Surfrider Foundation San Diego County

Transcription

1 February 21, 2018 The Honorable Rex Tillerson Secretary of State US Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC Dear Honorable Secretary Tillerson, I am writing on behalf of the San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation regarding the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations set to take place from February 25 - March 5, 2018 in Mexico City. NAFTA has resulted in growth in both industry and jobs over the last 24 years. However, many Americans are suffering from the negative environmental impacts not foreseen by NAFTA. Pollutants created by industry and manufacturing travel through Mexico and end up at the U.S.-Mexico border where they endanger human health along with the flora and fauna of the region. Pollutants at our nation s border pose a national security risk as well as an environmental and human health risk. The San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is asking that you ensure that NAFTA renegotiations address the following: 1. the flow of raw untreated transborder sewage from Mexico to the United States; 2. the chemical waste that seeps into the Tijuana River Valley and onto San Diego County beaches; 3. and the extensive amounts of plastics and other refuse that wash into the shared watershed between Mexico and the United States and filter onto beaches in San Diego and the Pacific Ocean. NAFTA has resulted in U.S. benefits to trade and industry, as evidenced by the overwhelming interest to keep but modernize NAFTA. NAFTA is important to growers, producers, suppliers,

2 transporters, retailers and consumers in many states near and far from the southern border of the U.S., such as Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Montana and Alabama. In Mexican border cities such as Tijuana and Mexicali, NAFTA has had positive economic impacts. Tijuana s industry has grown exponentially and there are around 700 multi-national factories in this border city alone. But what NAFTA does not adequately address are the environmental impacts resulting from trade: more people, more pollution, more waste. Untreated raw sewage, unknown chemicals and plastic pollution are three impacts that have had negative environmental impacts on the American states that share a border with Mexico. In San Diego County, untreated raw sewage flows from Baja California, Mexico into the Tijuana River and on to California beaches. Sometimes this happens with no notice and with every rain event raw sewage is expected. In February 2017, 143 million gallons of untreated raw sewage from Mexico were diverted onto California beaches and no notice was given until Imperial Beach residents were suffocated by the stench of human excrement and inquired into the problem. This quantity of raw sewage would fill the White House 22 times. Even more concerning is that new residential areas in Baja California are granted building permits with little oversight and no connection to main sewage infrastructure. Surfers on both sides of the border are regularly ill as a result of exposure to high levels of human fecal bacteria. Chemical waste oozes from various collectors and canyons along the Tijuana River Valley. The make-up of the multi-colored chemicals are unknown but they are corrosive. California Border Patrol agents suffer injuries when exposed to these unknown chemicals that also corrode their work boots. California Border Patrol agents patrol in sewage and dangerous chemicals which has caused them numerous reported injuries, and untold non-reported injuries. The safety of our agents is paramount. During rain events, the Tijuana River is littered with massive amounts of single use plastics from Mexico that eventually make their way out to sea unless U.S. based non-profits and government agencies spend funds on clean-up efforts. Baja California, Mexico does not yet implement a recycling program despite Mexican federal legislation that addresses recycling. All of the above is exacerbated by the industry and trade resulting from NAFTA.

3 As expressed above, there is overwhelming support for NAFTA as a driver for job creation and growth. However, moving forward NAFTA must address the environmental impacts of trade in the following ways: 1. NAFTA must include clear responsibilities related to the elimination of transborder sewage from Mexico and must include economic ramifications if these responsibilities are not met. 2. NAFTA must require the elimination of chemical dumping into the Tijuana River Valley and other watersheds shared by the United States. There should also be clear economic consequences and enforcement measures as well as a binational monitoring of these chemical substances. 3. NAFTA must necessitate the creation and enforcement of recycling and plastic reduction programs in Mexico. Mechanisms should be put into place with respect to funding of these programs and the role of industry to this effect. I thank you for your kind attention on this matter. Sincerely, Gabriela M. Torres Policy Coordinator/Environmental Attorney Enclosures: Photo of sewage plumes in the Pacific Ocean (February 2017); Photo of chemical waste on Imperial Beach; Photo of plastics in the Tijuana River Valley.

4 cc: Edward Drusina, Commissioner, International Boundary and Water Commission Roberto Espinosa, Representante, Comisión Internacional de Limites y Aguas Diane Feinstein, United States Senator (California) Kamala Harris, United States Senator (California) John McCain, United States Senator (Arizona) Jeff Flake, United States Senator (Arizona) Martin Heinrich, United States Senator (New Mexico) Tom Udall, United States Senator (New Mexico) John Cornyn, United States Senator (Texas) Ted Cruz, United States Senator (Texas) Juan Vargas, United States Congressman Scott Peters, United States Congressman Susan Davis, United States Congresswoman Duncan Hunter, United States Congressman Darrell Issa, United States Congressman

5 February 2017 sewage spill that closed beaches from Imperial Beach to Coronado. Rain and ageing infrastructure caused the Mexican water authority to divert sewage into the United States. No notice was given to any U.S. officials of the diversion until residents noticed the stenches and plumes of human excrement.

6 A 2017 photos of polluted water in Imperial Beach with suds and bubbles from an unknown source.

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8 January 2018 photo of plastics from Mexico that rest in San Diego after rain events. Unless funds are spent on clean-ups after each rain event, these plastics will drift into the ocean and onto San Diego beaches.