United States
Regional Administrator
Region 9
Environmental Protection Agency
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

EPA Environmental News

For Immediate Release: December 8, 1999
Contact: Randy Wittorp, 415-744-1589
 

U.S. EPA MAKES WASTEWATER TREATMENT DECISION

Hofer Site selected for wastewater treatment ponds


SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. International
Boundary and Water Commission today released a record of decision for secondary treatment at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, selecting completely mixed aerated ponds at the Hofer site as the preferred treatment alternative.

"It's time to finish this job and look toward the future," said Felicia Marcus, the EPA's regional
administrator.  "All of us have a lot of work to do to address border sewage treatment needs."

The agencies selected this treatment method to protect public health and the ocean environment
and fulfill discharge permit requirements.  The environmental impact statement fully evaluated
seven treatment alternatives from which the Hofer ponds were chosen.  The ponds will meet all
secondary treatment standards and California Ocean Plan requirements.

The U.S. EPA and the U.S. IBWC delayed their decision by seven months in order to explore a
proposal to locate the ponds in Tijuana, an option supported by Congressmen Filner and Bilbray.
However, after further consideration, the U.S. EPA and the U.S. IBWC found that the ponds at the
Hofer site remained the preferred alternative for achieving secondary treatment rapidly to protect
beaches and comply with treaty, court and regulatory deadlines.

Now that the decision is made, the U.S. EPA and the U.S. IBWC will accelerate their efforts to
work with Mexico as well as the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission and the North
American Development Bank on expanding treatment capacity for Tijuana sewage. Additional
treatment capacity for Tijuana wastewater will be needed as the city continues to grow.  Treatment
sites in Mexico will be considered as key options.

Next steps for the agencies include designing the plant upgrades, which are anticipated to take 8
months to one year to complete.  U.S. EPA and U.S. IBWC will consider enhancements to the ponds during the design phase to address community concerns.
 

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