas and last updated on November 4, 1999, I think.
    My comments are given with the understanding that I (Glas) am not rendering legal, accounting, nor other professional services.
    This page © 1999 by Earle B. "Glas" Durboraw.