City of Coronado CITY OF IMPERIAL BEACH
January 27, 2024
Re: Support for Assembly Joint Resolution No. 12 (AJR 12) Dear Senate President Atkins, Senator Padilla, Assemblymembers Alvarez and Boerner:
We write to you today to state the Cities of Coronado and Imperial Beach support for Assembly Joint Resolution No. 12. The City of Coronado, Imperial Beach and other communities in South Bay San Diego have been severely impacted by the failing infrastructure and toxic flows of the Tijuana River. Homeland Security personnel such as U.S.
Customs, Border Patrol officers (CBP) and the U.S. Navy S.E.A.L.S have been hit especially hard by the impacts of the polluted effluent, causing detrimental impacts to operations.
AJR 12 would encourage Congress to support much needed $310 million in funding for the International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) currently part of the President’s Emergency Supplemental request submitted to Congress, and any other federal appropriation bills that may include this funding.
The Tijuana River flows from the City of Tijuana, Mexico into the United States just south of the City of Imperial Beach. Due to failing infrastructure and water treatment facilities, the river is highly contaminated with industrial waste, untreated sewage and trash. Heavy rainfall further increases cross-border flows and causes an average of 109 million gallons per day of polluted water to flow across the border into the United States. These flows create significant health risks for communities in the United States.
Polluted water flowing north from Mexico has caused numerous regional challenges for both the environment and our community’s health. The continuous flow of untreated sewage and toxic waste has resulted in contaminated beaches, polluted air, and compromised water quality.
Additionally, United States CBP agents are routinely exposed to highly contaminated water and air when patrolling our southern border in the vicinity of Tijuana. National security operations are compromised when the pollution causes harmful health impacts to CBP officers and personnel working at the border.
We need the federal government to dedicate the resources necessary to address this situation now. While there have been recent efforts by both the United States and Mexico to dedicate resources to solve the problem, it is not enough, and millions of gallons of sewage continue to cross the border and impact our community.
Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins
District 39
1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner
District 77
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Steve Padilla
District 18
1021 O Street, Suite 6640
Sacramento, CA 95814
Assemblymember David Alvarez
District 80
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 94249
Item 12a.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked diligently with the International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) to plan a series of projects to address cross border pollution that are scheduled to be completed by 2027. Congress has allocated $350 million to that cause, and EPA recently transferred the funds to IBWC to initiate contracts and construction. However, more funding is needed to ensure the South Bay International Treatment Plant is expanded to process up to 50 million gallons of effluent per day.
Our cities greatly appreciate EPA’s efforts and value the time and energy the agency has spent working on this issue. However, nothing is being done to stem the flow of sewage in the interim.
Worse, we recently learned that there is an immediate deficit of $150 million in project funding caused by deferred maintenance on the International Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Tijuana River Valley (the “ITP”).
Our cities are dedicated to maintaining clean beaches and a healthy environment for its residents and visitors, which is why we have consistently worked with the EPA and the Administration to advocate for greater federal funding and fast implementation of infrastructure solutions. To ensure the needs of the local community are met on the fastest possible timeline, we request that Congress provide additional funding for the IBWC and make the timely completion of these projects its highest priority. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as the affected communities await relief from the daily burden of pollution.
Lastly, the United States signed Minute Order 328 in August 2022. The Minute Order is an addendum to the 1944 Treaty on the Utilization of waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande. It commits the United States to completing projects to address cross border flows and is a binding legal agreement with Mexico. Based on all available information, it appears Mexico is doing its part and will begin construction soon. The United States is falling behind and is at risk of not living up to its commitments. Our community needs these projects to be completed on the fastest possible timeline.
The Cities of Coronado and Imperial Beach are grateful for your leadership to ensure adequate funding of these agencies, to promote the health and safety of our communities and our environment. We must continue to work together and build upon prior federal investments to ensure a comprehensive, long-term solution to improve wastewater treatment in the Tijuana River Watershed. Thank you for your dedication to this critical issue, and we look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff on these important initiatives.
Sincerely,
Richard Bailey Paloma Aguirre
Mayor Mayor
City of Coronado City of Imperial Beach
CC: Assemblymembers Laurie Davies, Brian Maienschein, Chris Ward and Akilah Weber Senator Brian Jones
Item 12a.