02-02-1993 - Puente Hills Landfill. • City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: City Manager and City Council AGENDA
FROM: Michael L. Miller F-2
Environmental Services Director ITEM NO.
SUBJECT: PUENTE HILLS LANDFILL DATE 2-2-93
Summary: This is a report on the draft Environmental Impact Report
for the Puente Hills Waste Management Facilities proposed
by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County.
In mid-1992, a draft Environmental Impact report (DEIR) was issued.
for public comment on the proposed Puente Hills Waste Management
Facilities. The official public comment period has closed. This
report was agendized for City Council review and consideration.
This is a City Council policy matter. Staff makes no
recommendation.
HISTORY
In mid 1992 a draft EIR was issued on the proposed Puente Hills
Waste Management Facilities. The project description for this EIR
contains the following:
1. Continued operation at the Puente Hills Landfill at the
current rate of disposal. This is set at a maximum of 13,200
tons per day and no more than 72,000 tons per week.
2. Expand the area devoted to waste disposal on -site to encompass
an additional 130 acres for a total of 660 acres.
3. The proposal would extend the life of the landfill by 20 years
to 2113.
4. Construction and operation of a materials recovery facility
and rail loading facility that is sized to handle up to 4,400
tons per day of commercial waste for the purpose of recovering
a minimum of 15 percent recyclable material.
A more extensive discussion of the project and a summary of its
potential impacts is attached in the Executive Summary for the
DEIR. This report also sets forth the mitigation measures that
could be applied to the project to reduce environmental impacts to
less than a significant level. Finally., if there are any
unavoidable significant impacts, these are also listed.
Staff has obtained a copy of Responses to Comments on the DEIR.
Over 200 letters and many hours of testimony and many comments were
received during the public review period and hearings. The
responses have been organized by the Sanitation Districts by topics
to facilitate responses. This report should give the City Council
a sense as to the type of concerns and opposition that exist toward
the project. It should also give the position of the Sanitation
Districts in response to those concerns and opposition.
Staff has had some input from people familiar with the positions of
the opposition to the.project. Their technical concerns were
submitted in their letters to which the Sanitation Districts
responded. The general opposition relates to the moving of the
disposal area to within 1,000 feet of homes and the request to have
this landfill operation continue for 20 years from 1993. The
landfill is secheduled to have its land use permit expire November,
1993.
•
E
PROCESS
It is staff's understanding
adequate by the Sanitation
regulations of the Californi
appeal period is now runnin
file a court action claiming
or otherwise procedurally
regulations If there is no
forward.
The matter would.then be sch
Los Angeles County Regional
will act on the Sanitation Di
the Landfill's conditional u
1993. Any Commission actic
County Board of Supervisors.
will render a decision in la
-2-
iat the EIR has been certified as
istricts according to the laws and
Environmental Quality Act. A 60-day
during which interested parties may
he EIR is not in compliance with CEQA
eficient under the CEQA laws and
ourt action, the process will move
duled for public hearings before the
lanning Commission. The Commission
atricts request to extend the life of
e permit for 20 years from November,
i is appealable to the Los Angeles
It is expected that the Commission
ter 1993 or early 1994.
In addition to the County's use permit, a revised solid waste
facilities permit needs to be considered by the Local Enforcement
Agency. In this case this the Los Angeles County Department of
Health Services. The revised permit needs concurrence from the
California Integrated Waste Management Board. It is expected this
revised permit would be issued in late 1994 or early 1995.
Although the comment period on the DEIR has been closed, the City
Council does have the opportunity to express any position before
other agencies. This matter iwas agendized so as not to preclude
any option the City Council may want to exercise
PAST POLICY
It has been the policy of past West Covina City Councils to only
take a position on projects that directly affect the City of West
Covina. The best example of that previous policy was the Irwindale
Waste to Energy Facility. The City'was potentially impacted by the
air emissions from the facility. Thus, the City Council took a
position to oppose the facility.
The past policy reasoning had been expressed by the past City
Councils at public meetings. It can be summarized as,"If we don't
want other cities to tell us what to do with BKK, then take no
formal position on projects that do not directly affect the City.
This past City Council policy is subject to change by any
subsequent City Council. The, reference to the past policy is only
to provide the City Council with full information on the history of
this policy matter. Because this is a City council -policy matter,
staff is making no recommendation.
OPTIONS
The City Council has the following options:
1. No formal -expression of a position, for or against, the
project. This approach would be implemented by receiving and
filing this report. `
2. Express a formal position, for or against, the project. This
would be enacted by a motion to oppose or support.
j
3.. Express publicly any concerns) on either side- of the matter,
but do not act to formally enter a City position, for or
against the project. This would be implemented by a motion of
no action.
J
-3-
RECOMMENDATION
This is a City Council policy matter, thus there is no staff
recommendation.
Michael L. Miller
Environmental Services Director
MLM:vs ,
Attachments