City Offers Compromise on Lopez Canyon Fines
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday offered to fund a $150,000 household hazardous waste cleanup program in lieu of paying hefty civil fines for air pollution violations at the city-owned Lopez Canyon Landfill in Lake View Terrace.
Councilman Ernani Bernardi and Deputy City Atty. Chris Westhoff predicted that the South Coast Air Quality Management District will accept the offer and drop numerous air pollution citations it issued against the landfill.
The settlement follows lengthly negotiations between the city and AQMD, which could have sought fines up to $700,000 for 28 violations, Westhoff said.
During the past two years, AQMD has repeatedly cited the city for allowing excessive emissions of methane gas.
Bernardi, who represents the area and has been an outspoken critic of the landfill, endorsed the settlement offer as “a big improvement.”
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