San Diego Congressional Delegation Requests Meeting with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin During Upcoming Visit
San Diego, CA – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) released the following statement requesting a meeting with U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on cross-border sewage pollution during his upcoming visit to San Diego.
“We appreciate your attention to the cross-border sewage pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. This pollution has had a devastating impact on our public health, our local businesses, and our environment. Together, our Congressional delegation has fought to raise awareness, secured over half a billion dollars to upgrade the South Bay treatment plant, and continued to work with Mexico to ensure they do their part. All these efforts require strong collaboration with the administration. This is not a partisan issue, and we need all-hands-on-deck. Our focus has always been on getting results and relief for everyone impacted by this terrible pollution. Therefore, we’re requesting a meeting with you to make sure the voices of our communities are heard and to discuss your agency’s role in combating cross-border pollution. The EPA has been an important advocate, and we hope this continues.”
Last month, Representatives Peters and Vargas and Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) invited Administrator Zeldin to visit the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to see firsthand the ongoing environmental and public health harm cross-border sewage has on our communities.
In 2021, prior EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured the Tijuana River Valley at the request of Representatives Vargas and Peters. In August 2024, the San Diego delegation hosted State Department Deputy Secretary Richard Verma, EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, and other officials in San Diego at the South Bay treatment plant.
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