The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC) has posted the solicitation for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) Rehabilitation and Expansion Progressive Design-Build on SAM.gov. Bids are due by February 8, 2024

More details:

https://www.ibwc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/SBIWTP-Rehab-Exp-Solicitation_Final.pdf

During their annual Business Meeting on November 18, 2023, in Atlanta Georgia, the National League of Cities issued a resolution to Increase funding for border water infrastructure projects.

• National League of Cities Resolution

October 25, 2023 Washington D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) applauded President Biden’s inclusion of $310 million to fix and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in his emergency supplemental funding request. The project is desperately needed to tackle dangerous cross-border wastewater pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. Last month, Rep. Peters led a request to congressional leaders for this same funding. The President’s request throws the administration’s support behind Rep. Peters’ work and makes it more likely that these funds are included in any final funding package approved by Congress.

“San Diegans have called on the federal government to put an end to this crisis for years. Today, thanks to their overwhelming advocacy and dedicated work from elected officials at every level of government, the President has responded to our pleas for help,” said Rep. Peters.

He continued, “Make no mistake, this is not a ‘mission accomplished’ moment. This funding will need to be approved by both chambers of Congress, which remains an uphill battle, and I am already working to ensure we have the votes to get it across the finish line. I know our Senators are also working to convince their colleagues and I urge them to please not ease up on their advocacy.”

Read full press release

The EPA, in partnership with the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) and Mexico, continues to address the urgent transboundary pollution issues in the San Diego/Tijuana region. Below is an interim update on specific progress made since our May 2023 Eligible Public Entities Coordinating Group (EPECG) and public information meetings:

• Mexico has completed the rehabilitation of the Oriente Collector, completed 20% construction of the new International Collector, and will complete by December 2023 installation of the pressurized lines carrying wastewater and river water to the coast. Mexico will also soon begin repairs of Pump Station 1. Combined, these projects in Tijuana will help prevent future spills of up to 58 million gallons per day (mgd) from entering the U.S. Finally, Mexico plans to issue a solicitation for bids on the design and construction of a new 18 mgd wastewater treatment plant at San Antonio De Los Buenos in late 2023. Mexico expects to complete construction in two years.
  
  
• USIBWC recently announced immediate repairs (Junction Box 1 replacement, primary sedimentation tank cleaning and rehabilitation, and influent pumps rehabilitation) to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP). Over the next 9-12 months these repairs will substantially improve compliance with the discharge permit. Incremental water quality improvement is expected to be seen much earlier.
  
  
• With respect to the USMCA project to expand the SBIWTP, as discussed previously, the full project costs (for expansion from 25 mgd to 50 mgd with a peaking factor and anaerobic digesters) have substantially increased from the original estimate of $300 million, largely due to a more thorough cost analysis performed during the pre-construction phase, in addition to unanticipated costs associated with rehabilitating the plant prior to expansion, inflation, market conditions, and labor shortages.

Because the updated cost estimates greatly exceed the available funding, EPA and USIBWC will proceed with a phased approach for the expansion of the SBIWTP to a 50 mgd plant with a peak capacity[1] of 75 mgd (allowing the plant to treat peaks in volume of water entering the plant). Anaerobic digestion is not included. Although the estimated cost for this project exceeds available USMCA funding by $310 million +/- 30%, EPA and USIBWC will proceed with a phased construction approach commensurate with available funding. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein called upon Senate leadership to include $310 million in the upcoming emergency supplemental bill to allow complete up-front funding for the expansion of the plant, which would allow for a much faster project completion. However, these additional funds are not secured at this time.

Nevertheless, USIBWC will issue a pre-solicitation notice in mid-October and solicit bids for this phased project in late fall 2023. Once selected, the design and construction contractors will develop an updated project schedule, which we will share with you. It’s important to note that the proposed SBIWTP expansion, in combination with the wastewater improvements in Mexico, will result in the elimination of approximately 90% of untreated flows entering the Pacific Ocean.

The USIBWC Citizens Forum (CF) was established in 2002 to facilitate the exchange of information between the USIBWC and members of the public about Commission activities in San Diego County. The CF is intended to bring together community members enabling the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values, and needs between the USIBWC and the general public, environmentalists, government agencies, municipalities, and other interested parties.

July 12, 2023 Meeting Presentations:
San Diego Update Presentation – Morgan Rogers
Tijuana River Channel Trash Booms Project

At its June 27, 2023 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a County-wide state of emergency for the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Pollution Environmental Crisis and a request for a Federal State of Emergency. The goal is to expedite funding and construction of projects.

As the goal of the Board item is consistent with the Coronado City Council's goals for full appropriation of funding and accelerated completion of the projects, the City of Coronado submitted a letter of support for the item.

On June 12, 2023, Councilmember John Duncan was notified of his appointment to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Citizen Forum, a citizen advisory board (appointment letter). The IBCW Citizens Forum was established in 2002 to facilitate the exchange of information between the U.S. IBWC and members of the public about Commission activities in San Diego County. The Citizens Forum is intended to bring together community members enabling the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values and needs between the IBWC and government, interested parties and the public. Councilmember Duncan will be advocating for the interests of Coronado and all South Bay cities to most expeditiously construct the needed infrastructure improvements by the Federal and Mexican governments, obtain needed future funding (remaining capital and operations and maintenance), and promote transparency of information. The next Citizens Forum meeting is July 12, 2023.

On June 13, 2023, Mayor Richard Bailey joined the San Diego area mayors to send a request to the President of the United States for a Federal State of Emergency declaration to proactively address the Transboundary Pollution crisis.

Cross Border Water Pollution Subcommittee Actions

The Subcommittee (Mayor Richard Bailey and Councilmember John Duncan, City Manager Tina Friend and Assistant City Manager Tony Winney, and the City's BBK advocate) meet monthly to coordinate advocacy efforts on the local, state and federal level. Current efforts include:

• Scheduling ongoing meetings with Coronado’s Federal delegation to urge expedited construction of the current suite of $300 million of improvements on both sides of the border, and to appropriate future Federal funding to complete the remaining projects (~$300 million)
• Encouraging the Federal government to determine and hold accountable the Mexican government's timeline to build its projects (particularly the Punta Bandera treatment plant rehabilitation) with its $144 million in committed funding
• Advocating for consistent and ongoing funding of the EPA Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program (BWIP) for maintenance and operations for the IBWC treatment plant and pollution prevention infrastructure at the border
• Expanding coordination with local jurisdictions for a cohesive advocacy and information sharing