Chronicle: Blue Ridge Landfill Update

Operator of landfill, expansion opponents try to reach settlement
Negotiators face Thursday deadline to report to state

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Houston Chronicle

Allied Waste, which has proposed to expand its Blue Ridge Landfill in east Fort Bend, and the project's opponents, are negotiating a settlement.

"We've tried to work with the opposing parties from the beginning," said Gary McCuistion, an Allied Waste spokesman.

He said the company has been seeking a resolution outside the court with the opponents, including three local television stations, residents most of whom formed a group named Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, and the city of Pearland.

Richard Morrison, attorney for the resident group, said his group agreed to Allied Waste's proposal to ask for the State Office of Administrative Hearings' approval of a delay of a previously scheduled June 16 hearing on the dispute. . .

. . .The project has been endorsed by Missouri City Council and Fort Bend County Commissioners Court, but opposed by Brazoria County Commissioners Court and some elected officials including state Rep. Dora Olivo, D-Rosenberg, and U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, in addition to Pearland municipal officials.

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