Well, this picture of me reflects my elation at the outcome of today's Humboldt County Commissioners' (HCC) meeting. The HCC voted 3-2 to hear the appeal from Bob Dolan and Massey Mayo to repeal the Regional Planning Commissions' decision on 2/11/10 to give Recology a 5-year extension on their conditional use permit(CUP) that is expiring in 4/10 after 3 years.Riding the recumbant, flying a kite,Jungo Road, 5/09

If you'd like to read the appeal information, it is included as a link in the HCC meeting agenda for today under agenda item #9. See: http://bit.ly/a2oE1m For the voters out there, here's how the HCC voted: Fransway, Giordano and Amos voted aye, while Bell and Casinelli voted nay. And, clearly, if you look at the appeal material, you will see the DA's office is pretty much into stopping the appeal.

The appeal information also includes a very direct letter to the RPC from the Summit Lake Paiute Tribal Council and a copy of Recology's letter to the RPC requesting their CUP extension. The letter from Summit Lake is very direct and clear on their support against the landfill as well as their rights on the issue. Ron Johnny, Director of the Tribe's Environmental Department, also attended the RPC meeting. The letter from Recology (actually their attorney), is fairly interesting in my opinion in terms of accountability.Recology blames a 'citizen's attack' that occured 2 years after the 3-year CUP issuance as to why they need an extension.

The appeal will be at the next HCC meeting in Winnemucca on 3/15. I'll post an event on this site.

As for other activities, the Referendum Committee continues to gather votes to get the issues of landfills on the ballot in November for Humboldt County. Nevadans Against Garbage (NAG) is still looking to hear from the Environmental Protection Agency on the request sent them 1/14 by NAG to perform a full environmental study on this project. We're looking to run multiple efforts and multi-task like crazy!

Recently, the EPA requested ideas to help them a)protect the environment and b) maintain transperency to the public. An idea is posted for more involvement by the EPA in landfills involving cross-state waste/dumping, specifically, Jungo Road. At this writing, the idea has 17 votes and is ranked at 30. You can vote at http://bit.ly/cmtXYA (and my hope is you'd vote agree...)

Let me leave you with a picture taken on 2/8/10 by Patrick Brooks, member of the NAG facebook group, and local FedEx delivery in Winnemucca by the landfill site, east of Bottle Creek/Jungo Road. It amused many of us since we continue to be told there isn't any standing water challenges by the landfill site. Kayaking anyone?

2/8/10 Water on the playa, Pic from Patrick Brooks, by Landfill Site

Thanks, Tracy

For more information on NAG: www.nevadansagainstgarbage.com
Join us on Facebook at: http://bit.ly/dwMQCk
Follow DesertPlaya for updates and news on the landfill on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/DesertPlaya

By Tracy Austin