CRITIC QUESTIONS ELSMERE PROPOSAL.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - A leader in the fight against the Elsmere Canyon dump called Thursday for the company that owns the environmentally sensitive property to withdraw its application for a landfill permit. Marsha McLean, president of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Canyons Preservation Committee Inc., said she has many questions about Browning- Ferris Industries' offer to give Elsmere Canyon to the city in exchange for a 20-year, exclusive trash-hauling contract. McLean said the city should reserve judgment on the proposal until a formal offer is made. BFI BFI - brute force and ignorance has met with two City Council members to discuss offering the canyon as open space in exchange for Santa Clarita's trash business. ``Are they playing games with Elsmere?'' McLean said. ``Unless they withdraw the permit application, it would appear that way.'' BFI officials did not return calls seeking a response. McLean was among many residents who fought successfully against the landfill in Elsmere Canyon - though permit applications are still on file with Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County for a smaller dump than originally planned. The city declared victory six years ago after former President Clinton signed legislation banning landfills in national forests. Part of Elsmere Canyon is in the Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los . Officials from BFI said they have no plans to build a landfill in the canyon, just south of the city limits. BFI also owns and operates the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Granada Hills. ``If (BFI) really cared about this community they would put (the canyon) up for sale, and allow the city and other public agencies to gather money to buy it,'' McLean said. Instead, the company has offered the land in exchange for a lucrative contract with the city. The City Council will hear from officials from BFI on Tuesday, when members review the city's contracts with its two trash haulers, Atlas Atlas, in Greek mythology Atlas (ăt`ləs), in Greek mythology, a Titan; son of Iapetus and Clymene and the brother of Prometheus. Consolidated Inc. and Santa Clarita/Blue Barrel Disposal. A deal between the city and the two haulers fell apart over language that discourages Atlas from offering lower prices than Blue Barrel to commercial customers. Other trash companies are upset that the agreement includes roll-off services, which would allow only the city's haulers to set up large trash bins at construction sites and special events. McLean said she was also upset that BFI is considering building a golf course in the hilly hill·y adj. hill·i·er, hill·i·est 1. Having many hills. 2. Similar to a hill; steep. hill canyon and the effect that would have on the watershed watershed, elevation or divide separating the catchment area, or drainage basin, of one river system or group of river systems from another system or group of systems. The term is also often used synonymously with drainage basin. and the wildlife corridor. ``They certainly haven't contacted the environmental community about their plans,'' McLean said. |
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