Of, By and For

Letters to the Editor - October 17, 2009 - NewsRegister.com.

It turns out that Riverbend is the cheapest place to dump soil that is too contaminated to live or play on. Or in the words of the engineer, Riverbend is the most “cost effective” place to take contaminated soil. What a claim to fame: Riverbend — the bargain-basement of dump sites. Imagine, if it is allowed to expand, how much more debris, laced with cancer-causing agents, it will be able to accept.

Across the nation, an antigarbage strategy known as “zero waste” is moving from the fringes to the mainstream, taking hold in school cafeterias, national parks, restaurants, stadiums and corporations.

Though born of idealism, the zero-waste philosophy is now propelled by sobering realities, like the growing difficulty of securing permits for new landfills and an awareness that organic decay in landfills releases methane that helps warm the earth’s atmosphere.

“Nobody wants a landfill sited anywhere near them, including in rural areas,” said Jon D. Johnston, a materials management branch chief for the Environmental Protection Agency who is helping to lead the zero-waste movement in the Southeast. “We’ve come to this realization that landfill is valuable and we can’t bury things that don’t need to be buried.”

YAMHILL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

October 14, 2009                    9:00 a.m.        Formal/Informal Session              Room 32, Courthouse Call to order; flag salute.   

...

B.         PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

1.         Consideration of Planning Docket PAZ-05-08/FP-04-08/SDR-16-08, a request for plan amendment/zone change, floodplain development permit, and site design review for a proposed expansion of the landfill, applicant Riverbend Landfill Company, Inc., as continued from July 1, 2009, at the point of Staff Recommendation. [Continued to 2:00 p.m. on November 9, 2009, at the point of Staff Recommendation; record to be left open until 5:00 p.m. on October 21, 2009, for the submission of written testimony from any party regarding the alternative disposal options analysis and the gas distribution diagram, until 5:00 p.m. on October 28, 2009, for written rebuttal from any party regarding the same, and until 5:00 p.m. on November 4, 2009, for written rebuttal by the applicants.]   

a.  B. O. 09-624 - Consideration of accepting the Analysis of Waste Disposal/Management Alternatives as prepared by Zia Engineering & Environmental Consultants, LLC.

Yamhill County Final Report on Alternative Disposal Option (related to the Riverbend Landfill Expansion).

On October 14, 2009, the Board of Commissioners voted to accept the report on "Analysis of Waste Disposal", and the following schedule for written testimony. The Board stressed that the open record period was only for testimony related to the gas distribution diagram submitted by Gary Andes of DEQ, and the report on the "Analysis of Waste Disposal". All testimony is to be submitted to the Yamhill County Planning Department, 525 NE 4th Street, McMinnville, OR 97128. The schedule is as follows:

• The record will be left open until 5:00 PM on October 21, 2009, for all parties to submit written testimony on the "Analysis of Waste Disposal" report and the gas distribution diagram submitted by Gary Andes, DEQ, on April 1, 2009.
• The record will then be open until 5:00 PM on October 28, 2009, for all parties to submit rebuttal to what was submitted during the previous open record period. 
• The record will then be open until 5:00 PM on November 4, 2009, for the applicant and their representatives to submit final written rebuttal. 

that point the record will be closed and the hearing will reopen at 2:00 PM on MONDAY, November 9, 2009, Room 32 of the County courthouse at the point of "Staff Recommendation."

Final report from Zia Consultants on the "Analysis of Waste Disposal" considers

... the transportation options and projected costs for alternative processes and transportation options.... The Board is scheduled to reopen the Riverbend Landfill hearing in Room 32 at 9:00 am, on October 14, 2009, at the point of "Staff Recommendation." At that point the Board is to decide whether to accept the report on the "Analysis of Waste Disposal". If the report is accepted, the Board will then decide on the schedule for receiving final written testimony.

2008 Oregon Material Recovery and Waste Generation Rates Report by the Oregon DEQ, with comparisons by "wasteshed" (roughly counties) across the state.

Notice of Public Hearing—October 20, 2009

Proposed Issuance of Standard Air Contaminant Discharge Permit and Modification and Renewal of Title V Permit for Riverbend Landfill Co....

 

Information session begins at 6 p.m. with formal hearing to follow...

Yamhill County Courthouse 535 NE 5th Street Basement Room 32 McMinnville, Oregon 97128

 

[Updated 10/06/2009] Receipt of report moved to October 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM in YC Courtroom #32.

2009-10 PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULE - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PAZ-05-08/FP-04-08/SDR-16-08, request for expansion of Riverbend Landfill. Includes comp plan amendment, zone change, floodplain modification, and site design review, as continued from July 1 at the point of Staff Recommendation.

RFP: Alternative Disposal Options for Yamhill County Solid Waste 2009:

The RFP summary (due by April 30th -- just two weeks from publication!):

The Board of Commissioners desires to retain the services of a qualified firm or individual to evaluate and recommend alternative disposal options, use of alternative landfill sites and the cost of transportation options, other than disposal of solid waste at Riverbend Landfill in the event the landfill is unable to accommodate disposal needs for in-county waste after expiration of the license agreement.  It is assumed that it will be necessary to provide for the disposal of about 250,000 tons of solid waste per year by 2020.

The specifications:

3.1 The successful proposer will be required to complete a comprehensive report suggesting alternative solid waste disposal options, alternative sites, and cost of transportation options other than disposal at Riverbend Landfill in the event the landfill is unable to accommodate disposal needs for in-county waste after expiration of the license agreement on September 30, 2014.  A land use application is pending to expand Riverbend Landfill, but it is unknown whether the application will ultimately be approved.  It is assumed that it will be necessary to provide for the disposal of about 250,000 tons of solid waste per year by 2020. All available options must be evaluated with respect to locations, disposal costs, transportation costs, reliability and environmental factors.

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