SCAQMD will host a Town Hall Meeting to discuss air quality and odor issues related to Sunshine Canyon Landfill.
Thursday, August 18
6 p.m.
Van Gogh Elementary School, Auditorium
17160 Van Gogh Street
Granada Hills, CA 91344
The next Sunshine Canyon Landfill Local Enforcement Agency Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 2:30 pm in # 201 (2nd Floor), University of West LA Law School, 9201 Oakdale Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
AGENDA: https://scl-cac.org/wp-content/uploads/docs/SCL-LEA_2016-06-21.pdf
The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will host a follow-up meeting regarding concerns expressed by community members at the town hall meeting held on April 21 on air quality and odor issues related to Sunshine Canyon Landfill located in Sylmar. We invite you to attend this meeting to hear from SCAQMD about updated activities at Sunshine Canyon Landfill and to provide us with your comments and input.
The SCAQMD is the government agency responsible for protecting your health from the impacts of air pollution. We believe that everyone should have equal protection. Please join us for this meeting.
For more information, please call Derrick J. Alatorre, SCAQMD Public Advisor at (909) 396-2432 or by email at publicadvisor@aqmd.gov.
SCAQMD NOTICE OF SUNSHINE CANYON LANDFILL GAS COLLECTION SYSTEM TESTING
As the following notice indicates, if you experience odor issues during this period, you should report them.
It is important that you do not assume that all odor issues between June 23 and July 3, 2014 are caused by this testing. Indeed, 500+ trucks arrive daily to deposit 7,500 – 8,000 tons per day of stinking trash, adding over 2,000,000 tons per year to the landfill, in an on-going odor problem which has not be resolved by the City, County or State since 2008.
The SCAQMD and its hotline 1-800-CUT-SMOG (1-800-288-7664) is the official agency for recording these odor complaints, and for issuing Notices of Violations (NOV). As always, it will be up to the SCAQMD Inspectors to determine if the odors that you report are from the daily operations, the outgassing of odor laden methane from previously deposited trash, or from the testing itself.
As you are aware, members of the community filed a class action lawsuit against Sunshine Canyon Landfill. The AQMD is not a party to the lawsuit, however the Landfill’s counsel subpoenaed the contact information of individuals who have filed complaints with the District. The District fought the production of that information, except for the complainants who are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, who in theory have already disclosed their identity.
The superior court judge did not agree with the District’s arguments and ordered production of the complainant identifying information to be provided to a third party to send out an “opt-out” notice, where if the individual does not “opt-out”, the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ counsel will receive their contact information limited to use in the lawsuit.
The District filed a writ before the court of appeals to challenge the trial court’s decision, which we just found out was denied. I wanted to personally alert you to the possibility that members of the community who have complained to the District, may be receiving “opt-out” notices which requires them to affirmatively notify the third party mailer that they do not want their identifying contact information released.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have any questions or require additional information. I don’t anticipate any notices being sent until next month at the earliest.
Thank you,
Nicholas A. Sanchez/Senior Deputy District Counsel
South Coast Air Quality Management District
phone/909.396.3400
fax/909.396.2961
SUNSHINE CANYON LANDFILL – COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CITY & COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Thursday, March 6, 2014
3:00 p.m. until 5:00* p.m.
Knollwood Country Club
12024 Balboa Boulevard, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Maria Armoudian, Ken Ashford, Becky Bendikson (Chair), Jeanette Capaldi, Gale Gundersen,
Wayde Hunter (Vice Chair & TAC Representative), Josh Jordahl (Treasurer & TAC Alt.), Joe Vitti
A. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Approval of January 9, 2014 Minutes.
B. Old Business. Discussion and possible action:
C. New Business. Discussion and possible Board motions & action to address the following:
1. Browning-Ferris Industries/Republic Services Inc (BFI/Republic) report on Sunshine Canyon
Landfill (SCL) activities and operations (20 mins).
2. South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) report on SCL odor complaints received including charts of year-to-date including, any other matters within their purview Board motion: To request SCAQMD open proceedings for a new Order of Abatement (20 mins).
3. Sunshine Canyon Landfill-Local Enforcement Agency (SCL-LEA) to report on SCL inspections carried out, and other matters within their purview (15 mins).
4. City & County Planning Departments to report on SCL matters within their purview (5 mins each).
5. Other persons representing the City, County or State who wish to report any additional information or subject matter relating to SCL that is within their purview that has not been agendized for this meeting. If necessary, discussion and action will be agendized for another meeting (5 mins).
D. Public comment on items Not on the Agenda.
*Note: Speakers cards will be available at the meeting. Each person wishing to address the Committee is asked to complete the form and submit it to the Vice Chair at the beginning of the meeting. Speakers will be given three minutes each, time permitting. Time may also be reduced if there are additional uncarded speakers wishing to speak at that time (maximum 10 mins).
E. Set next meeting date (May 1, 2014), & adjourn at 5:00 p.m. (followed by a 5 min. break).
F. Special Overtime Discussion of Budget, Banking & Financial Matters (5:05 p.m – 5:35 p.m).
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Meeting handout materials are provided to the public at the meeting, and any underlined written reports or documents referenced above can be accessed online by title at one of the following websites:
https://scl-cac.org then click on the About Us on the top of the home page. Next click on the Documents tab, and then on the related document. Alternatively, select Departments on the top of the home page, then click on the appropriate Agency tab, and then on the related document.
https://scllea.org then click on the Special Projects link on the left side of the home page. Next click on the appropriate document in a list of documents presented at the bottom of the page.
If you require special accommodations, please contact Maria Masis at the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning at (213) 974-6435 or via e-mail atmmasis@planning.lacounty.gov with at least three business days notice.
For further information contact Becky Bendikson at 16911 San Fernando Mission Blvd,
Box 412, Granada Hills CA 91344 or call Wayde Hunter at (818) 363-3597
From ABClocal.com, Miriam Hernandez
GRANADA HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A lawsuit over the stench from a landfill near Granada Hills was filed by residents living near the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. They say their many complaints have not solved the problem.
“We have been here since 1978. It’s a constant problem,” said local resident R.K. Chetty.
“It smells like Continue reading
From dailynews.comPosted: 12/19/2012 11:14:59 PM PST
A group of Granada Hills neighbors has filed a lawsuit against Sunshine Canyon Landfill, accusing the operator of allowing noxious trash odors to stink up the community.
Landfill neighbors say an unbearable stench of decomposing trash and gas fumes is coming from the trash site, which takes in more than 9,000 tons of garbage a day.
Residents are forced to keep their windows shut and forgo use of their lawns, according to the complaint, which was filed last week. They say they’re unable to entertain because of embarrassment over the odor, and the smell has caused their home values to plummet.
The lawsuit, which seeks damages, states the community is being exposed “to pollutants, horrific odors, and air contaminants.”
The legal action comes after residents had already filed thousands of complaints with the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Continue reading