Toyon Canyon Landfill

The Toyon Canyon Landfill was a controversial landfill wholly within Los Angeles' Griffith Park. Filling began in 1957 and ended in 1985. A lawsuit in 1959 attempted to stop the project but was unsuccessful. A summary of the lawsuit is available [http://classweb.gmu.edu/jkozlows/griffith.htm here] .There was a move in the 1980's to expand the landfill into [http://wikimapia.org/1582461/ Royce's Canyon] , but that was defeated.

Currently, landfill gas is collected from the decomposing waste and used for power generation. The landfill is currently managed by the [http://www.lacity.org/SAN/index.htm Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation] which plans to have "low intensity open meadow area intended for passive recreational activities". The projected date to have the landfill 'closed' (to the specifications of the regulatory agnecies) is Dec. 31, 2008. The landfill will be maintianed and monitored in acordance with SCAQMD 1150.1, upcoming provisions of AB 32, and other regualtions for at least 30 years.

The landfill is clearly visible from the California Routes 2 & 134 and Interstate 5 freeways in Los Angeles and from the surrounding hillsides, of course.

It's also dramatically visible on Google Earth. ( 34° 8'38.36"N 118°18'6.29"W)

During the May 2007 fire in Griffith Park, the helispot was used to great effect to help fight the fire. At times there were 2 choppers on the pad and one waiting to tank up.

Technical Data

Filled Area: 90 acres

Total Weight of Trash: 16,000,000 tons

Total Volume of fill: 30,700,000 cubic yards

Type of Material Disposed of: Class III waste (residential garbage, street sweepings, Construction and demolition waste)

Number of Gas Extraction Wells: 200 approx.

Active Groundwater Monitoring Wells: 13

Landfill Gas Migration Monitoring Probes: 16 (single and multi-depth)

Ambient Air Monitoring Stations: 2

Power Generation Equipment: 2 internal combustion engines

Landfill Gas Flare: [http://www.johnzink.com/products/flares/html/biog_jz.htm John Zink] 8-foot diameter, 5 burner tips, 2000 cfm capacity (currently on standby).

Regulatory Agencies: EPA, [http://www.calepa.ca.gov/| Cal. EPA] , [http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/|California Integrated Waste Management Board] , California Air Resources Board, SCAQMD, [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/|State Water Resources Control Board - Los Angeles] , [http://www.lacity.org/san/wastewater/industrial_waste_management/index.htm| City of Los Angeles - Industrial Waste Management Division] , and [http://www.lacity.org/ead/EADWeb-MWR/lea/LEA_Webpage.htm| City of Los Angeles - Environmental Affairs Department - Local Enforcement Agency] .

External links

* [http://www.lacitysan.org/srecd/TCPage.htm Factsheet]

* [http://classweb.gmu.edu/jkozlows/griffith.htm Lawsuit: GRIFFITH v. CITY OF LOS ANGELES]