Water availability and usage on the New Mexico/Mexico border.

New Mexico, one of four states on the U.S./Mexico border, is faced with a pressing concern--lack of water. Since the region is either arid or semiarid, it is chronically short of continually available surface-water resources. Groundwater resources are used beyond their capacity to be recharged, and most surface-water resources are used to the maximum. The quality of groundwater varies widely. As a result of nonpoint- and point-source contamination, as well as natural occurrence, water in some areas is too salty or has high levels of natural uranium, fluoride, or arsenic. To date, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has recognized 1,400 cases of groundwater contamination, and 1,907 water supply wells have been affected (NMED, 2001a). Of approximate 4,000 miles of coninously flowing rivers and streams in New Mexico, 92 perent are affected by nonpoint sources of pollution (NMED, 2001b). Numerous critical water issues exist along the New Mexico/Mexico border as a result of the impending critical issue of water availability, usage, and quality, as well as the fast-growing population. Related public health problems along the New Mexico/Mexico border are indicative of the need for a holistic, concrete, and sustainable solution to meet water demands in New Mexico. In order to accomplish the goals an objectives of Border XXI, Healthy People 2010, and Heathy Border 2010, a comprehensive statewide water management plan is needed. Solutions to the water demands of the region will be addressed in a subsequent manuscript.

Recommendations for evaluating accreditation guideline outcomes assessment methods for accredited environmental health programs in the United States.

This paper was written to provide guidance to the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) on obtaining recognition either from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), with respect to outcomes assessment. The authors provide suggestions for expansion of existing EHAC accreditation criteria, including those related to outcomes assessment. Comparisons are made between EHAC and two other accrediting agencies currently recognized by USDE. The authors provide a detailed list of recommendations and a copy of EHAC's current outcomes assessment tool.