HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-02-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - LANDFILL PLACEMENT GROUNDWATER (2):A i 0
NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval.
Ak
Item to be presented by:
Councilman Carl Boyer
February 27, 1990
LANDFILL PLACEMENT RELATIVE TO GROUNDWATER BASINS
Resolution No. 90-29
City Council
The County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles have been negotiating an
agreement to locate a solid waste landfill in Elsmere Canyon. The City has up
to this time deferred taking a position on the location of the landfill pending
the results of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
One of the crucial items which may determine Council's position on this issue is
that of potential groundwater contamination. Since the existing Eastern
Groundwater basin covers the City, and since water flows in a westerly direction
across this basin, contamination of this groundwater supply would have a
catastrophic effect on the city.
The question of the structural adequacy (over a long period of time) of liner
systems, including double liner systems and collection stations, is one which is
open to debate. In addition, it is not clear at this time whether leakage at
the proposed Elsmere landfill could migrate towards and contaminate the
groundwater basin serving the City. It is expected that these questions may not
be able to be answered with an extremely high degree of certainty and that may
remain debatable well after the final decision on the landfill issue is made.
It is therefore suggested that it
affirm the City's position towards
location of groundwater basins in
Resolution 90-29 states that as a
Clarita is opposed to placement of
aquifer of the Santa Clarita Valley.
RECOMMENDATION
is most prudent. at this point in time to
the placement of landfills relative to the
the Santa Clarita Valley. The attached
matter of public policy, the City of Santa
any landfills above or near the groundwater
Pass Resolution 90-29, and upon certification by the City Clerk, forward a copy
of this Resolution to U.S. Forest Service and our local representatives.
Agenda Item:
RESOLUTION NO. 90-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, STATING THE CITY'S OPPOSITION TO ANY
SANITARY LANDFILL WHICH WOULD CONTAMINATE THE GROUNDWATER
AQUIFER OF THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
WHEREAS, the Santa Clarita Valley, including the City of
Santa Clarita, is over fifty percent dependent upon a groundwater
aquifer separated from the Los Angeles metropolitan areas by the
Santa Susanna and San Gabriel Mountains; and
WHEREAS, there exists a proposal to site a Class III
sanitary landfill in Elsmere Canyon, located in the Santa Clarita
Valley near the eastern border of the City of Santa Clarita and
above the groundwater aquifer; and
WHEREAS, the groundwater aquifer which supplies this water
to the Santa Clarita Valley must not be polluted; and
WHEREAS, recent experience in Palos Verdes Estates,
California and Monterey Park, California (the Operating Industries
Incorporated Landfill) shows that landfills do pollute groundwater;
and
WHEREAS, "liners" for landfills have been in use only a
short time; there is no evidence of such "liners" lasting even forty
(40) years without leaking or other failure; and there is currently
no support for the proposition that a "liner" would last
indefinitely without leakage or other failure;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved as follows:
SECTION 1. That as a matter of public policy, the City of
Santa Clarita hereby opposes the siting of any landfill in the Santa
Clarita Valley which would pollute or contaminate the groundwater
aquifer.
SECTION 2. That the City Clerk shall certify to the
adoption of this Resolution.
C
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City
Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the
day of , 19 _ by the following vote of the Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS
CITY CLERK