Companies dumping waste into Tijuana River Valley could soon face fines
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to attribute a statement to state Sen. Steve Padilla and to reflect the legislation was introduced in the California Legislature. It also clarifies which committees the bills head to next.
SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) — The water in Imperial Beach could soon be much cleaner. A legislative package protecting the Tijuana River Watershed was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee Wednesday.
The two bills address corporate pollution tainting California’s water supply.
Companies responsible for sewage, garbage and chemicals that are spilling over from south of the border and contaminating the waters of San Diego could soon be held accountable by having to pay fines depending on how much waste they improperly dump.
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“It’s not fair to communities for chemicals that cause so much harm to be put into the watershed,” said Bethany Case, Surfrider San Diego lead volunteer for the Clean Border Water Now Program.
Some Imperial Beach residents say the toxins have made the water anything but pleasant.
“It’s polluted. It’s toxic,” said local John Anthony Camargo.
“It chokes in your throat, it’s awful,” said Gwynn Heiskala, another resident.
Local Earl Heiskala says he feels like his community is finally receiving some much-needed support.
“We have a rental here and we’ve had to turn people away because of the pollution in the water,” said Heiskala.
After hearing about the condition of the water, Heiskala says his renters decided not to come.
“With no renters there’s no income, every time it rains it happens,” added Heiskala.
The two bills passed Wednesday address corporate pollution affecting the water in California and stop the development of a landfill that would cause further contamination to the Tijuana River Watershed.
In a statement, state Sen. Steve Padilla said in part, “We must hold these polluters accountable, address generations of contamination, and stop those that seek to add even more trash to an already overburdened community.”
Case says if the bills pass through the state legislature, they will be looking forward to the accountability companies improperly disposing of waste will face.
The Tijuana River was named one of the top ten most endangered rivers in the country. That designation and the bills being passed gives Case hope for the future of the river valley.
“Things are looking up and we’re really excited about the future of the river valley in general,” said Case.
Senate Bill 1208, Waste Discharge Permits: Landfills, will now head to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senate Bill 1178, California Water Quality and Public Health Protection Act, will head to the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.
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