Environmentalist wins another court victory

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- Environmental activist Bob Caustin has won another

stunning victory against a formidable foe.

This time, after a string of triumphs over the Irvine Ranch Water

District, Caustin won a court ruling against the Irvine Co. and the city

of Irvine. The ruling stops a 630-acre industrial development in its

tracks.

On Jan. 4, Orange County Superior Court Judge William McDonald agreed

with Caustin’s contention that the city had failed to complete an

adequate environmental review of the project.

McDonald denied all appeals and directed the city to prepare a new

environmental report. Caustin, the founder of Defend the Bay, filed the

suit in June.

The judge agreed with Caustin’s claim that the environmental analysis

didn’t adequately deal with the ground water and soil contamination

underneath and surrounding the project.

The project is southeast of Jeffery Road and north of the Santa Ana

Freeway.

The contamination was probably caused by underground pools of toxic

chemicals from the nearby El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, now closed.

“Contaminated ground water and cancer-causing pesticides are not good

for the environment, nor are they good for people,” Caustin said. “We are

very concerned that any and all development that occurs in the watershed

for Upper Newport Bay be done in strict compliance with public health and

water quality law.’

Irvine Co. officials say they hope to convert the 630 acres of

agricultural land into an industrial park, which could be leased to

medical and science companies.

Company spokesman John Christensen said he was surprised by the

ruling.

“We were surprised given the reputation the city has for the quality,

depth and comprehensive nature of the [environmental review] work,”

Christensen said. “We’re confident we can work with the city and address

the concerns raised by the judge.”

In October, Caustin won a ruling in his suit against the water

district in that agency’s bid to convert the empty San Joaquin Reservoir

into a storage container for reclaimed water.

In 1998, Caustin successfully overturned a controversial permit that

would have allowed the district to discharge highly treated waste water

into the bay.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .