PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1997 (ENS) - The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Environment Commission's fourth annual session wrapped up Friday with an action plan for the reduction and eventual elimination of two pesticides, chlordane and DDT. A number of other joint actions were taken to meet the goals set under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to NAFTA.

The NAFTA Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is made up of Mexican Secretary of Environment Natural Resources and Fisheries Julia Carabias, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner, represented by Deputy Administrator Fred Hansen, and Canadian Environment Minister Christine Stewart, represented by Environment Ambassador John Fraser.

The meeting featured an open dialogue with members of the public from Canada, Mexico and the United States. The environment leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the CEC as a "dynamic and open forum for helping the NAFTA partners meet global goals to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations."

The Council has completed regional action plans for the reduction and eventual elimination of two dangerous pesticides, chlordane and DDT, from the North American environment. A regional action plan for the reduction of PCBs was completed in April, and is already being implemented. Implementing these actions plans will also contribute to the reduction of long-range transport of air pollutants to the Arctic, the Council said.

A draft regional action plan on human-caused releases of mercury will be made public for comment and review by July 15. A final plan will be ready in September. Criteria to select additional toxic substances for priority action will be presented to Council this fall.