West County Issue / Bailard Landfill...

Wayne A. Bruce, General manager , Ventura Regional Sanitation District

There is no question in my mind that the general public is going to need the landfill capacity. We don’t believe there is any health hazard associated with it. We have conducted risk analysis on the gas emissions and monitored a ground well, as continuing extensive environmental monitoring of the site. We would not be proposing an extension unless all health risks were reduced to the bare minimum. It will take between two and three years to complete the existing permitted filling of the landfill, so all we’re asking for is to extend an arbitrary time limit and the existing permits so that we can properly close it, which is what is necessary to protect the environment. If it is done improperly, there might be some potential health hazard and long-term risk. There will be no expansion of the landfill either laterally or vertically from that which was already permitted. We need the time extension to get sufficient elevation to properly drain the site and to put what is referred to as a clay cap over the landfill to keep water from infiltrating into it and to keep gas from migrating out.

Manuel M. Lopez, Oxnard councilman

No, I don’t believe so. I believe that the Bailard Landfill should be extended only on an emergency basis. There is a very good possibility that the Weldon Canyon landfill site will be ready in time so we can utilize it. If you’re going to support the Regional Sanitation District proposal, which would not use the Weldon Canyon site but calls for a public landfill, I know from experience that it takes a lot longer than two years to create a new landfill. It takes more like six or seven years. So if you follow the Regional Sanitation District proposal, we will be faced with anywhere from seven to 10 more years continued use of the Bailard Landfill. As a resident of Oxnard, that is unacceptable to me. I don’t know whether it is a health hazard, but it’s a psychological hazard. I don’t know of a single community that wants a landfill, including Ojai. The city of Oxnard has had one here for 30 years. We have been a very good host for the trash of the rest of the county. I think it is somebody else’s turn to take over now. I think we’ve done our share.

John K. Flynn, Ventura County supervisor

Bailard Landfill is an environmental disaster area waiting to happen. It should be closed up properly, according to good health standards. I’m very concerned about the impact the leachate could have on our fresh-water supply and on our aquifer. The ground water in the semi-parched zone above the Oxnard aquifer is now contaminated with various toxics. One in particular, vinyl chloride, is above state health standards. There are lots of abandoned water wells. That provides an opportunity for leachate to go down into the fresh-water supply. I’m also concerned about the declining water table. The plume presently goes in a westerly direction, and with the declining water table that plume could change directions and go toward El Rio. We risk contaminating our fresh-water supply if that happens. The other point is that at one time the landfill could be considered in a rural area. Today Oxnard is right on the landfill. I think Oxnard has taken the garbage from all over the western part of the county for long enough--at least 50 years.

Susan K. Lacey, Ventura County supervisor

There is presently an environmental impact report that is in the process of being prepared, and I could not comment on the question until we see the results on it. The last time an EIR was completed on Bailard, the results were yes, it should be closed ultimately, but keeping it open a little longer would not be damaging. I think when you start talking about landfills-- something this important to the health and safety of an entire community--all the evidence needs to be there before you can have an opinion. My opinion on the Weldon Canyon site is exactly the same. I am presently going through the EIR on Weldon and have authored a letter asking for more information. I’ve heard from some constituents on the issue. Generalizations can be made depending on distance from the dump. The folks who live very close to the area are, and should be, concerned. Who we haven’t heard enough from are the people in western Ventura County who would have no place to put their trash. We have to keep looking for possible sites. You cannot just select one site and expect everything to fall into place.

Dorothy S. Maron, Oxnard councilwoman

Yes, I think they should absolutely extend the landfill. It is only that the Ventura Regional Sanitation District is looking for a new landfill. Even if Weldon Canyon is available it doesn’t mean we’re going to have a new landfill by 1993. The county cannot be without a landfill. Even if Weldon comes on line, it may not come on line on time. One of the reasons is that there will be lawsuits pending, and because of this and other reasons it is unlikely that a new landfill will be permitted at that time. Because of this, Bailard should remain open. As far as health hazards, I believe there are none. It is monitored carefully on a regular basis and it is the model landfill site in California. I don’t take this position lightly. I have visited many landfills, and I have read every document that is available. We all in the city of Oxnard are drinking the same water, of which only one-third comes from the Oxnard aquifer, which is under 100 feet of clay. So the health hazards that have been spoken about have been thrown into the dialogue to be disconcerting.