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For Additional Information Contact:
Stephen Johnson, Operations Manager
Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority
755-1300
SALINAS VALLEY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY CERTIFIES THE FINAL EIR FOR PROPOSED EXPANSION PROJECT
Salinas, CA
November 1, 2002
The Salinas Valley Solid
Waste Authority (SVSWA) Board of Directors at its October meeting, adopted
a Resolution of Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report
(EIR) for the Regional Solid Waste Facilities Expansion Project.
The Board’s certification of the EIR,
which analyzes the SVSWA’s potential expansion of its existing solid
waste disposal system, assures that the document has been completed in
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The document’s
certification also reflects the Authority’s independent judgment
and analysis of the proposed project and that the Board has reviewed and
considered the information in the EIR before proceeding to any project
approval.
In the Boards efforts to act in “Good
Faith” towards all the residents of the Salinas Valley and continue
to provide “reasonable analysis” of potential new landfill
sites, an amendment was discussed and approved in conjunction with the
certification of the EIR.
County Supervisor Lou Calcagno made the
motion to limit the expansion of Johnson Canyon through a limited phased
expansion of Crazy Horse, Johnson Canyon and Jolon Road landfills to achieve
an initial 25-years of total additional capacity for the Authority. The
motion also directed Authority staff to re-evaluate the alternative landfill
sites discussed in the EIR. The motion was passed by the Board by a vote
of 8 to 1.
According to Lou Calcagno, “It will
be important for all citizens of the Salinas Valley to accept their fair
share of the waste disposal stream. This new scenario will help minimize
the potential environmental impacts on the neighboring property owners
and give the Authority the time to continue to focus on long-term disposal
capacity at alternative locations.”
The Board will consider specific project
approvals contained in the EIR at their November 14th meeting.
This document is being used to inform the
Authority Board and the public of significant environmental impacts of
the project and proposes measures to reduce or completely mitigate those
impacts.
A limited number of the final EIR and a
300-page executive summary is available at the Authority office. In addition
to the SVSWA office, other locations where the final EIR can be viewed
include public libraries in Prunedale, King City and Gonzales, as well
as City Halls in each of the Authority’s jurisdictional cities (Gonzales,
Greenfield, King City, Salinas & Soledad). The entire document is
also available on the Authority’s website (www.svswa.org).
The Authority, formed in 1997, is a joint powers agency made
up of the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, Soledad
as well as the eastern half of unincorporated Monterey County. They promote
the environmental health of the Salinas Valley through planning, public
education and management of an innovative solid waste system. The Authority
can be reached at 755-1300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
or on the web at www.svswa.org.
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