SAN MARCOS : Ministry Renews Fight Over Landfill
A San Marcos ministry renewed its effort to block the expansion of a nearby county landfill Friday, telling a San Diego County Superior Court judge that the latest environmental assessment of the project is faulty.
Michael Hogan, an attorney for Christward Ministries, which operates a 640-acre retreat near the landfill, told Judge Judith McConnell that the county’s “supplemental environmental impact review” is flawed because it does not take into account the impact of trucking in 2 million cubic yards of clay to line and cap the dump.
Hogan also said the new report was not circulated to a wide enough audience and does not address cleanup of existing water-quality problems.
County attorney Mark Mead argued that the supplemental review meets all the obligations of state law.
Christward temporarily halted the expansion through a similar lawsuit last July. Superior Court Judge James Milliken ruled that the county’s initial environmental impact review was deficient and ordered additional assessment.
County officials have obtained virtually all the state and local permits needed to proceed with expansion of the 200-acre dump, North County’s only landfill. The size of the landfill, which is near capacity, would increase by 50%, including a 200-foot rise in height.
McConnell did not indicate when she would rule on Christward’s arguments.
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