Don't make Imperial Beach hostage to ocean pollution
Diane Rose
Rose is mayor of Imperial Beach.02-Sep-1999 Thursday
The Regional Water Quality Control Board is right in asking California's
attorney general to sue the federal government for delays in building
secondary treatment at the existing border sewer plant in the Tijuana River
Valley.We hope this action will put the efforts to improve border water quality
back on track.Right now our beaches in Imperial Beach are clean and open because of the
many public works improvements and the operation of the existing plant. The
plant, which started in January, discharges 25 million gallons of sewage
per day but still fails many tests, and these failures to meet health
standards could have long-term implications for public health and the ocean
environment.Knowing this, the plant was allowed to operate on an interim basis,
provided progress was being made toward completing secondary treatment
facilities, the solution to the remaining water-quality issues. The federal
government agreed to make a decision on secondary treatment by May 1, 1999,
as a condition of operating the current plant.May 1 has come and gone. Enter: special interest politics in one small
water agency suspiciously devoid of water. Enter also: two local
congressmen and a private for-profit company known as BajaAgua. Exit:All promises and hopes for swift progress toward secondary treatment.
The motives are clear. Representatives of the small water agency have
stated in reference to the EPA's preferred ponding alternative, "We don't
want this in our back yard." Understandable NIMBYism.BajaAgua wants a 50-year "sole source" contract guaranteed by the U.S.
government, backed by our tax dollars. Understandable profit motive.But meanwhile, back at the plant, the discharge consistently fails critical
tests for toxicity and heavy metals. Those who supported operation of the
plant based upon progress toward secondary treatment, feel hoodwinked. Even
the existing plant operation is now threatened.The federal agency running the plant, the International Boundary Water
Commission, is losing credibility by ignoring the very permit conditions it
originally agreed to. The Environmental Protection Agency, as the agency
responsible for issuing a decision on secondary treatment, appears easily
swayed by special interest politics and seems to be forgetting its middle
name -- Protection.Our two area congressmen, Bob Filner and Brian Bilbray, now say they
support what the city of Imperial Beach has long advocated, the development
of a comprehensive plan and long-term solutions to this issue.But it is unacceptable to allow these delays, which affect our water
quality, to continue. Twenty five million gallons per day, over 9 billion
gallons per year of treated sewage, a level which consistently fails the
Clean Water Act, is unacceptable.Imperial Beach is ground zero in this decades-long pollution issue. We
demand a comprehensive approach to combat all sewage issues, both short and
long term. We demand accurate information and an untainted process.And, we demand it now.
Here are some facts concerning the situation:
- Treaties with Mexico require the first phase of secondary treatment to take place in the United States.
- The Mexican government has yet to support BajaAgua and would onlyentertain an open and competitive process for an alternative in Mexico.
- U.S. law must be waived in order to "sole source" this process to BajaAgua.
- Ponding is compatible with surrounding land use.
Situated between the existing San Diego water reclamation plant and future
site of the San Diego South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant; yards from
Tijuana's largest raw sewage pumping facility. Ponds will not generate
great odors or mosquito problems as they contain fluids, which already have
been treated.When the treaty obligations are met to provide immediate secondary
treatment for the first 25 million gallons per day, we could then support a
competitive process for a BajaAgua-type alternative for future expansion
needs, if necessary. Anything less spells delay, further pollution, further
permit violations and further tainting of a public process.Thanks again to the Regional Water Quality Control Board for holding these
agencies accountable and steering the process back on track.And if Reps. Filner and Bilbray are listening, don't hold our public health
and ocean environment hostage. Insist that the EPA decide on secondary
treatment immediately.
Copyright Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
