Letter to Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator; and Maria-Elena Giner, International Boundary and Water Commissioner - REP. VARGAS LEADS LETTER URGING EPA AND IBWC TO ADDRESS POLLUTION IN THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY

Letter

Dear Administrator Regan and Commissioner Giner,

The binational Tijuana River Watershed covers approximately 1,750 square miles that spans across the California -Mexico border. Within the Tijuana River Valley (TRV) there are some of the most ecologically significant marine ecosystems on the Pacific Coast: the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Reserve, Tijuana River Mouth State Marine Conservation Area, San Diego Bay, and the National Wildlife Refuge.

Over the past 30 years, Tijuana, Mexico has experienced tremendous population and industrial growth with rapid urbanization which has put a strain on the aging sewage infrastructure in the region. As a result of the sewage infrastructure inadequacies, the Tijuana River carries untreated wastewater, trash, and sediment from Mexico across California's Southern border into the United States.

Untreated wastewater, sediment, and trash flowing through the Tijuana River contain harmful bacteria that pose risks to both wildlife and human health. To minimize human contact with the untreated wastewater the San Diego County beaches have been closed numerous times. In 2018, South San Diego County beaches affected by the Tijuana River pollution were closed 101 days out of the year. In 2019, that increased to 243 days, and in 2020 the beaches were closed 295 days out of the year.

Transboundary water flow crossing into the United States from Mexico have raised environmental, water quality, and public health concerns for decades. That's why we were proud to fight for and secure $300 million as part of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to address transboundary pollution in the watershed. We are grateful to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Regan for coming out to see the Tijuana River Valley pollution firsthand in August 2021 as they work towards taking the necessary steps to solve this decades - long problem that has disproportionately impacted working-class minority communities on the California -- Mexico border and across San Diego County.

We have been told that the projects considered in the EPA and U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission's (USIBWC) Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution for mitigating transborder water pollution might significantly improve the quality of water in the Tijuana River and on the beaches of both Mexico and the United States. To ensure rapid relief for affected communities, we encourage the Biden administration to provide these projects full and fair consideration on the merits that are consistent with all applicable laws and regulations to ensure that these projects proceed as expeditiously as possible.

We look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues, the EPA and the USIBWC on these issues moving forward.