A coalition of Sacramento County business owners says it is going to court to block plans to reopen an area landfill once blamed for numerous environmental problems.
The Power Inn Alliance, which represents more than 600 largely industrial businesses along the Power Inn Road corridor, said the plan to reopen the dump should have triggered a full environmental review.
Apparently unmoved by the coalition's concerns, Sacramento County on Friday granted Zanker Road Resources Ltd., a permit to reopen the 4201 Florin Perkins Road landfill as a waste transfer station.
The permit had earlier been approved by the state's Integrated Waste Management Board.
The facility will accept construction debris, metal scraps, concrete, recyclable and non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste. The landfill cannot accept food products, liquids or other biodegradable waste. The waste would be sorted on-site, then trucked off.
The permit initially allows Zanker to accept 250 tons of material per day, but that amount could double if the operation meets certain standards.
The approval process was administrative because the new use is within the scope of the previous authorized use, said Dennis Green, who manages the county's hazardous materials department.
Under the permit, Zanker would take over operation of the facility once run by Florin Perkins Landfill Inc. The Sally R. Davis Trust continues as the owner.
In the summer of 2004, federal, state and local officials accused Florin Perkins Landfill of illegally disposing hazardous waste. The facility, just south of Jackson Road, was closed in late 2004. The enforcement case against the company is still pending.
Green said previous violations at the site didn't affect the new application.
"This is a new operator," Green said, adding that the new company has a good reputation. "We basically have to look at the permit application on its own merits."
Jerry Vorpahl, the alliance's executive director, said times have changed since the old facility opened.
Earlier this month, the alliance filed suit in Sacramento Superior Court. The county has yet to officially be served by the suit. The alliance cited 32 areas of concern with the environmental study.
"Things have changed out here since 1995. This old permit looks to old standards," Vorpahl said.
At a minimum, the new operation should be required to meet the same requirements as other new transfer stations, including having a covered roof, he said. Beyond the environmental concerns, Vorpahl said the area has enough dumps, recycling centers and gravel operations.
The alliance's signature event, "Dinner at the Dump," brings an array of area leaders to a scrubbed-up city dump.
"We feel there are lot better uses for that property," Vorpahl said. "We don't need another landfill."
Call The Bee's Ed Fletcher, (916) 321-1269.
