Costa Mesa foundation opposes sewage waiver

-- Paul Clinton

A Costa Mesa environmental group has put itself on record in

opposition to the Orange County Sanitation District’s controversial

federal sewage waiver.

The Earth Resource Foundation, with offices on East 17th Street, has joined nine cities and a handful of other environmental groups in

opposing the waiver.

Group leaders have mobilized their volunteers to picket the Orange

County Sanitation District’s Wednesday meeting.

On that day, sanitation board members were to mull a discussion about

whether to pursue a renewal of a waiver that allows them to discharge

more than 240 million gallons a day into the ocean. However, the

discussion, and decision, has been postponed to July 17.

Earth Resource Executive Director Stephanie Barger said the group

still will air its views, with about 300 sign-carrying activists.

“It’s very important,” Barger said about the planned rally. “We need

to help the Orange County Sanitation District do the right thing.”

The district has come under fire from environmentalists who say the

sewage should be treated to a higher level before being discharged from

an outfall pipe on the ocean floor 4 1/2 miles out to sea off the Santa

Ana River.

Information: (949) 645-5163 or www.earthresource.org.