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Dump Ordered to Control Gas, Water Seepage

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Times Staff Writer

Operating Industries, which operates a closed dump in Monterey Park, was ordered Monday to install monitoring wells, transport contaminated water (leachate) to authorized hazardous waste facilities and otherwise control leachate and methane gas found seeping into nearby residential areas.

The orders were issued by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Norman L. Epstein at the request of state and county environmental agencies, which claim that underground water at the dump is contaminated.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts also claim that they have found concentrations of 5% methane gas in soil under nearby houses.

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Epstein will hear further arguments and could issue more stringent orders in two civil cases against the landfill operators Aug. 26.

Under his orders Monday, Operating Industries also must submit engineering plans for dealing with the aging wastes to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the state Department of Health Services, determine what plans and data are required to apply for a permit for pre-treatment of leachate, and submit that information by Oct. 15 to health and sanitation officials.

Monterey Park residents have complained of foul odors coming from the dump since 1968. The dump officially stopped accepting new wastes in April, 1983.

Earlier this year, Epstein approved an agreement between Operating Industries and the state to establish a trust fund from the company’s $6-million sale of 45 acres of the site. The fund is to be used to control contamination caused by the dump.

Air Quality Management District officials have estimated total closure and cleanup costs to be $20 million, plus $1 million a year for the next 30 years to maintain the area.

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