The Mesquite Regional Landfill (MRL) is permitted to receive up to 20,000 tons per day of municipal solid waste (MSW) from Southern California by rail, including 1,000 tons/day from Imperial County by truck. The landfill that is owned and will be operated by the Sanitation Districts is under construction and will be ready for landfill operations in 2009. Construction of the rail spur and rail yard necessary to receive waste-by-rail is expected to be complete in 2011/12.
The Sanitation Districts has submitted an application to Imperial County requesting an amendment to the existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow the site to receive up to 4,000 tons/day (1/5th of the 20,000 tons/day already permitted) of MSW by truck from Los Angeles County. This transportation flexibility will allow the MRL to open and operate even if there is not enough waste to make up an entire unit train, while providing Imperial County with the "host" benefits of the landfill operation.
In considering the permit amendment, the Sanitation Districts has asked the County to analyze the following changes to the existing MRL CUP.
Allow receipt of up to 4,000 tons/day (which is approximately 200 trucks/day) of MSW transported by truck from Los Angeles County.
Reconsider restrictions on hours that deliveries could be made to the MRL on weekends from October to May.
Allow receipt of approximately 600 tons/day of non-hazardous treated incinerator ash (classified as MSW) from existing Los Angeles County waste-to-energy facilities. The amount of treated ash would fall within the limits of MSW the site is already permitted to receive and within the 4,000 - ton/day limit on trucked MSW.
In the CUP application to Imperial County, the Sanitation Districts suggested several routes that should be considered for routing truck traffic to the MRL. Further discussions with the County have resulted in identification of other routes that should also be analyzed.
The Sanitation Districts is also proposing to develop a truck yard to be located near Highway 86 between Salton City and Westmorland. The yard would provide logistical benefits and allow trucks to be metered through Imperial County. As needed, additional permit applications will be filed with Imperial County when a truck yard site is identified.
Prior to making any changes to the CUP, the County must conduct an environmental impact analyses per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Imperial County has begun the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Sanitation Districts’ CUP application. Imperial County has taken the following actions to begin the process:
June 2007 – Imperial County Planning Department prepared an Initial Study to evaluate the potential environmental impacts that may result from the permit modifications.
July 12, 2007 - The Imperial County Environmental Evaluation Committee determined that a subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) must be prepared as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process to address any potential environmental impacts.
July 18, 2007 - Imperial County issued a Notice of Preparation of the Environmental Impact Report to responsible agencies.
August 2007 - Imperial County hired BRG Consulting to assist Imperial County Planning Department prepare the EIR.
August 23, 2007 - Imperial County Planning held a public scoping meeting to receive initial comments on topics to be addressed in the Draft EIR.
