Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) discussed the pollution crisis at the Tijuana River and questioned Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, on efforts to tackle this issue if confirmed.
Watch the full clip HERE
Key Excerpt:
On emphasizing the need to address Tijuana River pollution:
Schiff: […] the Tijuana River pollution crisis. This crisis has brought immense industrial waste and raw sewage over the border from Mexico into California, posing serious environmental and public health challenges to San Diego and Imperial County. We’ve had beaches shut down. We’ve had SEAL training facilities deeply impacted, Coast Guard and Customs and Border personnel have routinely reported suffering from infections and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Thanks to the work of Senator Padilla and Representative Scott Peters and others, we were able to secure 250 million in disaster supplemental relief in December, but EPA can play a pivotal role in this crisis as well. I would ask you to support EPA’s Border Water Infrastructure program. But also, will you agree to review EPA’s January 7th decision to deny the request to investigate the Tijuana river valley for a potential Superfund designation. I’m not asking you to pre-judge it, but will you agree to review it and consider whether a different judgment should be reached?
Zeldin: Yes, Senator.
Background:
Schiff was integral in efforts to secure $250 million funding to improve and expand operations of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
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