San Diego County on Monday will introduce a former U.S. diplomat as its first Pollution Crisis Chief, tapping Bridget Premont to lead its response to the Tijuana River sewage and pollution crisis as a new study estimates the crisis could cost the region $7.9 billion over the next two decades if it is not fixed. Premont will be introduced at a 1 p.m. news conference at the San Diego County Administration Center, according to the county. … According to the county, Premont will coordinate with federal, state and local agencies to prioritize planning for local and cross-border infrastructure upgrades. She will also pursue federal and state funding, coordinate real-time emergency response when sewage discharges spike and chair a Sewage Crisis Interdepartmental Task Force.

Other Tijuana River news:

• The San Diego Union-Tribune: Pressure mounts to clean Tijuana River to prevent cross-border pollution ahead of El Niño
• KPBS (San Diego): She’s about to break a new record. But she’ll have to swim around sewage pollution first
• Voice of San Diego: Opinion: Fixing the South Bay plant won’t stop the Tijuana River’s industrial waste