A Chiquita Canyon landfill expansion project could go before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in spring of next year, according to county officials.

 The 639-acre landfill site, which is owned by Waste Connections and permitted for about 257 acres of waste, is looking to double its daily disposal limits, set aside of land for a potential conversion technology site, improve its entrance and support facilities and extend the life of the landfill, to name a few of the project’s goals.

 “The final (environmental report) should be ready in December or early next year,” said Edel Vizcarra, deputy planning manager for Supervisor Michael Antonovich. “Once that’s completed, the item still needs to go before the Planning Commission and possibly the Board of Supervisors.”

The 639-acre landfill site, which is owned by Waste Connections and permitted for about 257 acres of waste, is looking to double its daily disposal limits, set aside of land for a potential conversion technology site, improve its entrance and support facilities and extend the life of the landfill, to name a few of the project’s goals.

 March or April is the estimated time frame for when it could be in front of the county again, Vizcarra said.

 While the capacity is expected to double, the ramp up is expected to happen gradually over several years, said John Musella, a Chiquita Canyon landfill representative. However, Chiquita Canyon would like to get construction of the new entry facility under way as soon as possible, he said.

 To that end, Chiquita Canyon officials have been working with two community advisory group in order to garner their neighbors’ support for the project.

 The landfill is negotiating with two groups, the Castaic Area Town Council and the Val Verde Community Advisory Committee.

 Castaic officials submitted a 6-4 vote in mid-September, when they agreed to accept funds from Chiquita Canyon Landfill officials for the community, said Lloyd Carder, a Castaic resident.

Related:  Castaic OKs Chiquita Canyon Money; No Deal Yet For Val Verde

 A key part of the financial arrangement gives 80 cents per ton — based on annual disposal amounts — to the Castaic and Val Verde communities, said Musella. The financial arrangement calls for support once the final enviormental report is released by the county, Musella said.

 “(The CATC) agreed to split the funds with 70 percent to Val Verde and 30 percent to Castaic,” he said in a previous interview. “Basically, what that means is in the first year, Castaic would receive approximately $240,000 (according to 2013 tonnage), and Val Verde is set to receive $560,000.”

The money is planned to go to a new nonprofit organization, the Chiquita Canyon -Castaic Community Benefit Fund, Musella said. It will not go directly to the council.

The VVCA has yet to agree to terms with Chiquita Canyon officials, Musella said, however, talks have been ongoing..

The VVCA voted 112-0 to oppose the landfilll expansion project over the summer, according to Ramon Hamilton, who’s been handling public relations for the community group.

Both sides remain in negotiations for a potential compensation package to benefit the community in and around the landfill in exchange for support for the project.

The landfill currently pays into a fund that supports community activities in the Val Verde area. The current negotiations would extend that support if the landfill expansion is granted, Hamilton said.

“The next major thing that the community will be involved in is once we have an agreement we feel is worthy of sharing with the community is we’ll go over it and get their take on it,” Hamilton said. “Nothing is going to happen without community approval.”

The VVCAC is currently opposed to the project, but the situation could change with a majority vote, he said.

The current permitted closure date for the landfill is 2019, but based on the current tonnage limits, the projected closure date is between 2015 and 2019, according to the draft impact study.

Waste Connections, which owns the landfill, has applied for a new permit to implement the revision, which is what prompted the review and environmental study.

 The environmental impact report is currently being reviewed by county officials, who are working with a representative paid by Chiquita Canyon to address any concerns about the project, which were submitted during the public comment period.

“Chiquita Canyon continues its business as usual, we’re continuing to be a partner in the local community,” Musella said. “The EIR process is currently reviewing public comments, and all those comments and questions will be responded to in the final EIR.”