Tijuana River Watershed NEPA Implementation
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
- Visit EPA's How Citizens can Comment and Participate in the National Environmental Policy Act Process for information about NEPA.
NEPA Public Comment Meetings
Two public meetings will be held virtually on July 19, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) and July 20, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). The meetings will consist of a formal presentation on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) followed by time for participants to provide verbal comments that will be formally documented. The presentation material will be identical at the two meetings. Please register at Public Meeting Information.
Along with providing a comment(s) at the meetings, you may also make a comment on the alternatives or any part of the NEPA process, by emailing the Tijuana-Transboundary-EIS email box (Tijuana-Transboundary-EIS@epa.gov).
Notice of Availability (NOA)
On June 17, 2022, EPA and the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) published a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register inviting comments from federal, state, and local agencies, Native American tribes, interested stakeholders and the public on the Draft PEIS. In accordance with NEPA, the Draft PEIS 45-day public comment period will conclude on August 1, 2022.
Alternative Options
The Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) evaluates a No-Action Alternative and two alternatives for implementing the Proposed Action. The purpose and need of the Proposed Action is to reduce transboundary flows from Tijuana that convey sewage, pollutants, and/or trash into the U.S. and cause adverse public health and environmental impacts in the Tijuana River watershed and adjacent coastal areas. The projects that are included as part of the two alternatives are in the table below.
- No-Action Alternative. NEPA requires that a No-Action Alternative be analyzed to determine the environmental consequences of not undertaking the Proposed Action, and thereby providing a baseline against which the potential beneficial and adverse environmental impacts of action alternatives can be evaluated and compared.
- Alternative 1: Core Projects. Under this alternative, EPA would use U.S. appropriations to fund some components of the Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution that are the agreed upon responsibility of the U.S. This approach would allow implementation of projects that are sufficiently evolved to be ready for decision making.
- Alternative 2: Core and Supplemental Projects. Under this alternative, EPA would use U.S. appropriations to fund all components of the Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution that are the agreed upon responsibility of the U.S. This approach is expected to require substantial additional U.S. appropriations beyond those already allocated through USMCA Implementation Act and existing programs such as EPA’s Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP).
| Alternative | Project Title | Project Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative 1: Core Projects (A-D) | Alternative 2: Core Projects + Supplemental Projects (A-J) |
A. Expanded ITP | U.S. only |
| B. Tijuana Canyon Flows to ITP | U.S. and Mexico | ||
| C. Tijuana Sewer Repairs | Mexico only | ||
| D. APTP Phase 1 | U.S. and Mexico | ||
| E. ADTP Phase 2 | U.S. only | ||
| F. U.S.-side River Diversion to APTP | U.S. only | ||
| G. New SABTP | Mexico only | ||
| H. Tijuana WWTP Treated Effluent Reuse | Mexico only | ||
| I. ITP Treated Effluent Reuse | U.S. and Mexico | ||
| J. Trash Boom(s) | U.S. only | ||
Public Scoping for EIS
View a recording of the NEPA public scoping meeting held on April 20, 2021 below:
Next Steps Include:
- Complete comment period on Draft PEIS
- Issue and invite public comment on Final PEIS
- Issue Record of Decision