Toxic-Waste Plan Opposed as ‘Precedent’

Construction of a toxic-waste “transfer station” in the eastern San Fernando Valley would set a “dangerous precedent” for surrounding neighborhoods, an opponent of City Councilman Howard Finn said Tuesday.

The station was suggested last year by a consulting firm hired to study waste problems by the Southern California Assn. of Governments, a regional planning agency. The station for collecting toxic waste would be designed to simplify removal of wastes produced by East Valley businesses.

Finn represents much of the area discussed in the consultants’ report and chairs the SCAG committee that released it.

Noel S. Horwin, a Sunland businessman who plans to challenge Finn in the April 9 city election, said at a press conference that the proposed station could lead to creation of a permanent toxic dump in the council district.

Location of Sites

Of five preliminary sites listed in the report, four are in Finn’s district, a spokesman for Finn said. The sites include vacant lots in the 11600 and 11800 blocks of Sheldon Street in Sunland, a city-owned steam-generating plant also on Sheldon Street and a city-owned maintenance yard on San Fernando Road in Pacoima. The fifth site is in the 5400 block of San Fernando Road in Glendale.

Al Avila, Finn’s spokesman, said the sites in the SCAG report were “extremely tentative.” He dismissed Horwin’s contention that the site would attract a dump.

Avila said Finn had asked that the list of sites be expanded before the report is turned over to the city’s planning committee.

According to the report, the franchised transfer site would protect domestic water supplies that underlie North Hollywood, Burbank and neighboring communities. For a fee, trucks leaving the site would transfer toxic wastes from East Valley businesses to approved toxic landfills.