OJAI : Hazardous Waste Plan Recommended

The Ojai Planning Commission has recommended that the City Council adopt the county’s hazardous waste management plan, which includes three possible disposal sites in the Ojai Valley.

In making its decision, the Planning Commission said the county plan is not likely to place hazardous waste disposal sites near the city.

In addition, the plan ensures that Ojai would be involved in any decision to use roads in the area to transport hazardous waste.

Each incorporated city in the county has until July 12 to either adopt the county’s hazardous waste document or come up with its own municipal version.

City Planning Director William Prince said it would be more efficient and cost-effective to use the county’s plan than to develop a separate document.

The state Department of Health Services approved the county’s hazardous waste plan on Jan. 8, calling it an exemplary model of what the state law intended in requiring all California counties to develop hazardous waste management plans.

Based on the “cradle to the grave” concept, the county plan identifies all sources of hazardous waste in the county, transportation routes needed in removing the waste and potential treatment and disposal facilities.

In the county plan, no potential sites are inside the city limits, but several possible sites are in the Ojai Valley. One is on the north shore of Lake Casitas, another is along the ridge of Black Mountain southeast of Ojai and a third is along the east side of Sulphur Mountain in the Upper Ojai Valley.

Prince said he thinks that none of the sites would be found suitable for disposal facilities because of environmental constraints and traffic limitations.

He said the plan also requires the city to be involved in any discussion to designate roads in the Ojai area as part of any future transportation network for hauling hazardous waste.