The proposal for the Gregory Canyon Landfill (GCL) is entering a critical phase of the decision-making: In about a month, the Court will determine to see if the proponents have adequately mitigated the environmental problems.
Background: The proposed 1,770 acre Gregory Canyon Landfill site is located in rural northern San Diego County on State Route (SR 76), approximately three miles east of Interstate 15 (I-15) and two miles southwest of the community of Pala. The site is adjacent to the San Luis Rey River and lies along the western slope of Gregory Mountain. Maps show the vicinity and the location.
In 2003, the County prepared a “final” EIR. In 2006, the Court issued a Preemptory Writ of Mandate directing the County of San Diego to correct three identified deficiencies in the 2003 Final EIR, related to traffic, water supply, and biological mitigation. In response, the County identified additional mitigation actions. These were published and processed in a Revised Final EIR.
In May, 2007 the County Director of the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency decided that the EIR was acceptable. (Did you notice how the County is certifying its own project.)
Next the County of San Diego and Gregory Canyon Limited will ask the Court to accept their revised plan. The opponents will be fighting in the Court.
OTHER REMAINING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: One of the issues with the original EIR was lack of water. The new proposal would have the Landfill getting all of its water from Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) in the form of recycled water. OMWD approved an agreement to provide the water, including improvements to its recycled water distribution facility. Such an improved facility is needed to allow tanker trucks to fill up with water every 10 minutes, throughout the day, 6 days a week. The tanker trucks would then drive through the Rancho Bernardo area to Interstate 15, North on I-15, then onto SR76 to get to the Landfill. However, OMWD never did an environmental analysis of the traffic caused by this or the improvements. OMWD was sued to require environmental review and that case is currently pending before the courts.
Another problem is a bridge over the San Luis Rey river. GCL is seeking to limit the Section 404 jurisdiction for the project. (Previous wetland delineations showing the canyon is a water of the US and a tributary of the San Louis Rey river.) Originally the local federal office said a larger permit for the entire project is needed. Then the LA office overruled that decision after calls by Congressman Darryl Issa.
GCL and the Corps are currently working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on a section 7 (FESA) impacts to endangered species. Again, Congressman Darryl Issa’s office has been pressuring to get the project through. The Section 7 is currently on hold, waiting for information from GCL. However, a previous draft USFWS Biological Service Opinion showed that the project would jeopardize the continued existence of the arroyo tads and other species. That previous work was withdrawn at the request of the applicant.
