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Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico:
Rosarito and Tijuana Wastewater Collection Improvement Projects
On this page:
- Proposed Action
- Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
- Environmental Consequences And Conditions
- Public Review
- Contact Information
Proposed Action
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering authorizing the award of a Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) grant to the Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana (CESPT) for construction of wastewater collection lines to serve existing communities in Tijuana that lack adequate wastewater disposal. The proposed action would provide wastewater service to the communities within Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito municipalities that are located approximately 13 miles (21 km) south of the U.S-Mexico international border. The estimated 82 liters per second (1.86 million gallons per day) of wastewater that will be collected by approximately 10,000 meters (328,000 feet) of new sewer lines and will receive secondary treatment and disinfection prior to discharge in Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
Purpose And Need For The Proposed Action
The purpose of the proposed action is to address the environmental and public health risks associated with inadequate treatment and disposal of wastewater. Over 9,700 households that currently lack wastewater service would be connected to the Rosarito Norte Wastewater Treatment Plant. Residents without service use latrines or open ditches for wastewater disposal. The proposed action will significantly increase wastewater treatment to unserved areas, resulting in improved environmental and sanitation conditions.
Environmental Consequences And Conditions
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EPA has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzes the potential transboundary environmental impacts of the proposed action. After considering a wide range of regulatory, environmental (both natural and human) and socio-economic factors, the EA did not identify any significant impacts to the environment that would result from the implementation of the proposed wastewater collection system improvements.
Environmental impacts in Mexico are addressed in the Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental, which was prepared in accordance with the environmental impact review process of the Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente de Baja California. This analysis supports a determination that the proposed infrastructure project will not have a significant adverse impact on human health and the environment in Mexico.
Public Review
The Environmental Assessment (EA (PDF) (66pp, 1.4M, About PDF)
Copies of the EA are also available for public review at the EPA San Diego Border Office (address below) and at the EPA Region 9 office at 75 Hawthorne St, San Francisco, CA, 94105. Please call 619-235-4763 to schedule a visit to either of these offices.
Interested persons, including those who disagree with this proposal, may submit comments to EPA Region 9 by April 30, 2009, which provides a minimum of 30 calendar days from the day this FNSI was made available for public review. No administrative action will be taken on this proposed project prior to the closing date of this comment period. Comments, via letter, fax or email, should be sent to Doug Liden at the address listed below:
Contact Information
Doug Liden (liden.douglas@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA Region San Diego Border Office
610 W. Ash St, STE 905
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone (619) 235-4763
Fax (619) 235-4771
Email