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September 15,
2003
The
Honorable Gray Davis, Governor
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 1497
(Montañez) – Solid Waste Facilities: Permit Changes
SENT
BY FAX: (916) 327-5296
Dear Governor Davis:
This letter is to express
the North Valley Coalition’s support for Assembly Bill 1497 and respectfully
ask that you sign this bill when it crosses your desk. After years of fighting the expansion of
Sunshine Canyon Landfill in the City and County of Los Angeles,
and in assisting other groups in fighting landfills in their own areas, our
organization has long been frustrated by the failure of the system to protect
the residents in the neighborhoods surrounding these landfills.
This
bill ensures that environmental justice is integrated into the development,
adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations
and policies as they are applied to solid waste landfills; and the bill specifies that no
owner or operator shall make any significant change in the facility design or
operation without providing notice to the community, and specifies that a
local enforcement agency (LEA) must determine that the operator provide
adequate notice and complies with all CEQA requirements prior to approving a
permit. It even gives protection to
the solid waste facilities employees by guaranteeing
their re-employment and retraining, and as such, has our wholehearted
support.
We believe
that this bill is a positive step in reducing the negative impacts of
landfills, and goes a long way to increase the public's ability to provide
meaningful input into the process.
Thank you in advance for displaying foresight and compassion with your
signing of Assembly Bill 1497.
Yours Sincerely,
Wayde
Hunter
President
NVC
c.c.
Honorable Cindy Montañez, Assemblymember, 39th District
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