The U.S.-Mexico border remains heavily polluted, despite claims that NAFTA’s environmental side accord would alleviate many problems in the area. Some progress has been made: the Tijuana River has been cleaned up noticeably, thanks to new sewage treatment plants, though much work still needs to be done. The North American Development Bank, an environmental fund created through NAFTA, has given some $44 million in grants and loans for projects in California and Baja California. But those amounts are far below expectations, and far below the $3 billion that the U.S. government estimates is needed for new wastewater treatment plants along the border.
