California lawmakers on Thursday re-introduced the Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act to combat ongoing pollution from the Tijuana River. … This is not the first time the bill has surfaced as a piece of bicameral legislation. It was introduced in 2021 and again in 2024. However, the reintroduction comes just after officials released results from the Centers for Disease Control’s survey of how people near the border felt about the Tijuana River pollution crisis and its effects on them. … The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act would establish the EPA as the lead agency coordinating efforts between federal, state, tribal and local agencies to deal with pollution. The bill also would establish an EPA Geographic Program that would implement a water quality management program within 180 days of the bill’s passing. The EPA already has 12 Geographic Programs that protect local ecosystems through water quality improvement, habitat restoration and environmental education. 

Other Tijuana River news:

• CBS8 (San Diego): US lawmakers push for EPA leadership in Tijuana River cleanup bill
• KPBS (San Diego): Survey finds South Bay residents reporting health symptoms tied to sewage crisis