Red Rocks landfill approved for 5 more years

A bulldozer covers trash from the days haul at the Northwest New Mexico Regional Landfill in Thoreau Jan. 27. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry has approved a five-year conditional permit for Red Rocks Regional Landfill near Thoreau.

Approval of the permit will save several communities served by the facility considerable money because trash will not have to be trucked to landfills in Farmington or Albuquerque.

The department issued an administrative compliance order to Northwest New Mexico Regional Solid Waste Authority in December for 15 violations at Red Rocks. The order alleged the authority failed to operate the facility in a safe and proper manner.

The department and the authority entered into a Settlement and Stipulated Final Order on Jan. 21 that assessed a penalty of $120,000 for violations found during a June 4-5, 2008, inspection. The authority obtained a Solid Waste Permit from the state for Red Rocks in 1995.

“I granted the permit on a conditional basis because of Red Rocks’ past negative compliance history with the department,” Curry said. “However, the landfill displayed complete compliance with state regulations during its last inspection in January and we expect managers of the facility to continue that pattern to protect public health and the environment. The landfill serves various communities and provides a needed service in McKinley County.”

The department held a hearing for the permit Jan. 27 in Gallup and Curry acted quickly on the facility’s application for the new permit because Red Rocks will reach capacity before its current permit expires.

Curry’s Final Order grants the conditional permit if the facility complies with all regulations and an affirmative action plan.

The order also provides for a second conditional permit period of 15 years if the first conditions are met.

Managers of Red Rocks applied for a permit modification that will allow the facility to accept special waste, expand the facility to cells nine and 26, and increase the site acreage to 160 acres. Without the expansion the landfill is expected to reach capacity in April.

Red Rocks accepts municipal solid waste and special wastes which require unique handling, transportation and disposal to ensure the protection of local residents and the environment.

The landfill, which is about 6.5 miles northwest of Thoreau in McKinley County, serves the cities of Gallup and Grants, McKinley County, Cibola County, the village of Milan, the Navajo Nation, Zuni Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Window Rock and other communities in Arizona. Some members of the Navajo Nation expressed concern that if the permit were not granted, illegal dumping might increase on tribal lands.

During its January inspection, the department found Red Rocks conducted landfill operations in compliance with state laws. In addition, managers of the landfill hired consultants McGee and Associates to help the facility ensure continued improvement of its operations.