These are excerpts from the comments made on the draft EIR for the permit to expand the Redwood Landfill (Novato Dump), off Highway 101 between Novato and Petaluma in the Petaluma River Estuary. Redwood Landfill would like to expand this dump by one third and have it become a regional dump serving counties outside of Marin and Sonoma.“In general, Redwood landfill, situated in a wetlands area on bay muds, is a marginal site by current environmental standards. Any expansion of it by definition increases environmental risks.”
–Sierra Club Marin Group

“The increased weight of the landfill will add to the compression and distortion of the bay soil under the landfill, adding to the possibility of failure of the leachate containment layer.…The City does not believe it is appropriate to approve expanded operations for an activity with a known record of noncompliance, especially in an environmentally sensitive area.”
–The City of Novato California

“The Redwood Landfill has already negatively impacted wildlife in the marsh. An expansion of its scale and hours of operation would further threaten the tenuous balance of nature that exists there.”
–David Yearsley, Petaluma River and wetlands advocate

“I seriously question why sludge is allowed…over 90% of which is imported from outside the county…we have no idea how much sludge they have been taking in in recent years…so how do we evaluate the expected environmental impact.”
–Bob Koch, retired physician and recent president of the San Marin East Homeowner’s Association

“Any increase in traffic, as proposed, could result in additional delays for southbound U.S. 101 motorists.”
–State of California, Department of Transportation

“…the EIR incorrectly states that an increase in the final waste volume will not be achieved by changing or expanding the landfill’s footprint (a term which again is undefined).”
–State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region

“MCL believe that the community goals are best served…that the capacity of the landfill be limited to about 25 million cubic yards. …we support limiting the quantity waste acceptance to an increase of 15% of current permit. … The Redwood Landfill is located directly on bay mud. It is highly unlikely that any landfills in recent years would be build with such conditions. … The added height of the landfill at the top of the side slopes is of particular concern.”*
–Marin Conservation League
*Current permit is for 19 million cubic yards. Testimony by the landfill engineer is that the dump already is at 25 million cubic yards!

“The grossly negative impact of locating a landfill in such an environmentally sensitive location is aptly demonstrated by the dozens of adverse environmental impacts listed in the EIR. … Wastes must be a minimum of 5 feet above the highest anticipated elevation of underlying groundwater. The project does not meet this requirement. …the failure to provide 5 fee clearance – given the additional tonnage that would put pressure on the landfill structure – is still per se a fatal flaw according to the County’s Siting Element. …The fact that the landfill is operating without a liner poses an ongoing significant hazard to northern Marin County’s ground water and the surrounding Bay lands.”
–Christopher P. Gilkerson, Novato, Rush Creek neighborhood – member of No Wetlands Landfill Expansion

“The WM history of agreement to earlier plans followed by alternative actions without permit authority…casts considerable doubt on the intentions of WM. … Mandatory recycling and composting rather than landfilling is needed.”
–Steve C. Thompson

“With the threat of earth warming and a rising sea level with potential of loss of low level lands, the position of the landfill area is dangerously close to the water’s edge.”
–Sustainable Novato, Harry J. Moore, former Marin County Supervisor

“…the entire property is surrounded by tidal marsh. … Potential impacts to the adjacent slough and marshes would include water quality degradation, which would also impact vegetation and sediment quality, as well as possible collapse of the levee sides into the adjacent sloughs and Petaluma and fringe marshes.”
–Marin Audubon Society