ARIZONA COMPANY TO ACQUIRE LAIDLAW WASTE : CHIQUITA LANDFILL EXPANSION OPPONENTS WILL CONTINUE FIGHT.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

Laidlaw Waste Systems, which won a contentious battle last week to expand its Chiquita Canyon Landfill near Val Verde, will be acquired for $1.5 billion by an Arizona solid waste company under an agreement announced Wednesday.

If approved by stockholders and regulators, the acquisition will make Allied Waste the nation's fourth-largest trash company with 49 landfills in the United States and Canada, including Chiquita, just west of Santa Clarita near Castaic Junction.

The sale also would mark Scottsdale-based Allied's first venture in Southern California.

The announcement of the deal, which involves $1.2 billion in cash plus stock, came two days after the Santa Clarita City Council voted to appeal the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission's approval of the Chiquita expansion plan. The Newhall County Water District also is appealing.

Assistant City Manager Ken Pulskamp said the acquisition would change nothing.

``I don't see any impact,'' Pulskamp said. ``We're appealing the idea that there's a landfill that's going to expand. It really doesn't matter who's expanding it.''

The city joins Val Verde residents in opposing the expansion, citing concerns over added traffic, air pollution and groundwater contamination.

Rodney Walter, the landfill's general manager, said Chiquita's planned expansion was unrelated to the sale of the parent company.

``I'm one of 140 operating companies in Laidlaw Waste and although this is a very valuable property to us, it pales in comparison to the combined value of Laidlaw and Allied,'' Walter said. ``This is a very large and valuable project, but it would not have been a maker or a breaker for this acquisition.''

The county commission approved a 15-year permit allowing Laidlaw to accept 18.2 million tons of waste and expand its disposal area from 85.3 acres to 154 acres. Chiquita accepts 5,000 tons of waste a day.

``The acquisition of Laidlaw's North American solid waste management operations will, in one step, place Allied Waste among the industry's leading companies,'' Roger A. Ramsey, Allied chairman and chief executive officer said in a statement. ``We believe the strategic combination of Allied and Laidlaw's operations will create significantly greater opportunities for growth and rewards for Allied shareholders.''

James Bullock, president and CEO of Laidlaw Inc., said the transaction will allow his company to focus on growth opportunities in its transportation service businesses. Laidlaw is well known in Southern California as a school and commuter bus operator.

The transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies, and is expected to close early next year. It is subject to a vote of Allied's shareholders and regulatory agencies. Laidlaw will name two directors to Allied's board of directors, expanding it to 12 members.