State Senator Steve Padilla has recently unveiled two pieces of legislation aimed at tackling the escalating pollution problem in the Tijuana River.
Padilla aims to address not only the issue of raw sewage polluting local watersheds but also the impact of industrial waste on cross-border pollution. Moreover, he seeks to prevent the construction of a landfill in East Otay Mesa, emphasizing its potential to exacerbate the already existing environmental harm in the South Bay region.
Multinational companies with 2,500 employees or more, operating in California, would be mandated by Senate Bill 1178 to publicly disclose their wastewater discharges.
The state Water Resources Control Board will need to assess the expenses associated with reducing contamination. Businesses will have the choice to address the problem themselves or pay a fee to the state for handling it on their behalf. Under the proposed legislation, this fee will be determined in collaboration with the Franchise Tax Board and added as an additional charge on their tax bill. The funds collected from this surcharge will be utilized to further mitigate toxic discharges.
During a news conference on Monday, Padilla, a representative from San Diego, highlighted that the sewage crisis has been further exacerbated by the involvement of California companies. The conference took place near a field in the Tijuana River Valley, which is heavily polluted with sewage, tires, plastics, and other waste materials.
“They frequently conduct business in Tijuana, just across the border, in order to evade labor and environmental regulations and produce inexpensive goods that are then sold in California,” he explained.
Water-quality tests conducted by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol have discovered the presence of industrial and agricultural chemicals in the Tijuana River Valley since 2018. Recently, a report from San Diego State University highlighted the alarming findings, documenting over 170 organic chemicals and inorganic elements, including banned pesticides like chlordane and DDT, as well as heavy metals, in and around the region.
The report highlights that numerous contaminants found are directly caused by transboundary sewage flows. These contaminants are known to be persistent, bio-accumulative, carcinogenic, and toxic. They can also be re-suspended in water and air during weather events in both the wet and dry seasons. This poses a significant risk to nearby communities.
According to Padilla, the landfill proposed in the Otay Mountain foothills would have a significant impact on the South County communities. This landfill is situated in the upper parts of the Tijuana River watershed.
He is proposing Senate Bill 1208, which aims to prevent the establishment of landfills in the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve or in any area that contributes to the Tijuana River’s flow.
The proposal for the East Otay Mesa project involves a 340-acre landfill and recycling center located on a 450-acre site. This project was initially approved by voters over ten years ago, as it was believed that the current disposal capacity would be exhausted by 2030. However, according to the county’s waste management plan for 2022, it is now stated that the existing landfills will be able to meet the waste disposal needs until 2053.
Environmentalists and elected officials are engaged in a heated debate over the landfill, contending that it is not needed and could potentially have negative impacts on air and water quality. They argue that the increased truck traffic associated with the landfill could harm the air quality, while the hydrology system and drainage could be compromised, leading to potential water quality issues.
