State Panel OKs Permit for Sunshine Landfill : Granada Hills: The resumption of trash disposal operations is contingent on the outcome of a lawsuit that seeks to block the project.

Operators of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill above Granada Hills moved a step closer Thursday to resuming trash disposal operations when a state panel unanimously approved a new permit for the dump.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board, meeting in Monterey, voted 5 to 0 to concur with a decision by Los Angeles County to let Browning-Ferris Industries dump up to 6,600 tons of rubbish per day in an undeveloped part of the landfill, which straddles the boundary of the city of Los Angeles and unincorporated county land.

The decision, however, will not immediately allow development to begin, because the approval is contingent on the outcome of a lawsuit that seeks to block the project. A restraining order blocking construction continues in effect in the case.

Still, a Browning-Ferris spokesman said he was “delighted” by the vote. And opponents criticized it, saying the action was premature.

Trash disposal operations were halted last September when a permit for dumping on the city portion of the land expired. City officials have refused to issue a new permit and joined with a neighborhood group, the North Valley Coalition, in filing suit to stop dumping on the county side. County supervisors approved a 215-acre expansion of the landfill last February.

The lawsuit contends that the county’s approval was based on a faulty environmental impact report. Following a lengthy trial, the matter was taken under advisement last month by Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian, who is expected to rule soon.

Rosemary Woodlock, a lawyer for the North Valley Coalition, and Greig Smith, an aide to City Councilman Hal Bernson, urged the waste board to reject the permit. Among other things, they said the matter was not yet properly before the board because Browning-Ferris still needs approval for a haul road to the new dumping area.

They also said Browning-Ferris had not obtained a city zoning variance needed for the road, which would pass through the city portion of the landfill property.

But Pat Macht, director of public affairs for the waste board, said the board was satisfied “that the minimum state standards for this new permit have been met.” She said the board “went the extra mile to get every bit of information that we could get to make a sound decision.”