12a.
City of Coronado
Office of the Mayor
RICHARD BAILEY
1825 ST R A N D WA Y · CO R O N A D O, CA 92118 · T E L (619) 522-7320 · R B A I L E Y@C O R O N A D O.C A.U S May 30, 2024
The Honorable Tom Cole
Chairman
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations
H-307 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Ranking Member
U.S. House Committee on Appropriations
1036 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Mario Díaz-Balart
Chairman
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs
HT-2 The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Barbara Lee
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations,
and Related Programs
1036 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
RE: Supporting Increased Construction Funds IBWC to Complete Upgrades to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant
Dear Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, Chairman Díaz-Balart, and Ranking Member Lee:
On behalf of the City of Coronado, I am writing to express my support for Representative Scott Peters’ request to increase construction funds for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill. The proposed $200 million construction fund allocation for the IBWC will help expedite the rehabilitation and expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), addressing its current state of disrepair.
As you know, the millions of gallons of contaminated water flowing across the U.S. – Mexico border every day from the Tijuana River into the Pacific Ocean have resulted in beach closures, public health concerns, environmental damage, and financial struggles for local businesses in the City of Coronado and other nearby cities. Furthermore, it has caused health issues for Navy SEALs training in these waters and Homeland Security personnel like Customs and Border Patrol 12a.
(CBP) officers, disrupting our national security and military readiness. Your support of these provisions will contribute to achieving a lasting solution to the decades-long issue of untreated sewage and waste flow affecting the Tijuana River Valley and San Diego region.
In FY24, Congress generously increased appropriations to IBWC’s construction account by $100 million. This increase has allowed the IBWC to begin work making the necessary upgrades to the SBIWTP. Simultaneously, the nation of Mexico has committed $147 million to upgrade the San Antonio de las Buenos treatment plant (SABTP), which treats polluted water in the Tijuana River on the Mexican side of the border. Construction on the SABTP is scheduled to be completed this year, rendering the plant fully operational.
By appropriating the additional $200 million in construction funding, combined with the $100 million allocated in FY24, the committee would meet goals identified to Congress last summer by the IBWC and U.S. EPA as necessary to rehabilitate and expand SBIWTP. Once completed, the SABTP and SBIWTP will stop the flow of polluted water, sewage, and garbage degrading our communities and severely affecting public health.
The City of Coronado is grateful for the work the Appropriations Committee has done 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
Mayor
CC: Coronado City Council