The Board of Commissioners were supposed to sign off on findings to support their 2-1 decision favoring landfill expansion at the Board's regular meeting Thursday, April 16, but the findings aren't ready (ie, Waste Management hasn't finished writing them). The Commissioners will instead consider the proposed findings at their April 23rd meeting.
Once the Commissioners approve the findings, they can adopt an ordinance approving expansion. In the past, such ordinances have always been adopted as "emergency" measures, meaning citizens can't seek a voter referendum to repeal the ordinance.
Voters' only option when a bad emergency ordinance is adopted is to appeal. Because the landfill measure is a land use issue, any appeal would be to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). Notice of intent to appeal to LUBA must be filed within 21 days after the ordinance becomes effective (May 14, if an immediately-effective emergency ordinance is approved on April 23).
Landfill Air Quality Permit Renewal
In the meantime, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has scheduled a hearing on Waste Management's request to renew the landfill's Air Quality permit. That hearing will be held Thursday, April 30, in the Carnegie Room at the McMinnville Public Library, 225 NW Adams Street in McMinnville. The hearing begins with an informational session at 6:00 PM followed by the hearing itself at 7:00 PM.
You do not have to attend the hearing in order to comment on the proposed permit. DEQ will accept comments by email, mail, or fax as well as testimony at the hearing. The proposed permit itself can be found at http://www.oregon.gov/deq/docs/043015riverbend.pdf.
To compare with the existing permit, go to http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/permit/alphalist.htm#qr and scroll down to Riverbend Landfill. Or contact Patty Hamman of DEQ at the address below for information.
Send written comments by mail, fax, or email to:
DEQ Western Region, Salem Office
4026 Fairview Industrial Drive
Salem, OR 97302
Fax: (503)378-4196
Email: hamman.patricia@deq.state.or.us
To consider comments, DEQ must receive them by 5:00 PM, Friday, May 8, 2015.
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