In a pressing matter, U.S. Rep. Scott Peters and fellow San Diego congressional members are urgently calling on the Navy to address a critical issue involving San Diego SEALs training in waters contaminated by sewage from Mexico. Peters, expressing concern, revealed that San Diego SEALs were being sent to train in severely polluted waters, with alarming reports of encounters with human feces during their exercises.
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Urgent Plea to Navy as Sewage Worsens, Disrupting National Security
Peters, backed by members of the congressional delegation, wrote a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Naval records disclosed that over 20 in-water training sessions were canceled in fiscal 2022 at the Silver Strand Training Complex, a location bordering Coronado and Imperial Beach. This marked a stark increase from the prior year, indicating the worsening sewage problem from Tijuana flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
The ongoing failure of promises from both U.S. and Mexican leaders has resulted in millions of gallons of untreated sewage flowing daily from Tijuana, severely affecting the shores of southern San Diego SEALs. Peters emphasized the potential harm to national security due to the disruption in San Diego SEALs training, which comes at a substantial cost.
Recent storms have only aggravated the sewage flow issue, with Tijuana directly pumping sewage into the ocean and the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Ysidro malfunctioning. Peters stressed the need to address these critical issues.
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San Diego SEALs Training Crisis Sparks Pleas for Action and $310 Million Solution
In a letter dated Jan. 23, Peters sought information from the Navy secretary on training interruptions, relocations, or cancellations due to water contamination. He also requested details on Navy personnel reporting sickness or injury after training in contaminated conditions and information on assessing sewage effects on San Diego SEALs training.
Other congressional members, including Juan Vargas, Mike Levin, Sara Jacobs, and Darrell Issa, have joined Peters in urging action. Peters is also advocating for Congress to support President Joe Biden’s $310 million request for repairs at the deteriorating South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, a crucial step in mitigating the sewage overflow affecting San Diego SEALs’ training grounds. Warning signs along the shores in Coronado and Imperial Beach caution about health hazards due to the contaminated waters.
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