WINNEMUCCA —Attending Thursday’s meeting of the Regional Planning Committee were members of the public who spoke out both for and against extending the conditional use permit (CUP) granted to Jungo Land & Development for the construction of a class I landfill.  The extension of the CUP was ultimately granted on a split vote.

More so than ever before, people are beginning to come to the table who support the building of the Jungo Rd. landfill -- primarily for economic reasons.  Those who supported the extension called for more thoughtful debate and less emotional reaction. 

Among the speakers was John Milton, who was chairman of the Humboldt County Commissioners at the time they voted unanimously to change the ordinance to allow out-of-state garbage to be accepted at Humboldt County landfills. He said that nothing he has heard or read since 2007 has changed his mind on the subject and urged the RPC to extend the conditional use permit.

Milton pointed out the job of the RPC is land-use and zoning – not environmental impact.  The issue at hand, he argued, was limited to an extension of a CUP and to that end the question was whether or not Jungo Land & Investments was proceeding with the permitting process associated with developing a solid-waste disposal site.

“Landfills are the responsibility of the NDEP,” he said. “They review proposed landfills to make sure it meets all state and federal requirements.”  This was a theme heard repeatedly throughout the night.

Milton also addressed allegations the public was left out of the discussion in 2007 when Jungo Land & Investments initially applied for the CUP, which required a change of Humboldt County ordinance. He noted by his count there were seven public meetings where the issues were discussed -- all properly agendized.   

Addressing RPC was John Seigfried, now retired, who was instrumental in the Cyanco permitting process and has extensive experience working with state and federal permitting agencies.  He spoke out against the call for federal intervention in the project, calling it a state’s-right issue, and in support of the rights of private property owners. 

“You need to dial out the emotion, dial out the politics and make decisions based on facts that are within your venue,” he told the commission.  

Seigfried spoke about the importance of the jobs that could be created with the landfill as did local businessman Patrick Gray, who is chairman of the Humboldt Development Authority, but who spoke at the meeting in his capacity as a private citizen.

“We have a business opportunity here that would allow us to be less dependant on mining,” Gray told the commission.  Like Seigfried, Gray encouraged a rational approach with more discussion of facts and less attention to rumors and innuendo.

"There have been spirited protest, which is the primary right of being a citizen, and it's important to the democratic process," Gray said.  "But it has not promoted rational discussion."  Gray continued and noted that Recology bears some of the blame because they haven't communicated adequately with the public. 

Gray has attended presentations by Golder & Associates, the company engineering the landfill, and said he hoped there would be more such presentations at flexible times so more members of the public could participate.

Those who are opposed to the landfill urged the commission not to extend the CUP and angrily rebuffed the notion they were somehow responsible for the delays.  Local resident Paul Bendell said it was an attempt to “demonize local residents” for bringing public attention to what he and others perceived were lapses in a complete study of the potential environmental impact.

Robert Dolan who, along with Massey Mayo, challenged the CUP and worked to bring the matter to the 6^th Judicial District Court for judicial review, also addressed the RPC.  He acknowledged it was his lawsuit referenced by Recology as causing delays in the process, but he made no apologies for bringing the action. 

“I don’t see this landfill ever opening up, and if I have anything to do with it -- it won’t," Dolan said.  He warned there would be no rubber stamping of the permitting process.  At every stage, he said, there would be judicial review of the process.

Dolan encouraged the commission to consider imposing conditions on the CUP – including a requirement Recology complete an environmental impact review to consider issues that are not being considered as part of the NDEP process – such as the potential impact on wildlife in the area.

“It’s a mistake for you to think you don’t have clout to impose conditions on this,” he said.

Taking sides for the first time at an RPC meeting was the Summit Lake Paiute Tribe. The tribe was represented by Ron Johnny, their environmental coordinator, who carried a letter from the chairman of the council, Warner Barlese.  The letter expressed concern about the potential impact on the area, which the letter claimed is still used by tribe members.

“Only their interest in the land was extinguished,” he said. “But not their right to hunt or to gather to conduct spiritual and religious activities.”