May—June 2020 Newsletter

Improving Water Quality at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Transborder pollution has caused serious water quality problems in the Tijuana River Valley and along southern California beaches from Imperial Beach to Coronado. EPA is committed to addressing the environmental and public health risks from this pollution. There is now significant new funding for comprehensive, long-term solutions through the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.

San Diego Union-Tribune Op-Ed: Tijuana Sewage is Causing More Problems in the U.S. Here’s the EPA’s Plan to Address It
News Release: U.S. EPA Officials, Federal and Local Partners Charted Path Forward on Transboundary Sewage Challenge at Stakeholder Meeting
U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Program

Redeveloping a Superfund Site into a Place to Live, Work and Play

Before and after photographs of Monterey Park, California, showing transformation from a contamintaed landfill to the onterey Market Place shopping center — Monterey Park, California

The former Operating Industries Landfill in Monterey Park, Calif. – which operated from 1948 until 1984 and contaminated air, groundwater, and soil with various organic and inorganic compounds from hazardous wastes – has been transformed into a hub of economic, recreational and residential activity. It now hosts the 500,000 square-foot Monterey Market Place shopping center and may be utilized for solar development.

Cleaning Up Contaminated Properties

In May, EPA announced that 13 communities in the Pacific Southwest were selected to receive a total of nearly $6.6 million to assess and clean up contaminated properties under the agency’s Brownfields Program. These funds will aid under-served and economically disadvantaged communities, including neighborhoods located in Opportunity Zones, in addressing abandoned industrial and commercial properties. These communities are among 151 selected nationally to receive grant awards totaling over $65.6 million.

KJZZ Public Radio: EPA Grants $1.4 Million to Phoenix for Contamination Cleanup
KUNR Public Radio: Reno Lands EPA Funds to Help Revitalization Efforts
Talanei: EPA Provides $300,000 for Harbor Cleanup
EPA's Brownfields Grants in the Pacific Southwest

Enforcement Update

Protecting Drinking Water Resources

EPA has reached a $6,521,025 settlement with 145 parties to clean up contaminated groundwater at the Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Whittier, California. The settlement will help address the groundwater contamination to which these companies and others have contributed.