While most people will be running around trying to buy gifts for family and friends there will be a low publicized meeting to be held in West Ranch. It will be the hearing for expanding Chiquita Canyon Landfill to double their intake from 6,000 to 12,000 tons. It will violate a contract they made years ago with Val Verde residents to close at 23 million tons. That tonnage has come and gone, but the money paid to the county by Chiquita Canyon seems to be the driving force. The Draft Environmental Impact Report can be read on line at http://planning.lacounty.gov/assets/upl/case/project_r2004-00559_partially-rdeir.pdf

In it you will find that the green house gases released from the project will be significant. The impact for air quality will also be greatly affected, and according to the EIR, will be significant. The exhaust from the doubling of trucks idling while they wait for entry to CCL will also be significant. Particular matter of 2.5 and 10 will also be significant. Trucks do not turn off as they wait, they are just moved forward a foot and a new idling time can start. The county has just spent a huge amount of money for the overpass extension on the 126 highway to the landfill. It will not be big enough since the EIR states that there are plans to increase the 126 to an eight-lane highway to accommodate the expected increase in trash. Santa Clarita did not pass air quality standards 1/6 of the year in 2014 and that is with the landfill taking in a capacity of 6,000 tons a day, on the books. I say on the books because it is legal to take beyond the books if it is certain kinds of material, according from an email reply that I received from zoning.

On a side note, the only station that measures air quality for the entire Santa Clarita Valley is at the opposite side of the valley from where the landfill is located. I can only imagine what the real numbers would be if there were actually air monitors that included the entire valley.

“What are the Health Effects of Air Pollution? According to the California Air Resources Board the annual health impacts of exceeding state health-based standards for ozone and particulate matter include: ♣ 6,500 premature deaths ♣ 4,000 hospital admissions for respiratory disease ♣ 3,000 hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease ♣ 350,000 asthma attacks ♣ 2,000 asthma-related emergency room visits ♣ Elevated school absences due to respiratory conditions, including asthma ♣ Reduced lung function growth rate in children Sensitive groups, including seniors, people with heart or lung disease, children and infants are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Low-income communities and communities of color are also especially vulnerable to pollution-related health impacts due to the multiple pollution sources located in these communities and their often limited access to health care.”

http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/Info/Regs/Documents/alac_impacts_fs.pdf

You will find that the cancer rate for nearby communities will exceed the South Coast Air Quality highest level on their chart. Val Verde residents have been notified of the hearing by mail, but they are the only community to be notified. The cancer rate according to the Draft EIR will also increase the communities of Live Oaks and Travel Village. Live Oaks has two schools that will be in that cancer increase rate. You would think that the communities that will have to endure increased health risk would have been notified by law. You would be wrong, according to Richard Claghorn, “The county is not required to inform anyone further than 500 feet, but they extended to 1,000 feet.” Later when residents complain then the County, along with the Landfill will be able to say, “You should have voiced your concerns at the EIR meeting.” Of course, like many things, the county has been able to push through it has been quietly done, without the community being properly informed.

Val Verde residents have appeared at the Santa Clarita City Council begging them to take a stand against the landfill. A few of them have taken funds from the landfill for the election or re-election bids, so the begging fell on deaf ears. The replies were, “It is out of our jurisdiction and we can do nothing about it,” or “We have written a strongly worded letter.” The air quality impact that is significant now and will be even more so, that will blow in from CCL will be is in their jurisdiction. According to the air wheels provided on the EIR, the air flows from the landfill Santa Clarita, Castaic, Valencia, and Canyon Country for a good portion of the day. The second reply of, “We have written a strongly worded letter,” is an interesting one. The letter basically says, if you keep taking in these toxic materials, you will need to fork over money to Santa Clarita.

It is the duty of the Council to protect the health of their citizens, not the money. If you want your voice heard, the hearing will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2016 from 6-8:30 p.m. 
West Ranch High School Theater. Please feel free and stand up for your right to cleaner air.

Steve Lee is an asthmatic resident of Val Verde