By City News Service – The state Senate Friday unanimously passed a bill by Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, to create guidelines for protecting workers from ongoing pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
Senate Bill 1046, which also passed the Assembly unanimously on Tuesday, now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.
“The untreated wastewater pouring into the Tijuana River Valley has been an environmental nightmare for decades, polluting the surrounding air and water, and we need to protect any workers exposed to it,” Blakespear said. “SB 1046 ensures that lifeguards, park rangers and others forced to work outside in the Tijuana River Valley area are adequately protected.”
The bill directs CalOSHA to develop workplace standards for “minimizing exposure to transboundary pollution, including adopting requirements for personal protective equipment, hazard communication, incident reporting and trainings.” The guidelines are to be developed by local communities, as well as lifeguards, park rangers, local governments, labor unions, air districts and academic experts, according to Blakespear’s office.
The Tijuana River transports millions of gallons of untreated wastewater, including sewage and industrial waste, from Tijuana into California every year. This has led to more than 1,300 consecutive days of beach closures, noxious gases and air and water quality health concerns across the South Bay.
Local scientists have found that pollutants from the Tijuana River’s contaminated water aerosolize, entering the air and causing health impacts in nearby communities. The contaminated air can contain high levels of hydrogen sulfide, a dangerous, odor-causing gas. Heavy rain and flooding increase risks.
According to Blakespear’s office, exposure can result in gastrointestinal illness, skin infections and respiratory and neurological disorders. Workers in the Tijuana River Valley have experienced headaches, fatigue, nausea and bloody noses.
Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas
2385 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 205, Carlsbad, CA 92011, Phone: (760) 438-2005
021 O Street, Suite 7720, Sacramento, CA 95814, Phone: (916) 651-4038
