SAN DIEGO — Local, state and federal officials held an informational session Friday morning at Chula Vista City Hall to discuss cross-border pollution and how to address it.
Speakers included Sally Spener, Secretary of the United States International Boundary Water Commission as well as Yana Garcia of the California Environmental Protection Agency.
"We do have some good progress to report," said Spener. "We have transferred funding from other projects to make immediate repairs to the International Wastewater Treatment Plant . We will see incremental progress. We're already seeing progress. The plant will be fully compliant with its permit in 2024."
However, Spener acknowledged, that's just a part of the equation. The wastewater treatment plant in Mexico is not functioning. She said a new one is expected to be constructed by the end up 2024.
"The situation is as dire as ever," said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. "What the city is calling for a is a state of emergency, prioritization is great, but that's something I've heard for 20 years working on this issue. We need action today, not five or ten years from now."
She said beaches in Imperial Beach have been closed for more than 700 days. She said her city has felt the impacts in several ways, including the economic impact. She said they used to host Ironman triathlons, but can no longer do that.
President Joe Biden recently called for an additional $300 million to be set aside to address the pollution, but so far that has not been approved by Congress.
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