BFI OFFERS TO GIVE UP LANDFILL.

Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Intrigued by a last-minute trash collection proposal that could wipe out the threat of a landfill in Elsmere Canyon, the City Council will investigate the offer.

Such a contract with Browning Ferris Industries could be worth as much as $10 million - and would reroute the city's trash from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill near Val Verde to the BFI-owned Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills, city officials said.

Dozens of Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley residents turned out Tuesday night to warn the council to be cautious while considering the offer to give the city Elsmere Canyon in return for an exclusive 20-year contract for the city's franchise.

``Earlier tonight, you were warned to beware of trash companies bearing gifts,'' Valencia resident James Lauffer told the council. ``But this isn't a gift. Gifts don't have strings attached to them. This is more of a bribe.''

Six years ago, city officials and residents successfully fought plans to build a dump in Elsmere Canyon, a watershed and wildlife corridor, which is southeast of the junction of the Golden State and Antelope Valley freeways and across the junction from Sunshine Canyon.

``Elsmere Canyon is such an emotional issue in this town,'' Councilman Frank Ferry said.

BFI officials told the council Tuesday night that they had no desire to move forward with plans to build a dump in Elsmere Canyon but hinted that other developers are interested in the pristine land.

The City Council must take action by March 15, before the current contracts with Santa Clarita/Blue Barrel Disposal and Atlas Disposal Co. expire. City officials plan to meet with BFI representatives this week to flesh out the general proposal council members received an hour before the meeting began Tuesday.

``Our job is to look at the long-range needs of this valley, with all available information,'' said Councilman Bob Kellar. ``It is premature to make this decision.''

BFI's proposal consists of 10 points promising all or part of the canyon, a 20 percent rate reduction - $2 per month per household - and additional senior citizen rate reductions.

About a half-dozen members of the North Valley Coalition addressed the City Council, urging its members to reject any deal with BFI, which owns and operates Sunshine Canyon.

``Do not enter into this contract,'' said Wayde Hunter, the organization's president. ``It would be a real mistake, given BFI's history of broken promises and numerous violations.''

The San Fernando Valley-based coalition has sued to stop the 410-acre, 90-million-ton expansion of the landfill into the city of Los Angeles approved several months ago by the Los Angeles City Council.

``Please do not send your trash to our community,'' said Mary Edwards, a coalition board member. ``Landfills should not be in anyone's back yard.''

BFI has been cited 36 times by county officials for numerous violations, including allowing high levels of gas laced with trace amounts of carcinogens to escape from the landfill. There were also allegations that medical waste was improperly dumped.

County officials now say the company is complying with all regulations. All of the problems have been addressed and solved, said Dave Edwards, the general manager of the landfill.

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Map: (ran in Valley edition only) Sunshine Canyon Landfill