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Supervisors press staff after county pauses public meeting on landfill tonnage increase
Summary
Supervisors asked for briefings and transparency after OC Waste & Recycling paused a virtual public meeting about increasing permitted tonnage at a county landfill from 4,000 to 8,000 tons per day; staff said comments remain open through March 19 and promised a board update.
Chair Doug Chaffee and several supervisors pressed OC Waste & Recycling officials on Feb. 9 after residents and multiple board offices raised alarm about a proposed change at a county landfill.
Supervisor (Nguyen) began the exchange by saying, “expansion work has been stopped at the Perma Landfill,” and asking when the process began and whether board offices had been notified. Tom Petrullis, director of OC Waste & Recycling, replied: “It is actually not an expansion. It is a, increase in, permitted tonnage,” saying the site opened in 1976 at 4,000 tons per day and staff had started an administrative process to increase permitted tonnage to 8,000 tons per day.
Petrullis said staff paused a scheduled virtual public meeting to review incoming public comments and concerns, and that the agency will continue to accept comments through March 19 before returning to the board with next steps. He said some notices that went out were later deemed insufficient and that staff would provide an update and follow-up information requested by supervisors.
Several supervisors pressed for clearer notice and district briefings. Vice Chair Katrina Foley and Supervisor Katrina Foley (5th District) said the district office had received hundreds of emails from residents who believed the landfill would expand. Supervisor Wagner asked whether the pause meant the project was canceled; County CEO Michelle Geary clarified that only the public meeting was postponed and county counsel had been consulted to protect the environmental review process.
Board members and staff discussed oversight: supervisors said district offices should be briefed early on projects that affect local constituents, and staff committed to arranging briefings and providing reports on the volume and status of public comments. Petrullis said he could provide a follow-up with counts of comments and a cost estimate for any delays if requested.
What's next: staff will receive and evaluate public comments through March 19, return to the board with an analysis and recommended next steps, and schedule district briefings so supervisors and affected cities can review details before further public meetings or vote.
Quotes in this story come from officials and supervisors as recorded at the Feb. 9 Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting.
