Simi Valley, Calif., January 7, 2008 –
The Ventura County Planning Department issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center’s modernization and expansion project, Waste Management announced today.
The NOP officially lets the community and other responsible agencies know that an EIR will be prepared for WM’s project. In addition, the NOP indicated that the County Planning Department will be holding a scoping meeting for the EIR. The Planning Department will issue a separate notice announcing the time, date and location of the scoping meeting.
“We are pleased that the process for an environmental impact report is now underway. We are strongly in support of a full EIR,” said Mike Smith, WM’s Market Area General Manager for Ventura County. “We appreciate the community input we have received so far and look forward to more meetings with the community so they can learn more about the modernization and expansion project and we can hear their thoughts and suggestions.”
The Planning Department is the lead agency for the project under CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act) and has the discretion to determine how an EIR should be prepared. Other governmental agencies involved in reviewing the project include the California Department of Fish and Game, the County Environmental Health Division and the Watershed Protection District of the County Public Works Agency. They will provide guidance in their areas of expertise to help the Planning Department ensure that all aspects of the project are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated.
More information about the status of the project is available online at:www.keepingventuracountyclean.com
Waste Management provides Ventura County with recycling, trash hauling and solid waste disposal through G.I. Industries and the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Waste Management has owned and operated G.I. Industries since 1998 and the SVLRC site since 1983 and employs more than 230 people in Ventura County. The SVLRC provides approximately 60% of Ventura County's daily refuse disposal needs. The company operates a “green power” program at the site that generates enough power for 2,500 homes, and clean-burning LNG powers 38 of its trucks. Waste Management is a significant contributor to area community groups. For more information visit our website www.keepingventuracountyclean.com.
