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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 23, 1995

           PRESIDENT NAMES SIX TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL OF THE  
               BORDER ENVIRONMENT COOPERATION COMMISSION

The President today announced his intent to appoint Thomas L. Soto of California, Kathleen Marr of New Mexico, Dan Eckstrom of Arizona, Sandra Ferniza of Arizona, Travis Johnson of Texas and Cynthia Ann Miscikowski of California as Members of the Advisory Council Border Environment Cooperation Commission established under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. Thomas L. Soto is President and Founder of PS Enterprises an environmental affairs, policy development and public relations firm in southern California. Mr. Soto presently sits on the board of the Mono Lake Committee and organized Earth Day 1990 in Los Angeles. In addition, he assisted in founding the Committee of Latinos for the Advancement of Students in the Santa Monica/Malibu School District.

Kathleen Marr is the former Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration for the State of New Mexico. In addition, she has served as Executive Officer of the New Mexico Board of Finance and as a member of the State Investment Council since 1991. Prior to that, Ms. Marr practiced environmental and administrative law. Ms. Marr also served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Mexico from 1984 - 1986.

Dan Eckstrom is the Pima County Supervisor and former Chairman of the Pima County Association of Governments Regional Council. He is also the Principal of DWE Management Consultants and the former Executive Vice President of Ruiz Engineering Corporation/Maya Construction Company.

Sandra Ferniza is the Executive Director of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Program Director for REVIVE Arizona!, a statewide rural economic development program directed by the Chamber. She is a former financial advisor at both Prudential Securities and Dean Witter Reynolds. Ms. Ferniza also serves as a member of the board for the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority and the Housing Assistance Council.

Travis Johnson is a partner in the law firm of Johnson & Bowen in El Paso, Texas. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for both the Texas Commerce Bank in El Paso and Southwest Airlines.

Cynthia Miscikowski is the Executive Director of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles which is an educational center and museum focusing on the American Jewish experience. Prior to joining the Skirball Center, Ms. Miscikowski served as Chief Deputy to Los Angeles City Councilman Marvin Braude, where for 22 years she worked on land use and environmental policies at the local level.

The Border Environment Cooperation Commission was established under the North American Free Trade Agreement to assist border states and local communities in coordinating, designing and financing environmental infrastructure projects with cross-border impact. The Commission, an independent international organization, will cooperate with the North American Development Bank (NADBank) in the development and certification of such environmental infrastructure projects along the border which will work to promote sustainable development and contribute to a higher quality of life for the citizens of both Mexico and the United States.

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