Slidell landfill extension denied by DEQ

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality took compliance history into consideration when denying a permit extension for the Slidell Landfill, but those in the area surrounding the landfill are not celebrating yet.

DEQ denied Slidell Landfill LLC’s request for a permit extension, that if approved would have allowed them to operate until 2019. Currently the landfill is permitted to accept waste through Jan. 31, 2010.

However, Jack Francioni, general manager of Bryan Harris and spokesman for the Slidell Auto Dealers, said he is “happy at this point that DEQ stuck to the original closing date,” but added that he expects the applicant will appeal the decision.

“It is still not over,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

Rodney Mallet with DEQ said the application was denied Tuesday because the company “failed to provide any compelling evidence that the extension should be granted.”

However, he said, the landfill’s history of compliance issues also weighed heavily on the department’s decision.

The reason for denial statement included a long list of compliance issues dating back to 1995.

The site has been cited for such things as discharging potentially contaminated storm water in 2007, allowing unauthorized discharge of inadequately treated wastewater in 2004, adversely impacting a canal leading the Salt Bayou also in 2004 and allowing the disposal of unauthorized waste in 1998.

Nearby residents and the workers at the car dealerships near the landfill, which is located off Howze Beach Road in Slidell, have numerously complained to the DEQ and the St.Tammany Parish Council about the odor emanating from the dust and mold floating off the site and landing on homes and vehicles. The auto dealers are also upset, because the increased truck traffic is starting to wreck Howze Beach Road.

According to the report, DEQ also took into consideration a resolution from the parish council asking for permit extension to be denied.

When applying for the permit extension, Slidell Landfill LLC said that because of the decrease in debris brought to the facility now that construction and demolition following Hurricane Katrina has stopped, the landfill has not yet achieved its allowed height.

The company also stated that the landfill is needed, as it is the only site in St. Tammany Parish that can accept construction and demolition debris.

However, Greg Gordon with St. Tammany Parish Department of Environmental Services told DEQ that is not true.

In a letter to DEQ, Gordon wrote that the parish has contacted other transfer and pickup stations in the parish and those sites have agreed to accept construction and demolition waste, which can be dumped at their sites and disposed of at a later date.

Gordon also reported to DEQ that St. Tammany Parish is developing a plan for debris disposal that will not include Slidell Landfill.

Mallet said with all of this evidence, it was determined that Slidell Landfill is no longer needed and therefore the permit extension was denied because “there was no compelling reason why they should be allowed to continue operating.”