Easy Way Out for Trash
About the article in the Metro section Jan. 28, “Foes of Elsmere Cite Peril to Wild Animals”:
The whole concept of siting a “mega-dump” in Elsmere Canyon is ridiculous. This canyon is, in places, a lush riparian habitat. That means that there is naturally occurring water, oak and other trees, and, of course, endangered species. Not all canyons in Southern California are blessed with the biotic diversity that Elsmere Canyon can support.
There are other places in Southern California that have more sparse, and more common, ecosystems. Why were they not chosen? Why did “the powers that be” choose Elsmere Canyon--a place that is largely owned by the National Forest Service?
It has a couple of advantages. The first is that Elsmere is close to where garbage comes from--the city of Los Angeles--without being in the city. The second big advantage is that Elsmere is freeway-close. There is even a convenient underpass already constructed that can be used for the garbage trucks, which are expected to average more than a truck per minute.
How very sensitive of BKK Inc. and Los Angeles County to spare the city of Los Angeles that disruption. But it is less than sensitive to the environment.
Los Angeles County needs to look harder for an appropriate place to dump its unnecessarily huge amounts of trash.
PAT SALETORE, Santa Clarita
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