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Tustin took no action on the waiver on
June 17
Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) is controlled by the Board of Directors
and, ultimately, the Taxpayers, Ratepayers, and Voters. Tustin has one representative on the Board, who can vote to give
up the waiver, and implement full secondary treatment.
Current practice of using the Ocean for disposal of sewage "solids" -- including live bacteria -- allows
OCSD bureaucrats to show a "profit" at the expense of Beach and Ocean quality.
The reputation of Orange County as a clean, sunny place is at stake, and being destroyed as they relentlessly discharge
live sewage into the Ocean 4.2 miles off Huntington Beach.
Current risky course: Beach closures, lawsuits, contention,
loss of Tourist trade, declining Beach attendance, lower property values, scandal and bankruptcy.
Safe recommended course adopted by 16,000 other discharge
districts: Treat the sewage as much as possible before discharging into the Ocean.
False statements by backers of OCSD's current "301 (h) Waiver"
Scare tactics by frantic bureaucrats claim that it will cost "$400 million", but there has not been a
study of the actual cost. They are pulling that number out of thin air. OCSD claims that chlorination will only
cost $8 million, but that's a PER YEAR figure for the chemicals only -- there would be increased costs for monitoring,
sampling, levels of dechlorination, new tanks for chlorination/dechlorination even if they are allowed to do so
by the Reqional Water Quality Control Board, the State Board, the E.P.A., and the California Coastal Commission.
The false claim has been made that full secondary will cost "$40 million per year", but the true Operations
and Maintenance cost has been estimated at $800,000 increased headcount. Interest (at OCSD's cost of funds of 4%)
on even the inflated, bogus $400 million capital amount would only be $16 million per year.
OCSD has huge cash reserves, which are borrowed using tax-exempt bonds for sewer treatment; but it loans the money
out at a much higher rate instead of using it to treat the sewage. Reserves have been stated to be somewhere between
$477 million and $659 million. OCSD still has "interest rate swap" deals to make a profit on the "reserves",
reminiscent of the days of Citron.
Los Angeles committed to full secondary treatment, but it takes years to build the facilities. We need to start
planning now, not wait to the last minute.
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From the 55
"Newport Fwy", take the 5 "Golden
State Fwy" South, get off at Newport Ave., go North about 4 blocks
to Main St., turn left on Main St., the first right turn is the City Hall/Library parking lot on Centennial Way.
From Main St in Santa
Ana, just continue East under the 55 "Newport Fwy",
turn left on Centennial Way just before Newport Blvd. |