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Committee sends Blakespear’s bill to Appropriations to protect lifeguards and rangers from Tijuana River pollution
Summary
SB 1046 would direct Cal/OSHA to set standards to protect lifeguards and park rangers exposed to transboundary pollution from the Tijuana River Valley, requiring PPE, incident reporting, training and a hydrogen sulfide exposure threshold; supporters cited health impacts and program disruptions for youth services.
Sen. Blakespear presented SB 1046, sponsored by SEIU, saying the bill directs Cal/OSHA to develop workplace standards to minimize exposure to transboundary pollution from the Tijuana River Valley for lifeguards, park rangers and outdoor workers. The author described visible pollution, public-health concerns and community surveys showing residents avoid the area.
A supervising park ranger from San Diego County testified that workers experience headaches, fatigue, nausea and other symptoms after exposure and asked for standards, personal protective equipment and reporting that would allow agencies to protect crews and answer community concerns. Ben McHugh of Outdoor Outreach said the organization has had to cancel or pivot programs due to pollution concerns and asked for tools that allow youth programs to safely resume work in border communities.
No opposition witnesses appeared on the record. Committee members expressed support and the bill was reported out to Appropriations with an aye vote. Members noted coordination with Cal/OSHA and environmental agencies will be necessary as standards are developed.
