LANDFILL BLOCKADE BILL AILING : DOLE'S EXIT FROM SENATE MEANS LOSS OF SUPPORTER.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Legislation that would block construction of the proposed Elsmere Canyon landfill has lost momentum since Bob Dole's departure earlier this month from the U.S. Senate, supporters of the bill said.

Dole, who left to devote full attention to his presidential campaign, was a key supporter of the bill by Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita.

``With Senator Dole not being in the Senate, it has hurt the McKeon bill,'' county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich told the Santa Clarita City Council during a breakfast meeting Thursday. ``It's a major loss. You need additional support in the Senate to maintain that momentum.''

Supporters of the legislation said they realize the obstacles they face in getting the bill passed by the Senate. It already has been passed by the House of Representatives.

``Senator Dole was the major leader. He was the supporter of the bill,'' said Armando Azarloza, McKeon's press secretary. ``He's not there and there's an obvious impact. I don't think it's insurmountable, but I think it's an issue that we need to address.''

``With the leadership change in the Senate, most of the focus is on the organization of the Senate,'' said city lobbyist Michael Murphy, who is closely monitoring the bill. ``It's in a holding pattern right now, but the battle is not over yet.''

The bill, now languishing in the Senate subcommittee on forest and public lands management, would stop construction of the proposed landfill in Elsmere Canyon by prohibiting the U.S. Forest Service from removing the canyon from the Angeles National Forest.

Torrance-based landfill operator BKK Corp. is seeking county permits and federal permission to develop the 190-million-ton landfill, which requires trading the Elsmere Canyon site for privately held parcels on the edge of the Angeles National Forest.

Supporters of the bill are trying to win backing by aggressively lobbying legislators such as new Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi; Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and Republican Sen. Larry Craig, chairman of the forest and public lands management subcommittee.

``We gave a briefing to Senator Lott and have gotten got key legislators to communicate the importance of the bill,'' Azarloza said. ``Because he's new he may not have been aware of the specifics of the bill.''

Even more daunting than persuading lawmakers to support the bill, Azarloza said, is defeating the financial and political firepower of BKK and Browning-Ferris Industries, which is slated to operate the landfill if it's approved.