Over 100 protesters showed up in force to try and shut down a Santa Clara County landfill they say is harmful to their health.
Source: Over 100 protest against Santa Clara County landfill | abc7news.com
Over 100 protesters showed up in force to try and shut down a Santa Clara County landfill they say is harmful to their health.
Source: Over 100 protest against Santa Clara County landfill | abc7news.com
Honorable Members of San Jose Planning Commission,
I am writing to formally request that the Newby Island Expansion Permit be denied at the October 26 meeting or defer the decision in light of evidence of substantial changes that have occurred since the original 2012 EIR certification and zoning approval.
I cannot stress enough that it is against City of San Jose’s Municipal Code to permit any project that is a public nuisance. The landfill in its present state already impose significant negative impacts on the of thousands who live, work, shop & play surrounding Newby Island. 20 open regulatory violations from BAAQMD, including 5 for landfill public nuisance, and 10 other violations from CalRecycle, LEA and RWQCB within the last 2 years is clear evidence of Republic Services’ poor conformance and operational track record. I hope you didn’t forget how Republic Services have lied through their teeth at past public hearings, denying odor responsibility and tried to blame others.
I have very low confidence in Republic Services’ ability to mitigate odor. They spent $27 millions in odor measures at their Sunshine Canyon Landfill, and violations persist. 2 Order of Abatement had to be pursued by Air District to modify their permit after expansion was approved. This is evidence that effective mitigation does not exist no matter how much $ is invested.
Update: Republic requested the item be deferral. This was granted and the next meeting will be in December.
San Jose City Staff is recommending approval of Newby Island Landfill Expansion.
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/
Please join us for a rally and asking Planning Commission to deny Newby Island Landfill Expansion.
Will stage a Rally and meet with media at 5:30pm.
Meeting starts at 6:30pm. Meeting & Rally at San Jose City Hall
Free shuttle bus will be provided. Details see: https://docs.google.com/
I cannot stress enough that it is against City of San Jose’s Municipal Code to permit any project that is a public nuisance. The landfill in its present state already impose significant negative impacts on the of thousands who live, work, shop & play surrounding Newby Island. 20 open regulatory violations from BAAQMD, including 5 for landfill public nuisance, and 10 other violations from CalRecycle, LEA and RWQCB within the last 2 years is clear evidence of Republic Services’ poor conformance and operational track record. I hope you didn’t forget how Republic Services have lied through their teeth at past public hearings, denying odor responsibility and tried to blame others.
I have very low confidence in Republic Services’ ability to mitigate odor. They spent $27 millions in odor measures at theirSunshine Canyon Landfill, and violations persist. 2 Order of Abatement had to be pursued by Air District to modify their permit after expansion was approved. This is evidence that effective mitigation does not exist no matter how much $ is invested.
A letter we received from congressman Mike Honda:
Recently I was contacted by community leaders and residents of the cities of Milpitas, Fremont, and San Jose concerning the upcoming San Jose Planning Commission meeting to consider the appeal of the proposed expansion of the Republic Services Newby Island Landfill.
As a result of concerns raised by the community on the validity of the data submitted by BAAQMD, the analysis of data by the City of San Jose, and the need for additional time for the community to review the new data, I have requested that the matter be continued until January 2017.
I have attached a copy of the letter I sent to the Mayor of of San Jose, the City Council, and the San Jose Planning Commission. Although I and other community leaders have requested the continuance, the community should be prepared to attend the meeting on October 26, 2016 to express their concerns about the project and City staff’s recommendation. There is no guarantee that the item will be continued to another date.
For years, I have heard from my constituents in Milpitas, San Jose, and Fremont who are impacted by odors emanating from the landfill. As your representative, I will continue to advocate on your behalf so that your concerns are heard by the City of San Jose.
Mike
Click below to see his letter to SJ Mayor and Planning
Subject: CIWMP & Newby Island Landfill Expansion
Honorable Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commissioners, Division Staff and TAC members,
I am writing on behalf of Milpitas REACH, a grassroot movement advocating to stop Newby Island Landfill expansion for past 2 years. Over 23,000 have signed our “Stop Landfill Expansion” petition.
As you may already be aware, if the expansion is approved, Newby Island will rise to an unprecedented 245 feet above MSL, extending the life of what is already the largest landfill ever built along San Francisco Bay through 2041 in a densely populated and environmentally sensitive area with protected wildlife.
Due to recurring public nuisance and regulatory violations at the site including over 30 violations from 4 regulatory agencies in past 2 years, we feel strongly that the expansion project will be detrimental to the lives of 100,000 people who work and live in its immediate vicinity.
Unfortunately, City of San Jose Planning Staff issued a report last Friday and concluded that recurring violations are insignificant, even when 20 BAAQMD violations have not been formally resolved. The staff had recommended landfill expansion permit to be approved at the October 26 Planning Commission meeting, which I believe is irresponsible in light of open and recurring violations.
I am writing to seek your help with respect to your role in driving sustainable and responsible waste management plan for the region.
In the 4th Five-Year Review of the CIWMP, it is clearly stated that there is excess landfill capacity over what is required even without Newby Island expansion, as follows:
“Newby Island Landfill currently accepts about 60% of the County’s waste and has listed 5-7 years site life is currently undergoing a permit process for expansion. If the expansion goes through, then the site life will be extended to 20-25 years. If the expansion is denied, the calculation estimates splitting the material among the remaining two landfills within the County. The volume of material to each site would almost double their current volume which would decrease the site life by half. This reduction would be estimated at 20 some years which is greater than the 15 years for a Siting Element revision. ”
Since options are available, can you offer support by writing to San Jose Planning Staff and Commission to re-evaluate project alternatives, including tapping into regional landfill capacity and prioritizing waste diversion through non-disposal facilities, before urban landfills, such as Newby Island, are expanded any further?
Your assistance is much appreciated.
Republic Services / Allied Waste has cheated us for too long. Vote YES on L to lose these scumbags!
Visit www.YESonL.vote for more facts.
Help us get all Milpitas voters to know about these facts. Please forward this message to your friends and neighbors. Kindly consider to volunteer time or donate on our website. Thank you for your support!
Milpitas Citizens for Yes on L, FPPC# 1390888
Dear Milpitas Residents,
Should the City of Milpitas award the next ten-year garbage collection contract to Newby Island Landfill?
During the bidding process, the city conducted a survey asking the residents many questions. However, no question ever touched on the sensitive “odor” and “public nuisance” issue that everyone in town is affected by.
In October 2016, the City Council of Milpitas will be presented of a recommendation for the next garbage collection contract from the city staff. The city staff believe that the majority of Milpitas residents are only willing to select the contract that has the lowest rate, regardless of any other considerations.
To help the city council assess the residents’ preference in choosing our next garbage collector, we ask that you fill out this survey, and answer the question that the city has never asked.
Please note, this garbage collection contract is not the disposal contract that Measure L is about. However, these two contracts are closely related. If Milpitas will NOT give ANY garbage contracts to Newby, then Newby will have a less chance to get its expansion approved.
Please let the city know how you feel about Newby and this garbage collection contract, by filling out this survey:
http://tinyurl.com/GarbageSurveyMilpitas
Thank you for helping make Milpitas a better city.
Milpitas REACH