Waste station bad for Pomona
One would have to look deep and stretch the facts to come to a conclusion that the proposed waste transfer station is in the best interest of the city of Pomona and her residents. After reading the draft EIR (still working on the final) I would have to question the motive of any city official in favor of this WTS.
The known and written facts are that, even with mitigation measures, there will be an increase in air pollution, vectors, odors, noise, visual impact, traffic and street maintenance. The site is located adjacent to three of Pomona's groundwater wells (Nos. 11, 12 and 18) and a booster station (No. 6). It is located within one mile of nine schools, a group home for the disabled and in one of the poorest residential areas in Pomona. The EIR and agencies involved only look at a 1/4-mile radius when applying mitigation measures as though that would be the only area affected. The trucks (an estimated 610 trips per day) would be traveling through Pomona. The dangers of increased traffic, emissions and odors will also be wherever the trucks travel.
We know that a city is required by law to be responsible for its trash. We are. There is currently a Waste Transfer Station that takes in Pomona's trash. The city is still under contract for their services for another nine years. The new proposed WTS is looking at becoming a regional facility that will service at minimum 11 communities (per Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force). Why should
the city of Pomona be responsible for everyone else's trash? It is our residents and businesses that will suffer the consequences of the increased pollution, decline in property values, and for what benefit?
The owner of the project has stated the following objectives: Provide a minimum 20-year waste transfer capacity to the region to accommodate future growth and increased total waste generation, minimize haul distances for collection trucks by providing locally available solid waste transfer and material recovery operations, establish a waste transfer facility with proximate rail access in anticipation of potential future regional or inter-regional rail-oriented waste hauling operations, etc. They are preparing to build a $14 million state-of-the-art facility. The renderings are nice - but get beyond the pretty picture and think about what will be happening on this 10.5 acres. There has to be a lot of current trash and even more future trash to make that kind of investment. Why are they so intent on Pomona?
The residents overwhelmingly voted not to have this type of facility in Pomona. Why is it back on the radar? Why aren't our city officials respecting the citizens of Pomona?
Why is it the proposed owners tell the city that they will bring approximately 50 jobs to the city when on Google the transfer station of the same permitted size (owned by them) states they have 1-4 employees.
The owners of the proposed WTS will be responsible for policing themselves on mitigation measures. In a recent article in the Daily Bulletin, Mr. Perez stated that he is a good neighbor and runs a tight ship. In 2008 Valley Vista paid $54,750 in fines for violating air quality regulations. Good neighbor?
In 2004 the city of Pomona sued Cal Spas for selling land to Grand Central/Valley Vista because of concerns it would create a waste hauling monopoly. Where are those concerns today?
Since 2008 over $90,000 has been indirectly given by the industry to our mayor and some City Council members. Why?
There are many questions attached to this proposed waste transfer station. The citizens and property owners of Pomona need to educate themselves on this facility and what it really means to Pomona. We need to let our representatives know how we feel. I would encourage anyone with questions to visit donttrashpomona.com as well as read the EIR (that can be found on the city of Pomona website).
It might be more than trash that stinks.
Source: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18973825?source=most_emailed
