Lake View Terrace : Lopez Canyon Dump Cited in 2 Violations

Lopez Canyon Landfill was hit with two separate citations after a recent, routine inspection by officials from the city’s Environmental Affairs Department, which enforces environmental regulations at the municipal dump.

During a weekly inspection April 11, officials counted about 15 dirt-laden dump trucks entering the landfill without proper cover for their loads, said Wayne Tsuda, program director for the Environmental Affairs Department. Tsuda also said the inspection revealed higher than permitted levels of gas inside the landfill property.

“These are not serious violations,” Tsuda stressed, noting that the gas readings, which were taken from probes situated about 400 yards from the landfill property boundary, posed no health risks.

Tsuda said the trucks carrying dirt were traveling only 200 feet to the landfill from a nearby recycling plant under construction. Soil excavated from the plant is used as ground cover at the landfill under an agreement between the landfill and the recycling plant developers.

“They were cutting some corners,” Tsuda said. “We expect corrections immediately.” Tsuda said the same inspection revealed “a level of landfill gas in a couple of the probes that was higher than allowed.” If more violations are found, fines may be levied, he said.

Landfill opponents said the citations were added proof that the dump’s closure--scheduled for July--is overdue.

Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), a landfill critic and author of the 1989 law requiring that trucks carrying sand, gravel or dirt be covered, said, “It wasn’t just a violation of the [landfill] permit, they broke a law. . . . It shows this is going to continue to be a poorly run operation until the day it shuts down.”

Katz added that the truck cover law is supposed to carry a $50 fine for violations, but a supervisor at Lopez said no fines were levied.