About 17 years ago, a New England business reporter answered the phone and found a friendly Texan on the other end. She had recently written about how local manufacturers were coping with Environmental Protection Agency rules that sharply curbed what they could throw down their drains. Compliance was costing them.

The caller hailed from McAllen, near the Rio Grande crossing to the Mexican city of Reynosa. He matter-of-factly said that the factories would have no waste-disposal problems ...

( Back to Article )