Cortina landfill project: Is it dead or alive?

The solid waste landfill proposed to be built on the Cortina Rancheria in the western foothills of Colusa County is not a dead project.

On Sept. 24, two months ago, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency received from the developers, Cortina Integrated Waste Management, Inc., the responses to its request for more information which it had sent to CIWMI in October 2008.

The developers requested site flexibility for the landfill proximity to seismic faults, an alternative liner for the canyons, an alternative to the daily cover and to the final cover.

Requests for alternatives to EPA 40 CFR Section 258.40 are permitted, but require approval of the EPA.

CIWMI justifies its delay in responding by stating, CIWMI has been able to develop "a more thorough and updated document for submission to the EPA" (Earthworks, News, Sept. 24,2009).

What now? After the EPA review of the report from CIWMI, the EPA will publish in the Federal Register a summary and timelines for public comment. The life of the landfill could be 80 years (CIWMI facility Basis of Design Report, May 2008, page 32, Landfill capacity and Site Life).

Some garbage may be from Colusa County, but the map of the catchment area is a good portion of northern California. Job opportunities as well as economics were the carrots for the project. The job opportunity projects — recycling and composting — have been removed.

It will behoove the supervisors, citizens, taxpayers and newspapers of Colusa County and surrounding area to review the information and understand the ramifications of a landfill at the proposed site.