Board OKs New Permit for Sunshine Canyon Dump

Overruling an earlier decision by regional planning commissioners, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 2 on Wednesday to approve a new operating permit for the controversial Sunshine Canyon Landfill while also calling for a possible end to dumping at the site after 30 years.

The vote establishes for the first time a date for dumping to end on county land but also paves the way for the landfill’s operator, Browning-Ferris Industries, to merge its separate dumping operations on land owned by the county and the city of Los Angeles near Granada Hills. Such a merger still requires approval from the City Council.

Residents near the landfill have long sought to have the operation shut down, believing it to be a public health threat. Earlier this year, the city agreed to continue sending most of its trash -- 940,000 tons per year -- to Sunshine for at least the next five years.

The county’s regional planning commission had voted to deny BFI’s permit request in December, citing traffic congestion and other concerns, but BFI appealed the decision to the supervisors.

Wednesday’s vote by the board calls for the closure of the site after 30 years if a joint city-county agreement for the landfill is eventually approved.