Bernson Asks Delay on Landfill Vote

Citing recent reports on health concerns for schools near trash dumps, Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson asked his colleagues Friday to delay approving expansion of Sunshine Canyon Landfill until a health survey of the area is conducted.

In a letter hand-delivered to all council members, Bernson said the state has decided to examine whether two former landfills have caused health problems for Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley and Towne Avenue Elementary School in Carson.

Given concerns on health risks posed by other landfills, Bernson said Browning Ferris Industries, the Sunshine Canyon operator, should be required to complete a health survey of residents living near the landfill that had been requested by a city planner in 1988.

In the meantime, Bernson said, “It would be foolhardy for the City Council to give further consideration to the proposed Sunshine Canyon expansion.”

BFI officials did not return calls.

It was unclear Friday whether Bernson’s latest attempt to delay expansion of the dump would gain sufficient support from his colleagues, who are scheduled to vote Oct. 26 on the expansion.