Permitting a Landfill in an Urban County-The Sunshine Canyon Landfill

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Sunshine County Landfill is a key part of Los Angeles County’s Solid Waste Management Plan. The Landfill straddles two large jurisdictions, each with its own land use rights and permit conditions, and it is near residential communities. Extending the landfill’s remaining space is vital to protect public health and safety and keep the County’s long-term disposal rates stable. The permit process, however, involves overcoming some unique and significant changes. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works worked on the Conditional Use Permit with other County department. The goal was to clear up ambiguous language in the original permit, increase the protection for the community, and to encourage full use of the landfill. The County conducted about 200 community meetings and six hearings to negotiate the CUP conditions while Public Works reviewed volumes of environmental, technical, and financial documents. When the CUP was approved in 2007, it offered more protection for the surrounding communities and the environment, addressed traffic congestion, imposed a 30-year closure date, and expanded County disposal services. An equally important benefit will bring in fees of about $355 million over the life of the landfill. The fees will support quality of life improvement projects in surrounding communities and County environmental programs.