Supreme Court Challenge May Be An Option In Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion (See this Houston Chronicle Piece)--click on the title link for more-

Landfill opponents prepare for court fight
State agency says operator's proposal meets legal guidelines

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Houston Chronicle

Opponents of a landfill expansion proposal in east Fort Bend have decided to bring their fight to court after a state environmental agency concluded that the operator's plan satisfies its legal guidelines.

Richard Morrison, attorney for opponents, said he will seek a "contested case hearing" on the project by Blue Ridge Landfill, TX, LP, a subsidiary of Allied Waste Industries, which operates as BFI in the Houston area.

The hearing, to be presided over by an independent administrative law judge, will have to be granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, whose executive director, Glenn Shankle, is poised to issue a permit for the expansion.

In a letter to 1,100 opponents who commented on the project during a December public hearing and in written form, Shankle determined that the company's application for the expansion "meets the requirements of applicable law." . . .

. . . Morrison said, "The deck is stacked against us, but it's not that we don't have a chance."

Opportunities exist to appeal an unfavorable ruling and bring the case up to the Supreme Court, he said.

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Comments: It was good to see Bret Kolaja from the district D city council position in MC sign on as the only council member against the landfill expansion. CABLFE wants to thank Rodney Griffin, the challenger in district A, for his attendance and support at the CABLFE regular meeting. Keep up the good work guys!



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