VENTURA : Oil Firm Allowed to Keep Using Dump

A Ventura-based oil company can continue to operate a private 5.5-acre landfill for non-hazardous oil field waste, the Ventura County Planning Commission decided Thursday.

Four Star Oil and Gas Co. has operated the small landfill since the early 1950s as part of the company’s 472-acre oil-drilling operations east of California 33 at Shell Road, according to a county report.

Although the company has permits for the oil field operation, it has not had a separate permit for the landfill. In 1986, the county Planning Division decided that the dump was not integral to the oil-drilling operation and required a separate permit. Because of delays for air and water tests, the county could not process the permit until last year, the report said.

The permit will allow Four Star Oil and Gas to dump about 1,100 cubic yards of waste per year for the next 20 years. No liquid or hazardous waste will be permitted.