03 Oct URGENT: WMI Press Advisory on Wed Oct 7

Media Advisory October 2, 2009

Contact:

Birdie Perkins 512-501-3634

Melanie McAfee 512-517-6550

City of Austin and Travis County Officials to Speak Out at TCEQ on Planned Vote on WMI Landfill Expansion

What: News Conference on upcoming TCEQ vote on WMI massive landfill expansion

Who:

Lee Leffingwell, Mayor of Austin

Sarah Eckhardt, County Commissioner

Gerry Acuna, City of Austin Solid Waste Advisory Commission (SWAC) Chair

Robin Schneider, Director of Texas Campaign for the Environment

Local neighborhood resident

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 8:30 AM

Where: TCEQ, North entrance of Building E (North I-35 between Yager and Breaker Lane on the west side of IH 35)

Background:

Waste Management’s proposed expansion, the second of two massive landfill expansions in Northeast Travis County, is up for a vote before the state environmental agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on October 7. Elected officials, community activists and neighbors will be speaking out against approval of the expansion.

WMI is proposing to add 71.11 cubic acres, or 12, 457, 160 cubic yards (which would be the equivalent of just under 2, 000 football fields – each piled 1 yard high – of waste). This massive expansion to the west towards neighborhoods and historic properties would extend collecting trash in the fastest growing area of Austin until 2025.

In contrast to the BFI expansion approved on Sept. 9, Travis County, the City of Austin and the Capital Area Council of Governments all weighed in against the WMI expansion. Here are some excerpts of local government comments on the proposed expansion:

“If ever there was a case where an MSW landfill permit amendment to extend the life of the facility should be denied, this is that case. In 2004 WMI was assessed the largest fine ever levied by the TCEQ on a MSW operator in the State of Texas. One of the many reasons this application should be denied, is that the operation of this facility has and will continue to impact the surrounding neighborhoods, as evidenced by the repeated and voluminous complaints regarding odors, traffic, litter, dust, erosion and sedimentation of streams. By virtue of its record of operation, the Applicant has failed to demonstrate that the facility will not adversely impact human health or the environment….”(City of Austin responses to SOAH Docket No. 2006-0612 MSW)

“CAPCOG spent years developing its Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. When it received WMTX’s application to expand its ACRD facility, CAPCOG spent months evaluating the proposed expansion before making its determination that the expansion was not compatible with surrounding land use. Not to honor CAPCOG’s determination of non-conformance is to blatantly ignore the most interested and affected local governmental agencies that comprise the very COG in which this landfill is located.”

Travis County responses to SOAH Docket No. 2006-0612 MSW

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Please join us with your media representation on Wednesday, October 7th at 8:30 A.M.