A new site selection committee being proposed to SCV City
Council.

[view:node_ad=5]A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is something most people
in Santa Clarita want. All of our valley's trash will flow through the facility,
and all recyclable material will be separated from garbage and put to better
use. The efforts will minimize what goes into landfills and help the city meet
state-mandated recycling goals.

 

But where?

 

The city fell victim to major public outcry nearly a year
ago when the planned MRF operator Burrtec attempted to study the possibilities
of building the facility on a swatch of land near Sierra
Highway and Golden Valley
Rd.

 

Community members stormed City Council meetings, predicting
traffic-related doom, fly infestations and foul smells running amuck in nearby
residential neighborhoods.

 

An environmental impact study to determine the actual
affects was never conducted for the site because Burrtec pulled their
application prematurely.

 

After that fallout, Council member Laurene Weste asked city
staff to come up with a plan to select a special committee made up of
individuals in the community that will steer the site selection for the MRF.

 

Staff will present their ideas to the Council Tuesday night,
proposing that the committee be made up of 16 members from groups like:

The Sierra Club

Castaic Town Council

West Ranch
Town Council

Canyon Country Advisory Committee

Saugus Action
Committee

Newhall Redevelopment Committee

Valencia Area Representative

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles County Fifth District

Los Angeles County
Public Works

 

Two city council members will sit on the committee along
with four open seats.

 

If approved, the committee will meet once per month, and
will visit potential sites.

 

Under contract with Burrtec, a MRF must be fully built out
by November 2011.