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Studies Back Monterey County, Calif., Landfill

Posted on: Monday, 25 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 23--Two studies released this week cleared several potential obstacles in possible plans to build a new landfill in Southern Monterey County.

Officials from the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority are trying to find space to dump Salinas Valley garbage for the next 70 years. The creation of a new landfill in Long Valley or an area east of San Lucas along Highway 198 are among the scenarios.

The area is sparsely populated, but its residents are furiously challenging the proposals.

Salinas Valley waste officials say their plans are only preliminary.

But one of the studies released this week indicates no "fatal flaws" with the area for use as a landfill.

Linda English, clerk of the Salinas Valley waste management board, said the analysis was the first of two studies of the area. The phase-one analysis found there are no land use, archaeological or habitat limits on the property.

The second phase, which will begin soon, will analyze traffic, costs and the stability of the grounds beneath Long Valley.

A second study released this week by the Salinas Valley agency indicates that an alternative plan to send trash to the Marina landfill is even more expensive than opening and operating a new one.

Opponents of the Long Valley proposal have urged the Salinas agency to simply send future garbage to the Marina dump.

The Marina landfill has about 100 years of capacity and Monterey regional officials say they are willing to accept trash from outside its jurisdiction. Monterey regional and Salinas Valley officials have met several times to discuss the issue.

But the economic analysis released this week indicates that the Marina landfill's fees would have to be reduced significantly so that it would "not burden Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority residents with additional costs."

"In general, all scenarios using the Marina landfill for disposal are significantly higher in costs" than scenarios in which Marina is not among the alternatives.

"Our district has an abundance of capacity and we are interested in offering some of it to Salinas Valley Solid Waste," said William Merry, manager of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District. "We have a community asset and the district board is considering what would be the most appropriate ... fee."

Merry said his agency has also been talking to officials from Santa Cruz County, which is also seeking new landfill space.

English said the economic analysis does not necessarily exclude Marina as an alternative, especially if better fees are negotiated. She also said the Salinas Valley agency continues to investigate alternatives to landfills, including new "waste-to-energy" technology and composting.

A representative of the Save Long Valley Committee, the primary group opposed to the Salinas Valley landfill effort, said he believes both studies were flawed.

"It sounds like they've almost got their minds made up," said Tim Hearne, who lives near the Long Valley sites being considered for a new landfill.

He said the economic analysis did not factor in the cost of building a new landfill and used old figures to determine the amount of trash that will be accumulated during the coming years.

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To see more of the Monterey County Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.montereyherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2005, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Monterey County Herald (Monterey, Calif.)

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