Landfill on Indian Land Draws Fire : Environment: Agency for Campo Indians says waste management regulations for planned dump are strict. But residents fear their well water could become contaminated.

The Campo Indians will regulate a landfill on their reservation at least as strictly as the state would, the tribe’s independent environmental protection agency told about 75 people who attended a public hearing.

“There is no tribe in this country that has as comprehensive a regulatory package as we have in Campo,” said Michael Connolly, chairman of the Campo Environmental Protection Agency, as he presented highlights of the tribe’s newly minted solid waste management regulations at the meeting Monday night.

Kevin Gover, the tribe’s attorney, said the 149-page document was a patchwork of combined state and federal laws as well as ordinances from the county agencies that govern water and air quality. Under the tribe’s proposed code, Gover said, “no degradation of ground-water quality is allowed.”

But back-country residents said that, when it comes to building a dump in an area that is solely dependent on well water, no regulations are strict enough.

“The ground water is going to be screwed if it goes in, and that’s going to affect everybody--the white man, the Indians and the Mexicans,” said Marvin Sparks, one of several southeast county residents who do not look forward to having a landfill for a neighbor. “You cannot regulate what you cannot see.” In September, the Campo Band of Mission Indians contracted with Mid-American Waste Systems Inc., an Ohio waste management company, to build a landfill and trash recycling plant. Pending an environmental impact statement conducted by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and a construction permit process conducted by the tribe, the landfill is tentatively scheduled to open in mid-1992--accepting about 3,000 tons of trash a day for up to 35 years.

The plan has sparked opposition from those who live around the 15,000-acre reservation. They worry that their wells will be contaminated by the dump, rendering their land worthless. Of primary concern, they say, is the fact that sovereign Indian lands are outside the jurisdiction of most county, state and federal watchdog agencies.

Opponents of the dump turned out in force Monday night, beseeching the Indians not to endanger the water upon which they all rely. Among their fears, they said, is that the landfill’s protective liner could fail, allowing poisons to leach into the water table.

“You’re dealing with the only resource we have,” said Arol Wulf, the co-founder of a commune in the area, who has helped organize a group called Back Country Against the Dump.

“I know you people need money as well as anybody,” said another landfill opponent, referring to the undisclosed amount that the impoverished tribe has been paid in exchange for the site. “And I’d like to see you get it. But not this way.”

“Do any of you gentlemen live near a landfill? Do you have any children?” asked another woman. “I have children, and we’re all scared to death.”

But, throughout the 2 1/2-hour meeting, Gover and tribal members repeatedly reminded the audience that the question is no longer whether to pursue a landfill, but how to pursue it.

“To come and tell us, ‘We don’t want your landfill,’ really isn’t very helpful to us,” Gover said firmly. “We need to know what we can do to make a better landfill.”

Gover said he understands the community’s skepticism about the capabilities of CEPA, a three-member panel made up of Connolly and two other tribal members. But he said time will show that they have approached the process responsibly.

“I don’t think anyone here expects you all just automatically to lay down and say, ‘We know CEPA will take care of us.’ We expect CEPA to earn that,” he said. “But, on the other hand, you have no right to assume that we will not. That is at least as offensive to us as anything would be to you.”

R. Jay Roberts, the vice president for landfill operations at Mid-American Waste Systems, said the company operates 14 landfills in five states. Answering questions from the audience, he said Mid-American has paid fines in the past for infractions.

“I don’t think there’s any site that’s out there that’s perfect,” he said.

That, critics of the landfill said, is exactly what they’re worried about. Some took another tack, wondering about the fiscal health of the waste management company.

“What if something happens in five years, and they pull up and go? What if they go bankrupt?” asked one rancher.

“Then we’re in tough shape,” Gover said. “But it’s a strong company. That’s one of the reasons we’re dealing with them.”