SAN DIEGO — Following last week's decision by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to delay any formal decision on pursuing a Superfund designation for the Tijuana River Valley, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer Monday decided to get public support.
Lawson-Remer put out a call on Monday for San Diego County residents impacted by the Tijuana River sewage crisis to sign the petition to demand help from the Environmental Protection Agency. The goal of the petition is to push for immediate action from the EPA to designate the Tijuana River Valley a Superfund Site and unlock federal resources.
"The Tijuana River sewage crisis affects all of our coastal neighborhoods," she said. "We need to get to the bottom of what's causing the stinky air and sickness among some residents; and seeking a Superfund designation would give us answers not currently available to us.
"It's my hope the results would come back negative, but if they don't then we have a path to seek a solution the residents living up and down our coast deserve. Protecting our beaches, coastlines and public health is of great importance, and a Superfund (designation) is another tool at our disposal."
The board voted 3-2 on Oct. 9 to wait on pursuing the Superfund distinction under the 1980 law which lets the EPA clean up contaminated areas, such as the infamous Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York.
Local leaders have joined Lawson-Remer's push, including Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre; Marcus Bush, a National City councilmember; National City Mayor Ron Morrison; and Jack Shu, chairman of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District.
"Specifically addressing the pollutants that fall under the category of a Superfund site designation would help us get more eyes, more resources, more focus," Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre said.
Imperial Beach is one area directly impacted by the sewage. Sewage has shutdown beaches and toxic gases have been detected in the air. There have also been reports of people suffering from gastrointestinal issues and it’s still unknown if there are long term health risks.
"We're seeing an increase in asthma and children allergies and people using inhalers or nebulizers when they've never had to use that in the past," Aguirre said.
Lawson-Remer, who issued a board letter asking for the Superfund designation, voted no on the motion for further review, as did Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe.
Lawson-Remer said a Superfund designation is designed to address toxic waste "and the Tijuana River Valley has endured 80 years of wastewater that includes many known toxic substances, making it a strong candidate (for designation)."
Over the past few years, concerns have grown about pollution in the Tijuana River Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border, including sewage spills, contaminated beaches and noxious odors. A broken wastewater treatment plant in Baja California is considered the main cause.
In a statement, Board of Supervisors chair Nora Vargas said the county "cannot afford to delay" coordinated efforts between San Diego County's U.S. Congressional delegation and local cities in connection with fixing wastewater treatment facilities.
During the Tuesday meeting, Vargas said she wasn't opposed to EPA involvement, but she said the process could take decades before any meaningful clean-up begins.
She added that a Superfund designation doesn't address the international pollution issue, which has resulted in cross-border cooperation.
"Let me be clear: We absolutely need federal action now," Vargas said. "We cannot make decisions about the Tijuana River Valley without fully engaging communities and organizations on the frontlines of the crisis."
Further, if the pollution source isn't solved, "we won't be able to change a thing," Vargas said.
Supervisor Jim Desmond said he appreciated more time for the county on how to move forward.
In a statement after the vote, Montgomery Steppe said making the Tijuana River Valley a Superfund site would simply give the county "another tool to combat the decades-long environmental injustice."
"I do not support the motion to delay the decision for another 90 days, but I look forward to exploring the additional options the county can take," Montgomery Steppe said.
"Countless constituents inside and outside my district have shared their experiences about the severe impact of the Tijuana River Valley pollution issue, but feel their concerns are overlooked and dismissed, `I am deeply concerned about this. The people deserve better."