On April 22, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin visited San Diego to address the ongoing sewage crisis stemming from Tijuana, Mexico. During his Earth Day visit, Zeldin emphasized the urgency of halting the flow of untreated sewage into Southern California, which has led to beach closures and health issues among residents and military personnel.
Zeldin toured the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and conducted aerial inspections of the Tijuana River. He highlighted that since 2018, over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage have contaminated the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. This pollution has not only affected local communities but also sickened Navy SEAL trainees who conduct exercises in the contaminated waters.
The EPA Administrator announced plans to present Mexico with a list of required projects to resolve the crisis. He expressed hope for cooperation from President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration but made it clear that the U.S. expects immediate action. “We’re going to know whether or not Mexico is going to do its part to resolve it, and then we’ll go from there, as far as strategy and tactics,” Zeldin stated.
Despite over $653 million allocated for remediation efforts, progress has been hindered by delays on the Mexican side. Zeldin emphasized that California residents could no longer wait and called for Mexico to implement additional infrastructure, including floodgates and sewage diversions.
Zeldin’s visit underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to addressing environmental issues that directly impact American communities. The EPA’s focus remains on ensuring that Mexico fulfills its obligations to prevent further contamination of U.S. waters.
