Landfill’s Deal With State Angers Water Agencies
Changes negotiated privately with state officials could allow the operator of an Azusa landfill to reclaim the $20.5 million it pledged to clean up San Gabriel Valley water pollution, officials of three water agencies charged Wednesday.
The officials are angery about an agreement made final last month by the State Water Resources Control Board, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Board and Browning-Ferris Industries, whose subsidiary, the Azusa Land Reclamation Co., owns the Azusa landfill.
Company and state officials deny any impropriety and say BFI only promised the $20.5 million with the expectation that it would be able to recoup the money from polluters.
The escrow agreement means that the landfill company, not the state, can get back some or all of the $20.5 million if BFI can track down anyone responsible for the pollution.
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