EPA Chief Zeldin calls for permanent fix to Tijuana sewage crisis
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The Trump administration's EPA chief got a firsthand look at the Tijuana River sewage crisis on Earth Day and expressed optimism about working with Mexico to solve the public health crisis.
Why it matters: Millions of gallons of untreated sewage from the border flows into the Pacific Ocean daily, endangering public health and damaging the local economy.
State of play: Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, said at a Tuesday press conference he and his Mexican counterpart would collaborate in the weeks ahead to release a joint statement outlining "a mutual understanding of what Mexico is going to do to help resolve this issue."
- Zeldin called for a comprehensive list of projects on both sides of the border that would permanently end the crisis, after touring the area and meeting with state, local and Mexican officials.
What they're saying: "Mexico needs to fulfill its part in cleaning up the contamination they caused, their people caused," he said.
- "They cannot view this as a U.S. problem just because their contamination reached U.S. soil."
Catch-up quick: Congress has appropriated $653 million to both repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant on the U.S. side of the border.
- Those fixes would increase the plant's capacity from 25 million gallons of wastewater per day to 50 million gallons.
- Mexico's updates to its San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant, on its side of the San Diego border, would expand its capacity to 18 million gallons of wastewater per day.
- But Tijuana generates 100 million gallons of sewage per day, leaving a significant crisis even after those massive infrastructure projects are fully operational.
Between the lines: Rep. Mike Levin (D-Dana Point) told Axios, after meeting with Zeldin, that it was important for additional infrastructure projects to address the remaining untreated sewage.
- "The last piece of this is, what other upgrades are needed in Tijuana to prevent untreated sewage in excess of what those two plants can handle from reaching the ocean," Levin said.
- He also said he would focus on speeding up SBIWTP upgrades and repairs.
Friction point: Navy SEALs train in the ocean near the Tijuana River estuary, and Levin told Axios the health risks that presents are personal.
- His wife's nephew trained in Coronado and their family believes his cancer diagnosis derives from the water quality there, though they can't be sure of the cause.
What's next: State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) has proposed legislation that would reserve toll revenue from the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry to reverse environmental damage from the years of pollution in the area.
- Local officials have also urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency, and to designate the area as a Superfund site, which would unlock additional EPA funds.