Pollution Agency Predicts Delay of Ogden Test Burn
A test burn of hazardous waste at a La Jolla research facility almost certainly will be delayed, the director of the county Air Pollution Control District said Wednesday.
Richard Sommerville, citing requests from the San Diego City Council and county Supervisor Susan Golding for public hearings on Ogden Environmental Services’ planned test burn of petroleum residues, said that it could take two to three weeks to decide whether to hold a public hearing on the matter.
If a hearing is held, more time will be required to determine whether to issue a permit to Ogden, Sommerville said.
Ogden had hoped to test-burn wastes from Fullerton’s McColl waste dump over four days beginning Jan. 30.
The tests would be the first use of the firm’s controversial hazardous-waste incinerator on Torrey Pines Mesa since a federal court judge barred the City Council from regulating its operation. The city is preparing to appeal that decision.
Although a spokesman of the pollution-control district said a public hearing will probably not be held, Sommerville said no decision has been made.
Usually, the district issues a preliminary decision on a permit, allows a 15-day public comment period, then renders a final ruling, he said.
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