SUNSHINE CANYON : Panel Criticizes Study on Landfill

Members of an advisory panel Monday sharply attacked an environmental study on the planned expansion of the Los Angeles County portion of the Sunshine Canyon landfill and served notice that they will ask the Board of Supervisors to strengthen measures to offset the dump’s harmful effects.

The county’s Significant Ecological Areas Technical Advisory Committee is reviewing the environmental impact report on expansion of the dump above Granada Hills, which would result in the destruction of thousands of oak trees. County supervisors approved the expansion in February, 1991, but a judge ruled two months ago that officials erred in not first submitting the project’s environmental report to the committee, a panel of biologists who advise the county on the effects of development on wildlife habitat.

Among other things, committee members said, the environmental report failed to provide for monitoring of the project’s effects on 23 species of animals and birds that are candidates for being listed as threatened or endangered. They said the report also contained inadequate guarantees that the landfill operator, Browning Ferris Industries, will follow through with plans to preserve neighboring East Canyon.

The committee is expected to make written recommendations to the supervisors next month. They are considered likely to approve the project again, but may require Browning Ferris to do more to mitigate the impacts of the dump.