"Officials ask why State Dept. has not considered giving Mexico an official diplomatic reprimand over sewage flow"

"San Diego Congress members are calling on the U.S. State Department to press Mexico to address unprecedented levels of sewage pollution spilling over from Tijuana, causing unbearable rotten-egg odors for residents in the region.

In a letter Wednesday, officials asked the State Department to explain its steps to pressure the Mexican government or say why it has not done more to help stop thousands of tons of sediment and trash from crossing the border.

Reps. Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs, Scott Peters and Mike Levin and U.S. Sens. Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla addressed the joint correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.

Mexico and the U.S. have boundary and water treaties, including a treaty known as Minute 328 that outlines a comprehensive plan to fix the cross-border sewage crisis via numerous infrastructure projects on both sides of the border. The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), which is responsible for the San Ysidro-based South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, operates under the foreign policy guidance of the State Department. That means the USIBWC’s budget is submitted through that department and appropriated by Congress."

Tammy Murga reports for the San Diego Union-Tribune August 29, 2024. [2]