Advisory measure for the November 2002 ballot

Prior to the transfer of ownership of MCAS El Toro, a toxic "Superfund" site, should the County demand from the Department of the Navy that the following conditions be met: 1) a complete and thorough study of the toxic contamination found or expected to be found at Eltoro that incorporates and addresses the inconsistent toxic findings of the Department of the Navy's analysis, the local redevelopment authority's "GeoSyntec Report", and the City of Irvine study entitled "Navy's Underestimation of Solvent Contamination at the MCAS, El Toro "; 2) remediation costs necessary for its intended use, including identification of funds to complete removal of all toxic contamination; 3) the identification of funds to reimburse the community for any direct or consequential damages or costs the community incurs as a result of contamination; and 4) that the actual clean-up and remediation of El Toro must be completed prior to its transfer or sale?

__ Yes __ No

This measure asks the voters to advise the County Board of Supervisors whether the Board should demand from the Department of the Navy as the present owner of the real property formerly operated as Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), El Toro, that, prior to transfer of ownership or sale of the former Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, the Department of the Navy:

1. Provide a complete and thorough study of the toxic contamination found or expected to be found at MCAS El Toro that addresses the inconsistent findings of the prior studies provided by the Department of the Navy, the County’s GeoSyntec report, and the referenced City of Irvine study;

2. Provide funding to pay for remediation costs necessary for MCAS El Toro’s intended use, including identification of funds to complete removal of all toxic contamination;

3. Identify funds to reimburse the community for any direct or consequential damages or costs the community incurs as a result of contamination; and

4. Complete the actual clean up and remediation of MCAS El Toro prior to its transfer or sale.

 As an advisory measure, this measure would have no legal force or mandatory effect. If approved by the voters, the measure would advise the Board of Supervisors that the voters desire that the Board make the demands noted above. It would not require the Board of Supervisors to make the demands, or the Department of the Navy to comply with the demands, if made.

A yes vote indicates that the voter desires that the Board of Supervisors make the specified demands.
 
 

Fiscal Impact Statement Pursuant to Section 9160 of the Elections Code Regarding the Advisory Measure Concerning Clean Up of Toxic Contamination/Carcinogenic Pollutants and Public Health and Safety at MCAS, El Toro

Because this measure is advisory, it is not binding on the Board of Supervisors to make the demands it provides, nor does it require the Department of the Navy to comply with those demands, if made. Accordingly, there is no direct fiscal effect to the general fund of the County of Orange. However, if the demands were made and the Navy complied, the stream of property tax revenues that may occur due to development would be less subject to risk. Realization of these revenues could be postponed due to delays in the development resulting from the discovery of previously unknown contaminants. Neither the value of these potential tax revenues nor the likelihood of uncovering additional contaminants can be reasonably estimated at this time.
 
 

s/ David E. Sundstrom, CPA
Auditor-Controller
 
 

Please support the Orange County referendum to encourage the Navy to not sell any of the closed and contaminated MCAS, El Toro until it clean of toxic waste and meanwhile create a self-supporting, self-cleaning, private-sector-economy stimulating, “Bren National Park” that included:

(1) a broad wildlife habitat corridor for the California mountain lion and its food chain... joining:

(a) Chino Hills State Park,
(b) Prado Dam Flood Basin,
(c) Cleveland National Forest,
(d) Don Bren 53,000 acre “nature preserves’’, and
(e) Crystal Cove State Park

(3) a lease-paying university concession, e.g. managed by Fullerton Junior College,

(4) a lease-paying reasonable-international-nonintrusive-“V” configura- tion-airport (http://www.ocxeltoro.com) concession, e.g. managed by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) with its international airline treaties,

(5) subsidized low-cost housing and office-space/facilities for:

(a) park rangers,
(b) fire fighters,
(c) university professors & staff
(c) lodge and airport workers,
(d) INS and Customs officers,
(e) federal security inspectors,
(f) air-cargo sorters/students,
(g) US Postal Service workers,
(h) low-paid airport/airline workers and
(h) the Nature Conservancy managers of the 53,000 acre “Nature Preserve” created by Don Bren in combination with the Cleveland National Forest.

S/ Charles E. Griffin II, Vice President of The New Millennium Group (TNMG) Inc. Registered Professional Control System Engineer, Certificate No. CS 4092
732 Bison Ave. Newport Beach, CA 92660-3207
E-mail: c_e_griffin@msn.com Phone: 949-759-3589 Fax: 530-698-7370