INTENT TO DECEIVE??

It’s been nearly two years since the Tustin City Council approved (4-1 with Cooper as the sole dissent) a second Costco mega gas station to be built in Tustin, within 500 feet of homes and 1 mile of four sensitive sites (three schools, one child care center) without any Environmental Impact Report.

Since 2019, our message has been the same: Conduct an Environmental Impact Report to address Tustin Ranch’s concerns about health, traffic density, and safety associated with such a massive project. When our concerns were discounted, we were forced on a two-year journey to defend our community and filed a lawsuit (Case No.: 30-2019-011 13056-CU-PT-CXC), which will be heard by the 4th District Court of Appeal on August 19, 2021.

Unfortunately, our concerns have been validated by recently discovered reports that document the presence of toxins dating back to July 2019. We have subsequently learned from Costco’s own evaluation that there are extremely large amounts of carcinogenic toxins that exceed human health screening levels, including 13,000 micrograms/cubic meter of PCE (or PERC), a particularly nasty chemical that was banned in 2007. The residential screening level for PERC is 15 micrograms/cubic meter. The reported amount surpasses residential health standards by more than 867%!

The presence of existing toxins was known PRIOR to the City Council vote in October 2019. And yet this information was NOT disclosed during the City Council meeting, nor during our Trial Court hearing which took place on Nov 2020. What else is Costco and the city hiding??

HOW DOES AFFECT TUSTIN RANCH?

Unfortunately, Tustin Ranch is already significantly impacted by both toxic releases (99th percentile) and traffic density (93rd percentile), according to CalEnviroScreen 3.0. Any additional pollution or traffic burden would be devastating to this community. In addition to the close proximity of homes which surround the project site on two sides, there are four sensitive receptor sites (schools, day care center) within one mile. And a storm channel within 150 feet of Costco’s proposed three 40,000 gallon fuel tanks…the El Modena-Irvine Storm Channel flows directly to Newport Back Bay.

Take 5 minutes, and email our regulators, City Council – TODAY!

Thanks to your support, we have gathered nearly 2,000 signatures, filed a lawsuit, and engaged with regulatory agencies that monitor air quality, water quality and toxic substances. However, we need to continue to apply pressure and take measures to protect our neighborhoods.

Our local government has the authority to regulate land use and protect our public health. They can also choose to enact policies that prohibit the build out of mega gas stations, like what happened in the City of Petaluma, and propose better solutions. And we DO get to have a voice on what gets built in our communities.

Please go to our website (ProtectTustinRanch.org), and add your name to the list of concerned citizens who urge our regulatory agencies and city council to protect our community!!

Thank you.