CLOSING YEAR IFFY FOR LANDFILL.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

Sunshine Canyon Landfill could take in up to 57 million tons more trash than officials have predicted, potentially extending the life span of the Granada Hills dump far past the 26 years that are expected, according to a consultant hired by dump opponents.

At the request of attorneys hired by local activists, Wisconsin-based landfill engineer J.W. Spear analyzed trash decomposition and compression to show that Browning Ferris Industries underestimated the dump's 90-million ton capacity and 26-year life span. Longtime Granada Hills activists in the North Valley Coalition now have the backing of national environmental giants, the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council, plus the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents BFI's workers, in their fight over Sunshine Canyon.

Spear's report was submitted to Los Angeles County officials this week. The county's Regional Planning Commission is considering a new land-use permit for Sunshine Canyon Landfill today.

The newly formed coalition of residents, environmental groups and organized labor is pushing for a guarantee that the landfill will close when it reaches 90 million tons or after 26 years - as officials have always estimated. Currently, the permit allows BFI to keep adding trash until the dump is full - even years longer than anticipated.

``A closure date would be advantageous and give an end point to the agony that surrounding communities have suffered,'' said Jan Chatten-Brown, an attorney representing Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources, or POWER.

The Teamsters local, whose contract with BFI expires in 2007, decided to join to coalition because its members are residents of the community, said spokeswoman Leigh Strope.

``They are concerned about the impact this landfill is having on the health and safety of their families and their children.''

In Sun Valley, the Teamsters have rallied to support BFI competitor, Waste Management, which has proposed to expand Bradley Landfill and build a transfer station.

BFI District Manager Greg Loughnane said the POWER coalition's request is misguided. The closure date is an estimate. The landfill's permit regulates the footprint of the dump, not its capacity or life span.

``Market conditions will dictate when the landfill will close,'' he said.

Carlos Ruiz, with Los Angeles County Department of Public Works' Environmental Programs, said his group's previous analysis conflicts with Spear's report. County analysts found Sunshine Canyon Landfill can take about 92 million tons and last an extra year or two at the most.

BFI is seeking a new land-use permit to combine two separate dumps - one in county jurisdiction and one in city jurisdiction - into one massive landfill. The joint landfill could take in up to 12,100 tons of trash per day, generating an estimated 2,500 truck trips a day.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com