Plan for Hazardous Waste Incinerator Dealt Setback
A plan to build a hazardous waste incinerator in Vernon suffered a significant setback this week when a state Court of Appeal ruled that air-quality officials may require new environmental studies before issuing permits for the burner.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal reversed Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kurt J. Lewin, who ordered the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue permits to California Thermal Treatment Services Inc. of Garden Grove. AQMD officials said the ruling would stall the project for a least a year.
The $29-million incinerator, the first of its type planned for a major metropolitan area, would burn about 22,500 tons of hazardous material a year, including solvents, oils and infectious debris from hospitals.
The incinerator would emit minute amounts of dioxins and furans, which are known cancer-causing agents.
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