WINNEMUCCA — Having practiced criminal and civil law for decades, local attorney Robert Dolan is picking up a new area of expertise:  air quality.  In the wake of the news that Nevada Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality permit to Jungo Land & Investments for development of a class 1 landfill, Dolan responded by hitting the books.

He said he has ten days to appeal the NDEP decision to the State Environmental Commission, and he intends to come armed with latest in scientfic research on air quality. 

"I spent the weekend reading Ph.D disertations on air quality," he said while adding he's not been impressed with what he's uncovered. "It appears to be the same guess work a third grader could come up with."

He said there does not appear to be a general consensus for a method measuring just how much particulate matter eminates from particular sources. "They have 'default parameters' to come up with values to plug into formulas.  What does it come down to? They're guessing."

In the matter at hand, the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill, Dolan said there was no modeling to count particulate matter that could eminate from the landfill.  He commented, "They said there was no primary source for the particulate matter, but the whole landfill site itself is a source."

"The staff at NDEP have succeded in convincing the public they're a rubber stamp," he said.

If he appeals the NDEP decision, Dolan will have three working fronts in an attempt to block the proposed landfill.  The other two include the appeal of the conditional use permit issued by the Regional Planning Committee, which will be argued in 6th Judicial District Court on May 5, and the appeal of the conditional use extension that will be heard by the Humboldt County Commission.

Dolan appeals landfill extension to the county commission

County Commission sets appeal hearing

Community lines up on each side of the debate

District Court sets date for landfill appeal

Landfill appeal heads to district court

Commission unholds RPC on a split vote