Zeldin to visit California-Mexico border over sewage spills

Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced on Tuesday that she plans to visit the California-Mexico border to address the issue of “disgusting Mexican sewage” flowing into the United States. Zeldin will be assessing the toxic waste and sewage runoff from the Tijuana River, which has led to beach closures in San Diego County.

“I’ll be visiting the California-Mexico border in the coming weeks where disgusting Mexican sewage is harming our precious environment in the United States,” Zeldin wrote in a statement. “Permanent solutions must be urgently implemented by Mexico to end decades of their filthy sewage flowing into the U.S.”

The sewage-fouled runoff from the Tijuana River has prompted authorities to call for a solution to fix the issue. Earlier this year, in January, the Hollister Wastewater Pump Station malfunctioned and spilled approximately 30,000 gallons of sewage into the river, exacerbating the problem.

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who has been vocal about the issue, expressed his anticipation for Zeldin’s visit. In a recent post, Desmond referred to the problem as “one of the biggest environmental and public health crises.”

“This isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a danger. Our Navy SEALs train just north of this toxic mess,” Desmond wrote. “Local families are exposed to contaminated water. Tourism suffers. And yet, the State of California continues to look the other way. Many politicians have made promises — but delivered nothing. That ends now.”

Desmond also criticized Mexico for failing to address the issue and the U.S. for not holding the Mexican government accountable. In 2018, a broken sewage pipe in Mexico resulted in millions of gallons of sewage spilling into the Tijuana River and eventually into the Pacific Ocean, leading to the closure of around 12 miles of beach from the border northward.

Zeldin’s visit to the California-Mexico border is seen as a crucial step in addressing the ongoing problem of sewage pollution from Mexico impacting the U.S. beaches. The EPA is expected to work closely with Mexican officials to find a permanent solution to prevent further contamination of the environment. Fox News Digital has reached out to the EPA for further comment on the issue.

It is imperative that both countries work together to protect the environment and prevent further harm to public health and tourism in the region. The visit by Zeldin signifies a commitment to finding a long-term solution to the problem of sewage pollution from Mexico affecting the United States.