5 More Flares OKd at Lopez Canyon Landfill

The Los Angeles Planning Commission on Tuesday approved construction of five more flares to burn off methane gas emissions at the Lopez Canyon Landfill, bringing the total number of flares at the dump to nine.

In response to community concerns, the commission also asked the city Bureau of Sanitation to report in 30 to 45 days on its progress in constructing an underground pipe to drain excess water that flows off the landfill and onto neighborhood streets during heavy rains.

While agreeing that the flares are necessary, Lake View Terrace and Kagel Canyon residents who live near the city’s only dump asked that the flares be relocated away from earthquake faults beneath the facility.

Delwin A. Biagi, sanitation bureau director, said city engineers had confirmed that faults pass under the landfill, but he said he had been assured that the flare sites were safe.

In an annual review of landfill operations, commissioners commended Biagi and his staff for staying on schedule in meeting conditions of their permit to operate the dump. The permit, granted a year ago, expires Feb. 2, 1996, when the dump is scheduled to be closed.

Asked if he had had any luck in locating a new dump site, Biagi said, “I don’t think we will ever see another landfill in the city.”

He said the sanitation bureau and Los Angeles County officials still hope to open a landfill in Elsmere Canyon near Santa Clarita and are closely watching proposals to haul trash long distance by rail.