Both the U.S. House and Senate passed the final set of 2024 appropriations bills, which include $156 million in construction funding for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC).
The USIBWC is a federal agency tasked with operating and maintaining the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), so as such, the secured $156 million in funds will be made available to address the rehabilitation of South Bay’s deteriorating plant.
However, the commission is responsible for a gamut of sewage, water and other infrastructure systems on the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico boundary. It is unclear whether the new appropriation is earmarked specifically for resolving the Tijuana effluent crisis that has sickened Coronado residents and closed local beaches for years.
On March 23, the Senate voted to send the final set of 2024 appropriations bills to the White House. President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion spending package into law hours later.
A day prior to the Senate vote, the House cleared the same package.
“While this is not a ‘mission accomplished’ moment…this is enough money to keep us on track to break ground this year and proceed toward doubling the plant’s capacity,” Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) announced in a statement on March 21. “We will need to secure the remaining funds to realize sewage-free beaches and pollutant-free air, but this victory adds to our momentum.”
Compared to the previous fiscal year, the IBWC funding equals a $103 million increase — a boost which is expected to help pay for the repairs and upgrades at the deteriorating plant in San Ysidro.
“This is an environmental issue that should have been addressed years ago, but it took bipartisan leadership with our colleagues across the bridge to make this a priority for the federal government,” Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey said, adding that the announcement provides the funding necessary to break ground this year.
This announcement follows local leaders going to Washington to share the risks the cross-border sewage crisis poses for their cities.
“This is a step in the right direction and is cause for celebration; however, the work doesn’t end here,” Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre said in a statement on March 21. “Our communities will continue to bear the brunt of this pollution until the plant is fixed and expanded, the sewage and trash throughout the Tijuana River Valley is remediated, and further action is taken to ensure we eliminate entirely the sources of toxic pollution.”
