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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02141995 - PC3 PC1 through PC3 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DATE: February 14, 1995 MATTER OF RECORD ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Public Comments PC1 Bonnie Wolfe expressed appreciation to the Board for approving the Merrithew Memorial Hospital Replacement Project on February 7, 1995. PC2 John A. Nejedly provided the Board with copies of the report on a Study of the Effects of the Proposed Federal San Luis Interceptor Drain and the State San Joaquin Valley Master Drain (October 1964) , and the Bay-Delta Decision; he suggested that these issues be referred to the Water Committee. PC3 Presented by Supervisor Torlakson on behalf of Frank Aiello a letter dated February 14, 1995, from Citizens United on the importation, hauling, stockpiling and use of contaminated soils for cover material. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION WAS TAKEN cc: Health Services Director Community Development Director Citizens United 2232 Concord Dr Pittsburg, CA 94565 (510)458-4419 Citizens dedicated to the environment and dealing with environmental health issues Contra Costa County February 14, 1995 Board of Supervisors 651 Pine St. Martinez, CA 94553 RE: HAULING, STOCKPILING AND USE OF CONTAMINATED SOILS AS COVER MATERIAL AT THE KELLER CANYON LANDFILL. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and Honorable Chair Dear Honorable Madam Chair Bishop: Citizens United on behalf of all Contra Costa Citizens taxpayers are requesting that the Board seek an immediate review of the proposal submitted by the operators of the Keller Canyon Landfill for the importation, hauling, stockpiling and daily use of contaminated soils for cover material. The proposal by the operators of the Keller Landfill proposes to use their present permits .in what we believe is an illegal attempt to circumvent the California Environmental Quality Act. It is an attempt to import up to 2200 tons per day of contaminated soils into the Keller Canyon Landfill. The importation and use of these soils carries health risks of a nature which can not be permitted. The soils can be contaminated with hazardous volatiles including PCBs and Dioxins, both of which are toxins known to cause birth defects and other serious health problems. The site which is the subject of pending legal action by residents living downwind of the Keller Landfill is not suitable for the use of these soils as cover material as filmed evidence has shown the facility cannot contain fugitive dust and garbage because of the extreme wind conditions specific to this site. The Board of Supervisors and Contra Costa County are the lead agencies and are given the duty under the laws of our State to carry out the required environmental review as required under CEQA. The Community Development Department of Contra Costa County has stated for the record that no additional environmental review is required for this proposal to proceed. The facts of the proposal which is detailed in a December 6, 1994 letter to the Health Services Department clearly stipulates the significant changes in operations of the Keller Canyon Landfill the proposed activities will bring about. None of which were brought out or investigated in the environmental review process for the Keller Canyon Landfill. The activities described in the proposal are not addressed in the RSDI, the Waste Discharge Requirements(WDRs) issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, nor the health risk assessments and analysis to meet cancer related concerns, odor concerns, and other air quality concerns tied to the stockpiling of these materials as required by the BAAQMD. The additional risk of fire and explosion has never been addressed by the Riverview Fire District. No traffic assessment or study has been performed to address all points of origin of where this material is coming from and the envionmental effects of this cumulitive traffic on roads, schools, parks, rivers,.and streams and the ozone layer. The facts of this proposal clearly require additional environmental assessment and review under the California Environmental Quality Act. The failure to perform the required studies will put the County in the untenable position of facing litigation and the expenditure of taxpayer funds that would not be required if the applicants were required to perform and fund the_proper environmental assessment. Additionally no fiscal impact statement has been supplied to the public and Contra Costa taxpayers as required under County Ordinances. This fiscal analysis by these same ordinances are to be provided by the Administrator or the Director of the Growth Management and Economic Development Agency. The importation of the 2200 or more tons per day of contaminated soil will take place per the proposal without the paying of franchise fees, or community and traffic related mitigation fees by the landfill operators as is presently the case. The change in the collection of these fees and funds will seriously change the financial outlook.for Contra Costa County and the impacted communities. The funding of solid waste programs for Contra Costa Citizens will no doubt be severely impacted by this massive change in the Keller Canyon operations. The change will not benefit and in fact will harm the taxpayers of Contra Costa County. Citizens United respectfully suggest that the Board place this proposal on the agenda for full and open public debate and that the Board do its duty under the law and request the applicants perform full envirommnetal and health risk assessments before moving forward on the proposal. Sincerely, Frank R. Aiello, Chair. cc: Charles Zahn, Community Development Department Vic Westman, County Counsel r Date: REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (Two [2] Minute Limit) Complete t is form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. n Name: t 1 Phone: 6 Address: City: I am speaking for: ❑ Mys/tem Organization: < (it, i�W AME OF O A ZATION CHECK NE: wish to speak on AgenMy comments will be: al ❑ For ❑ Against ❑ I wish to speak on the subject of: ❑ I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider: