During a Senate Environment And Public Works Committee Hearing to Consider Pending Nomination on Wednesday, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) asked nominees if they are up to the task in dealing with the United States environmental issues.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Senator Padilla. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to begin by expressing my appreciation for
00:09EPA Administrator Zeldin's interest in one of my top EPA priorities, which is finally
00:15resolving the Tijuana River sewage crisis. For decades, communities in that part of Southern
00:23California have faced persistent both environmental as well as public health impacts of untreated
00:29sewage that has flowed across the border. During President Trump's first term, the late
00:35Senator Feinstein, as well as our House delegation from the San Diego region, worked to secure
00:42$300 million to expand a wastewater treatment plant in San Diego. And during the last couple
00:49of Congresses, we've worked together to secure another $300 million to complete the necessary
00:55upgrades. We recently invited Administrator Zeldin to tour the plan to see firsthand the
01:02challenges that we face. So I'd like to just begin by asking you, Mr. Kramer, how familiar
01:07you are with this issue, with the projects, because assuming you are confirmed, I'd look
01:13forward to working with you to bring this project to completion.
01:17Absolutely. Thank you, Senator, for that question. During my first tenure at EPA under the first
01:22Trump administration, this is in fact one of the issues that I worked on. And so EPA
01:26had been appropriated that first amount of funding that you referenced, and I was involved
01:32in the consideration of the various projects that could be funded to ensure that this transboundary
01:37flow crisis, to be completely frank, raw sewage flowing anywhere in my mind is a crisis, comes
01:45to an end. And so while I left before those projects were finally selected, since I have
01:53returned in the senior advisor role, I've been brought back up to speed on exactly what's
01:58happening. And I think the challenges that we're seeing there, one, stems to ensuring
02:03that the infrastructure that is in place to ensure that these flows cease, but also to
02:08ensuring that there is a communication, robust communication that allows for partnership
02:13that is required to ensure that operation and maintenance of those infrastructure investments
02:20takes place. And it's especially easy when it's in the U.S., and it's a little bit more
02:27challenging when we have infrastructure on the other side of the border that we need
02:31to be collaborating on.
02:32Well, that's music to my ears, your familiarity with it, your history with it, your commitment
02:36to it as a priority. And yes, collaboration is key, not just with partners south of the
02:42border, but even within the federal government. We've brought to bear U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
02:48and the intricacies of the State Department's involvement here. So thank you for that.
02:54Next question is going to be for Mr. Nesvick. So I want to, first of all, thank you for
02:58your public service, both as wildlife manager in Wyoming, as well as in the armed services.
03:05If confirmed, you'll be the latest in a long line of folks facing a steep learning curve
03:11on the contentious water issues in California, which require a large amount of careful attention
03:20and collaboration as well. In the Klamath Basin, for example, in the far northern part
03:25of the State, water scarcity challenges our efforts to support agriculture, restore fish
03:30populations, and improve water quality.
03:34At Lake Tahoe, invasive species and water quality concerns threaten the lake's clarity.
03:39In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, we're balancing the water needs of agriculture
03:43with the need to protect endangered species and adapt to our changing climate. And in
03:49Southern California, we face serious challenges like habitat loss and water scarcity, with
03:54the Salton Sea being a prime example of the need for federal and state cooperation.
04:00So each of these, let alone all taken together, are certainly tough, high-stakes issues that
04:06demand significant time, attention, and collaboration between federal and state governments, and
04:12a shared commitment to practical solutions. So I'm looking to responsible public servants
04:18to help inform the President and work with partners on the ground.
04:23And that, I guess, is my first question to you, Mr. Nesvig. If you're confirmed, are
04:27you willing to roll up your sleeves and listen to both career professionals at Fish and Wildlife
04:33Service, as well as experts within California's state agencies, as you navigate these complex
04:39issues?
04:40Yes, Senator, I appreciate that question. I know water is an extremely important issue
04:44for California. I know it's a very, it's very complex. You know, I come from a state that's
04:48a headwater state. In my entire career, I've dealt with water policy and the challenges
04:53and the contentiousness around water in Wyoming. We say, you know, whiskey's for drinking and
04:58water's for fighting. And it's true. So yes, I do commit to diving deep into this issue.
05:04I know it's really important to you and your constituents, and frankly, other states as
05:08well.
05:09Right, and we're interconnected by the Colorado River, and that speaks, again, to the need
05:13for federal-states plural collaboration. But on just the federal government side, I want
05:19to make sure that you commit to working with the state of California, as well as the Bureau
05:23of Reclamation, NOAA, and other executive agencies, to ensure that we're effectively
05:28making progress on California's water and wildlife challenges, and all the states for
05:33that matter.
05:34Absolutely, Senator.
05:35Thank you. Thank you very much. I do have a follow-up question we'll submit for the
05:38record, just tapping. In response to a question from Senator Bozeman, you made mention of
05:45migration patterns. I know in Wyoming, you've been working on it, as we have in California,
05:50on advancing wildlife corridors as an important strategy to maintain both development and
05:56wildlife populations. So I look forward to working with you on that as well.
06:00Absolutely. Thank you.
06:01Thank you, Madam Chair.
06:02Thank you. Sure.