History of Palos Verdes Landfill

SOUTH BAY OPEN SPACE TASK FORCE OVERVIEW

On March 25, 2004, the Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter voted unanimously to create the South Bay Open Spaces task force. This task force was formed as a result of two Sierra Club activists in the PV/South Bay Group who have worked doggedly over the last 5+ years to restore blighted lands in their neighborhood for open space. the formation of the task force is in recognition of the needs for open space in what has become one of the most densely populated areas on the entire California coast, and also one of the most park poor.

The two main projects that initiated the formation of the South Bay Open Spaces task force are the following:

• Heart Park, the vision to convert the aging AES power plant in Redondo Beach to a restored wetland and open space, with some commercial uses as necessary to provide ongoing funding for park maintenance;

• Clean-up of former Palos Verdes Landfill, located in Rolling Hills Estates of the South Bay of Los Angeles

The formation of this Sierra Club task force provides a stronger focus on the need to re-size the energy recovery process, instead of simply flaring it to the atmosphere, which is currently being proposed. The South Bay Open Space task force also serves to strengthen our resolve to restore this whole area for passive and recreational purposes, permanently.

HISTORY OF PALOS VERDES LANDFILL

Located in Rolling Hills Estates in a historic agricultural area with dairy and strawberry farms, this was once rolling fields, known as the ‘Ten Hills’ with a lake noted on the USGS 1954 map.

This site was an operating waste dump from from 1952-1980. This property was mined leaving gaping holes underground as well as deep pits, and later became a landfill accepting both liquid and solid hazardous wastes. This type of co-disposal site is not allowed under today’s EPA guidelines.

Taking advantage of the methane gases formed within the landfill in the late 1970s, the NuFuel/Getty Corporation developed the first ever gas recovery system on the northeast edge of the landfill and sold the gas to Southern CA Gas Company. In 1988, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District opened it as the first ever gas-to-energy center selling electricity to the Edison Company. This makes the PV Landfill a historic site in wisely using the gas for renewable energy.

Today, there are centers such as these around the U.S. However, new and better technology has been developed such as micro turbines, and some landfills, such as Puente Hills, are creating CNG or compressed natural gas to power cars. One of our goals is to incorporate a green energy source on the Palos Verdes Landfill that would enhance the electricity sold to Edison as well as promote the Cool Cities Campaign.

Under maintenance of the owner, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, the California / EPA Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) is designated the oversight agency for this landfill. The landfill uses a gas extraction system with pipelines stretching the perimeter of the field. Toxic gases are emitted from this system. The landfill is situated in a very densely populated area today, with homes built as close as six feet away. There are 16 schools in a two-mile radius. Today this area is used for minimal recreational use.

FACTS ON WHY THE PALOS VERDES LANDFILL IS OF CONCERN

This site is well-documented for contamination by the EPA and other environmental agencies, and is located in a densely populated area.

PV is a Class One Landfill, which is the most toxic designation possible by the Federal EPA.
The PV Landfill accepted 40% of the hazardous wastes for LA Region, and accepted over 47 Billion pounds of hazardous wastes over the 300 acre site between 1952-1980. PVL was a co-disposal site; injecting toxic liquids into solid wastes on a daily basis from 1952 - 1980.

It is a Title V Permit site, which means it is a Major Source Polluter.
Title V is a federal program designed to standardize air quality permits. The Air Quality Management District is the county agency assigned to enforce the Federal Clean Air Act, and assigns the Title V permit.  It was not until 1998 that the AQMD began assigning Title V designations, but the PV Landfill did not get assigned the possibility of the Title V permit until 2003, when the Sierra Club SBOSTF demanded a public meeting. However, It wasn't until 2007 that it was actually assigned: Permit record - Facility ID #24520. Facilities that are Covered Under Title V.