OJAI : Panel Wants Dump EIR to Be Redone

The environmental study on the proposed Weldon Canyon landfill, the costliest such study ever done in the county, is grossly inadequate, an Ojai Valley panel says.

The Ventura River Valley Municipal Advisory Council voted 5 to 0 to recommend that the 1,400-page report, which took three years to prepare, be sent back to the drawing board.

The council’s advice will be given to the Ventura County Environmental Report Review Committee when it reviews the draft May 29, said Steve Offerman, an assistant to county Supervisor Susan K. Lacey.

Jim Jevens of Waste Management of North America said he had no comment after the council’s vote Monday. The firm wants to operate a 320-acre landfill in Weldon Canyon, a mile northeast of California 33 and Canada Larga Road, to serve western Ventura County. The firm has spent $1.06 million on the dump study, Jevens said.

Leaders of several environmental groups spoke from an audience of 20 people Monday, urging the council to reject the study. About 100 people attended each of two meetings the council held on the report in March.

Ruth Shimer of Ventura said the Environmental Coalition of Ventura County found 40 issues that the report fails to adequately address. Stan Greene of Citizens to Preserve the Ojai accused the study of “cheerleading” the canyon site, despite the conclusion that the dump would have severe environmental effects.

Scott Ellison, a county planner who calls the study a “state-of-the-art” environmental report, said consultants will respond to all written comments. “We’ll have to look at them all and see how to respond,” he said.