| Will RELOOC or
the Phased Option result in more truck traffic on
Ortega Highway? |
| Phase 1 of RELOOC will not increase the already
agreed upon volume of refuse-related truck traffic
on Ortega Highway. The amount of truck traffic is
tied to the daily amount of waste permitted at the
Prima Deshecha Landfill. This daily permitted amount
of waste is already regulated by an agreement between
the City and the County. However, an increase in
truck traffic may occur, not because of RELOOC but,
because the agreed upon maximum amount permitted
has not yet been reached. For Phase 2 of RELOOC,
a feasibility study will be conducted to determine
the need by 2021 to seek an increase or otherwise
modify the permitted level of daily tonnage, truck
traffic, and associated routes. |
| |
| Will the landfill
pollute our water supply? |
| No. The landfill is designed with controls such
as liners and leachate systems to protect groundwater
supplies and surface waters. Also, groundwater and
surface water quality monitoring is regulated to
ensure the effectiveness of the water protection
systems. |
| |
| Will RELOOC or
the Phased Option impact the ridgelines or views
of the ridgelines? |
| No. The ridgelines will not be affected by RELOOC.
Their preservation is ensured in accordance with
a written memorandum of understanding (MOU) between
the County and the Cities of San Juan Capistrano
and San Clemente. |
| |
| Does the landfill
emit methane gas? Are there impacts to residents? |
| Landfill gas, comprised primarily of methane and
carbon dioxide, is created over time as buried waste
decomposes. The gas is collected and used to generate
electricity, enough to power 13,000 homes every
day. Excess landfill gas is burned in an enclosed
flare for environmental protection. There are no
impacts to residents from methane gas generation. |
| |
| Will there be
any changes to the operations of Prima Deschecha
that will impact San Juan Capistrano residents? |
| No. While we are always striving to improve, all
operations that impact residents will remain essentially
the same as they are today. There may be beneficial
technological advances in the future that we would
like to implement. In the event these advances have
potential new impacts, they will require another
thorough regulatory and public review and approval
process. |
| |
| Are there benefits
to residents that result from the Phased Option? |
| The RELOOC process and Phased Option provides
the city and residents with a comprehensive plan
to address their waste disposal needs for the next
40 years. This is an important benefit. Also, San
Juan Capistrano is considered to be a “host”
city. This means that the city has the opportunity
to identify impacts that it believes should be mitigated
for serving as a “host” to a regional
facility. These mitigation measures have included
limiting the tonnage, hours and routes of truck
traffic associated with landfill disposal. Under
certain conditions, mitigation funds may also be
available to host cities. These funds may be used
in a variety of ways to address such impacts as
“wear and tear” to streets from refuse
trucks or for other community needs such as highway
safety patrols. In this day and age of reduced revenue
and increased costs for maintaining roads, landscaping
and community services, the funds may become a valuable
city asset to ensure the long-term preservation
and enhancement of the community. |
| |
| Are Orange County’s
landfills regulated to protect our safety? |
| Yes. The County’s landfill system incorporates
environmental safeguards designed specifically for
each of the three different landfill sites. These
include state and federally regulated surface and
ground water monitoring and protection systems,
gas control and monitoring systems, and waste inspection
programs to prevent non-permitted waste from being
deposited at the landfill. |
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