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Compost Facility CEQA and Permitting Update
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Direct Waste Connections to furnish a construction cost estimate, impact to the tipping fee, and ongoing cost to operate the facility for Board consideration at the April Full Board meeting. Or,
b) Direct Waste Connections to furnish a cost estimate and impact to the tipping fee for hauling commercial organics to WM's Anderson Landfill compost facility for Board consideration at the April Full Board meeting.
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Financial Impact:
Background Information:
At the October 4, 2021 Board of Directors meeting the Agency Manager was given authorization to begin a feasibility study and start the CEQA process for a proposed compost facility at the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill. At that time the exemption from implementing the majority of California Senate Bill 1383 (Lara) and all of California Assembly Bil 1826 (Chesbro) regulations would have ended on January 1, 2027. Additionally, there were no composting facilities within a feasible distance for Tehama County's waste to be hauled to, except for a proposed project at the Anderson Landfill owned by WM.
The Agency contracted engineering services with Lawrence & Associates (L&A), who have extensive experience with the Tehama County/Red Bluff Landfill. Beginning in January 2022 and continuing through August 2024, L&A conducted the required geologic and engineering field studies for the proposed compost facility. In November 2024, L&A submitted the Report of Compost Site Information (RCSI), Compost Site Technical Report, and revised Joint Technical Document (JTD) to the Agency and Waste Connections for review and approval. After receiving comments from the Agency and Waste Connections, the documents were submitted to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB), CalRecycle, and Tehama County Department of Environmental Health for review in January 2025.
In April 2025, Environmental Health held a P...
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