On June 11th, 2015, SCOPE (Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment) joined with Citizens for Chiquita Canyon Compliance, a Val Verde group and local residents to file a civil rights complaint against the county of Los Angeles, complaining that the majority Spanish-speaking community of Val Verde was suffering from discrimination by the County’s failure to notify of them of the massive proposed expansion of Chiquita Canyon Landfill just over the ridge from their homes.

In 1997, the community made a settlement agreement with the landfill operator that called for closure of the landfill when it reached its then approved tonnage of 23 million tons. It has now reached that tonnage. Val Verde residents agreed to suffer from this unwanted neighbor another 20 years with the assurance that it would be closed. Now the County and the Operator are not keeping their promise and were not even notifying the community in their native language of what was being proposed.

SCOPE and the other complainants were pleased to learn earlier that week, that the at least some of the issues have been addressed.

1. All notices will be in both English and Spanish, as well as the executive summary.

2. Signs will be posted in both English and Spanish

3. The full regional planning commission will hold a hearing in the community.

4. Spanish translation at the hearing will be available if requested in advance.

In addition to other items as noted in the attached letter.

We are grateful to the State for ensuring that the community of Val Verde that will be most affected by this unwanted project, will have the opportunity to be fully informed in their own language.

Lynne Plambeck is president of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment. Her opinions are her own.

[Here is the link] for more information about the recent Planning Commission agenda and video.

Below is a copy of the response from the California Environmental Protection Agency: