SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reversing its decision on the Tijuana River sewage crisis, promising stronger action at the highest level.
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is located next to the ocean in Imperial Beach. It connects to the Tijuana River. This area and the beaches up to Coronado are closed because of the ongoing sewage and pollution issue.
“It’s been going on for years now, decades, probably. It does affect the health of our community,” local resident Enrique Arouse said. “I’m just hoping that they get this situated so we can finally get it cleaned up and we can come out here and enjoy it because this is a beautiful park.”
Now, the EPA says it wants to investigate what’s happening, which comes in contrast to what happened a week ago when the agency denied that request. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin is now planning a visit to the region soon to assess the situation.
The Tijuana River Valley is not currently designated as an EPA Superfund site, though there have been requests for it to be designated as such. Such sites are cleaned up by the EPA because they are recognized as being the most contaminated lands.
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