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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1991 0403 CC REG ITEM 11APAUL W. LAWRASON JR. Mayor BERNARDO M. PEREZ Mayor Pro Tem SCOTT MONTGOMERY Councilmember JOHN E. WOZNIAK Councilmember LILLIAN KELLERMAN City Clerk MOORPARK M E M O R A N D U M ITEM.= STEVEN KUENY City Manager CHERYL J.KANE City Attorney PATRICK RICHARDS. A.I.C.P. Director of Community Development JOHN F. KNIPE City Engineer JOHN V. GILLESPIE Chief of Police RICHARD T. HARE City Treasurer TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Susan Cauldwel sistant to the City manager DATE: March 25, 1991 SUBJECT: Comments on Weldon Canyon Landfill EIR This item was continued from the City Council's March 201 1991 meeting in order to allow the Waste Commission time to review the EIR. This review is scheduled for the morning of April 3. Councilmember Montgomery and staff will attend the Waste Commission meeting and provide a verbal report. Also of note is recent County action to extend for 45 days (until May 24, 1991) the public comment period on the EIR. Mr. Shull Bonsall, owner of the proposed landfill site, stated at the March 20 meeting that he would provide information to the City on the site. To date, the information has not been received. The Bailard Landfill, which is owned and operated by the Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) currently serves the western wasteshed. The landfill receives 1700 tons of refuse per day. The permits to operate Bailard will expire in December 1993, although VRSD has applied for an extension to continue operations until 1996. Waste Management of California is proposing to develop Weldon Canyon into a Class III (nonhazardous) landfill to serve Ventura County's western wasteshed. The 1985 County Solid Waste Management Plan recommended Weldon Canyon as a potential landfill site. The site is approximately 2.5 miles north of the City of Ventura and 5 miles south of the City of Ojai. This landfill, if sited, would become operational in 1993 and most likely serve the Cities of Ojai, Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Camarillo. 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 529 -6864 The Honorable City Council March 25, 1991 Page 2 The EIR appears to adequately address potential impacts of the Weldon Canyon Landfill. In addition to numerous state requirements for siting a landfill, the environmental impact report identifies a large number of mitigation measures for the project including, but not limited to reducing the site by 68 percent; creating a 2000 foot buffer around the site; implementing a gas recovery system; building a soundwall; and limiting use of potable water. Opposition from local environmental groups to the siting of a landfill in Weldon Canyon has already materialized. Disenchantment by the County of Ventura and certain west county cities with VRSDs operation of waste facilities is well known. one possible scenario is that the Bailard Landfill will close in 1993 and thott operation of the Weldon Canyon Landfill will be delayed by court action. ,If this occurs, refuse from the west county will most likely be disposed of at the Simi Valley Landfill, which is also owned by Waste Management. The Simi Valley Landfill is permitted to accept up to 3,000 tons of waste per day. It currently receives about 900 tons per day. Thus, the 1700 tons of waste per day generated in the west county would easily be accommodated at Simi Valley without any changes to the landfill's existing permit. The "no project" alternative acknowledges this scenario and notes that increased truck trips will deteriorate air quality and increase noise along the travel route. Precise information about the number of trips or the amount of air and noise emissions is not presented. It is likely that many, if not all, of the truck trips will pass through Moorpark on their way to Simi Valley. Staff is concerned about the impact to Moorpark if no alternative to Bailard is developed to coincide with its closing. Moorpark would be impacted by increased truck traffic and air and noise emissions. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors indicating the City's concerns about impacts to Moorpark if no disposal site for the west county exists after 1993.