Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer Will Pursue TJ River Valley Designation Without Delaying

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News Date
10/08/24
Description

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer will pursue Superfund designation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) without delay by submitting a petition with regional colleagues. Supervisor Lawson-Remer, in partnership with Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, National City City Councilmember Marcus Bush and Mayor Ron Morrison, and others, including the Chair of the Air Pollution Control District Jack Shu, will join Supervisor Lawson-Remer in petitioning the EPA to assess the Tijuana River Valley for potential Superfund designation.

“I had hoped my colleagues would join me in acting with urgency on this matter today, but they preferred to consider my Superfund proposal in 90 days with additional analysis.  In the meanwhile, I am working with leaders from across the San Diego region who have already expressed to me their support for pursuing Superfund designation, and we are submitting an immediate petition to the EPA requesting a Superfund designation,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “I hope my colleagues will join us after their report comes back in 90 days.”   

Superfund is a 1980 law that the EPA uses to clean up hazardous waste sites in the United States. Superfund designation provides funding to clean-up pollution, hold responsible parties accountable, while centering communities in the process. Superfund is designed to address toxic waste and the Tijuana River Valley has endured 80 years of wastewater that includes many known toxic substances, making it a strong candidate for Superfund designation. 

To learn more about the EPA petition being pursued by Supervisor Lawson-Remer, click here.

Other Superfund sites around the country have many similarities to the Tijuana River Valley: toxic waste characteristics, hazardous substances and nearby neighborhoods and sensitive environments. Similar examples (attached with pictures and details of the site) include: 

  1. Gowanus Canal New York City (2010 Superfund Designation)

a.      This canal received just 1/10 of the amount of raw sewage that flows through the Tijuana River. It’s also located in an area that is heavily populated by more than 100,000 residents. 

  1. Upper Columbia River Washington/Canada (2024 Superfund Designation)

a.      Like the Tijuana River this site has cross border pollution, where waste from a smelter in Canada flowed down stream and across the border to contaminate communities. 

  1. Lower Duwamish Waterway Seattle (2021 Superfund Designation)

Like The Tijuana River this is where saltwater and freshwater mix; and there are sensitive environments and habitats