Hahn Calls for Meeting on Landfill

Los Angeles City Atty. James Hahn on Friday asked the city’s Planning Director to hold a meeting to review recent violations at Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

The dump currently operates only on county property, although it plans to expand onto city land in Granada Hills.

It is Hahn’s second recent action on Sunshine Canyon. Last month, Hahn, who is running for mayor, called for a new working group of environmental regulatory agencies.

Hahn, a member of a city technical committee that oversees the Sunshine Canyon dump, said it was time for the committee to meet.

In his letter to Planning Director Con Howe, Hahn said a meeting was needed “to investigate alleged violations in connection with the operation of the Landfill.’

But Howe said that because the landfill operator, Browning Ferris Industries Inc., has been unable to move forward on its expansion, and has no technical plans that need review, the committee did not need to meet.

However, Howe added Friday, “If a committee member wants to have a meeting, we’ll have a meeting.”

Air quality officials recently cited BFI for methane gas leaks at the Sunshine Canyon landfill that exceeded state standards. Late last month, regulatory officials said BFI had corrected most of the problems and were completing work on the remaining violations.