Azusa : Council Alters Landfill Vote

The City Council, after nearly an hour of fiery debate on Monday, reversed its March decision to oppose the expansion of the Azusa Land Reclamation Co.’s landfill. The reversal was suggested by Councilwoman Jennie Avila, who was absent when the earlier vote was taken.

A local water protection agency, the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, has an appeal pending with the state over a regional water board’s approval of the 26.5-acre expansion plan. Although the dump has not been identified as the cause of water pollution, the watermaster fears the effects a possible leak could have on the area’s already tainted ground water.

Two weeks ago, on a 3-1 vote, the council opted to oppose the expansion and join the watermaster in the appeal in hopes of influencing the state water board. Late last year, the Regional Water Quality Control Board approved the company’s expansion plan, which includes a dual liner to contain leachate from decomposing wastes.

The original vote, suggested by Mayor Eugene F. Moses, was supported by Councilmen Bruce Latta and Harry L. Stemrich, who complained afterward that they were politically “railroaded” into supporting Moses’ position. Councilman Tony D. Naranjo, concerned about a dramatic rise in disposal rates if the near-capacity dump closed as projected within two years, argued against joining the appeal.

On Monday, Stemrich and Latta joined Avila and Naranjo in deciding that Azusa should not intervene, pending conclusive results from water officials that the dump has contributed to water pollution.