Topics / ENVIRONMENT : Landfill Firm’s Expansion Plans Draw Criticism
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As the city of West Covina attempts to close BKK Landfill, the company has announced plans to put trash on 24 more acres of its site, drawing criticism from city officials and neighboring residents.
The 24 acres, now empty, lie to the north of the main 170-acre landfill site. Although that land is within BKK’s boundaries, the plan must be approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
The decision to open more acres comes in the midst of a lawsuit by the city demanding that BKK terminate all its landfill operations by November, 1995. The suit alleges that the company agreed to do so in a 1985 memorandum of understanding with the city.
Blythe Ponek, a geologist for the Water Quality Control Board, said the suit will not affect the approval process for the proposed expansion. But approval of the expansion would be no guarantee of the landfill’s future, he said.
“If BKK (officials) develop the area and lose the lawsuit to West Covina, they’ve basically done all that work at their own peril,” Ponek said.
BKK contends that it is not obligated to close next year.
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