Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Summary of the matter addressed in the submission:

The Submitters assert that Mexican federal authorities, the government of Mexico City (CDMX), and three of its boroughs are failing to effectively enforce environmental laws with respect to the construction of Line 7 of the bus rapid transit system (“Metrobús”).

In SEM-18-002 (Metrobús Reforma), the Submitters maintain that the granting of permits for the construction of Metrobús Line 7 has been “illegal and opaque” because the project sponsor, the CDMX Government, is supposed to respect environmental law “by ensuring adequate planning, communication, participation, and compliance—which unfortunately has not happened.” According to the Submitters, the project was initiated in 2015 with modifications to the decree establishing the Chapultepec Forest protected area, which has an important historical, environmental, and landscape value for CDMX. The Submitters base their submission on several international, federal, and state laws and cite provisions which they allege are not being effectively enforced by Mexican federal and state authorities.

Summary of the response provided by the Party:

Mexico states that the land use is considered as “urban” and not for conservation or environmental restoration purposes. There are no specific provisions in terms of conservation, restoration, protection, or sustainable use, and it does not affect the scope of the Metrobus Reforma project. As to the assertions regarding the Mobility Law, Mexico states that these provisions are not environmental law. With respect to assertions on public participation in the environmental impact assessment process, Mexico reports that the Metrobus Reforma project met all provisions on public participation and consultation in Mexico City. Regarding the impact on urban vegetation, the response includes information on actions taken to replace or compensate for affected trees. Mexico maintains that the affected trees are outside the area of environmental value (área de valor ambiental) of the Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. Mexico states that removal of trees was less than the number of authorized specimens. Mexico reports on actions taken by the Procuraduría de Medio Ambiente y Ordenamiento Territorial (Attorney General for the Environment and Territory, PAOT) related to the area of the alleged impact of the Metrobus Reforma project. Regarding the waste generation during construction, Mexico discusses that preparation works will only generate “special handling” and not hazardous waste. On air quality, Mexico indicates that the project is complying with applicable regulations and standards in Mexico City and that actions are being taken to include the development of the project as a mitigation measure under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Finally, Mexico informs that one of the Submitters filed an “Amparo” lawsuit before the courts and that the plaintiff and the subject matter of the submission are the same, and that, therefore, the submission should be terminated under NAAEC Articles 45(3)(a) and 14(3)(a) due to a pending proceeding.

Submitter(s):

Academia Mexicana de Derecho Ambiental and La Voz de Polanco