REP. VARGAS SENDS LETTER TO NAVY ADDRESSING USS BONHOMME RICHARD FIRE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS
Washington, D.C. (July 31, 2020) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released the following statement after sending a letter addressed to Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth J. Braithwaite, concerning the burning of the USS Bonhomme Richard and how it impacted Barrio Logan, Sherman Heights, National City and the surrounding communities.
On July 12, 2020, the USS Bonhomme Richard experienced an explosion causing a fire aboard the ship. As a result, smoke impacted the air quality in the surrounding communities.
"Constituents in my district have contacted my office asking questions about what occurred and how it can be prevented in the future. I wrote a letter requesting the Navy’s process for alerting the community in the event a future incident occurs.
“While incidents such as these may not be intentional or fully preventable, the Navy should learn from this event and put better systems in place to reduce the air quality impacts on our communities.”
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fourth term in Congress.
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