Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) invited newly confirmed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBITWP) to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health harm the cross-border sewage crisis has on our communities.

In a letter to Administrator Zeldin, members wrote, “As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego… EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.”

Days after receiving a letter from Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre about the cross-border sewage San Diego has suffered, Administrator Zeldin posted about a briefing he received on the crisis. Rep. Peters wants to ensure new EPA leadership fully understands the scope of this environmental catastrophe and their role in addressing the public health and environmental harm.

They go on to state, “Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation.”

Rep. Peters and his colleagues look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin to support the ongoing repairs at SBIWTP and recovery of our region. In 2021, prior EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured the Tijuana River Valley at the request of Reps. Peters and Vargas. 

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin,

We would like to invite you to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in the Tijuana River Valley and appreciate your interest in addressing the crossborder sewage crisis.

As you know, decades of underinvestment in cross-border wastewater infrastructure have led to the flow of untreated sewage into San Diego. Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of toxic sewage, trash, and unmanaged stormwater have flowed across the United States-Mexico border into the Tijuana River Valley and neighboring communities, forcing long-lasting beach closures and negatively impacting the local economy, environment, and health of U.S. military and Homeland Security personnel. EPA served as an important advocate for this issue in the last Trump Administration and we hope the agency will continue to do so once again.

While this wastewater pollution crisis is not new, it has intensified over the past two years. Researchers have recently discovered that toxins and bacteria from the Tijuana River can be aerosolized, unveiling additional potential risks to the air quality in our communities. EPA, working with the International Boundary and Water Commission, will play a critical role in addressing these issues and helping the region recover from decades of pollution and environmental degradation.

We look forward to working with you on this important issue, and we hope to host you at SBIWTP so you can see first-hand the challenges confronting our region. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,