Council Opposes Easing Landfill Rules
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling for state water regulators to reject a request by Browning-Ferris Industries to remove two provisions from its permit to expand Sunshine Canyon Landfill into Granada Hills.
The resolution was introduced by Councilman Greig Smith, who represents that area, and was forwarded to Mayor James K. Hahn’s office.
The two provisions were included in a permit approved by a regional water board Dec. 4.
One provision requires the landfill operator to install two 60-millimeter polyethylene sheets and two 2-foot layers of clay to prevent contaminants from seeping into groundwater.
Federal environmental law requires landfills to include one 60-millimeter polyethylene sheet and one 2-foot layer of clay. BFI officials said the double liner exceeds federal regulations and would add $15 million to the cost of the project.
The second clause would allow water regulators to review, amend or revoke the permit if there is substantial evidence that the expansion -- from unincorporated county territory -- poses a health risk to residents.
In a letter last week, Hahn urged the California State Water Resources Control Board to uphold the more stringent provisions of BFI’s permit.
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