EPA works to control pollution along Mexican border

DALLAS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it awarded more than $720,000 in grants to help control pollution along the border with Mexico.

The grant money is for 16 different environmental projects in border sites in New Mexico and Texas. The EPA said the projects range from air monitoring stations to waste collection and recycling.

"Funding these 16 projects will help kick-start work to protect places along the border where people live, work, and play," EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry said in a statement Thursday.

Funds were awarded under a bilateral environmental agreement to control border pollution with the Mexican government.

EPA said existing border projects have resulted in "major environmental benefits" for the more than 8.5 million people living along the shared border with Mexico.