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Trump EPA’s Chi Friezeldin is set to visit the San Diego-Mexican border “in the near future” and assesses escalating toxic waste and sewage runoff from the Tijuana River, causing more than 1,000 beach closures at Imperial Beach, causing health issues for trainees at Navy Seal.
“Mexico must fully respect its commitment to controlling the growing pollution and sewage of countries affecting the United States,” Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin told Fox News Digital in a statement. “It’s over when an excuse, delay or exception is allowed.”
Zeldin said his agency will “strengthen” efforts with local agencies in Southern California and Mexico to “face this crisis head on.”
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National Guards are monitoring the border walls of Mexico and the US on February 5, 2025, during the border rollout at the US border in Tijuana, Mexico. (Francisco Vega/Getty Images)
“We look forward to seeing this issue first hand, meeting with elected officials and visiting the border in the near future, so that permanent solutions are urgently implemented to stop the years of Mexico’s sewage affecting the United States,” Zeldin said.
The longstanding problem with untreated sewage flowing from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego beaches was exacerbated earlier this year at Hollister’s wastewater pump station, which introduced the Hollister wastewater pump station that moved sewage from Tijuana to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant earlier this year, and infiltrated the river with about 30,000,000 gallons.
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Millions of federal dollars have been proposed with support from the previous Biden administration to repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. But Republicans, including President Donald Trump, are largely opposed by citing it as another example of wasted government spending.
The drainage of a sewage foul from the Tijuana River prompted authorities to issue a warning on March 31, 2016, on a few miles of coastline just north of the US-Mexican border near San Isidro, California. (Reuters/Mike Break)
An EPA official told Fox News Digital: “The issue remains that Mexico should handle its own waste.”
“Mexico needs to build and operate the infrastructure necessary to treat all the sewage produced by Tijuana and properly,” the spokesman said. “Current projects are not appropriate and allow for the oceans to discharge vital, vital sewage. US Mexico will have to pay for its own wastewater collection, not US taxpayer dollars.”
San Diego County superintendent Jim Desmond called it “one of the biggest environmental and public health crisis” in a post from X last week.
The US Navy Seal candidate will take part in “Surf Immersion” during basic underwater dismantling/seal training at the Navy Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California on May 4, 2020 (MC1 Anthony Walker/US Navy via AP, file)
“This isn’t just a nuisance. It’s dangerous. Our Navy seal trains trains just north of this toxic mess,” writes Desmond. “Local families are exposed to contaminated water. Tourism is suffering. And California continues to see other ways. Many politicians make promises, but nothing is delivered.
Last month, Department of Defense inspectors released a report show showing that 76% of its tests exceeded normal safety levels, surpassing more than 1,100 health issues reported after gastrointestinal diseases were trained in toxic water, primarily among seals.
EPA’s Chieflyzeldine plans to visit San Diego County, California, and is addressing concerns that Mexican officials aren’t doing enough to address the sewage of the Tijuana River, polluting beaches on the US side of the border. (Getty Images)
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A spokesman for Gavin Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital “This is not a new issue for the state,” and California has been “focused on solving this for many years, including support from previous federal administrations and Congress.”
“We welcome collaboration with the Trump administration and continue our efforts to clean the Tijuana River,” the spokesman said.
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