LETTER REVIVES FIGHT OVER SUNSHINE LANDFILL.

Byline: Rick Orlov and Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writers

Seizing on a report that warns of potential groundwater contamination at Sunshine Canyon Landfill, Los Angeles officials launched a new assault Wednesday on its expansion across the city line into Granada Hills.

Mayor James Hahn said he will ask the Environmental Affairs Department to again review the expansion application submitted by Browning Ferris Industries, while City Councilman Hal Bernson called for the city to rescind its recent approval of the document.

Hahn and Bernson each cited a letter sent last week by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to the BFI consultants. The letter - which denies BFI's request for a 42-acre expansion of its Sunshine Canyon dump site in Los Angeles County - notes an ongoing problem with volatile organic compounds in the drainage system under the landfill and raises concerns that the pollutants could eventually reach the groundwater.

``This reaffirms the mayor's concerns about the danger to public health,'' said Hahn spokeswoman Julie Wong.

However, BFI officials challenged the city's assessment that the project could harm landfill neighbors and noted that the letter was part of the normal permitting process meant to vet potential problems.

``We don't see this as a sign of an environmental problem, and we believe it can be be mitigated with landfill gas monitoring,'' said BFI District Manager Greg Loughnane.

Water board officials also said the contamination should not pose a health risk because BFI collects and treats the tainted water. They said the proposed county expansion would not be granted until BFI fixes the drainage problem.

``We will not allow the connection of the subdrain system unless the contamination problem is solved,'' Dr. Wen Yang said.

Still, Bernson, who represents the area, said the water board's finding all but requires the City Council to rescind its vote that found the BFI application was complete.

``It is appropriate, in the least, if not imperative, that the city withdraw its approval of the expansion,'' Bernson said in a motion scheduled to be considered by the full City Council next week.

``This brings into question the legitimacy and propriety of the city's approval of the expansion documents.'''

Based on the advice of then-City Attorney Hahn, the council in 1999 cleared the way for BFI to reopen Sunshine Canyon within the city limits. In running for mayor, Hahn campaigned against urban landfills, and he has been working in recent months to block the expansion.

City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo advised Hahn to abandon his strategy of trying to delay the application process, warning that it could result in the loss of the city's jurisdiction over landfills. However, Hahn and Delgadillo have subsequently raised objections to other environmental permits that BFI needs to reopen the city landfill.

``We have been working with the mayor and the councilman's office to devise an overall strategy to deal with the issues remaining on Sunshine Canyon to keep it closed,'' said Delgadillo's spokesman, Eric Moses.

BFI officials said they are undeterred by the city's efforts, and are on track to reopen the Granada Hills dump this year.

BFI's request to expand its county dump by 42 acres ultimately would allow the creation of one giant landfill spanning the city-county border. It was that request that was rejected Wednesday by county officials, who cited water concerns, as well as questions about the future of the city side of the dump.

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Sunshine Canyon Landfill