SETTLEMENT STRUCK OVER BRADLEY LANDFILL ODORS.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

For repeatedly failing to correct foul odors at Bradley Landfill, Waste Management agreed to pay $20,000 in fines, fix its odor problems and donate $75,000 to charities, according to a settlement announced Tuesday.

The agreement ends more than a year of negotiations among the landfill company, South Coast Air Quality Management District and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.

``Through this settlement Bradley has become a responsible neighbor, and the environmental resources of our community have been protected,'' Delgadillo said in a statement.

The settlement stems from odor, sewer and noise problems at the landfill from 2002-04.

Longtime landfill watchdog Jerry Piro said he was happy regulators were cracking down, but he wanted to make sure the settlement would mean real environmental improvements.

``I'd like to see something that's physical, that I can say that all these trees were put in .... or all these medians have been improved. Something that we can really look on it and say this has made Sun Valley better.''

The agreement commits Waste Management to a $25,000 donation for Communities in Schools, which runs anti-gang programs in Northeast San Fernando Valley schools and will expand its services in Sun Valley. A $50,000 donation will go to Para Los Ninos, an educational service agency that aids low-income children and their families.

The AQMD will get $20,000 in fines, and that could go up to $80,000 if Waste Management does not follow the planned fixes at its smelly green waste facility. Waste Management agreed to install taller fences and add odor neutralizing misters.

The city also alleged that Bradley was responsible for discharges of oils, grease and volatile organic compounds into the sewer system in 2003 and 2004.

Waste Management District Manager Doug Corcoran disagreed with the validity of those charges, but said he wanted to settle to move forward.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com