EPA seeks public comments on wastewater project in Tijuana, Mexico.

Public Notice Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact Arturo Herrera/La Morita Discharge Relocation Project Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 intends to authorize an award of funds from the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund to the Comision Estatal de Servicios Publicos de Tijuana (CESPT, Tijuana's local water utility) for the construction of wastewater pumping and conveyance infrastructure to enable treated effluent from Tijuana's Arturo Herrera (AH) and La Morita (LM) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to be discharged upstream of the Abelardo L. Rodr¡guez Reservoir, rather than the Tijuana River. The proposed project includes construction of two pumping plants, two gravity lines, two force mains, a surge tower, and a discharge point. EPA's authorization of funds for the proposed project is a federal action requiring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). EPA considered two alternatives for the proposed project: the proposed action and the noaction alternative, which are analyzed in a draft environmental assessment (EA) pursuant to Section 102 of the NEPA of 1969 and EPA's NEPA procedures under 40 CFR part 6. Based on the draft EA, EPA is issuing a preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed action. However, EPA will consider public and agency comments prior to making its decision regarding implementation of the proposed action. After evaluating any comments received, EPA will make a final decision. The preliminary decision and FONSI will become final after the 30day comment period expires if no new significant information is provided to alter this finding. The draft EA and preliminary FONSI (EPA No. N2026125 are available for review from EPA's NEPA Compliance Database at: cdxapps.epa.gov/cdxenepaII/public/action/nepa/search Comments on the draft EA and preliminary FONSI may be submitted on or before May 27, 2026, by email or phone to the following EPA contact: Tara Flint Silva U.S. EPA Water Division (WTR33) Flintsilva.tara@epa.gov | 6198491036 No administrative action will be taken on this proposed project prior to the expiration date of this comment period. San Diego UnionTribune Published: 4/27/26