Sage GrouseI just had to laugh when I read the article on the negative impact the renewable energy industry is having on the Sage Grouse in Nevada in the Las Vegas Sun http://bit.ly/dsdmhk this morning. Mind you, I'm not laughing at the impact to the Sage Grouse, I'm chuckling over the irony of the Sage Grouse issue and the Jungo Road Landfill project (did I mention I'd be blogging about that project?).

Here we have renewable energy coming in. Not withstanding the sage grouse issue, generally this type of industry is perceived as positive for the environment and the economy. Yet, we have the BLM, US Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the State Wildlife Division all involved due to the impact to the Sage Grouse. We even have a Governor's Sage Grouse team. Certainly, a dillegent effort around the environmental considerations! Outstanding!

The irony? Well,here we have Recology, looking to train in 4000 tons of NON-RECYCLABLE trash (includes waste sludge, asbestos, tires) per day from California, 5 days a week for 95 years and dumping it on Jungo Rd, Winnemucca. The site is in a seismic zone. Recology is looking to get an exception to Nevada statute to place their landfill closer to an active aquifier than code allows. The State Department of Wildlife has not been involved. The Govenor refuses to help because he can't mess with inter-state trade laws. Recology refuses to perform an environmental impact study (and they aren't required to), and local government won't make that a condition of their permit. And, we don't have a Govenor's Landfill Team. The state Bureau of Air Pollution Control (BAPC) of the Nevada Department of Envionmental Protection (NDEP) just issued Recology one of two final permits they need to build yesterday (to see the air permit: http://bit.ly/dr3Wrr)

The Grouse has clout.

Had the opportunity for a few more chuckles after reading the BAPC's responses to questions (see: http://bit.ly/dDuZiI ) asked by the public about air quality around the landfill (asked during a public meeting 8/19/09 and answered 3/5/10). When asked if they considered the impact of landfill fires on air pollution, The BPAC said they didn't because Recology didn't indicate fires were part of the normal operations of the landfill. That's probably true; not part of day to day operations. But unlikely NOT to occur in 95 years (I do have a question into the US Fire Administration on statistics around landfill fires). Reminds, me, the fire department in Winnemucca is volunteer...

When asked if the BPAC measured air polution risks in their model for this project from dust, the BPAC said the law does not allow for fugitive dust, so Recology will operate the landfill as to assure there is no fugitive dust. And I quote..."must operate such that no dust is removed from the site by wind". They also go on to note that their model doesn't evaluate the impact of dust storms because, again, the site must operate without any dust escaping.

I certainly hope all the dust on the playa is paying attention to the law. Recology will need its' cooperation beyond their dust control techniques.

Irony. In the event the legal appeals, and Reid's proposed TRASH Act don't stop this, maybe I can round up some Sage Grouse to move into the landfill site so we can stop this thing.

Vote for getting the EPA involved in Jungo Rd:
http://bit.ly/cmtXYA
Get involved/informed/donate: www.nevadansagainstgarbage.com
Join our Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/dwMQCk

PS: If you aren't familiar with the TRASH act, here's a link to an article: http://bit.ly/cb37nX Basically, the act is about still supporting free-trade; but allowing local and state government a little more say on allowing or not, trash from other states.

By Tracy Austin